Anyone who has read this blog for long knows how much I love Mazatlán.  But sometimes I just don’t understand things around here.

For example, earlier this year there was a large civic project where some of the malecon concrete surface was chipped out and replaced North of the Fisherman’s Monument.  Seemed strange to me since that portion of the malecon seemed in very good repair already.  Of course I was hoping they’d continue on South from the Fisherman’s Monument and clean up Los Pinos and Olas Altas, too.

For those of you who don’t know Mazatlán well, Olas Altas is the beach at Centro Historico, and is a major tourist attraction for the city.

Below is a representative picture of the seawall at Olas Altas.  Not so attractive.

Below is a picture of the way many of the planters have fallen apart.

And here is a picture of one of the better looking handrails at the handicapped ramp.  You can’t neglect metal this close to the ocean or it will just disappear!

Then, instead of having nice looking street signs all around Centro (and the rest of the city) they have put up these things with advertising at the bottom.  And if you didn’t know better, wouldn’t you think the Gran Plaza was this way (or that way?)

Look what they do in Mérida.  Not only is it a gorgeous street plaque, but the neighborhood is depicted with the lovely graphic tile.   Color me jealous!

Or how about the end of the malecon, where there is the roundabout called “the shield.”  Every parade and marathon goes around there.  Carnaval bandstands are there.  It is our city shield, after all.  Needs a bit of help, don’t you think?

And then, here is my favorite little square, the Plaza de los Leones.  There is a library in the center.  But is there anywhere to throw a piece of trash?  No, the garbage cans were all removed a couple of years ago.  Here’s what we have now:

I hope you know how much I love Mazatlán.  I am bringing these things to light because it isn’t right that I only show the positive.  But even these frustrations can’t overshadow how much I love this city and its people.  And to end this post on the right note, I thought I’d share with you a video of the Festival of Lights.  But not the fireworks… one of the hot air balloons that they inflated right on the malecon!  It was quite a sight. (the video is just 18 seconds)