Month: January 2015

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Dining in Mazatlan with Zeb and Eider Duck

There are so options for dining in Mazatlan.   Zeb and Eider Duck just want to mention a few of our favorites.   For breakfast our humans usually ate in the resort restaurant.

Eggs, toast, homemade sausage and artistically cut tomatoes

Eggs, toast, homemade sausage and artistically cut tomatoes

The food is always good at our resorts, and we usually have an ocean view.

We just could not wait

We just could not wait

Walking down the streets of Mazatlan, you will encounter many restaurants.   Many have outside dining available and some even have grills where you can watch the ribs and other items being prepared.   One evening we went to Carlos and Lucia’s for dinner.  Whenever our humans are in Mazatlan, they eat here.   This was the first trip to Mazatlan for Zeb and Eider Duck.   Carlos and Lucia are married.   He is from Mexico and she is from Cuba.   They both live in Mazatlan and run this restaurant.

Carlos & Lucia's is a favorite restaurant

Carlos & Lucia’s is a favorite restaurant

They are both very friendly and treat everyone like family.   The night we were there, they were having a large reception for their son.  He was married that day.   Lots of their friends and family were arriving.   When we arrived Carlos greeted us at the entrance.   All the food is excellent, but our humans always have Ropa Vieja, a Cuban dish.  Some times it is shredded and perfectly seasoned beef and sometime it is pork.   Tonight it was pork and delicious.   Another favorite restaurant is La Casa Country.

We like this restaurant, too

We like this restaurant, too

Again, our humans always eat here during their time in Mazatlan.   One visit Eider’s dad had steak and Zeb’s mom had fish.   They said it was great.   Next time both humans had ribs.  Boy did they smell good.   Humans said they were perfect!   And ice cream for dessert.   The last night the restaurant was expecting a large group to come soon.   While we were eating, some of the waiters danced.

They take our orders, bring food, and entertain.

They take our orders, bring food, and entertain.

This restaurant advertises that the Old West influenced it.   These waiters would have been great cowboys.

Our waiter is one of the dancers.

Our waiter is one of the dancers.

Most of the restaurants are in the Golden Zone tourist area of Mazatlan.   Our resorts were north of town in a newer area.   To get to the restaurants, we could take a taxi, but usually we just took the city bus.   The bus stops in front of our resort and lets us off anywhere in the tourist area.   Also, we can and did, take it to the market and cathedral area.   If someone is not sure where to get off, if a polite request is made to the driver, he will usually tell you when you arrive at your stop.   The bus is fun and you can ride for 10 pesos.

We take the bus for Sabalo Central in Mazatlan

We take the bus for Sabalo Central in Mazatlan

That is about 80 cents.   We like Mazatlan and we like the bus.  The driver and other passengers are always very nice to us.

 

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Copala, Mexico with Zeb and Eider Duck

Zeb and Eider are in Copala, Mexico.   This small mountain village has 650 full time residents.   Copala also has one of the prettiest churches of any Mexican village.   This church was begun in 1748 and completed in 1775.

Church in Copala, Mexico

Church in Copala, Mexico

Let’s go inside.

This church is about 350 years old.

This church is about 350 years old.

We really like this church.   Jesus on the cross is a vivid reminder of the Christian religion.

Jesus died for us

Jesus died for us

This depiction of Jesus with a crown of thorns is also an emotional reminder.

Wearing a crown of thorns

Wearing a crown of thorns

Outside the church, we liked this waterless fountain with the white goose.

Pretty

Pretty

Copala was founded in 1565 when the Spanish discovered silver.   That was 450 years ago!   The economy of Copala is based on tourism, mining and agriculture.   Copala is also a National Historic Landmark in Mexico.   Across from the church in the main plaza, we saw this pretty gazebo.

We ducks like gazebos

We ducks like gazebos

Of course, we ducks liked these chickens.

Ducks and chickens

Ducks and chickens

Today we saw these kids playing.

Riding a horse

Riding a horse

Sadly, silver shop was closed today.

Mom always buys something in silver shops

Mom always buys something in silver shops

We thought the mural on this building was very pretty.

We like this mural

We like this mural

Copala is about 50 kilometers from the beaches of Mazatlan.   We liked this little town and we think you would like it also.   When you are in Mazatlan, why not visit Copala?

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Onilikan in Mazatlan with Zeb and Eider Duck

Zeb and Eider visit a tequila factory in Mazatlan.   We went to Onilikan today.

Let's go inside Onilikan

Let’s go inside Onilikan

This factory and show room has so much stuff.

Making spirits

Making spirits

The agave is from the cactus plant and is the base for tequila.   Onilikan uses this agave syrup with mangos to make a delicious beverage.

Tasty, but too potent for small ducks

Tasty, but too potent for small ducks

This Mazatlan Cocktail display caught our attention.

Mazatlan cocktail?

Mazatlan cocktail?

These bartenders were really friendly.

These guys are our new friends

These guys are our new friends

If you purchase some beverages, you may want some mole, salts and spices to enhance the drinks.

They have everything here.

They have everything here.

If you cannot decide which you prefer, perhaps you would like a souvenir bag with a variety of flavors.

Purchase one of these and sample a variety of flavors

Purchase one of these and sample a variety of flavors

You have a huge selection for your souvenirs, or perhaps to sample during your stay in Mazatlan.

Mini bottles for humans

Mini bottles for humans

Onilikan is in Mazatlan near the Playa Mazatlan hotel.   This is a very convenient location in the tourist area of Mazatlan.    For more information visit www.onilikan.com   and also visit www.agavespirits.com   You will be amazed at the variety of products.

Something for every human

Something for every human

However, we Colorado Traveling Ducks are not too sure about this flavorful combination.

We did not try these. Maybe we should?

We did not try these. Maybe we should?

What do you think about this one?   You will enjoy a visit to Onilikan in Mazatlan.

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Australia Day

Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. Celebrated annually on 26 January, it marks the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet of British Ships at Port Jackson, New South Wales, and raising of the Flag of Great Britain at that site by Governor Arthur Phillip. In contemporary Australia, celebrations reflect the diverse society and landscape of the nation, and are marked by community and family events, reflections on Australian history, official community awards, and citizenship ceremonies welcoming new immigrants into the Australian community.   

This information came from Wikipedia.   We are telling you about Australia Day, because Zeb and Eider Duck heard the humans talking and we are going to Australia later this year.

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Lunch on Mazatlan’s Stone Island with Zeb and Eider Duck

Zeb and Eider Duck are going to an island today.   That means we will be on another boat.   When we arrived at Stone Island, these pelicans were there to welcome us.

Welcome to Stone Island

Welcome to Stone Island

We got off the boat and onto this wagon pulled by the big tractor.

Our ride from boat to the restaurant

Our ride from boat to the restaurant

Driving around the island, we arrived at our restaurant on the beach.

Beach front dining

Beach front dining

We like Molokay Restaurant.   We are ready to order our food.

Table with a view

Table with a view

Our table is really close to the beach!   While we waited for our food there were many activities for us.   First we rode horses with our humans.

This helped us with this horse. It is much bigger than ducks

This helped us with this horse.  It is much bigger than ducks

That was the first horse ride for Zeb and Eider Duck.  It was fun!   We really like lounging on these chairs, enjoying the sun.

Lounging and enjoying the sun

Lounging and enjoying the sun

We wanted to see everything, so we walked on the beach.

Zeb and Eider love the beach

Zeb and Eider love the beach

Isn’t this beautiful?   Riding the banana is a lot of fun, too.

Fun but water is chilly at first

Fun but water is chilly at first.  Banana is pulled by a boat.

The humans could paddle this kayak.

Wow. A kayak!

Wow. A kayak!

Some of the humans drove these 4 wheelers on the beach.

Our humans did this before we ducks joined the family. Maybe next time?

Our humans did this before we ducks joined the family.  Maybe next time?

So many choices for us.   But, we liked the horses best.   Of course, mom always finds a place to shop.   She didn’t buy any silver today, but this man sold us this wooden sea turtle.

Mom liked this sea turtle and the man was very nice. Ducks liked him, too.

Mom liked this sea turtle and the man was very nice. Ducks liked him, too.

It is coming home with us.  It is a great souvenir of this day.   Our food came and the humans all were eating.   The chicken looked and smelled good and everybody said it was very tasty.   If anybody dropped any food, these dogs were ready to eat whatever they could find.

So cute and waiting for food.

So cute and waiting for food.

I think many humans fed the dogs today, also.   When you are in Mazatlan, you would enjoy a day on Stone Island.   It was fun!

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Villas El Rancho in Mazatlan with Zeb and Eider Duck

Our second resort, Villas El Rancho,

Welcome to Villas El Rancho, Mazatlan, Mexico

Welcome to Villas El Rancho, Mazatlan, Mexico

was very close to Torres Mazatlan, our first resort.   Villas El Rancho, or El Rancho, is much smaller.   All the villas are two stories

Villas in El Rancho

Villas in El Rancho

and ours had two bedrooms, a kitchen, 2 baths, a large living room and lots of huge windows.   Our villa was closest to the beach.   The bar was small and close to us;

Restaurant is up the stairs behind the bar

Restaurant is up the stairs behind the bar

same with the restaurant.   From the bar, we can see the pool, surrounded by many tall palm trees.

Pool from the bar

Pool from the bar

Entering the resort, the winding path and lush vegetation enhanced the feeling of privacy.

Path near entrance of resort

Path near entrance of resort

Isn’t this wishing well great?

We are ready to make a wish

We are ready to make a wish

We think it is wonderful.   We are heading for the hot tub now.

Let's go to the hot tub

Let’s go to the hot tub

Definitely worth visiting.   We love hot tubs.

Here we are by the hot tub

Here we are by the hot tub

Leaving the hot tub we see the pool and the path to the bar,

Let's go to the restaurant

Let’s go to the restaurant

and beach and the stairs to the restaurant.   In the restaurant we sit at our favorite table, enjoying the ocean.

Sitting at our favorite table

Sitting at our favorite table

You can see some of the repair work below.

Working to repair the damage from high waves

Working to repair the damage from high waves

The high waves did a lot of damage, but it is being repaired, and there is no reason for not visiting Mazatlan.   The repairs did not interfere with our vacation. We really liked Villas El Rancho in Mazatlan, and we think you would like it also.   We love these flowers–and they are yellow, like us.

So pretty and a great color.

So pretty and a great color.

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Mazatlan’s Storm Damage is Being Repaired

Zeb and Eider Duck and their humans had a great time in Mazatlan.  We were able to do everything we wanted to do.   You may remember that a strong hurricane hit Los Cabos, Mexico in early September.   Los Cabos and Mazatlan are really very close.   The Gulf of California separates Los Cabos on the Baja Peninsula from Mazatlan on the mainland.   For several weeks after the hurricane, Mazatlan was hit with extremely high waves.   We want to show you some of the water damage we saw, a few months later.   Our first resort, Torres Mazatlan, has a lot of beachfront property.   There is a cement wall between the resort property and the waterfront.

Wall between beach and resort

Wall between beach and resort

The water did a lot of damage to parts of this wall.   There had been many high walls of sand bags to protect things.

Sand bags to protect resort.

Sand bags to protect resort.

Some of these sand bags remain here.   One of the days in our vacations we experienced high waves.   Not doing damage, because the sand bags still offered some protection.   Much of the damage at Torres Mazatlan had been repaired before our arrival.   Our second condo was Villas El Rancho.  This is a much smaller complex.   The repairs were beginning while we were there.   From our condo, the doors opened to a grassy area with lounge chairs over looking the beach.   However, the water was so high, that the entire area was covered in water, and mostly washed away.   This is how our patio area looked when we arrived.

Our patio, but repairs are being completed

Our patio, but repairs are being completed

However, the repairs were being made very quickly.   We bet the repairs are all finished now.   The resort sits above the beach, so this was the only area of severe water damage.     The water had also damaged the stairs from the beach to our condo.

Stairs will be replaced

Stairs will be replaced

Several areas along the beach were being repaired.

Working on beach front property

Working on beach front property

We just want to show you that there was not much damage away from the beach.   We love these palm trees with the bright red berries and no damage here.

We love the red berries on these palm trees

We love the red berries on these palm trees

The restaurant at El Rancho is elevated overlooking the beach.   The restaurant, Lupitas, was serving tasty food and the view was great.

From our restaurant during breakfast.

From our restaurant during breakfast.

The repairs were progressing quickly, so we hope you will visit Mazatlan soon and enjoy the beaches and the friendly people.   We are glad we were in Mazatlan.

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Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2015

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.   This American federal holiday, marking the birthday of the nonviolent civil rights  leader, is observed on the third Monday of January.  King’s actual birthday is January 15.   King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law.    In 1983 President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law and it was first observed three yeas later.  It was officially observed in all 50 states for the first time in 2000.   We, the Colorado Traveling Ducks, like Dr. King’s emphasis on nonviolent activism.

We wish you all a very pleasant day today.

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Concordia, Mexico with Zeb and Eider Duck

Concordia, Mexico, founded January 20, 1565 was first named Villa de San Sebastian.   Concordia is located in the Sierra Madre Mountains in the state of Sinaloa, in Mexico.   Most of the people make a living by making and selling furniture and pottery.   Last time, Zeb and Eider Duck, showed you a small pottery factory on the way into town.   In the center of town, we found the cathedral.

San Sebastian church

San Sebastian church

This church is more than 350 years old.   That makes this church, Concordia’s San Sebastian church, the oldest church in the state of Sinaloa.   The church occupies one side of the main plaza of Concordia.   We love the pretty white benches around the plaza.

Concordia's main plaza

Concordia’s main plaza

Zeb and Eider went inside, but mom did not let us sit on anything in the church.   We did not want to offend anyone there.   This church is often referred to as a stunning baroque landmark with ornate gold detailing.

Inside San Sebastian church

Inside San Sebastian church

We really liked this church.   It is so nicely decorated.   We wanted to see the statues in the front more closely.

The higher statues

The higher statues

Aren’t they beautiful?   This church is so pretty and we thought it was very peaceful, also.

We like San Sebastian church

We like San Sebastian church

The benches outside by the plaza are the perfect place to have a snack and chat with friends.

Relax with a friend

Relax with a friend

We hope you leave the beaches of Mazatlan for a while and visit Concordia.   We like Concordia.

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Making Pottery near Concordia, Mexico with Zeb and Eider Duck

Today, Zeb and Eider Duck, are going to see a man make pottery.   They make frogs here.

Pottery frogs for sale here

Pottery frogs for sale here

We like frogs.   This man forms the clay by hand.

All by hand

All by hand

He uses his foot to turn the bowl, but the work is done by hand.

Ready for the ovens

Ready for the ovens

The bowl is formed and will soon be taken to these ovens in the back.

We walked to the ovens in the back

We walked to the ovens in the back

Wood goes in here to build a fire, which will bake the bowl and other items.

Put wood for fire in here

Put wood for fire in here

Even humans need a ladder to climb to the top to place wet, clay items in oven.

Ladder to get to top of oven and put clay inside

Ladder to get to top of oven and put clay inside

This man liked us so he carried us to the oven.

Ducks with man in oven

Ducks with man in oven

Hey, don’t leave us here in the oven.   We like to see things here and the man does not forget us.

Are we supposed to be here mom?

Are we supposed to be here mom?

He got us out of the oven and we are ready to get back on our van.   But first, mom has to look at all the finished items.

So many things are made. So many things to buy.

So many things are made. So many things to buy.

This small pottery factory sells more than frogs.   We liked seeing the pottery being made and the man was very nice to us.  We hope you go near Concordia, Mexico to see him make pottery.   Maybe you will buy something for a great remembrance of your trip, too.