The temperature is rising

Mexico is a great place to be, but very much a manana place! We often wait for some one to show up for days, and that means that you are tied to the boat.
The steering is now in bits as David was not happy, that it was stiff. It has now been taken apart. We are waiting for parts from the US to arrive! the previous owner is here and showing us the 'ropes' and it is very useful.
It is quite easy to start growing roots in this place. The surrounding yachties are so nice and everybody is helpful towards each other. There are a lot of Americans here as a lot of people have condominiums and have retired here. Some of the ladies play Domino some afternoons in a local bar in the marina, and this afternoon we are going to make jewelery. Next week we shall go on an excursion to a farm on board a truck-taxi.

The local Mexicans are great, as well. BUT we have just heard that the drug war is near and we are to stay clear of a certain area of town this weekend. The roumers go that there is going to be a shoot out between two cartels. So, I shall NOT go and take photos of that, even if 'my nose is bothering me'! and it would be good to have your own eye witness account. However I am trying to restrain myself!

It is getting warmer and the swallows and mosquitoes have arrived. It is probably 30-35 degrees now. We have put netting/mesh for the portholes and a big Bimini cover over the cockpit and aft of the boat. There is also cover for the fore- boat, but we don't really need it yet. inside we have el. fans everywhere and we used them last night while we watched a film. When it gets really hot and unbearable we can start the air-condition, but that means we have to use shore- power. So far we have enough power from the large solar panel aft.

The Yacht and Marina!

This is the pontoon where we are berthed. the other yachts are Americans or Canadians who have come down for the winter and by now several of the owners are returning home as it is getting too warm here.

This is our boat. I can't show a good photo yet, but see the interior instead. The first one is of the main cabin looking towards the forepeak.

David at the chart table.

Gitte in the galley.

Looking aft from the forepeak.

Looking forward from the aft cabin.

The rug in the aft cabin.

Sunset in the marina.

The craft market

My visit to this craft market today was another good experience.

David was busy cleaning drains for the deck lockers and the marine engineers were busy sorting the steering, which was very stiff and needed attention. This meant that our bed had to come out into the main cabin. The best thing for me was to be completely out of the way. What a shame! So, carft market here I come!

Pottery stall.

Jewellery.

Embroidered dresses and blouses.

Ornaments and shalls.

More jewellery.

Hand-embroidered dress

Colourful hammacks and leather wear.

Another Viking!

I must tell about Holmsteinn from Iceland.

A few days ago David met Steinn outside the harbour office. He was sitting there holding on to a Danish flag. He had just arrived and bought a boat here in Mazatlan. He did not own an Icelandic flag, so he brought a Danish one. He had lived in Denmark for ten years and studied to become an engineer in Copenhagen. He spoke Danish so communication was not a problem.

Here is Steinn on his new boat holding the Icelandic flag, which we found in our cuffers amongst our own curtecy flags.

Steinn inside his own cabine with the Danish flag which belonged to his grandfather, and was from 1943 when Iceland was still in union with Denmark.

craft fair and more from the Art walk

Here is another few photos from the art -walk , and the top photo is franm a craft fair with crafts from all of Latin America.

Fish Mobile

Skelaton mobile

Art-walk in Mazatlan

We haven't started sailing yet as we are familierizing us with the boat and waiting for the previous owner to arrive at the end of this week, hopefully. So the waiting time is spent with various activities.

On Friday night we took the local bus to town with some other sailors and went on an art walk round a lot of galleries and craft workshops in the old part of town. It was just amazing to see all the paintings, wallhangings, mobiles, pottery, quilts and much more all in brilliant colours. I just loved it. The galleries and workshops were open to the elements and the gardens were lovely. The first one had a mozaic of a snake along the top of the garden wall, as you can see on the photos. The icing on the cake was a concert played by an international string quartet in the university hall. The music was by Shostakovich and an local Mexican composer, Arturo Marquez.