The best Stone Island pics on flickr were posted by well-known tech writer Andy Ihnatko.
In fact, he stopped here on a Mac Geek Cruise.
Here are a couple of Andy’s photos of the attraction so little known, so often missed by tourists. I had miles of beach to myself.
MacMania IV: Tuesday – a photoset on Flickr – Andy Ihnatko
My own camera is kaput.
One of the great charms of travelling in Latin America is making fun of abysmal statues taking up space almost everywhere.
This group of insurgents might just have the right idea:
Opposition protesters in Mexico have torn down a bronze statue of the former president, Vicente Fox, just hours after it was erected.They threw eggs at the monument in Boca del Rio in the state of Veracruz, before putting a rope around its neck and pulling it to the ground.
BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Ex-Mexican leader’s statue felled
Though statuary was perfected in 1504, art has taken a serious downturn everywhere I’ve travelled in Spanish North America.
In Maz more than anywhere else I’ve been, the monuments are very popular. Mexican tourists hire a cab and sprint statue-to-statue taking photos at each.
The upcoming Cultural Arts Festival, Mazatlán is using one of the monuments in their advertising. And they seem to be serious.
New statues are still being erected. A bronze of Jose Angel Espinoza Choix Aragon (musician / actor) went up a couple of weeks ago. In Canada we would be surprised to see a statue of any musician / actor. In Mexicio, this guy already has five in various places.
Personally, after I’m gone I’d rather people not be asking, “What’s so special about Rick that they put up a statue for him?”
And I don’t need seagulls crapping on my head.
Of many, many statues in Maz my favourite is the mermaid with cupid.
At least half the monuments have topless women, one of the few ways to display nudity in a Catholic country.
I got a nice comment on my photos post from Maz resident Luciano Romero who obviously tracks what super-influential bloggers like me are writing about his town.
Mazatlán is very much under-rated and those of us here want to get the word out.
He suggested I post more photos.
view of Olas Altas beach and my hotel from Ice Box hill
more on http://carruba.googlepages.com/pictures.html
cliff divers – Mazatlan.com – more information
sea wall I walk every day and night
original – flickr
more Mazatlán photos published under a Creative Commons licence on flickr
When I sit in the central plaza of old Maz, sipping my Mocha Grande, I might be in Europe.
more great photos – Mazatlán – flickr – Bryce Edwards
Mazatlán is dead. I’ve never seen fewer tourists. The streets are deserted at night.
Gringos don’t visit July through early October because it’s considered “the rainy season”. I would call it “the humid season”. It’s been 90F and 90 degrees humidity some days.
Mazatlán – Wikipedia
Just checked in to the legendary Belmar Hotel in Mazatlán, Mexico. One reviewer called it “Haunting and Charming”.
The Belmar, built 1906, was the first resort hotel in Mazatlan. And our favourite when Hemmingway and I came down to fish and hunt back in the 1930s.
It’s true the Belmar has seen brighter days. But the ghosts of early Hollywood celebrities still prowl the marble hallways at night.
US$26 / single for a large clean, quiet room with air conditioning and, unfortunately, TV. (That’s the only downside.) Free wireless internet, how about that, Ernest!
trip advisor – original photo
My Gringo dental clinic is about 3 blocks away. Going for consultation … mañana.
“My Favorite Vacation” Write-off: Mazatlan, Mexico – Maz travel recommendation by Epinions
I’m looking at a trip to get some dental work done. (A chunk of one of my front teeth just fell off.) So far I’m leaning towards Mexico, likely Tijuana or Mazatlan.
UPDATE: Just booked a ticket to Maz. Departing Oct. 2nd.
Cost is much less than we pay in Canada.
Should do some more research …
Patients Beyond Borders: Everybody’s Guide to Affordable, World-Class Medical Tourism
Say … do you think dentists deserve to be millionaires? Are they that much more important than you are in your job?
The average net income for an independent private practitioner who owned all or part of his or her practice in 2004 was $185,940 for a general practitioner and $315,160 for a specialist.
After months of voting by the general public the World over, a new list of Seven Wonders was announced today as part of the New 7 Wonders Campaign:
• The Great Wall of China
• Petra in Jordan
• Brazil’s statue of Christ the Redeemer
• Peru’s Machu Picchu
• Mexico’s Chichen Itza pyramid
• The Colosseum in Rome
• India’s Taj Mahal
The Adventure Blog: New Seven Wonders of the World Unveiled!
Colosseum in Rome?
Christ! The Redeemer?
I’d given them the “correct list” back in March. But did they listen ??
1. Angkor Wat
2. Machu Picchu
3. Pyramids (ineligible as it turned out)
4. Petra
5. Great Wall
6. Taj Mahal
7. Easter Island Statues
source – flickr
I’m still shopping for a dentist in a developing country, likely Mexico.
Dental work in Canada is over-priced in my opinion. How many can afford $400 / hour for sitting in a chair?
More than 500,000 Americans traveled out of the country last year for medical or dental work, according to the National Coalition on Health Care. In those numbers are cases of heart bypasses, orthopedic surgeries and expensive dental treatments.
I just posted a one page summary of how to get your butt into a kayak on Isla Espiritu Santo (Holy Spirit Island) off the coast of La Paz, Mexico.
It’s the best single kayak destination in North America, I reckon.
And a bargain if you rent your kayaks rather than sign on for a guided tour.
I plan to expand the site to include diving, fishing, boating and hiking. Then to offer advertising space.
check the site — IslaEspirituSanto.com
Looking for a beach paradise?
Tulum is a Mayan walled city guarding the gorgeous Caribbean coast of Quintana Roo, Mexico. However, once tourists see this Riviera Mexicana beach, they tend to forget to visit the archaeological attraction.
Screw Cancun. Bypass Playa del Carmen. Tulum is the best beach bang for your buck on the Mexican Caribbean.
Tulum on the Riviera Mexicana, 130km south of Cancun.
I tented here 4 nights.
We also rented at least one thatch roofed cabana in which I stored my gear.
Tenting cost about US$6 / night. Cabanas run US$12 and up. A bit higher at Zazil Kin resort, your best bet.
The beach is insect free. No hassles of any kind.
Not much to do but walk the beach and snorkel out to the world’s second longest reef 400m from shore.
There were many signs of last year’s hurricane damage.
This toilet block did not survive a big blow.
Sarah, my yoga teacher. (She is kind & helpful to all though this photo would not have you think so. She doesn’t like it!) Those are the Mayan temple ruins in the background.
I enjoyed 2 days of yoga on the beach. Perhaps 90 minute slow, easy sessions.
My favourite of the inexpensive beach resorts was Diamonte K. Unique, filled with interesting art pieces.
Many resorts here long ago added “Eco” to their names. Next step is to add “solar” to the sign board.
Big old iguanas are a highlight of the Tulum scenery.
Monika and Monty, a lovely couple from the UK just starting 7 months of travel.
Monty, Ron and Tom.
This dog got plenty of exercise every day chasing his master’s kite.
Beach bar with hammocks.
Many of the cabanas are wedged into the dunes for protection against the wind. One night we got coated with a fine layer of sand.
Should I book you a hut?
Fishermen land here to sell lobster & fish to tourists.
Kite surfer.
Most evenings we caught the free hostel shuttle into town.
Tulum town is noted as “butt ugly” in the guidebooks. But I still liked it.
The hostel offered “burn your own barbecue” for US$3.50.
We much enjoyed “The Weary Traveller”. One of the best hostels in Mexico, I reckon.
One night I bought a basket of “carne” for a meat pig-out. Vegetarians were mortified.
Another night we cooked fish on the beach. This is a home made barbecue tong.
The highlight of Tulum for me was snorkelling a cenote.
Finally we hit the modest Tulum ruins. Many backpackers never get around to paying the US$5 entry fee.
The Spanish in 1518 were amazed by this city, painted vivid red, blue and yellow. It was one of the last fortresses to be abandoned.
Many spend more time on the Tulum beach than touring the ruins. A spectacular setting.
See the iguana checking out the bikinis?
I would return to Tulum any time. It is a fantastic place!
Rick McCharles 
