Everyone is at the beach today. I mean everyone. The picture at the top of this post is one of Mazatlán’s busiest and craziest streets – Ejército Mexicano. It is usually something like 4 – 7 lanes (if you have driven in México, you know what I mean) and packed with cars. We make an effort to avoid it at all cost… but how about that picture? Empty. That’s because everyone is at the beach! Most stores in town are closed, except the supermarkets and those catering to people heading to the beach.
The hotels are at 100% occupancy and the beaches, too. Playa Norte about noon today looked like the picture below. Noon is actually early, too, since most people stay up very late partying. The beaches will be packed by three, for sure! As we walked, people kept arriving – pickup trucks full of people, coolers, umbrellas, Grandma, babies, etc. They stop at the malecon, quickly unload and then drive off to park.
Some people bring the big square outdoor room type shade structures and some tie together some blankets and use driftwood supports. The family below has a cobbled together shelter, but it works! Isn’t it a glorious day?
Everyone wants the holiday to be a safe one. I read that we have 40 lifeguards working the length of the beaches, but with these crowds, that isn’t even enough. So the Navy sent some troops here to safeguard the beaches. See the picture below? Under the Coca-Cola umbrella and the palapa next to it? Their uniforms say Marina and they have large guns.
Some enterprising folks even built a little store on the beach! That was a very smart idea!
In the spirit of Easter, there was a lovely sand sculpture of Christ on a cross. Sorry, I couldn’t be bothered to walk down to take a better photo!
Below is a view from above through the new palapa cevicheria La Corriente. It is a more upscale palapa restaurant with an actual real kitchen and also real bathrooms. Prices are higher than the average palapa, but it is very nice. They even stay open until midnight. That’s all for now!
Steve Cotton
April 23, 2011Interesting. Armed lifeguards. But I suppose they are there not so much for potential drownings. We had a naval boat show up off of our shore this week. Showing the flag that the central government is watching out for us.
John Calypso
April 24, 2011Looks to be fine weather for an Easter weekend – Your photos look much the same as Puerto Escondido beaches this weekend – a good time to be doing something else 😉
Contessa
April 24, 2011Thanks, I needed a Semena Santa photo fix!!!
judith
April 24, 2011Great photos as usual – you must be enjoying the new camera. The shot of Ejercito is eerie! A friend just posted on Facebook “Noone goes to the beach for Semana Santa anymore, it’s too crowded.”
Nancy
April 24, 2011Steve, They always have the Navy here every Semana Santa, just one of the things they do. I have a feeling it is a job they all covet, what with all the bathing suits and all…
John, We actually like Semana Santa here – Centro is E-M-P-T-Y during the day and just festive and fun at night. In the Zona Dorada though, it is wall to wall people and hooting and hollering, a bit much for us!
Contessa, You’re welcome!
Judith, Paul and I thought that spacemen had come down and captured everyone off Ejercito, it was very spooky!
Ingrid
April 24, 2011Oh, I wish I was there to take it all in. It looks so cheerful with all the people. The new camera looks like it’s doing a good job for you. Ejercito looks unbelievably empty. If I hadn’t seen the picture I wouldn’t have thought it possible.
Felipe Zapata
April 26, 2011You have raised my spirits with these photos because my lovely wife and I are off to the beach at Zihuatanejo next week. And all the folks will have departed!