Still searching for a spot to spend future winters, we left the fun waves of Escondido. Flew from Huatulco to Mexico City to another Pacific coast town ---- Mazatlan. Oddly, it was hard to find a place to stay to our liking and budget. So here we are at the EcoHostel.
It's great to have a kitchen in the unit, but can you see an obvious drawback in the first photo? Coffee and toast in the very European breakfast room. The lush green courtyard has herbs, flowers, koi pond, and is a drop-in oasis for passing birds and butterflies. The "Eco" part is a strict emphasis on recycling, less water usage, no plastic bags, etc. ---- we like that!
Just three blocks away is the famous malecon, or wide promenade along the shore. But it's undergoing reconstruction!? Duh --- we overlooked that next weekend is Carnaval here --- supposedly the third biggest in the world. So everything is being spruced up and fast. Thirty-foot palm trees pop up like rabbits from a sombrero. (That explains why rooms are hard to find, masks have been provided on our door, and the garden has been trimmed by half ---- crowds are coming!)
So each morning we walk some of the 8 miles of the malecon, picking our way through the paving blocks, steel rods, dust, and wheelbarrows. It's still impressive --- fresh fish stands, outdoor fitness equipment, zumba, and street lights in the shape of halos.
But whimsy on a huge scale lines the stroll. Giant fantasmical figures by the dozen, challenging you to figure out any connection to the town. Here's a few...
I'm having withdrawal symptoms from not driving for weeks. I hallucinated that I saw a bronze motorcycle. I even spotted a early 1930's Model A. Do you remember the Volkswagen Thing from the '70's? They're all over the place, still being used as open-air taxis. So I hopped into this one but I'm still trying to start it...
It's great to have a kitchen in the unit, but can you see an obvious drawback in the first photo? Coffee and toast in the very European breakfast room. The lush green courtyard has herbs, flowers, koi pond, and is a drop-in oasis for passing birds and butterflies. The "Eco" part is a strict emphasis on recycling, less water usage, no plastic bags, etc. ---- we like that!
Just three blocks away is the famous malecon, or wide promenade along the shore. But it's undergoing reconstruction!? Duh --- we overlooked that next weekend is Carnaval here --- supposedly the third biggest in the world. So everything is being spruced up and fast. Thirty-foot palm trees pop up like rabbits from a sombrero. (That explains why rooms are hard to find, masks have been provided on our door, and the garden has been trimmed by half ---- crowds are coming!)
So each morning we walk some of the 8 miles of the malecon, picking our way through the paving blocks, steel rods, dust, and wheelbarrows. It's still impressive --- fresh fish stands, outdoor fitness equipment, zumba, and street lights in the shape of halos.
But whimsy on a huge scale lines the stroll. Giant fantasmical figures by the dozen, challenging you to figure out any connection to the town. Here's a few...
I'm having withdrawal symptoms from not driving for weeks. I hallucinated that I saw a bronze motorcycle. I even spotted a early 1930's Model A. Do you remember the Volkswagen Thing from the '70's? They're all over the place, still being used as open-air taxis. So I hopped into this one but I'm still trying to start it...
Be safe! Sinaloa state and Mazatlán are "Do not travel" zones by the US State Department.
ReplyDelete