Photo: Mazatlan Tourism Board
Christine Delsol, Special to SFGate, updates us on the changes in Mazatlan. Here's an excerpt of her story:
Mazatlan's malecon, the seafront walk tracing its long crescent beach, is one of the world's longest at more than 14 miles. It's a delight all on its own — especially when traveled on one of the open-air pulmonias built on modified VW bodies — but it has the added virtue of being a pathway to restaurants, the city's cliff divers, the aquarium and baseball stadium, and the lighthouse. Baby sea turtles are released along here each year, and it is the official staging ground for Mazatlan's Carnival celebration, a family-oriented version that is counted among the largest in the world as well as the Festival of Lights at the end of November.
This isn't the first time the malecon has gotten a facelift, but this go-round has one of the most eye-catching ever, with a phalanx of tall palm trees, which are lit up at night. It looks more tropical than ever now. New benches also have been installed along the entire length of the malecon. They've also restored the surfaces, which makes it cleaner looking and easier to walk, and installed new benches spanning the length of the boardwalk.
It can't be a coincidence that the malecon's makeover was completed in time for Mazatlan's 117th Carnival celebration, which will be celebrated Feb. 12-17. Right after that, the Spring Cultural Festival has a program of 75 performances of ballet, contemporary, classical and folkloric dance, song, opera, music, literature, film, documentary and theater. The Day of Music, Jose Limon International Dance Festival, Children's Cultural Festival and the Festival of Youth are all under the umbrella of the cultural festival, which runs from March to July. You don't need to look far to find an excuse to head down and have a look at Mazatlan's latest facelift.
