After visiting the aquarium, we explored the area.

We walked down the street a ways but didn't see much but did take a picture of a few statues:

I made the executive decision to grab a cab and have them take us to the area where the cliff divers are located. We had plenty of time to spare so why not? I was pretty sure it would give me high anxiety but I was willing chance it anyhow. 

Our driver charged up $10 to get there. I'm not sure if this was considered one of the Palmonia cars or not but it looked like a car that had the top cut off, then roll bars and another top put on. It was all open aired. 

I took pictures along the way.

This guy had a serious sound system in it with speakers in the roof. 

When we first got there, there was a really large crowd in the area. By the wall at the street I noticed a guy who was standing there and was wet. I assumed he was one of the divers that had just went. We decided to have a seat along the wall and wait. 

They had various vendors in the area selling fruits and small gifts. 

We decided to get a cup of mango. It was delicious but there was a lot. We had wished that we would have just bought one and shared. It was too much for us to eat all of it. I think they charged $5 each cup or maybe it was $10. I can't remember but that sounds about right. 

While we were sitting on the wall eating our mango and every other bite we would throw down on the rocks below us...gotta feed the birds...I started noticing something moving. After watching for awhile, I tell Sakari there's a crab on the rocks! But there wasn't just A CRAB there were tons of them everywhere. 

I seen a mermaid in the distance and decided to go over and check it out. 

 Well at least the cliff divers don't actually have to climb the cliff to get to the top. 

We waited for quite some time and the crowd was gone. I guess no more cliff divers and my anxiety was spared. I overheard someone say that they are not on a schedule and they dive when there's a big enough crowd. 

"Ok, let's walk down the street and do something! I'm tired of sitting here". 

My little ducklings, I mean family, started following and down the street we went to see if we could find anything interesting. 

I'm not really sure what this was? I was sure it had plenty of stairs to climb and I wasn't really in the mood to climb stairs so we didn't. I imagine the people up there could see the same as what I could from below only they are higher. 🤷‍♀️

I looked over to the other side of the street and immediately noticed something in the rocks:

This is known as Cueva del Diablo...The Devil's Cave. The Chapel of San Bartolome is right above it. This cave is known to have various stories surrounding it:

It was a place they used to hide soldiers guarding ammunition in the war days

Pirates used it to keep their treasures in here

The devil was released when work was done at the foot of the hill and the devil was heard inside

Others say people have went in and never came out even though it's a very small cave that doesn't go back very far

Among other stories told...

 ...you be the judge!

There were plenty of statues along the way...I only took a few pictures. 

Jack Cousteau:

Of course you won't find me passing up a mermaid picture. I had Sakari stand by it because well, I'm sure they were once related back in the day.

Right below this mermaid statue was a weird looking concrete (?) slide that looked like it might have went into a pool at one point? I starred at it for awhile trying to figure out just what this was and what it was used for. 

So of course, I had to look it up and this is what I found:

It is called Carpa Olivera de Mazatlan. The pool in the sea. It says it's a pool for aquatic fun and an ocean wave pool and one of the few that exist in the world. It says it is free to the public, but precautions are taken to ensure the safety of swimmers in relation to dangerous tides and waves. They say it is a revolutionary concept and the creator brought the vision of a pool fed by sea waters. There was a restaurant on site too. The pool slide was built in 2014. The salt water of the sea flows constantly to fill the pool from the waves and since it's always refilling, it made a unique experience for those who stayed at the hotels in Mazatlan. It's one of 7 marine pools in the world. 

I have found pictures of it with water filling it. It looks pretty cool. I guess today was a low tide? There was nothing in it and it wasn't being used. There's video's online as well. I think it's a pretty cool concept although sliding down a concrete slide that's not wet...hmmm, I don't know about that or how it would even work.

Then we came to a little roundabout area and I looked across the street to find even more statues (I remembered seeing these in pictures before) and I knew we had to go over. 

This area is known as Liverpool Alley. This alley is a replica of England's Liverpool Street, which honors The Beatles. There are statues of the members of The Beatles that look like they are crossing the famous London Street on their iconic Abbey Road album cover. Of course the kids joined in on the fun. 

The Cavern Club, which is where the band debuted. 

The classic red British style car with flags printed on its rooftop (I have one of these replica's at home added to my "red" collection in my travel room)

Of course you have to have the red phone booth to go along with it (I also have one of these)

♪ We all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine, yellow submarine ♪ ♫

After enjoying this area for awhile and sitting down to rest, it was time to move on. 

Well, it was getting late and I knew we should probably head back. We stopped a cab that pulled up and ask how much back to the port and he said $25! Wait what? You're kidding right? It only cost us $15 from the port all the way to the aquarium. Then he started talking about a "tour"..."I can take you on a tour to see the sights for $40". Um...I didn't ask for a tour, we just want to go back to the ship. It was getting late. He kept pressing "How about a 1 hour tour...I'll show you all the things of importance. Places you didn't go with a great view of the ship. How about $25?"  No, we just want to go to the ship. 

Finally we agreed on $14 to go back to the ship, still more than I thought it should be but at least more like it. Then he throws in, I'll take you the long way and show you the sites. Consider it a "mini-tour". I verified several times...we have agreed on $14 right? Because we are not requesting a tour...just a ride back to the ship. He confirmed. Alrighty then...you pick your route Mr cab driver...whatever that route may be for $14. 🤷‍♀️

We started heading up a winding road and I could at least see the ship in the distance:

He pulled over and said "You want to get out and take pictures?" I told him that was ok, I already did. He said "You must have a fast camera"... yes, yes I do.

This is Creston Hill, the highest point in the entire city and a place you can go to and climb all the way up to the top. It is 334 steps to get up there. This is also where you will find the glass bridge, that was built in 2017,and you can pay an additional cost to walk out onto it. This is one of the most popular things to do in Mazatlan. (I'm glad I managed to find a better way to spend my day than giving myself a heart attack). 

Since 1928 the hill was used as a maritime marker and they would have bonfires to guide ships in the port. In 1879 it was improved by using an oil lamp. Then in 1905 it was replaced by a lighthouse (El Faro) that's still there today. It is considered one the highest lighthouses built on natural terrain in the world. 

It also used to be an island. However, in 1930 a stone road was built that linked it to the city of Mazatlan. 

We finally made it back to port after our short but sweet detour.

I will let you guess who's hungry...

The mango's only filled him up for a short time. He wanted some authentic Mexican food. 

Well, I wasn't going to pass that up either. 

After eating we decided to visit all the shops in the area. Sakari managed to find a cute little necklace that was nothing but a chain but it was all hearts. They wanted $35 for it and wouldn't budge. Karl had already spent his money on gifts for his mom and sister back home. She was sad she didn't get the necklace but good things come to those who wait and aren't impulsive buyers...after we got back home, we went shopping at our local craft store and found the exact same necklace...for $3.95!!!!

Then it was time to catch the tram back to the ship.