Koningsdam adventure, Mazatlán, Mexico...

I went out early to catch the sunrise over Mazatlán. It was a beautiful sail into the city…  Ann, Cathy and I were off the ship first thing and walked the blue line headed to Old Town Mazatlán. Passing the Angela Peralta Theatre, we arrived at the Plaza Machado, a beautiful old square in the historic old town of Mazatlán…the locals were busy decorating the square for Feliz Navidad. Here we ran into our old friend Martín, a Pulmonia driver…We planned a tour with Martín, and would call him after we visited the downtown area. We continued walking to the Republic Plaza situated across from the Mazatlán Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The Cathedral is a beautiful baroque style Catholic Church situated in the center of downtown Mazatlán.  Next, we visited the Pino Suarez market, a large downtown market. The market is a feast for the senses, offering an array of fruits, vegetables and butcher shops. There are many street food options plus there are shops that sell clothes and souvenirs.  It’s an excellent place to experience in the sights and sounds of everyday life in Mazatlán. With Martín we toured the streets of the historic old section and then we went to the Mazatlán Lighthouse. Returning to the old section of the city, we climbed the El Mirador with its pretty view and our timing was perfect as we were able to catch the cliff diver performing. We drove along the Malecon with its interesting statues stopping at Liverpool Alley. This area known as Olas Altas, in the Historic Center of Mazatlán has a life size sculpture dedicated to the Beatles. We also made a quick stop at my home away from home the Devils Cave. On our return to the pier, we drove to Lookout Hill to admire the port's coastline and bay. We returned to the ship and we went to the Retreat for the afternoon. It was a great day and we will be connecting with Martín on our next visit to Mazatlán.