• 30May

  This & that

  Household details, blogging, maz people, weather 6 Comments

  A grab bag today.
  

  The Weather. I am sitting at my desk with a fan blowing on me, it is now summer here, whether the calendar says so or not.  We’ve noticed the humidity is higher in the morning – walking out of our dehumidified bedroom is a little like walking into a steam room.  Ok, after the steam has been off for a while! (Humidity was 70% today)  We make coffee and try to get the dogs walked early so the malecon isn’t in full sun the whole way.  We come home sweaty.

  Once we’re home and sweaty anyway, we might as well do chores. Today Paul mowed and edged the lawn.  I got out the caulk gun and caulked up some spots I thought might let in water.  I watered the upstairs patio.  He watered the lawn and plants downstairs.  Now we are really sweating!

  This morning it was overcast and we thought there was a chance of rain.  But, no.  We’ve heard long timers here say the rainy season usually doesn’t start until the last week in June.  We are ready, we are waiting, we are looking forward to it!

  Hummingbirds. You all know we have some sort of hummingbird sanctuary in our garden.  It is so fun right now with the babies around…hummers are zooming around all day and we love watching their antics.  They are nesting in our timber bamboo, and today while Paul was watering with the shower nozzle, several came and danced in and out of the water just a couple of feet in front of him!  It is crazy over here, I tell you!

  Bloggers. Last week we hit the jackpot.  Sandie and Mike from Canada were living just a block away from us, and after she commented on one of my posts we emailed a bit and then had them over for lunch.  They are fun and funny, and we hit it off just great.  Unfortunately they left yesterday to head back home, and won’t be back to Mazatlán until November.  We are really looking forward to getting to know them better.

  Then as Bliss reported on her blog, we helped the Captain a bit as he passed through Mazatlán with car trouble.  He sorted his belongings, stored a few inside, and after a night’s rest he hit the road for San Carlos.  He expects to be back to pick up the van in the next ten days, and I am hoping that Bliss comes, too.

  New hotels. The all inclusive hotel Riu just opened for business in the last week.  This 700+ room hotel is right on the beach at Cerritos, and is a Spanish development.

  A funny advertisement has been visible all over busses in  Mazatlán, maybe a reader can explain.  Hydra Waves (which is not completed yet) is advertising itself as “a touch of Dubai in Mazatlán.” Well, ok.  I know Dubai is an interesting place to visit (or at least the two people I know who have been there have said so) but I wonder what touch of Dubai we will be aware of at Hydra Waves.  And I also wonder how many people reading the ad would know what they mean by that.  Hmmm.  By the way, the owner of Hydra Waves is a Dubai native who fell in love with Mazatlán when he visited during spring break!
  

  True story. Did you know if you go to a major appliance retailer and purchase a modest washing machine…not many bells and whistles, but several cycles, etc., that it may not actually have hookups for water?  You would fill and I believe drain it using a hose?  Really.  Gratefully the machine could be returned for one with water hookups.  So be sure to look at the back of the machine in the store!  (No, this wasn’t me this happened to)

  President Calderón. The President is coming to Mazatlán to attend  a private function hosted by the Rice family on June 1.  He’ll also attend some sort of Dia de la Marina function.  But the big news is that our Alcalde (Mayor) Jorge Abel López Sánchez is a bit miffed that his office doesn’t have a role in planning and managing the President´s visit, as is usually the case.  Calderón’s office is in charge this time.

  So that’s a bit of an update on life in our little corner of the country.  Hasta pronto!

  
  

  
• 25May

  Summer in the Kitchen

  food 19 Comments

  

  We’re in summer mode in the kitchen these days.  But even with it being warm, I have been enjoying cooking and baking more than ever.  I just turn on the overhead fan and it keeps me cool while I work.

  This morning I had a smoothie, my favorite summer breakfast.  Carrot, Banana, Pineapple, Yogurt, A few pieces of frozen strawberry, granola, and water.  (I am not a fan of milk.)  We have a Vita-Mix blender and it will make a smoothie out of anything.  By the way, this is my No. 1 favorite thing I lugged with us when we moved here.

  For dessert twice in the last few weeks (once to take to friends, and once for us at home) I made apple galettes.  These are one pie crust gathered up around apples with cinnamon, nutmeg & sugar.  Rolling out pie crust is kind of challenging when the kitchen is warm, but I worked fast and served it with an apology ready.  (but not needed!)

  I love to make pizza.  The one at the top is red pepper, onion, garlic, and fresh mozarella.  They are thin crust with not much cheese, so probably not that bad for you, right?  The next day I made another with the remaining dough, of mozarella, fresh basil, and red peppers again, but no red sauce.

  I made a wonderful salad that I ate for two days…small dice of red pepper, jalapeño, onion, cucumber, jicama, celery, carrot, combined with black beans.  Herbs, lime, salt, pepper.  It was delicious and refreshing.

  Do you have a favorite hot weather meal?  I’d love to hear about it.

  
• 23May

  Tourists, Come Back!

  Mazatlan, around México 5 Comments

  

  Click on the image above to go to a New York Times article about incentives out there for people considering or rescheduling travel to México.

  It is Mazatlán’s slow season right now, but I don’t really know why.  It is warm and humid, but not overly so.  I do know that the slow season coming right after the swine flu shutdowns have really affected the economy here. The cruise ships aren’t expected back until the middle of June.  So, if you are thinking about a trip, I’d encourage you to come on down.  There are some great deals, the sun is out, the water is warm and the beer is cold.
  

  I read an article in the paper a couple of days ago that reported that the flu situation reduced tourism in Mazatlán by 64%.  That is huge!

  Tourism is down all over México, though.  Comparing 2008 to 2009, here are a few statistics from the Secretaria de Turismo:

  Riviera Maya, Q. Roo         -59,329

  Mazatlán                            -31,029

  Los Cabos Zona Corredor    -66,006

  Puerto Vallarta                   -30,271

  Playa Del Carmen               -12,338

  For those reading this who are not currently in México, I think you know what you need to do.  Make a reservation, and come on down.  It would be just plain mean not to.

  

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