YOU CAN RELIVE FIRST-TIME THRILLS AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WANT!

New Year snow in Phoenix

Lady Byrd Johnson once said: “When I no longer thrill to the first snow of the season, then I’ll know I am growing old.” That will never happen because I refuse to grow old and it doesn’t snow in Phoenix. But at a New Year’s Eve Party somewhere north of Phoenix, my husband and I experienced the impossible. Snow fell! That was a decade ago and it hasn’t happened again, but I remember the thrill we both felt.

I love first-time thrills like that and always look for more because age does not matter. Just be open to experiencing the rare, the unexpected, and even the scary. Somebody said, “If it excites and scares you at the same time, then it probably means you should do it.” It will give you a first-time thrill.

Exciting and Scary

At Yukon’s Dawson City, I had waited all night for the Northern Lights to appear only to be disappointed. My doting husband knew he had to find a way to perk me up. He decided to drive to the Arctic Circle on the Dempster Highway. We had passed up the opportunity to do it from Fairbanks, Alaska on the shorter and better Dalton Highway. He was afraid our old Class C motorhome might not make the remote dirt gravel road because there was only one stop on the way that could help just in case.  

Soon, the unique fall spectacle unfolded before our very eyes. The trees and shrubs grew shorter; it turned into a brighter red, orange, and gold alpine tundra. The landscape became an autumnal carpet of lichens and fungi that hugged the Tombstone Territorial Park. We were shivering in that quiet cold windy spot, but it was well worth the drive! I may stil not have seen the Northern Lights (saw them later on another trip to Anchorage) but I got an even better thrill!

Difficult and Untried

Just two months later I did one thing I had never been able to do throughout my childhood. The Philippines would have been a great place to do it but I thought it was difficult for a wimp like me. We had traveled to visit my sister in Falls Church, Virginia. At nearby and windy Virginia Beach, my husband succeeded in guiding me to fly my first-ever kite. It was so thrilling that we forgot to take a photo.

A few months later we had to return to the West Coast. My new kite-flying prowess allowed me to enjoy two towns more than I could ever have done. I loved the World Kite Museum and Hall of Fame in Long Beach, Washington. In Seaside, Oregon, we chanced upon the World Kite Festival and were privileged to see outdoor and indoor competitions.  

I still must learn to ride a bike, however. And I don’t mean the one at the gym.

Fun but Risky

A year later, I experienced that first-time thrill again at the World Waterpark inside the fourth-largest shopping center, the West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Corkscrew was its intermediate water slide with two enclosed pipes that twist, turn, and drop into a wide splash pool. I have never learned to swim and water deeper than three feet scares me.

But my husband promised he’d be there waiting for me at the end. That was all I needed. As I cascaded down, I was deathly afraid, especially when it got dark. I felt so alone and thought I would drown in the pool when I came out. But, when I did, there was my husband! He cuddled me in his arms, saying: “See how easy and fun it is?” Yes, he gave me another trophy in life.

There have been many other firsts, and I hope there will be more, even as I get older. One key is to have a cheerleader by your side.  That was my husband.   However, a certain Steven White once said: “If at first, you don’t succeed, then skydiving definitely isn’t for you.” I will, therefore, exclude skydiving from my pursuit of first-time thrills!

TRAVEL AWAITS: 10 Incredible Places in the Philippines, According To A Local

Batad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The original article was published in Travel Awaits on Oct. 4, 2022.

Before I migrated to and retired in the US 20 years ago, I lived in the Philippines from the time I was born, all of 54 years. This archipelago of 7,641 gorgeous islands I really do know by heart. It’s organized into three island groups, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. And has the fifth longest coastline in the world behind Canada, Norway, Indonesia, and Russia. How can all these islands be best covered? Here are my suggestions, including its five UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Luzon, the Northern Island Group

Luzon is in the north, the largest and most populous (ranked 15th in the world by area and fourth by population). It includes six other smaller islands. More than half of the country’s population of an estimated 114 million live here.

1.     Metro Manila

at the center of the Greenbelt Shopping Center in Makati

Get a flavor of Metro Manila, the cosmopolitan capital complex of 16 cities and towns. I lived in its three prime cities: Manila, Quezon City, and Makati. Choose to stay in the latter; it’s nearest to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

It’s a  shopper’s paradise. Global brands, Philippine crafts and designs, cheap Chinese goods, and fakes that are so like the originals (especially in Divisoria) give you the best value for your money. Two of the 10 largest shopping malls in the world are in Manila. It’s also a culinary haven. Think of any cuisine, and you can get it in the entire budget range. Filipino food is also fast gaining popularity with native Malay, Chinese, Spanish and American influences. You will also love the nightlife. Being at the top of the world’s call center industry, Metro Manila buzzes with activity 24x7.

2.     Corregidor Island

Corregidor Island

One of the first places where I took my husband was Corregidor Island at the mouth of Manila Bay. Only one and a half hours by fast hydrofoil from Metro Manila’s reclaimed area, Americans made it an “impregnable fortress” and played a significant role in the invasion and later liberation of the Philippines from Japanese forces in WWII.

It's the best place to relive the Pacific Front. Skeletons of the Mile-long Barracks (the longest single military barracks in the world housing 8,000 soldiers) and the cross-shaped hospital destroyed by the Japanese despite war treaties remind the visitor of the gruesome five-month battle. The Malinta Tunnel, the headquarters of Gen. MacArthur and the seat of the Philippine government at the time, is now an important museum. Many memorials salute the heroism of the American and Filipino soldiers who fought together.

3.     The City of Vigan in Ilocos Sur

North of Manila in the province of Ilocos Sur is the one place in the country, in fact, Asia, where the 300 years of Spanish rule remains painted in the 17th-century homes preserved as a Heritage Village, undamaged even by war. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, there is St. Paul’s Cathedral, built in 1641, and the Crisologo Museum, the ancestral home of the town patriarchs, depicting life during the Spanish colonial rule. In fact, “kalesas” or horse-drawn carriages still ferry tourists on the narrow-cobbled roads.

4.     Baroque Churches of the Philippines 

A group of churches in the Philippines, together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Three of them are in Luzon: San Agustin Church in Manila, Santa Maria Church in Bulacan, and Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte just after Vigan. The fourth, Miagao Church, is in the Visayan province of Iloilo.  I have not seen Miagao but am amazed and proud that we have these historic these comparable to some of those in Europe. In serving as the political backbone of the Spanish colonial rule, churches were subject to attacks by local revolts. Thus, Philippine baroque architecture appear like fortresses, with large imposing buttresses at the sides. It is also a unique interpretation by Chinese and Filipino craftsmen.

5.     Rice Terraces of the Mountain Province (headline photo)

Farther up north in the mountains of northern Luzon, there are five clusters of rice terraces in four municipalities of the Mountain Province. Together they are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the most intact of those created by the Ifugaos, a minority ethnic group that has lived in the Philippine Cordillera Mountains for more than two thousand years. They are a sight to behold—especially since they reach a higher altitude and are on steeper slopes than the other rice terraces around the world. Made of stone and mud walls, the elaborate old farming system is still maintained cooperatively by the mountain villagers of today.

6.     Mayon Volcano

The most beautiful volcano in the Philippines is also its most active; it last erupted in 2019. Mayon Volcano, in the province of Albay in the southeastern part of Luzon, is endowed with a symmetric conical shape that makes it “the most perfect volcanic cone in the world.” Sacred in Philippine mythology, it became the Philippines’ first national park. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, its designation as a World Heritage Site is pending.

Visayas, the Island Group in the Middle

Between the northern and southern island groups, the Visayas is composed of nine islands on the Visayan Sea. In the east are Leyte and Samar; center: Bohol, Panay, Negros, and Cebu; and west: Palawan, Romblon, and Masbate. Considered the capital of the Visayas, Cebu City has its own international airport.

7.     Palawan

I couldn’t wait to show my husband Palawan. The fifth largest in the archipelago, it juts out such that it has the westernmost point of the country.  It has two UNESCO World Heritage Sites and has consistently stayed on lists of Top 10 Best Islands in the World. Even the Iwahig Penal Colony, a “Prison without Walls” fascinates visitors and, of course, the world-class beaches and resorts like El NIdo and enchanting islands like Coron and those in Honda Bay.

The first of the World Heritage Sites is the Tubbataha Reef, one of the world’s best dive spots just 150 kilometers off Puerto Princesa, the capital. It’s an atoll reef with a very high density of marine life, featuring a 100-m perpendicular wall and two lagoons. The other is the world’s longest (8.2 km.) navigable Underground River only two and a half hours from Puerto Princesa. A short walk through a green forest inhabited by monkeys and monitor lizards will take you to the phenomenon of the river pouring straight into the sea, set amid the lovely limestone karst mountain landscape outside and the stunning formations inside its deep chambers.  

8.     Boracay Island Off Panay Province

Boracay is dubbed the “Party Island.” With an area of only 4 square miles, it’s famously known for wide, white powdery sand beaches, relaxation options, and a bustling nightlife. Just off the northwest coast of Panay in the Western Visayas, it is a favorite venue for corporate celebrations and personal vacations. Just like Palawan, it has stayed in the lists of the Top 10 Best Islands in the World.

9.      Bohol

Bohol in the Central Visayas and nearest Cebu should be, too. It includes 75 minor surrounding islands like Panglao, routinely listed as one of the top ten diving locations in the world. Bohol is also proud of its Chocolate Hills, numerous mounds of brown-colored limestone formations, and the Philippine tarsier, the world's smallest primate.

Mindanao, the Southern Island Group

Mindanao is the second-largest island after Luzon and the seventh-most populous in the world. It’s the country’s major breadbasket, producing eight of the top ten agricultural exports from the Philippines. It includes the Sulu archipelago which looks like a land bridge to Borneo, Indonesia.

For my first marriage, our honeymoon was at a Tree House in the Zamboanga peninsula adjacent to Sulu. I also took my children to Dakak, a beach resort and pearl farm there. Today, however, both of these provinces are Muslim-controlled and are no longer considered tourist-friendly.

        10. Bukidnon

The safest place to visit is the province of Bukidnon. When I was the managing director of a software company, I visited our software installation at the Del Monte Corporation facilities in Camp Philips, one of the world’s largest pineapple plantations. I loved the golf course amid the vast pineapple fields and will not forget the taste of pineapple-fed steaks at the country club. Move over, wagyu!

Occupying a wide plateau in north-central Mindanao, Bukidnon means "highlander" or "mountain dweller." The major producer of rice, corn, pineapples, bananas and sugarcane, it’s the fifth richest province in the Philippines. Mount Dulang-Dulang, the second highest mountain in the country, offers many adventures and the Monastery of Transfiguration is the best for quiet retreats.

If you want to experience world-class diving and beaches, land at the Cebu International Airport and visit the Visayan islands. If you want to explore the rich heritage, culture, and history of the Philippines, go to Luzon. If you want to backpack the whole country, there is a Roll-on/Roll-off integrated network of highways and ferry routes.

Wherever you go, you will be treated by the warmth and hospitality of the Filipino people. Everyone in the customer service chain speaks English or Taglish, an understandable blend of Tagalog and English. So it will be easy. You will not be disappointed. You will see that “It’s more fun in the Philippines.” 

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TRAVEL AWAITS: 11 Fantastic Things To Do In Scenic Seaside, Oregon

The original article was published in Travel Awaits on Aug. 13, 2022.

There was a year when we wanted a vacation from our months of full-time RVing. We also wanted to make our wedding anniversary more special than usual that year. As we were coming down from Vancouver, Canada, we chose the romantic town of Seaside, Oregon, for a special stop. awesome scenery, fantastic shopping, and amazing history.

There were two days of drizzles, three days of partly cloudy weather, seven days of strong winds, and two days of sun. But having lived in Seattle for three years, we were familiar with this kind of weather. It’s part and parcel of life in the Pacific Northwest. No matter the weather or how long you have, here is our advice on where to stay, eat, and play on a getaway to this West Coast beach town.

Located about 80 miles outside of Portland, Seaside is known as the Jewel of the Oregon Coast. A town in Clatsop County, it has a population of well under 7,000 but it is in the middle of a historically important area: the last stop of the two-and-a-half-year, 8,000-mile Lewis and Clark expedition that led to the doubling of the size of the U.S. Blessed with a romantic name that comes from Seaside House, a historic summer resort built in the 1870s by railroad magnate Ben Holladay, the town is not only historical; there is also an outstanding beach, lots of shopping, and many beautiful spots to spend hours with your camera in tow.

1. See Seaside Beach

It was tremendous luck that the American Kite Fliers Association’s 39th Annual Kite Festival was going on during our stay. The competing kites were quite a sight as we luxuriated in the hot tubs beside the pool of our resort. The beach and sky were a wide canvas littered with the giant colorful beings that danced to the hum of the ocean and the songs of the winds.

Even if you don’t make it there during a kite festival, you can enjoy the views of the Pacific Ocean, and, because there are always such good winds, you could even try flying your own giant kite. The beach area is so wide and expansive that there are always people milling around, playing volleyball, biking, or skating in addition to flying kites.

2. Stroll The Seaside Promenade

The best feature of the beach is the grand Seaside Promenade. There are always many strollers walking along this special place. Where the Seaside Promenade ends at Broadway Street, you’ll find the Seaside Turnaround, a small pedestrian and vehicular rotunda that reaches out to the shoreline and marks the actual spot of the historic end of the Lewis and Clark Trail. Their statue, together with the iconic Seaside, Oregon, sign, aptly stands in the middle. Friendly strollers took our souvenir photo.

3. Check Out Lewis And Clark National Historical Park

Fort Clatsop is about a 20-minute drive outside of town. This is wFort here Lewis and Clark were encamped in the winter of 1805 and 1806. This memorial was later grouped with the other spots the duo explored around the vicinity, and the whole area was preserved as Lewis and Clark National Historical Park. History will be recreated for you as you meet Sacagawea and wander through historical replicas of the last stop of the famous explorers’ historic expedition.

4. Explore Fort Stevens And See The Iredale Wreck

Just 10 minutes north of the park is Fort Stevens State Park. It was built near the end of the American Civil War. It had such great infrastructure that it continued to be of very good use as an active military reservation, protecting the harbor all the way up to WWII. But it was the sailing ship Peter Iredale that ran aground at its beachhead in 1906 that has drawn tourists to the area. The Iredale wreck proved to be a great photo opportunity for me.

5. Trek Tillamook Head

A lovely promontory, Tillamook Head is defined by a steep rocky bluff jutting out into the ocean at approximately 1,200 feet high. It was named after the Tillamook, a Salishan-speaking tribe of Native Americans who inhabited the coast around the area in the 19th century.

In 1806, Clark led a team that traveled south from Fort Clatsop to harvest blubber from a beached whale in the area. Today, the area is called Ecola State Park. “Ecola” is the Salish word for big fish.

6. Swing By The Seaside Aquarium

Back in town, you can visit Seaside Aquarium. This privately owned aquarium was an indoor saltwater public bath in the 1920s. Water was pumped from the Pacific Ocean through a still-visible pipe. In 1937, it became an aquarium, meaning it is one of the oldest in the U.S. In fact, it was the first to breed harbor seals in captivity. An even more interesting fact is that during the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, a boat drifted from across the Pacific and washed up on the shores carrying trapped live fish. The remaining of these so-called tsunami fish are still on display in the aquarium. Kiddos will enjoy getting up-close-and-personal with sea life at the Touch Tank exhibit.

7. Stop By The Seaside Historical Society Museum

The small Seaside Historical Society Museum will take you back thousands of years through its many exhibits. If you allow at least an hour for an overview, then you can have the chance to go through the Native American, logging, historic hotels, old Pacific pier, Turnaround Building, Broadway Billiards, railroad history, and Hall of Fame exhibits.

8. Eat At Mo’s

The most important thing we had to decide was where we were going to dine to celebrate our anniversary. We went around town to scout for the special place. We tried Osprey Cafe, Maggie’s on the Prom, and Sam’s Seaside Cafe. The food was good at all these establishments.

But we were ecstatic when we found the place: Mo’s Seafood and Chowder on the ground floor of Shilo Inn Seaside Oceanfront. It had the ambiance we were looking for with huge picture windows for scenic dining by the sea.

9. Ride A Carousel

Shopping is one of the activities I loved in Seaside. We started downtown at the Seaside Carousel Mall. It was built in 1985 on the site of the old Bungalow Dance Hall. This hall was built in 1920 for the big-time bands of the era. It ran for 20 years, and greats like Bing Crosby and Glenn Miller performed there. Locals say that Seaside was the place to be during those days.

Today, the mall is full of crafts, local products, and food outlets aside from fun things to do like riding the carousel that is right in the middle of the quaint mall. My husband thinks riding a carousel is one of the most romantic things in the world so, of course, we had to take a spin.

10. Shop Seaside Outlets

But it was at the Seaside Outlets where I found a lot of treasured items. Featuring outlets for 22 name brands, it was at an Eddie Bauer store that I found a light black jacket on sale at a 70 percent discount. It has become a favorite of mine and is still in good use today. What surprised me most, however, was the multi-station recharging area near the mall. It was the first time I saw such a thing for Tesla vehicles.

11. Stay At WorldMark Seaside

We had enough Club Wyndham timeshare points to stay in a spacious one-bedroom unit at the four-star WorldMark Seaside resort. Also available for booking by the public, it is recognized as one of the state’s best waterfront locations. It was a great choice and became a wonderful home (not on wheels) for a full week.

There is a large pool area that looks outside to the beach. It is surrounded by several hot tubs where we spent many hours of relaxation. We also frequented the game room, where we enjoyed playing table tennis. The fitness center saw us every day for our exercise regimen. At the end of the day, however, we thoroughly treasured our drinks and appetizers on our balcony. It offered such a great view of the town, the nearby hills, the beach, and the ocean. Since our unit was equipped with a kitchen, we bought a lot of seafood and other supplies at the grocery store and prepared most of our breakfasts and dinners.

Bonus: Day Trips From Seaside

Locals will tell you that taking some half-day and day-long trips to nearby areas will afford you even more connections to the area’s history, plus fantastic scenery. The historic city of Astoria with its historic column and so-called bridge to nowhere is just 20 minutes to the north of Fort Stevens. And the scenic town of Cannon Beach with Haystack and the Needles is just 15 minutes to the south of Tillamook Head.

Our week in Seaside was such a welcome break from all our months of RVing. Our anniversary that year became a special celebration. We had everything from history and scenery to shopping and beaches. The weather may not have been perfect, but you don’t need that in Seaside. There is something for every kind of day. It was a luxurious treat we deserved to have.

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TRAVEL AWAITS: My 22 Favorite Stops on the Longest Malecon in Latin America

 

The original article was published in Travel Awaits on April 14, 2022

A malecon is a seafront promenade where people enjoy strolling, jogging, biking, or just breathing fresh ocean air. While spending our winters in Mazatlan, I have never been able to walk the full length of the Mazatlan Malecon in one go. At 13 miles, it is considered to be the longest in Latin America.

A trip to this Malecon treats anyone not only to glorious sunsets, exotic islandscapes, and enchanting views of the Sea of Cortes. It gives you Mazatlan in a nutshell: eight monuments, four beaches, eight nearby landmarks, a range of eating places, plenty of lodging options, and great shopping. In fact, it becomes the party zone when it is closed to vehicular traffic during festive holidays.

The main boardwalk is spacious, over 30 ft. wide at its broadest with a separate biking lane, rental bike stations, and even free wifi. During the days of the Carnaval which runs along Avenida del Mar that hugs the Malecon, huge monigotes (puppets) make it even more colorful. It stretches about seven miles from south of the Zona Turistica (Tourist Zone), the Centro Historico, to the edge of the Zona Dorada (Golden Zone), the famous shopping district. Beyond the boardwalk, the Malecon goes farther north as walkable beaches behind resorts.

The Eight Monuments

Just added in 2018, the colorful Letras de Mazatlan, the backdrop for many a souvenir photo, marks the start of the boardwalk at the southern edge of Zona Dorada. Let me take you on an imaginary walk to the southern end, stopping at the eight significant monuments that introduce you to what makes the city tick.

The first comes just a few yards after the sign. The Family Monument was designed by Antonio Saenz Lopez as a lovely bronze sculpture meant to welcome the 2000s. It depicts a Mazatlecan family: father, mother, and child, looking out with great optimism for the arrival of the new millennium.

Also designed by the same artist, The Monument to the Baseball Player is next. The Venados de Mazatlan (Mazatlan Deers) is the beloved baseball team of the city, a member of the prestigious Mexican Pacific League, which selects the Mexican representative to compete for the Latin American title.

One of the most iconic symbols of Mazatlan follows: the distinctive Pulmoniya Monument. Resembling a souped-up golf cart, it’s of a life-size open “taxi,” the signature popular transport option in the city, so named because, being open to strong winter winds, riding in one may actually give you pneumonia.

Following the Pulmoniya is a tribute to the California sea lions that make a small rocky island, now an ecological reserve on the Sea of Cortes, their home every winter. The Sea Lion Monument depicts five life-sized sea lions, a large prominent male on a rocky rise with four others surrounding him.

Afterward, we come upon the large, imposing Fisherman’s Monument and Fountain located before you reach the fishermen’s piers. Sculpted by Rodolfo Becerra Gomez, it celebrates Mazatlan's heritage as a fishing center. The striking monument features a man and woman, a tall structure representing El Faro, the city’s famous lighthouse, and a ribbon-like sculptural element representing the Tropic of Cancer, Mazatlan’s location.

Next is The Mazatleca Woman, unveiled in 1983, saluting the city’s women who are reputed to be some of the most beautiful in the world. She has outstretched arms, and at the base are the names of Mazatlan personalities like Lola Beltran, the famous Mexican singer from El Rosario at the outskirts of Mazatlan.

And then we come upon the magnificent monument highlighting dolphins jumping out of and into the water with a man and woman calling out to them. It’s called The Continuity of Life Monument symbolizing the beginning and end of life and celebrating life balance and respect for nature.

Finally at the end of the boardwalk, a monument pays tribute to the Mexican superstar, singer, and actor Pedro Infante (1917 to 1957). Erected in 2004, The Pedro Infante Monument shows him on a motorcycle reminiscent of his famous 1951 movie “A Todo Máquin.” It also celebrates Mazatlán’s Motorcycle Week, held annually around Easter.

The Four Beaches

These monuments are distributed around the four beaches of Malecon. As we turn around from the Infante Monument, we first see the prized beach Playa Olas Altas, Beach of the Big Waves. During the summer rainy season, it is not suited for swimming, but it attracts surfers and tourists from around the world because of its beautiful waves. At its northern end there is an enclosed, saltwater pool called La Carpa Olivera which local families particularly enjoy.

Until you reach the Letras de Mazatlan, there are three other beaches. The first is Playa los Pinos, a short stretch of fine sand where fishermen sell their catch in the morning. Next is the Playa Marlin where tunnels connect the beach to hotels across the street. At this beach, you will begin to see many palapas where you can have inexpensive food and drinks. The last beach is Playa Norte, a long stretch of uncrowded tan sand that ends at the Letras, just a few steps from Valentino’s.

The Nine Landmarks

Valentino’s is that mystical structure commonly used to grace the beachfront in many works of art. A Moorish style palace, it was a disco icon of the 70s and 80s, equipped with the most advanced special effects and selections of music. After financial struggles, it’s slowly experiencing a rebirth. If we turn around and walk the Malecon a third time, I can point out to you the eight other landmarks near and around the boardwalk.  

For example, the Monument to the Baseball Player looks out to the 16,000-seat Teodoro Mariscal Baseball Stadium just a short block from the Avenida del Mar. It is named after the man who introduced the sport to the city. Also a short block from the Avenida a little farther south stands The Acuario, the Mazatlan aquarium that offers popular shows featuring sea lions, divers, and even sharks. Continuing south, before reaching Olas Altas, the Old Mazatlan Sign graces a children’s plaza.

At the start of Olas Altas, there is an attraction inaugurated only in December 2021.  The Beatles Callejon features the bronze statues of the four Beatles crossing Liverpool Alley that starts from Avenida del Mar. They are accompanied by the ubiquitous London red phone booth, a classic red British car, and even a yellow submarine!

Right in front of the Beatles is a roundabout where the Deer Monument stands. It’s a bronze sculpture of a spirited young buck, a testament to the indigenous roots of Mazatlan which literally translates as the Land of the Deer. At the end of Olas Altas, on another roundabout, you see the Monument to the Shield of Sinaloa (mosaic, on the side facing north) and Mazatlan (on the other side).

Soon after this last monument is the fishermen’s pier, a section of the Malecon dotted by many boats and where many birds flock. Then there is usually a throng of people at Punta de Clavadistas or Divers’ Point. That’s where divers regale onlookers, jumping from the 50-ft cliff, avoiding huge rocks, plunging into the water, swimming against big waves hitting the rocks, and returning to the small park to do it all over again, all for a few pesos.

Pro-Tip: The famous Centro HIstorico with the grand Basilica, the popular Mercado Pino Suarez, and the gathering area Plaza Machado with the Angela Peralta Theater is just a few blocks east of Olas Altas.

Where to Eat at the Malecon

We have mentioned the palapas, food outlets along the beach where you can get fresh and inexpensive fish, shrimp and beer. There are also two great beach restaurants on the Malecon: Restaurante Playa Norte and El Muchacho Alegre. A lot more eating places are across Avenida del Mar, especially in the Olas Altas section.

Pro-Tip: We had lunch once, farther north, at Roca Mar where bacon-wrapped jumbo shrimp and other dishes were a great alternative to all-inclusive food at the resort.  

Where to stay at the Malecon

Avenida del Mar is lined with private condominiums and hotels across from the Malecon, beginning as low as $29 a night. There are four 4-star hotels averaging $110+ a night, and nine 2-and-3-stars averaging $80+. Hotel Hacienda is one of those. It was where we rented temporary raised platform seats from which to watch the Carnaval in 2018.

Pro-Tip: Hotel Miramar is the name of the private condominium on the Malecon where El Chapo was arrested by US Navy Seals.

Where to Shop at the Malecon

The boardwalk is also lined by many mobile souvenir kiosks. I have bought a Panama Hat for $6 there, faux Gucci glasses for $10, and other cool stuff. Many souvenir, beach essentials, and convenience stores are also interspersed among the hotels, condominiums, and restaurants.

A visit to Mazatlan would never be complete without a walk along the entire seven miles of the Malecon boardwalk. Stay there and exercise, sight-see, swim, learn about the city’s history, values, and traditions, take souvenir photos, shop, and eat…all in one place! It is an entire destination; as I said in the beginning, it’s Mazatlan in a nutshell.

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The Short and Less Expensive Way to Visit the World-Famous Marietas Islands

We were in Nuevo Vallarta, the small town of resorts and condominiums that have grown out of the overflow from Puerto Vallarta, just under seven miles away. As we walked the streets, many tour operators were offering many options for tours. The one for the world-famous Marietas Islands piqued our interest. But it was too expensive and the boat ride was too long from where we were. So I went to the web to research other ways to get there.

I found out about Punta de Mita, the closest point to the islands. Located on the north end of Banderas Bay in the Mexican state of Nayarit just like Nuevo Vallarta and only 22 miles north of Puerto Vallarta in the state of Jalisco, the peninsula offers ten miles of beaches around three sides of the Pacific Ocean. It was even more interesting to note that it’s at the same latitude as the Hawaiian Islands. It was really beckoning to us with hints of paradise all over.

The Seaside Village Of Punta De Mita

Only 45 minutes from our resort, we drove to the village to take a look at how to get to the islands from there. For those who are in the area without a car, buses are operated every 15 minutes between the two Vallartas and Punta de Mita. The trip takes an hour and forty-five minutes for about $10. As soon as we parked our car, one boat operator immediately approached us. Very quickly we found out from him that the tour would cost us just half as much and take only fifteen minutes.

He even had a chart of the daily forecast for the week to help us decide when to take the boat tour. But we were not ready since it was just supposed to be a just look-see. What a bummer! We were not wearing our swimwear and that very day was the best day to go. It was very sunny with a minimum of winds. That was solved pretty easily. The village has a small group of shops, two of them offering not very expensive beachwear for sale.

Pretty soon, my husband was able to find a t-shirt bearing the unmistakable Punta de Mita theme with matching swimming trunks, exactly what he needed so that he could snorkel. He changed at the restroom on the building that housed the boat operator’s small office. And just like that, we were off to the exciting day ahead in the islands with about ten other excited people who were already waiting for us at the boat.

The Bay Of Banderas 

The Bay of Banderas (Bay of Flags) lies within the Mexican states of Jalisco and Nayarit. With nearly a hundred miles of coastline, it is Mexico’s biggest natural bay. It’s not only home to the important tourist destination that is Puerto Vallarta but it is also an important breeding and birthing ground for the humpback whales which come before December to give birth to their calves and stay until March. Since we were there before they were about to leave, the boat operator guaranteed our seeing at least one.

And we did. Just five minutes after our boat was launched, I saw my first ever humpback whale about 30 feet from us, repeatedly going in and out of the water and finally wagging his enormous tail at us. Another five minutes later, we saw another one, a little smaller and shyer. We saw a total of three, two on the way to, and one more on the way back from the islands. It was an exciting experience and I was more thrilled after since the photos that I “tried” to take captured the whales well!

The Marietas Islands

Another five minutes later and we were at the Marietas Islands. And what a treasured paradise we found. They are two world-famous uninhabited islands that are 900 meters apart, comprising a National Marine Park/Reserve. They have also been declared a Natural World Heritage Site as a UNESCO MAB Biosphere Reserve. Actually, it was an innocent Facebook photo of the Hidden Beach that went viral which sparked the initial droves of tourists that flocked to the islands. They may have damaged the islands’ delicate balance but, fortunately, the local environmental protection authorities commissioned the help of environmental advocates. They are once again available but in a very controlled manner.

Isla Redonda is the smaller of the two. That was where we were allowed to snorkel as long as they did not to go beyond the string of yellow buoys that demarcated it. The much-sought-after Hidden Beach (Lovers Beach) is the main attraction on this island but only 116 people per day can enter the beach except for Monday and Tuesday when it is closed. You have to go pretty early to get to this beach. The other catch is that you have to swim through a 50-foot-long small tunnel carved by the sea through the rock that leads to the beach on the underground crater. I didn’t know how to swim and even if I did, that sounded scary to me. My husband did not want to go without me so we missed out on this one.

Isla Larga is the larger island and we were allowed to explore La Nopalera Beach as long as we went barefoot. The National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) has opened an interpretive trail that starts on this northwest end. Visitors can take the guided visits along the thousand-foot interpretative path where you can observe so many birds and take many photos highlighting the scenic beauty of this national park. You may even chance upon some vegetation and flowers and even rare species of iguanas and snakes if the time is right. I am glad I didn’t see any of the snakes.

The Marietas Islands are also one of the best dive spots in Mexico. There are 15 coral species that form its valuable reefs. Underwater life abounds with many rare fish species, large sea turtles, playful dolphins, and giant manta rays. Both white with bird poop, the islands are also a protected bird reserve with 92 species. In fact, they are home to the world-famous Galapagos Blue-footed booby and large frigate birds. Thus, they have been called the Mexican Galapagos. There were many other features that gave us great photo opportunities like the Lion Head, the Deadman’s Cave, the Blowhole, and the Stone Arch.

We returned to the building that housed the boat operators’ office. There was a simple seaside snack shop fronting the beach where many tacos solved the hunger and we went back to our resort so happy.

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