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Making Tiles in Malpica, Mexico

We recently showed you the great bakery in Malpica, Mexico.   There is also a fantastic silver store there.   But today, we will show you how to make tiles.

So many tiles

So many tiles

Behind the silver store, this gentleman makes beautiful tiles.   He is ready to begin.   He started with this powder.

From this pile of powder to a beautiful tile

From this pile of powder to a beautiful tile

The mixture goes into a form.

Mixed and spread in this form

Mixed and spread in this form

Then color is added.

Adding the blue color

Adding the blue color

Today it is blue.   Now the tile goes to the next form.   He swirls and makes a design with a pencil.

Using a pencil to swirl and make the design

Using a pencil to swirl and make the design

He is finished with the tile.

That is amazing!

That is amazing!

This looks great!   All that is needed now is for the tile to bake and dry.

Zeb and Eider like these tiles

Zeb and Eider like these tiles

These tiles are all the same shape.

A perfect fit every time

A perfect fit every time

Thanks to the molds and forms.   The individual tiles fit together perfectly.   Our tour guide buys a few tiles each time he comes here.   He says his backyard patio is almost all tiled now, and he says it looks fabulous.   This gentleman makes tiles of various colors and designs.

So many choices

So many choices

We really liked these tiles, but the humans said they were not carrying tiles home.   So, we admired them and took photos to remember the tiles and this man.   It is now time to return to our van and leave the cobblestone streets of Malpica.

Leaving Malpica

Leaving Malpica

We really enjoyed our time here and everybody was so friendly and nice to us.   When you visit Mazatlan, we hope you take a side trip to Malpica.   Have a fresh roll from the bakery, get a tile and think of us, the Colorado Traveling Ducks.

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Bakery in Malpica, Mexico

One day, Eider and Zeb Duck left Mazatlan and the beaches to go to Malpica.

We are in Malpica, Mexico

We are in Malpica, Mexico

Malpica is a small town, heading toward the mountains.   We stopped at this panaderia.

Let's go into this bakery

Let’s go into this bakery

A panaderia is a bakery.   Boy did it smell good in here!

The bread is baked in this oven.

We can see the fire in this oven

We can see the fire in this oven

Here is a pan of rolls almost ready to come out.

Almost ready

Almost ready

Look at these fresh rolls.

Fresh, warm and ready for us

Fresh, warm and ready for us

Some have filling; some have sugar on top.  There were so many choices.   This lady bakes some of the bread.

She likes Zeb and Eider Duck

She likes Zeb and Eider Duck

She liked us and we liked her.  She sold a roll with pineapple filling to Eider’s dad and Zeb’s mom got one called concha, or shell.  It had sugar on top.   They were both delicious.   This bakery could be our favorite place.   As we left the bakery, mom spotted this jewelry store.

Mexican silver is so pretty

Mexican silver is so pretty

Guess the bakery is one of our favorites.  This jewelry store is another favorite.   We liked Malpica.   But there is more in town.  Next time we will show you more of Malpica, Mexico.

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Cruising near Mazatlan’s Lighthouse with Zeb and Eider Duck

We, Zeb and Eider Duck, are going on a boat.   We took a bus from our resort to near Mazatlan’s lighthouse and now we are cruising in the bay.

We love boat rides

We love boat rides

Isn’t this pretty?  We love boats.   This is Mazatlan’s famous lighthouse.

El Faro, or the Lighthouse

El Faro, or the Lighthouse

This is the highest natural lighthouse in the world.   It is 157 meters, or 523 feet above high tide.   In 1933 this lighthouse was converted to electricity and now uses a 1,000 watt bulb.    That is equivalent to 600,000 candles.   Our guide told us that pirates previously used these caves under the lighthouse.

Former pirate caves under the lighthouse

Former pirate caves under the lighthouse

No pirates here now, though.   You can see that we are cruising near the city of Mazatlan.

Close to Mazatlan

Close to Mazatlan

This is the first sea lion to arrive this year.

More sea lions will arrive soon. He looks a little scared of us

More sea lions will arrive soon. He looks a little scared of us

We were told that many sea lions spend the winter here in Mazatlan.   We are approaching these white islands.

Bright white, because???

Bright white, because???

Many birds spend either the winter, or live here all year.     So many birds that our guide told us the rocks are not really white; they are covered with bird poop.   Here are some of the birds watching us arrive.

We are being watched

We are being watched

Our guide told us these are brown boobies.

Brown Boobies at the top the rock

Brown Boobies at the top the rock

This one is our favorite.

Our new friend

Our new friend

We, Zeb and Eider Duck, liked our boat ride.   When you are Mazatlan, you would enjoy a boat ride also.   It was great, but now we must get off the boat.

This was fun. Hope you go on a boat soon

This was fun. Hope you go on a boat soon

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Old Mazatlan with Zeb and Eider Duck

Zeb and Eider Duck visited the market, or Mercado, in Mazatlan.   Then we walked to the main plaza, or zocalo.   We admired the fruit available from this vender.

These look so good. We love the little oranges

These look so good. We love the little oranges

Here is another vender with even more choices for shoppers.

Colors are so bright

Colors are so bright

The policeman was directing traffic in this congested area.

Directing traffic in Old Mazatlan

Directing traffic in Old Mazatlan

Mom told us that most old Mexican cities have a main plaza, called the zocalo and the main cathedral faces this plaza.   Mazatlan’s cathedral is old and beautiful.

Main Cathedral in Mazatlan

Main Cathedral in Mazatlan

Inside people were working, preparing for a ceremony almost ready to begin.

Ornate alter. Flowers arriving now.

Ornate altar.  Flowers arriving now.

We are not sure if it was a wedding, but the flowers were being delivered and we saw a young girl in a beautiful long white dress.   She may have been the flower girl?

Across from the cathedral, in the park, the gazebo is very pretty.

We sat in this gazebo for a few minutes. Love it!

We sat in this gazebo for a few minutes. Love it!

Near the gazebo, the monument to military heroes stands.

Brigada Sinaloa. Celebrated 100 years.

Brigada Sinaloa. Celebrated 100 years.

Since it was near Christmas, Santa’s temporary home was on the edge of the park.

Santa's temporary home

Santa’s temporary home

He was not home when we were there.  Probably supervising the elves.   We really liked this Nativity scene.

In Mazatlan's main plaza

In Mazatlan’s main plaza

Santa Claus and presents are fun, but we all remember the real reason for Christmas.  When you are in a Mexican town, visit the main plaza, or zocalo.   It is a peaceful and pretty part of any town or Mexican experience.

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Mazatlan’s Market with Zeb and Eider Duck

I, Zeb the Duck, and my Alaska cousin, Eider Duck, went to the market in Mazatlan, Mexico.   This is not like going to the mall at home.   The market is exciting!   They sell so much stuff here.   This man is selling meat.

Fresh meat here

Fresh meat here

We have a kitchen in our condo, but the humans do not want to cook on vacation, so we did not buy anything from him.   Here is more meat.

This will be cut into smaller pieces

This will be cut into smaller pieces

Another man cuts this into smaller portions.

Moving away from the fresh meat, we admired these hats.

Colorful, but too big for ducks

Colorful, but too big for ducks

This cabinet has so many ceramic skulls and masks.

Skulls of many sizes

Skulls of many sizes

Mom bought a small skull.   We don’t know why, but she liked it.   There are so many booths selling souvenirs of Mexico.

So many choices

So many choices

These are so colorful.

Can we take it all home???

Can we take it all home???

Look at all these shells.

Shell wind chimes and so much more

Shells for all occasions

Other booths sold clothing and leather.   This market, or Mercado, has everything.  The lunch counter looked inviting, but we did not eat here.

Mom loves lunch counters and food from street venders.

Mom loves lunch counters and food from street venders.

Maybe next time.   This man is entertaining people while they shop and eat.

We like him

We like him

He is working for tips only.   Piñatas are at many Mexican parties.   This one is a typical shape.

Big and colorful

Big and colorful

At parties, or fiestas, the piñata is filled with candy.  The young humans take turns trying to break the piñata and then everybody dives for the candy.   It looks like a lot of fun for humans.  These are special piñatas for Christmas.

Piñatas for Christmas.

Piñatas for Christmas.

Aren’t they fun?   This is a sample of what you might see walking around the Mercado in Mazatlan.

Visit a market soon.

Visit a market soon.

This place is wonderful.  We hope you visit a Mexican market soon.  You will have a great experience.  We did.

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Happy New Year’s Eve Day

The Colorado Traveling Ducks and their humans hope you have a very Happy New Year’s Eve.   In Denver, it will be cold as we ring in the New Year.   Denver will have two fireworks displays again this year.   The first show is at 9 p.m. and the second is at midnight.   Here are some photos celebrating New Year’s Eve in 2013.

Denver fireworks last year

Denver fireworks last year

Celebrating the arrival of 2014 near Denver's capitol building

Celebrating the arrival of 2014 near Denver’s capitol building

Looking forward to ringing in 2015 in Denver

Looking forward to ringing in 2015 in Denver

If you are near a television at midnight Eastern Standard Time, we hope you watch the ball drop in Times Square.   This, the 6th ball, debuted in 2009.   The ball begins 475 feet about the street.   Weighing 11,875 pounds, the ball is 12 feet in diameter, and contains 2500 crystals.   That is really big!

We will celebrate with friends, one of whom is hosting a party.  We will be careful and hope you will be careful also.   If you drink, please have a designated driver or call a taxi.   Have a good time today and remember the Colorado Traveling Ducks care about you.

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Christmas Decorations at Torres Mazatlan

I, Zeb the Duck, and Eider Duck, loved the Christmas decorations at our resort in Mazatlan, Mexico.

Torres Mazatlan. Our home for the week.

Torres Mazatlan. Our home for the week.

It was great having Christmas decorations to remind us that Christmas is almost here.  We are used to colder weather for Christmas, but we are enjoying the pool, beach and warm, sunny weather.  The Christmas tree and Nativity scene were beautiful.

These decorations were made by Torres Mazatlan employees in 1992

These decorations were made by Torres Mazatlan employees in 1992

We especially liked the story of the Christmas tree.  The employees made the tree from palm fronds and decorated it with coconuts wrapped in colored paper.  Torres Mazatlan has used this tree since 1992 as a symbol of Love and Peace on Earth.

Entering the resort, just past the security station, this festive scene greets us.

Just past security station

Just past security station near the entrance of the resort

The Christmas flowers near the registration desk are very much a sign of Christmas.

Such vivid colors

Such vivid colors

The Santa display with Santa’s mailbox was very popular.

Letters to Santa go in this mailbox

Letters to Santa go in this mailbox

Leaving the registration area, we passed through this decorated arch.

Looks so tropical

Looks so tropical

Wandering through the grounds, we liked this cart of flowers with Christmas decorations on the ground.

Flowers are always nice.

Flowers are always nice.

Near our patio, we enjoyed this cart of Christmas packages.

Presents everywhere

Presents everywhere

It was especially nice at night when the lights were on.

One day we watched the younger human children break a piñata.

He is trying

He is trying

This is a great Mexican custom and the kids had fun.

She is older, so the piñata moves while she tries

She is older, so the piñata moves while she tries

We had fun watching this also.

It won't be long before piñata is broken and candy falls to ground

It won’t be long before piñata is broken and candy falls to ground

Our humans said we were too small to swing the stick and also too small to scramble with the humans picking up the candy.

While enjoying tropical weather it was nice to see the Christmas spirit around us.  We hope you are enjoying seeing Christmas decorations wherever you are during the Christmas season.

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The Rink at Belmar with the Colorado Traveling Ducks

I, Zeb the Duck, have a great idea for you during this Holiday season.   Soapy Smith Duck, our Alaska cousin, Eider Duck, and I, Zeb the Duck, went to Belmar shopping area in Lakewood, Colorado.

Belmar shopping center. The B really is on this sign.

Belmar shopping center.  The B really is on this sign.  Letters change between green and red.

We didn’t come to shop.   We came for The Rink.   The Rink is an outside ice skating area for humans.   Look at the humans having a great time on ice skates.

Ice skating at The Rink in Belmar

Ice skating at The Rink in Belmar

We sat on the table watching the human skaters.

Humans on ice skates

Humans on ice skates

Again, we would love to be humans.   The area is decorated for Christmas.

Big Christmas tree

Big Christmas tree

See the decorations over the street, the Christmas tree and all the magical lights.   The lights are magical when it is dark, but we were there this afternoon, so the lights were not turned on yet.  These white trees decorated some streets here.

White trees for Christmas

White trees for Christmas

During the winter, we still have nice sunny days, so head out to The Rink.   We think it will be open through late January.  This is the sign explaining the hours and rates for skating.

See you at Belmar soon.

See you at Belmar soon.

We hope you come to Belmar to ice skate, or any ice skating rink near you.   Enjoy this winter activity.   We would if we had ice skates to fit our duck feet.