Ok.  Now we’re cooking with gas.

Yesterday I spent the night in a cheap hotel in Calliacan.  Aside from the utter bitch at the front desk, I had a great time.  Hotels along the way are all a little different, and they don’t all meet the standards we are used to.  This was the picture down a little door inside the closet in my room.  You can access rooms above and below from this little door.  Yikes!

I managed to get my hair cut without creating a monster and found my way around town to buy things I was wanting. To everything there is adventure in establishing the communication as to what you are looking for. As soon as you pull out the Spanish/English dictionary, it is all like a game to everyone. People are so cool about it.

Culliacan go me absolutely turned around bass akwards as I made another errir in arrival time.  By some ungodly turn of events, I was awake before 7 and ready to go.  That put me into Mazatlan at about 10:30 a.m.  Along the drive between, I saw this.

I have no idea what they are growing there, but those are all sticks standing up.  Not some manufactured pole, but part of a tree.  I thought it was worth a picture.

The toll road, Highway 15, is the best way to get to where I wanted to be without wandering, but by the time you arrive in Mazatlan you are just about beat to death by the sight of them.  They nickel and dime you to death all along the way, and the last stretch before Mazatlan sucks over 200 pesos out of your wallet.  I am tolled (pun intended) that is the last of them and the rest from here on is free.

Ok, two things of note.  Mother nature is smart.  When you are exposed to lots of sun she decides that you shouldn’t be growing a beard.  It’s nice to not have to shave as often, but my nail clippers stay in my pants pocket now.  ???  My fingernails are growing like crazy.  Whatever, it’s all good.

This is the beach when I got here

and at sunset…

More tomorrow.  Oh yeah, I found a hotel just off the main drag along the beachfront for 180 pesos a night.  No A/C. but it’s cool at night here and comfortable.  I haven’t spent more than an hour in the room so far.

Screw the travel agent.