Mingling in Mazatlán

November 17^th-19^th, 2014

When backpacking, it’s not often where you are that matters but who you’re with.  In Mazatlán this was the case.  Matt, Nathan and I got along incredibly well and enjoyed each other’s company.  The conversations and beers just flowed effortlessly.  The Funky Monkey hostel could have been anywhere in the world as it didn't really matter to us, we just hung out by the pool and enjoyed lazy afternoons.  Don’t get me wrong, we did venture out of our abode, but not a whole lot, and it didn't seem to matter.

This little chihuahua defended his roof with all his might:

The "Happing Bar":

The esplanade:

Not bad...

Some strange hotel, looks like some kind of cult place or a palace from a Star Trek episode:

Matt dealing with cheese:

There were a few other interesting characters at the hostel such as twenty something Jason from Saskatchewan who was riding his motorbike south.  He was extremely intelligent and a great guitar player and singer yet sported a beard with a bit of a crazy moustache.  And there was Britney from the States who was painting a gorgeous mural of many different local animals from dorados to turtles to various birds.  She had to be hoisted up in a hammock like contraption that Jason had rigged up and he had his GoPro camera time lapse photographing the whole thing.

Matt left after a couple of nights and Nathan and I rented bikes from the hostel to cycle down to the marina.  Nathan had some fishing equipment he wanted to sell but a local told him that he should return in a couple of days when there was a bit of a swap meet going on which only occurred once every two weeks so instead of hopping on the bus with me to go to Puerto Vallarta, he stayed at the Funky Monkey.

The marina:

Some dorados caught that day:

A dead eel on the beach:

A beach side beer:

Nathan enjoying the view:

Classic Mazatlan:

The hostel was one of those places that you could easily find yourself staying 2-3 times longer than you expected, and that’s not a bad thing.  Salem, originally from the US, has set up an ideal hostel, with super comfortable beds, a friendly atmosphere and many amenities.  If only most other hostels could figure out what he has.

Next up, Puerto Vallarta.