Mazatlan

After a smooth ride on calm seas we sailed into Mazatlan this morning a little after six.

Just after entering the channel to the Mazatlan harbor

We were escorted by the Mexican Coast Guard and after the "Piloto" had boarded to guide us in the pilot boat sailed along behind the CG boat keeping us company. The channel runs between islands and and ends at the piers in the industrial area. 

The old downtown area is near the church in the center of this photograph

After the docking procedures the gangways were attached to the ship and those going on excursions filed off the ship and boarded the shuttles for a short ride to the cruise center. The shuttles are "free and compulsory" for good reason since the path to the cruise center runs through an active commercial dock area and the authorities don't want a squashed passenger.

Aboard the shuttle we were greeted by a blue-shirted "Tourist aide" who gave us a quick briefing on getting around Mazatlan. He said he and other expats (he was from Australia) volunteer to assist tourists as needed. He said walking around Mazatlan was safer than walking in downtown Los Angeles. We saw several other blue shirts as we wandered around the downtown area. It was reassuring that they were available if needed.

We also saw many armed police on foot and the occasional open-back jeep-type vehicle with a driver, two armed soldiers and another manning a machine gun mounted above the cab. I'm not sure they were reassuring but it was good to see them making the streets safe for us.

The cruise center is a collection of souvenir shops, guides hawking excursions, timeshare counters, bars and even a restaurant just in case a passenger already felt the pangs of hunger.

The Mazatlan Cruise Center with many opportunities to buy everything from trinkets to timeshares

After running the gauntlet of the Cruise Center we negotiated with a taxi driver for a ride the the old downtown area. He took us on a circuitous ride through backstreets and alleys but the fare was fixed so we didn't care. When we got to the market I could see why he took those little roads because the main streets were clogged with traffic.

 We decided to spend some time in the central market which is huge building full of individual vendors of everything needed for everyday life. 

Butcher shop in the market with a full half beef on the back counter

After the market we visited the nearby church that we had seen from the ship. It was a nice looking building with beautiful stained glass windows and what looked like granite blocks. When I inspected the columns more closely I found they were built of concrete with a coating that looked like mortar and blocks. 

Inside the Church of The Immaculate Conception

In a nearby plaza we took a rest and watched the passing people going about their business. It was a restful little park with palms and other tropical trees. We had a restful break before negotiating with a driver of a golf-cart-looking vehicle who gave us an open air ride back to the ship.