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Published: April 8th 2013
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We had planned to spend Semana Santa (Holy Week) at Hacienda Contreras in Mexico's interior because for the five years we have been wintering in Mexico we have been warned that the beaches would be swarmed by unruly Mexicans and that our lives would be endangered if we were anywhere near popular Mexican vacation destinations. But Ray had an episode at Hacienda Contreras that we thought warranted an early departure to Mazatlan where he could obtain medical attention if necessary. We left Mazamitla Thursday morning. By the time we got to Mazatlan festivities celebrating Jesus's death and resurrection were filling the streets with music and fun.
It was dark when we pulled into California RV Park just off the main drag. After we got set up, we joined the throngs along Mazatlan's main drag bought hotdogs from a street vendor and watched the action awhile before deciding that we were far too old for this crowd.
The California was not our park of choice so the next morning we caught the northbound bus to see if we could get space at Mar Rosa RV park where we've always previously stayed while in Mazatlan. It was packed with tent campers
Colin and Contessa from Kelowna, British Columbia.
Colin is one of the world's top photographers. Contessa, a blogger extraordinaire seems to know all of the north American bloggers who travel in Mexico. You can follow their adventures at http://www.contessajewall.com so we walked a couple blocks to the San Bartolo RV Park. This park was virtually deserted except for three Canadian rigs. We went back and loaded up and moved to San Bartolo until Mar Rosa cleared. San Bartolo is a very clean and well managed park and it's manager, Jose could not have been more helpful. We felt guilty leaving but Easter Monday we moved back to Mar Rosa where we will sleep with the pounding of the surf until we are ready to leave Mexico.
I'm glad that circumstances required us to spend Semana Santa here in Mazatlan. Watching Mexican families enjoy their holiday has been great fun and our experiences have totally dispelled ugly unrepeatable myths perpetuated by north Americans wintering in Mexico.
Yes, during Semana Santa the beaches are crowded with hundreds of families gathering under mega umbrellas with coolers of beer, sodas and snacks and there were thousands of good looking young people mingling on the beach. This is their country after all.
We have never experienced a Fort Lauderdale type spring break but we have been in Waikiki several times when aircraft carriers pulled in and unlashed thousands of sailors. Young
Mexicans are not nearly as boisterous as young Americans. If we are fortunate enough to winter in Mexico next year, hopefully we will be settled here in Mar Rosa in time to meet and enjoy the holiday with our Latin American neighbors. And hopefully by then our Spanish will have improved to the point where we can better carry on a conversation.
With Semana Santa being early this year, Mazatlan was hit with a double whammy. Easter Week was immediately followed by the city's annual Semana de la Moto (Motorcycle Week) or here they are called motocicletas. Thousands of motorcyclists with members from about 400 clubs from all over Mexico, North and Central America converge here for a huge rally. Most bikers seem to be staying in hotels but quite a few are sharing our campground. Walking around today, we met a young Mexican American couple from Laredo, Texas who participate every year. They have no family connections with Mazatlan or anywhere in Mexico for that matter. He rides his motorcycle sixteen hours to get here. She flies. They stay in a hotel. In fact, he invited Ray and me to join them at their hotel's party after today's
bike parade. Naturally, Ray declined but it was nice of the kids to offer.
This morning I teased Ray. What would he have said if I had suggested spending a week with thousands of Mexican motorcyclists? He admitted that it would have been out of the question. And yet, although we have had little interaction with our biker neighbors - why would they want to talk to old folks like us - we have not been bothered by their presence in any way. I see the girls in the restroom doing their hair and makeup. We speak pleasantly. That's all.
Mexican motorcycles run the gamut from Hondas to Harleys. Bikers here are generally younger than American motorcyclists, the oldest being in their 50s vs those of Vietnam vet ages in the states. We see some leathers and doo rags but nobody wears helmets. Our landlord, Maleno told us that normally helmets are required but the regulation is suspended during moto week.
Thursday night we had dinner with a most interesting couple - Colin and Contessa from Kelowna, British Columbia. I have been following her blog this year at http://www.contessajewall.com. Contessa's blog is followed by many RVers who
travel to Mexico.
Colin is one of the world's leading photographers. He is primarily an architectural photographer but he has been invited to photograph Queen Elizabeth, Charles and Diana and Pope Benedict as well as popular musicians from both north and south of the border.
Friday, we caught a bus to El Quelite. El Quelite is a quaint little village about 40 minutes north of Mazatlan. This pueblo could have easily served as a replica for Disney's Mexican village at Epcot. We only learned of El Quelite by talking to the receptionist at the dental hygiene school where we have our teeth cleaned. Monica's Mexican American parents recently returned to their home in Mazatlan after working and raising their family in San Jose. Monica has always to enjoyed hearing of our Mexican travel exploits so on our last visit to Carrington College - formerly Western Dental School - I asked her for her Mazatlan recommendations. In addition to El Quelite, several of the other Mazatlan restaurants we've visited this year have been Monica's recommendations. I can't wait to tell her how everything worked out.
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Michelle
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Semana Santa
Nothing like the roar of the surf and the roar of motorcycles all at the same time!