Mazatlan Creates Free Tourist Information Service

In the beginning of March, Joel and I began volunteering for a new program called Mazatlan Tourist Aides. We sit for several hours once a week in a beautiful little square in the Centro area. There has been a lot of negative word that Mazatlan, along with other places in Mexico is no longer a safe place to come and visit. Although there is crime here, the crime primarily only involves anyone having something to do with the drug trade.  We are not sure what the media is doing by blowing up incidents that happen here and cautioning people from vacationing in the south. There are suggestions we would have to those on vacation whether here or anywhere else. We want to make visitors feel welcomed and this is a positive way in which we can contribute to our "home".  The following press release was sent out last week and we want to do our best to get the word out that you are encouraged to come and enjoy this beautiful city.  

Joel and Janice

                                                                     Joel and brother, Steve         

A group of American and Canadian volunteers have organized themselves in Mazatlán, Mexico to provide a warm welcome for visitors. Armed with free information, maps and their own working knowledge of the pretty port town on the Sea of Cortez, the blue-shirted Mazatlán Tourist Aide volunteers dispense smiles along with down-to-earth info about their adopted city.

            The group’s primary goal is to help cruise ship tourists with limited time, experience the city and find the things they’re interested in. Whether it’s strolling the town’s Centro Historico (with its beautiful restored turn-of-the-century buildings), a lazy afternoon at one of many beaches, enjoying fantastic seafood, or walking along the 12-mile oceanfront malecon (boardwalk), Mazatlán Tourist Aide volunteers provide detailed info – and lots of smiles - free of charge. 

            Mazatlán’s State Office of Tourism has produced special, easy-to-read “Follow the Blue Line” maps. The “blue line” refers to an actual line that will be painted in the street from the cruise ship docks to Plaza Machado, the historic and artistic center of Mazatlán. Volunteers in the plaza and along the way wear bright blue T-shirts printed with “Mazatlán Tourist Aide Volunteer.”

            Currently there are five locations with two volunteers at each, with more volunteers walking in the most heavily traveled areas. Future plans include pairing volunteers with local college students studying tourism. As of March 15, the group had 40 volunteers, with more joining on a regular basis. Most are “second-homers” and live in Mazatlán 4-6 months a year, while others are year-round residents. 

            Mazatlán Tourist Aide Volunteers was created by Roger Culbertson, owner of Mazatlán Homes Real Estate, a 22 year resident and Tom Reaney, owner of Mazatlán Connection Travel Agency. The group has no commercial interests and does not promote any commercial enterprises; its sole purpose is to keep tourists from getting lost, and direct them to what they want to do: shopping, dining, sightseeing and any other areas of interest.

YouTube - Videos from this email

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S6cHeaHVUU

Free enterprise in Mazatlan

I am writing this to salute the enterprise of the people of Mexico and Mazatlan in particular. I am especially impressed with how hard the people work, often to make just above survival income.

The first instance of this is the unoffical parking attendant, carwasher. Mazatlan does not have parking meters, but most blocks have their resident car watcher, car wash attendant. This is a man that stays on his block all day and into the evening. Although there is no charge to park, most realize that a small propina, (tip), will assure that your car will not be broken into, keyed, etc. Five pesos is generally adaquate. As this is about 40 some cents, this is cheap parking with a guarantee of safety for you car. Also, this same person will wash your car while you are out doing your business for around 50 pesos. Although we first balked at this, now we often avail ourselves of this service. With the use of a couple of rags and a bucket of water, you car is shiny when you return. These men carry themselves with pride and dignity as they support their family in a way they know.

One day last fall we were walking down the street when a bicyclist stopped to talk to us. He turned out to be a dentist and he gave us his card. Although skeptical of his approach to drum up business I reported to his office when my cleaning was due. It turns out he is a highly skilled dentist with certifications in endodonics and restorative dentistry. He personally cleaned and polished my teeth with the latest equipment. He also performed a checkup and discovered one small cavity. He said it would probably be okay to wait until I returned in the fall, but I scheduled an appointment with him to have it filled. The cost of the cleaning and check up was 300 pesos, around $25. He filled the tooth for $40 on my next appointment. Of note is I didn't know he had given me the shot to numb the area of the filling until I started feeling the numbness. I thought he had just been preparing my mouth for the shot, but he had already done it with absolutely no pain. With this and a cleaning last spring, my years dental expense was well under $100.

Alehandro and his crew maintain the community where we live. They keep both pools clean, all the lawns mowed, all the plants watered, and trim the palms. On top of this, this crew is available to perform almost any side job needed for a propina, (tip). Many people in Marina Gardens have hired Alehandro and his crew to do many jobs, both skilled and unskilled. I would guess that they make as much or more from the extra services that they perform after their work day is over than they make with their pool maintainance and landscape contracts. We have been happy with their work that they perform with integrity and a smile.

We continue to be impressed with the ingenuity and dignity of the hard working Mexican people. This is the great majority of the people of our adopted city in traditional jobs or in jobs they have created. They ethic here is that all work has dignity. Again, we salute our hard working Mexican hosts.

My brother, the tour guide; Joanne and Kenny: El Quelite

Hola all of our amigas Y amigos,
Life continues in Mazatlan for the run away Whitakers. Joel, Janice, and Ollie continue to be healthy, happy, and busy.

My first note is on my brother Steve. Steve was always the quiet man in our family. Last year he visited us for 8 days and soon after had us find him an apartment in Mazatlan. He now lives here six months a year. Mazatlan has done quite a change on Steve. This quiet man has come out of his shell and is a volunteer tourist aid. He walks a regular route two or three days a weeks along the Malecon, Olas Altas, and into Centro. He has his Mazatlan Volunteer Tourist Aid Blue shirt on. He approaches tourists that look like they need help finding their way around, advice on good places to see, eat, and how to read a map. A big part of his job is assuring frightened people that Mazatlan is a good place to visit and to relax and enjoy it. Steve approaches people many times a day and thoroughly enjoys it. He also is regularly the high scorer at three times a week bridge games that usually have 7 or 8 tables of players. I have a feeling that within a couple of years, Steve will be known as Mr. Mazatlan.

Another joy was the visit of daughter Joanne and grandson Kenny. Joanne and Kenny live in Spokane, Washington. Joanne has a very responsible position and has to travel part of the time. She wanted this time with us to relax, slow her life down, and get some time with Kenny. Joanne and Kenny got several beach days together. He is 12 and a seventh grader. We are proud of him and his mom who has raised him on her own. Grandpa and Kenny got two boogey boarding outings and he taught grandpa to ride the waves. Joanne attended a fashion show with Janice, a girls night out with Janice and friends, massage, manicure, and other fun things with mom. Nothing on this trip was in a hurry and we could tell that the nine days here were just what the Dr. ordered. Among fun outings for the four of us, was Mexican Fiesta night at The Last Drop, and of course, awesome rib dinners at Fat Fish. On Tuesday March 15 we dropped them at the airport for their flight home. It ended up their flight was cancelled. The airline put them up at The Playa Mazatlan, gave them meal and taxi coupons, and they ended up flying home on the 16th. We are hoping they will return for Christmas.

On St. Patrick's Day we drove to El Quelite with friends Patrick and Sandra. El Quelite is a small village about 25 miles north of Mazatlan. We arrived there around 11:15 and got our lunch reservation at Meson de los Laureanos, a wonderful restaurant that also has a Mexican Cultural show on Thursdays. We explored the town while waiting for lunch time to come. We went to the farm where fighting cocks are raised. There were a lot of beautiful roosters, but not sure if we like what they were being bred for. The farm overlooks a beautiful cemetery that is full of flowers and many festive decorations. We walked down the streets and saw some beautiful cactus and colorful homes. We stopped at their bakery which is reputed to have the best baked goods around. We bought a bagful of rolls, pastries, etc for a sum total of 25 pesos, a little over two dollars. We then returned to our restaurant and enjoyed a couple of cervezas and margaritas while waiting for the show to start. We also enjoyed excellent Mexican meals. The show was to start at 12:30, but a tour group was late so the show didn't start until 1:20. There were Mexican dancers with beautiful costumes. An interesting point was the German influence on the area's dances. Many Germans settled in the area well over 100 years ago and brought good beer and oompa music. The dances had a polka influence. Janice and I were pulled from the crowd twice and danced with the dancers. Patrick and Sandra took pictures. Hopefully, some will make their way to this blog. Also, there were Aztec fire dances and the beautiful Eagle dance in Aztec costume. After the show was over the Aztec dancers played a traditional game where a ball is passed only by way of the hips. They were quite skilled. We enjoyed close to three hours at Meson de los Laureanos. We would recommend this place including getting your picture taken with Lola, their MacCaw.

Life continues busy as Janice is planning a girlfriends tea party on the 30th of March. Janice also has taken more art lessons, this time in water color and is putting out some paintings that show promise for her.  She continues to have the monthly wine tasting group and has enjoyed the help of a friend of hers. We are both talking about ideas for when we return to Mazatlan in Sept. how we can get more involved in the community.
We are doing some great things that entertain us, but now it's time we do something that is helpful to this wonderful to us. Ollie has been having problems with itching here. He looses hair and constantly itches and not only does it drive him nuts, it drives us nuts. We've changed his food, had the place fumigated, given him supplements, had him see the vet and still unsure what is going on with him. Other then that, he loves being here with us. Joel continues to work at the library. We are now are starting to think of our return north in May. This trip, if we go straight to Spokane will take about 5 days. This winter has gone fast. When you live in paradise time does not drag.in paradise time does not drag.

We are also working on our plans for our trip to Europe for June and July. We've gotten our flights, and the lodging for Spain for the month of June. We are now working on the second part of our trip. That may take a bit longer as we are finding that Ireland is out of sight price wise. Mostly for food and car rental. B & B's aren't too bad and those are always fun as you get to meet the locals and find out more about their culture that way. Stay tune to this and we'll let you know where we will be heading.

Until next time,
Adios, Joel, Janice, and Ollie