Just A Day Out - Mazatlan Mexico (Travel Photo Monday and Our World Tuesday)

Hosted by Travel Photo Discovery  and Our World Tuesday.

February 2014 - Mazatlan Mexico

We went wandering the other day in our favourite part of the city, the Centro Historico. I wrote a post earlier this week about this area.

The Mexican Federal Government declared the “Centro Historico” of Mazatlán a Historic Monument and a National Heritage site in 2001 and the area is currently under consideration for designation as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Education, Science, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

As we drove into town we noticed that they were putting up the Carnaval statues along the Malecon, so of course we snapped some photos while whizzing by (as much whizzing as a pulmonia can muster).

The first place on my agenda was the Culinary Market where we hadn't gone before. Their blog makes interesting reading.
Opened in 2011 this is a food court featuring Molika Bakery, Krema, Henderson's, and others. The building is on Belisario Dominguez at Mariano Escobedo.

It is a magnificent building. The original building was built in 1847 and used as a store selling French fabrics run by German Baston. In the late 1800s a fire and the Baston's bankruptcy enabled his partner Reynaud to buy the building. Louis Reynaud was a weathy businessman and the French consul in Mazatlan.

He completely rebuilt the structure. The facade is covered in French stone and yellow and blue tiles from Spain decorate inside and out.

 It would be great to have a few more places move into this area.

 On this corner is a typical coffee shop.

And this corner has a branch of the Michael Gallery which has some great Mexican pieces.

We'll go back and get some photos inside.

We passed by a Panama outlet, a pastry and bread shop with a restaurant . Click here for photos.

 The newly painted empty Medrano building. Built in the 19102 it has lovely garlands as decoration. It's pie shaped front entrance is a sign of wealth as it is an inefficient and expensive entrance.

Next on the agenda was a visit to the Canobbio House on the Plazuela Machado. I wrote a detailed post, click here.

A look towards the square from Canobbio.

We peeked into the lobby of the Hotel Machado and the porter asked if we'd like to visit, when leaving we said thanks and a few pesos were slipped to him.

The rooms have decorative plaques beside the doors.

 The square from the balcony.

The Juarez building dates from the late 1800s. In 1830 it housed a hospital.

It is now home to one of our favourite restaurants Pedro y Lola. The restaurant is named after Mexican singers Pedro Infante and Lola Beltrán. We've had dinner twice there this year. Our favourite items are the pork shank and the ahi tuna.

A stop in the Gandarva Bazaar was mind boggling. The amount of art on display and for sale was overwhelming. There were so many pieces I would have loved to buy.

I did buy one of these dolls. Mine has a black face with a cactus for her headdress. The faces are made out of coconut and the bodies are papier mache.

I would have bought a cotton bag but at $50 (dollars not pesos) they were just overpriced.

The open air showroom is lovely but the sun was casting far too many shadows to do it justice.

Today is Art Walk so I'll try for more photos.

Click here for photos of January's Art Walk.

Finally time for lunch we had several places in mind but then on impulse chose Water's Edge. It was on our list to try so this was perfect. And it was perfect in every way!!

The front room as you entered.

 The decor is casual elegance. It doesn't get very busy for lunch which was nice. At night you need reservations.

We opted for the patio.

 We both had the steak sandwich, outstanding, by far the best beef we've had in Mazatlan.

The plaque on the outside of the building.

When we left and turned the corner this chef was making the vegetarian ravioli.

Some more wandering around. A parking lot that features murals.

Walking back towards the Malecon.

Impressive wooden doors.

On the Malecon.

Flowers bloom year around growing out of window boxes and hanging from terraces.

Ready for restoration, one of the many old buildings waiting for a new owner.

We tried to get more photos of the Carnaval statues but the sun was just too bright. Will try another day.

 This is John's new Facebook photo.