background image
can be made comfortably by vehicle in two days over a four-lane divided high-
way. There are also buses from Tijuana and El Paso.
Economical: I have visited Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco, and Mazatlán has
the reputation for being the best resort buy on the "Mexican Riviera." It far sur-
passes Hawaii. If you like to travel first-class, luxury resorts are available. There
are many other outstanding living quarters, but they all have one thing in com-
mon--the dollar stretches further in Mazatlán. The strength of the U.S. dollar
compared to the Mexican peso helps even more. Several years ago, someone at
the airport complained that his luggage did not arrive with his plane. I told
him not to worry about it. Mazatlán is the only place I know where one can get
along with just a swimsuit and toothbrush.
Shopping: If your luggage is lost and you feel you need more than a tooth-
brush and swimsuit, don't panic, you can shop till you drop in Mazatlán. I have
visited Pier1 in Olympia, Washington, and markets in San Antonio, Texas, and
found the prices to be two-three times higher than those in Mazatlán for
Mexican jewelry, pottery, glassware, clothing, leather, and other crafts. Further,
I have met friends at the cruise dock in Mazatlán and taken them shopping
and they all expressed amazement at the cheaper price of those items in
Mazatlán compared to La Paz, Puerto Vallarta, and Acapulco.
Easygoing way of life: While Mexico may not have invented "Mañana," the
Mazatlecos (Mazatlán citizens) do their part to perpetuate it. While a couple
Americans have told me about individual incidents of heated arguments with
Mazatlecos, I have never experienced it. They are incredibly friendly and help-
ful to a fault.
A couple years ago my friend Vicki from the states came down with a stom-
ach ailment and was confined to her room. My good friend, Paco, a shop
owner and beach vendor, saw us at the Inn at Mazatlán. Not seeing her, he said,
"Where is your friend?"
"She is sick with the `revenge,'" her husband replied.
"Get her dressed and I'll get my car and take her to my doctor."
Thirty minutes later he arrived with his vehicle and whisked her off to his
doctor. He stayed with her during the doctor's examination as an interpreter,
and an hour later they were returning to The Inn at Mazatlán with a prescrip-
tion. Twenty-four hours later she was back to her normal tourist activities.
3
Char les A. Hall