Date: 05/12/2012 à 07/12/2012

Path: We crossed the Sea of ​​Cortez by ferry. After a night in Mazatlan, we take Mazatlan-Tepic highway até a saída para Puerto Vallarta.

Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta - Um passeio a colonial epoch

Our passage to the other side of Mexico could not get better. Towns more than welcoming with historical centers that still have remnants of the colonial period. Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta are jewels of Mexican Pacific coast, you just hear talk in Canada on the glamour de cidades como Cancun e Los Cabos.

Mazatlan - Uma late in the nineteenth century

Despite a coastline 20 km long, clipped by a variety of beaches and resorts, which draws attention in Mazatlán is its historic center. Renovations made in the decade of 80, tornaram a ‘Mazatlán Antiga’ um lugar realmente único.

A bela Mazatlán

The first stop was the Cathedral City, dating from the nineteenth century. His yellow brick towers guarding an interior decorated in all details. A igreja se encontra em meio a um centro omercial com diversas lojas e barraquinhas de rua.

Cathedral City

We went for the traditional Carnival street corner with Constitución, where is charming Plazuela Machado. The square is surrounded by art galleries, e cafés restaurantes. The showy trees and aligned to give a touch more to the place. A trip to the Machado House, a museum that preserves colonial furniture and also has a bit of history of the city, that has emerged as an important trading post with its harbor. From the second floor of the house has a beautiful panoramic view of Plazuela Machado.

Restaurants in Plazuela Machado welcoming

View of Casa Machado

House Interior ax

Tranquility in the charming old Mazatlan

The tour ended with a drive from the edge of Playa Olas Altas, now toward Zona Dorada, where are the beach resorts. O caminho proporciona belas vistas das construções antigas à beira-mar.

A cropped hem Antiga Mazatlan

Puerto Vallarta - Live in Virgem de Guadalupe

Chegamos em Puerto Vallarta na certain date. It was time for feasts of the Virgin of Guadalupe. The city was full and very busy streets. Near the jetty, a stage was set for musical performances. In the streets, the various parishes of the city were procession to the Cathedral of Guadalupe, immediately opposite the Main Square. The processions brought music and dance typical, as well as some festive attire. A energia da cidade nos contagiou com essa ótima primeira impressão.

We arrived full of Guadalupe celebrations

Procession to the Cathedral

Typical dances and costumes enlivened the party

You have no right age to participate

A few hours on the streets of Vallarta and already see why it is the capital gay Mexico. Homosexual couples are in every corner of the city. Several bars and restaurants carried the flag of gay pride as a way to show friendly (gay-friendly); others took up this written expression. We wondered if people thought we were part of the team, after all were a bunch of men walking together forever. But anyway, não temos problema nenhum e até nos divertíamos com isso.

A bela Catedral

Charming part of the city

The next day seize the center again. We had lunch at a stall of fish tacos (Marisma Fish Tacos), our favorite food of Mexico, before following the walk. We spent time in front of the arches opposite the Plaza Principal Catedralda, letting time pass and walk through the charming jetty. Strolled Isla Río Cuale also by, where the ancient inhabitants of the city construíram their first homes. Hoje o lugar abriga um museu e várias lojinhas de artesanato local.

Walk on the beach to distract

A orla de Vallarta

Isla Rio Cuale na Artesanato

They could not miss the Aztec calendars

Temptation at the local candy store

For dinner, we recommend the super El Mole de Jovita on Badillo Street. The restaurant has the famous mole specialty poblana. Despite being a more traditional dish of the region of Puebla, the sympathetic restaurant owner sold his plate as the best in Mexico. He, his mother was there in a small town on the mainland and sent it to all fresh. We could not deny, the dish was a delight, e foia melhor mole que comemos no México. For those unaware, the mole is a sauce based cocoa and other thirty-odd spices, very traditional in Mexico. Worth a try!

A famous mole poblana

Dinner at Restaurant of Mole Jovita

The day ended in party at one of the bars jetty. As in Cabo San Lucas, the bars had gringo guy and really was what you saw out there. Foi uma noite divertida.

The passage of these two beautiful cities was like a trip to the colonial era, with a hint of modernity, especially in the nightlife options! An interesting side of Mexico continental, que estávamos começando a conhecer.

For more photos of Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta, click here!

The post A walk to the colonial era appeared first on 4x1.

Date: 04/12/2012 à 05/12/2012

Path: Road Escencia (vulgar, Sea of ​​Cortez)

From Baja to the Mainland - Crossing the Sea of ​​Cortez by ferry

After crossing the Baja California from start to finish, We had two options to continue the trip: an era back all 1700 km long peninsula and move to the mainland by land; and the other was to take a ferry from La Paz. Do not think twice, 'll ferry!

O ferry!

It would be the fourth time on the trip that would Tanajura a boat trip (not to mention the raft and the raft she took in Jericoacoara). No entanto, this time would not be 20 days as in exports to the U.S., 7 days as the Belém-Manaus route, or 2 dias na travessia do Inside Passage no Alaska, but only 17 hours of travel. This was the time required to cross the Sea of ​​Cortez on a ship (
ou ferry) de La Paz à cidade de Mazatlán.

A Baja Ferries (link) is the only company that carries both cargo and passengers. The cost for the trip is $2300 Mexican pesos (approximately R $ 360) for car, that ended up fitting as pick-up and also includes the passage of driver. Each additional passenger costs $1075 Mexican pesos (or approximately R $ 170). This figure includes a seat on Lounge, where there is a recliner and flat where the movies are full time. There is the possibility of renting the Cabins, that would almost double the prayer. But the journey was relatively short, decided to go the same armchair. Also includes a dinner and a breakfast in the morning. There is a charge of customs $150 Mexican pesos (+/- R$25) paga no porto para inspeção do carro.

Who will lose to the boat, running back!

A van takes passengers to the boat. This in itself was not bad either. It was not as simple as the Belém-Manaus, not as neat as what we in Alaska, was like a middle ground. The seats were not super comfortable, but gave pro spent. The food was simple, but was well served. The fact that one film after another in Lounge helped pass the time. The bathrooms were fairly clean and were not shared. The cafeteria is full at mealtimes then get the business when they start serving or more for the final, but then you risk losing some of the foods. The cafeteria also sells beer and spends the movie in a higher volume. The people who wanted to chat rather stay right there. Mas a maioria preferia dormir boa parte do caminho.

The TV lounge

The refectory

We arrive at 14 nonterminal hours, located on the beach in Pichilingue, 23 ao km north of La Paz. It is recommended to get 3 hours before departure of the ship to be timely for inspection. Our boat was scheduled for 17 hours and came out with a few minutes late. A van takes passengers to the boat after going through the police control. Os motoristas entram com o próprio veículo depois da inspeção.

Preparing the bad, only the driver is in the car

No ferry, many locals and some tourists. We had groups of Canadians, Italian, Americans, Argentines. Most of them traveling through Mexico and headed toward the Mayan cities by the end of the world on 21 de dezembro.

Inside the ship

Many trucks make the journey

After several films, much talk and several naps, the boat landed in Mazatlán. Travel time consuming, quietest. Estávamos prontos para seguir viagem México adentro.

The post From Baja to the Mainland - Crossing the Sea of ​​Cortez Ferry appeared first on 4x1.