Journey To El Quelite
Over at Mexico Calling, I have posted photos of our trip to Los Osuna tequila factory and El Quelite.,
Over at Mexico Calling, I have posted photos of our trip to Los Osuna tequila factory and El Quelite.,
Well, we found the place to move to in Mazatlan for at least six months a year: Paraiso Costa Bonita!

…where we can see the sunset from our living and bed room:


…and this floor plan:

It was 82 degrees and sunny with a gentle breeze off the Pacific! I read that it was 36 degrees in Portland this morning. Why would I want to live in Oregon in the winter?

We’re spreading our dining dollars around. Sunday night we dined at The Bistro here at Pueblo Bonito. I had chicken enchiladas and Bev had her usual Todos Santos combo, which is shrimp and Mahi Mahi. Monday night we dined at Ernie Tomato Restaurant and Bar I had chicken enchiladas and Bev had shrimp sauteed in butter and garlic. Last night the six of us dined at Panchos across from Pueblo Bonito Mazatlan and we all ordered coconut shrimp. That was the best dinner yet.
We still have the Fish market and Topolo to go before trying Il Mosto.

We made it! Just as I pictured each night before going to sleep; warm, the tropical smell of the lobby on our arrival, the sea breaking on shore, the birds calling, the lighted, blue-pools glistening in the evening, and the friendly conversations with friends over dinner. We’re back.
Where is Mazatlan? Mazatlan is on the mainland of Mexico across the Sea of Cortez from Cabo San Lucas. Here’s a map:
View Untitled in a larger map
Here’s a special shout out to my students on the Route 143 Yellow bus in Portland. Hope you have a great day!
They say it can’t happen here but I believe it can and back in January I told you so now look at what’s happening elsewhere according to Zero Hedge: Following Hungary And Ireland, France Is Next To Seize Pension Funds
Our only question: how soon before the US administration takes this hint of what every proper socialist country does with funds apportioned to it by a gullible public and ends up investing trillions in the worst possible asset classes (while in Europe this obviously means sovereign bonds, in the US by and far the proceeds will be used to make further purchases of such equities as Apple, Amazon and Netflix, in whose continued successful ponziness lies the fate of a vast majority of US-based hedge funds, whose LPs may at some point, in the distant future, actually pay domestic income tax).
On a similar subject see my post at Mexico Calling: Are you going to move to Mexico? Why do you want to move?
Maybe the unemployed and under-employed should consider moving to Mexico.
Mexican Nominal GDP Up 11.5% In Q2
Mexican nominal gross domestic product rose 11.5% annually at current prices in the second quarter, the statistical office INEGI said Wednesday. At the same time, secondary activities, consisting of mining, electricity, water and supply of gas through pipelines to end users as well as construction and manufacturing, generated 35.3% of the GDP. Meanwhile, trade and services, referred to as tertiary activities, contributed 61.8% during the period.
Mexico Jobless Rate Drops In July
Mexico’s jobless rate dropped in July from the previous month, a report by the statistical office INEGI showed on Wednesday. On an annual basis, the national unemployment rate dropped to 5.7% in July from 6.12% last year. Meanwhile, the underemployment rate increased to 8.5% from 8.3% a year ago.
Tags: Mexican Nominal GDP Mexico’s jobless rate national unemployment rate
I read yesterday that it was raining in Mazatlan and was directed to this reenactment of a thunder storm:
Turn up the volume!

The “Pulmonia” monument on the Malecon in Mazatlan
We asked our pulmonia driver how he learned English, he said he attended American movies. The movies are in English with Spanish subtitles. Wouldn’t be interesting to watch James Cagney with subtitles.
I asked how would you say “You dirty rat!” in Spanish. He said “Usted sucia rata!”

What a night! Tuesday night Bev and I were at Pedro Y Lolas in Mazatlan on Plaza Marchado. We were late for our reservation so we had to sit inside. As we are eating I heard this wonderful clarinet music coming from the sidewalk. I got up from my seat and checked it out. I met Jock Faulds playing Hoagy Carmichael’s Star Dust. Oh, it sounded good and all the memories I had of ever wanting to play that song came flooding back.
When Jock was done I chatted with him just a bit and told him how much I enjoyed his playing. I went back to our table and Bev asked if he had a CD. When we were leaving, Jock was having dinner with friends and we stopped to ask about a CD. He introduced us to his love, Anita from Manhatten and suggested we visit him at The Sea Farer the following night. He starts to play at 6:30. Jock described the place as a lighthouse surrounded by an estuary and the water flows around and under the restaurant.
You know we almost blew it off today. I said late this afternoon, “Why don’t we stop by for an hour and then head for The Shrimp Bucket.” Bev said, “Great!”
We took the pulmonia from the hotel to the restaurant for 50 Pesos. The place was magical. It was set in a marina and large boats were moored within feet of the salmon colored adobe restaurant built over a large aquarium. I asked if the water was connected to the sea, but was told it was a closed system with natural sea life. Large and small perch and grouper, even a Manta Ray swam right by our table. There are no walls, just arched pillars in adobe holding up the roof, All the tables were set around the outside of the circular building with an opening in the middle to view the fish. It was like an island in the bay.
Jock Faulds began playing in 1947 at 16 years old with Billy Eckstein, Sarah Vaughan and Peggy Lee and for over sixty years has enjoyed being a professional musician. Jock wandered around the restaurant playing the clarinet, sax and flute while we drank and dined. Bev ordered Emperor shrimp and a mixed-green salad and I ordered Filet Chianti, a filet mignon with a reduced chianti sauce on top. It was the most flavorful dish I’ve ever eaten. The caesar salad lettuce leaves stood upright in a thick slice of baguette bread. The bread sat on a bed of caesar salad dressing. The food was a ten, the atmosphere was a ten and the waiters were a ten. The evening was topped by Jock sitting down with and sharing memories of his career and a brief history of night life in Mazatlan.
Jock and The Sea Farer were a “find” and our tab came to 900 Pesos including tip. No more expensive than the typical tourist stop that we hear many rave about when sharing dining-out tips around the pool.

Last year in Mazatlan the Mexican Peso was about 10-11 to the USD. This time the Peso trades about 15 to the dollar. I have been asking Mexicans how the fall in the Peso affects them.
One waiter at La Paraje, The Place, when asked if they had raised prices on their menu said, “If we put a sticker over the price every time the Peso has fallen this year, the stickers would be an inch thick. We plan on a new menu next year.” Asked where he thought the Peso would end up he said, “About 20 to the dollar!”
Most say it is great for tourists. “Your dollar buys so much more.” That’s true. Last night we had dinner at Los Zarapes and the tab was 676 Pesos. Last year that would have been about $67. Now that 676 Pesos is about $45. I asked a pulmonia driver, “Cuanto Pedro y Lolas?” “How much to take us to Pedro y Lolas?” He said $10.” I said, “Pesos?” He told me 100 Pesos!
They do acknowledge that imported goods at markets are more expensive, but they say, “We just have to pull in our belts.” A particular philosophical comment came from that same waiter. “I ask myself, can I do anything about this situation. If the answer is no, I just pull in my belt.”
It seems that many are very reliant on tourists and construction of condos and timeshares. For them the fall in the Peso brings more Americans with USDs and that means income and jobs.