Mazatlan is the shit

We made it to Mazatlan no problem! Luckily the hurricane was mostly a little bit north of here so there isnt too much damage, and the weather has been perfect for us, although it is really hot, so we have been here for 5 days now and I absolutely love it!
We found a really cheap hotel to stay at that is by the bus station, and all around us are the super delicious home cooked Mexican food stands. Colin and I have been eating amazing meals for only 20 to 30 pesos (which is like 1.50 to 2.50 dollars). I just had the most tasty chiles rellenos ever, and I also eat a lot of fish (Marlin) tacos. Everything comes with corn tortillas and the crucial hot sauce and salsas. I could almost live off of salsa fresca! And fresh lime, and oh my Im starting to get hungry again, mmm mmm mmm. They also love their dulces here, and there is a wonderful panaderia by me where I sometimes treat myself to freshly baked cookies and treats that I dont even know what they are, but they usually have a tasty filling or something and they are scrumptious. Ill admit openly to you all as well that I ate some chicken, I know thats crazy for me, but I couldnt help it. We went to this one place late at night and it was the only around that was open and I was starving, and I decided meat here is the most economical way to fill you up becuase otherwise youre always just having cheese which can get boring, so I had chimichangas con pollo... and I really liked it. I think I might also have to try the chicken mole. Its hard being a vegetarian here, but Im sort of bending the rules for a little bit, except Im still not ready to eat carne or pork or anything, but chicken is kind of okay for now.
Our hotel room is pretty ghetto, I guess you get what you pay for, but I feel like it gives us a more Mexican experience. The other night Colin and I were getting ready for bed and brushing our teeth in the bathroom when we both noticed something dark emerging from the hole in the toilet. We looked at eachother like what on earth is going on, and then a huge centipede (or something with tons of legs) came crawling through the water and up to the rim really fast and we freaked out then the bug dissappeared and we didnt know where it went. Now Im really afraid to use the bathroom. A few times anyways I go in there and there is no water and I ask the people in front whats going on and they just say we have no water for a while. I have to admit I have gotten kind of used to it though and now the place kind of feels like home, but I think tonight will be our last one and then tomorrow we are going to Guadalajara.
The main thing that has made Mazatlan so wonderful is the people. They are so friendly and Colin and I have made some good friends. One night we went to a dive bar right by our hotel called the Ladies Bar and it was full of drunk Mexican men and one lady who was originally from California, and as soon as they saw us poke our heads in they captured us and pulled us into the bar. Next thing I knew there was a beer in my hand and I was surrounded by all these people who wanted to talk to me. Gloria stayed by my side, she was pretty drunk herself and quite a character with a lot of attitude, and she introduced me to everyone and told me some really funny stories... it sounds like she gets arrested a lot. Meanwhile some other men grabbed Colin and got him in on the pool game. We ended up staying there all night and I loved the close interaction, even though it got a little sloppy at times. Last night when we were eating dinner Gloria walked past on her way from the bar and she us and came over and gave me hug and we chatted for a minute and it was great feeling like we knew people.
Yesterday we also had a fun interaction with some locals. Colin and I went into this restaurant to use the bathroom and I came out and sat on a bench while I was waiting for him and this man, Gabriel, came up to me and asked me what I was doing. I told him I was waiting for a friend and then he told me he wanted to buy me and my friend a beer. Just then Colin came out and acepted so we sat down at his table with another friend of his named Lourdes. They were both really nice and we sat around and drank some Pacifico. Later Rafael wandered off and Lourdes invited us to her apartment. It was cool going inside a local apartment and I played with her dogs while Colin played her guitar. She was pretty drunk, she told us she was an alcoholic, but she was functioning pretty well and we were having some interesting conversations. Its always nice to hear different points of view on things. Then Lourdes wanted to go to another bar becuase she was going to meet a friend and she wanted Colin and I to come along so she could buy us another beer. We drank together in a quaint little plaza and talked about life and animals (she loved animals) and flying to Africa and who knows what else. Her friend never came but after a while she had to go, so Colin and I wandered on wondering what we should do next. We were walking along this little street when suddenly Gabriel drove by in his truck and he wanted to take us to a bar of a friend of his. We went out to this fancy hotel in the touristy part of town and Gabriel knew everyone and kept insisting on buying Colin and I Pacificos while he was drinking whisky. It was his last night to party since on Monday there was work to be done so he wanted to go all out. We watched the sunset together over the ocean and the colors were brilliant. Gabriel liked Colin and I a lot and he kept telling me I was beautiful and kissing me on the cheek and he told Colin he was a good man and he really wanted us to get married which was kind of funny. Later Gabriel insisted we go him to the hotel of another friend of his, we told him we didnt really want anymore to drink, but he insisted and we were having fun so we went along just to see where we would end up next. The next bar was totally empty except for us and he kept buying us more beer and he bought me a rose from one of the little children who go around selling them. I think he was pretty wealthy, he said his family had something to do with Pemex gas. He told us we were his good friends and we are welcome to his ranch whenever we want, also he said my beautiful girl friends from the states are welcome as well- he really loved women. By the end of about his 10th whiskey he was slowing down, so Colin and I finally decided to return home so we caught a taxi and Gabriel bargained for the local price to help us out. We made it back in good shape, although a little drunk. It seems like alcohol consumption is a good way to interact with the locals, but I wont be able to handle that all the time. All in all the day turned out to be quite an adventure.

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