10-28-08 Mazatlan:

Today we woke up in Mazatlan.  We had never been here before either.  So we found a couple excursions to go on.  First one was a city tour.
First stop was at an overlook.  of course there were a bunch of venders there, but some of them did have some pretty neat stuff (none of which we bought)

 view from the overlook

 back on the road admiring the colorful housing.

 cool lightpost

Here we elected to take the Mazatlán Highlights and Papantla Flyers/Deluxe City Tour tour offered by Holland America. I believe it was something like $39@.

Included in the stops was the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conceptio. This building was finished in 1899 and is being restored to its original beauty. A unique detail is that at the time of the construction, there was a Jewish family living in Mazatlan who donated money towards the construction. People were so happy that they decided to set the Star of David in the top windows of this cathedral. One of the only Catholic churches with the jewish symbol.

 loved the shadows

 and the old doors.

 Mazatlán Cathedral is the main religious building in the city of Mazatlan.  It is built in Baroque-Revival style of Sinaloa, Mexico, and home of the Catholic Diocese of Mazatlan. It is located in the historical center.

 The works of the temple began in the year of 1856, by order of the then bishop Pedro Loza and Pardavé. Later, the parish priest Miguel Lacarra takes over the works and it is for this that they are concluded in the year of 1899.

 Carolyn heading into the church

 very ornate

 Another neat doorway

 Minimalist?

We also saw Cliff divers. These daredevils do something similar as in Acapulco, but it is lower and more shallow. The rock formation that they climb up is about 45 feet high and dive into water that is only 5 to 6 ft deep. They also have "associates" walking amongst the onlookers asking for donations for the diver. I wonder if the divers really do get the money?

 Great views

 continuing along the road.

 some odd site along the way

 another church?

 and resorts

Another stop is to see the Dance of Papantla's flyers (middle lower picture). It is a ritualistic dance in Veracruz, Mexico performed by the Totonac Indians and Olmeca Indians. Five men, each representing the five elements of the indigenous world climb atop a pole, one of them stays on the pole playing a flute and dancing while the remaining four descend the pole with a rope tied by one of their feet. The rope unwraps itself 13 times for each of the four flyers, symbolizing the 52 weeks of the year.

 It was very much a "show".

 but it was colorful

 and they did some odd things.

 Don't think I'd want to do this!

 Back in the bus and passing more colorful buildings.  I do like all the colorful buildings.

 And a little Americanization. 

 Don't know what this is, just liked the designs.

 a view of the historic town from above.

 back to the marina

 back on the ship.  They were getting ready for Halloween.  Cool Jack-o-lantern.

 We both enjoyed the vegetable carving demonstration.

 enjoy seeing the decorative fruit around the lido restaurant, too.

I enjoyed Mazatlan a lot more then I expected.  Maybe it's because noone tried to cheat us!  But since this cruise, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta have been taken off the cruise itineraries from time to time due to violence towards visitors.  Guess it happens everywhere.  Just too bad it happens where they can use the vacationers money.