Tag Archives: Sinaloa

Chicken Breakfast/Desayuno de Pollos: Main

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Kids charming the camera woman while they line up for candy!

Want to have the best Christmas ever? Join us to bring joy to those in need! It’s a whole lot of fun, and a memory you will never forget!

Since 1990, Yolanda Medina and her family from the Quince Letras area of town have spearheaded an effort to feed those in need at Christmas time. Each year we feed over 3000 families with your help!

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Just some of the despensas—bags of food—ready to deliver in one of the trucks.

What is the “Chicken Breakfast?”
It is a two-step process to feed the neediest in our community.

First is a fundraising breakfast held in early December to raise money to buy one whole chicken and ten days’ worth of food for each family—we buy for as many families as we possibly can.

Second, on Christmas Eve morning (24 December), dozens of us gather together to load trucks and go out to the invasiones, the poorest, “squatter” areas of Mazatlán, to make people happy and hand out the goods! We give the chickens and foodstuffs, plus gently used clothing, linens, shoes, coats, and new toys and candy.

It is important to know that several of us go out to the squatter areas the week before Christmas. There we meet with area leaders and go around with them to hand out tickets, to ensure that those in need receive what they need, and that no one cheats or “double dips.” We especially want to ensure that we get food and clothes to the elderly and the disabled, so we go door to door to make sure everyone knows about the event, and to make plans to get things to those who can’t walk to the delivery site.

The history:

Yolanda Medina’s daughter, María Yolanda, was very sick. She and her husband kept vigil in the hospital, taking care of all their daughter’s needs. As Yoly’s sister-in-law Isa tells the story:

“It was Christmas Eve 1990, and María Yolanda’s days were counted. Yolanda and her late husband, Modesto, were in no mood to eat, let alone have a Christmas Dinner with all the fixings. But that night, a woman knocked on the hospital room door and peeked to see if there was someone with the patient. She came in to hand Yolanda and Modesto a box with a hot Christmas Dinner meal — and told them Merry Christmas and that God was with them. Yolanda never forgot that gesture.

After María Yolanda passed away, Yolanda got us all together and told us what had happened. So, the first couple of years, we had culinary arts students volunteer their time to prepare a Christmas Dinner meal, with donated ingredients from friends and family, and all of us volunteered to fill disposable thermal boxes with the hot dinners, load them into cars and pick-up trucks, and off we went, to hospitals, traffic intersections, parks — wherever we thought we might find people that, for one reason or another, wouldn’t be privy to a nice Christmas Dinner.

However, this was a huge effort, and very expensive, so we couldn’t cover that much ground. So we thought in terms of something more practical, something that could be cooked and prepared at home. This way, we could make sure many more families could have a Christmas Dinner. That’s when we started the Desayuno de los Pollos.”

How to help:

  1. Buy (or sell) tickets for the fundraising breakfast. Contact me at dianne@vidamaz.com, or buy them from anyone selling them around town. Post and Ship in the Golden Zone (down the side street from Farmacía Moderna/Bum Dólar), Tippy Toes in the historic center (across from the art museum), and Surf’s Up Café in Emerald Bay will have tickets also.
  2. Make crafts or baked goods to be sold at the bazaar during the breakfast. Contact me and we’ll arrange a pick up or drop off, or bring them the morning of the breakfast.
  3. Donate (or gather) items for the silent auction (download a gift certificate, artwork, restaurant meals, hotel stays, airfares…). Just contact me and we’ll pick your stuff up.
  4. Help set up, cook, serve or clean up after the breakfast.
  5. Donate money (in person or click on the link), gently used clothing, diapers, lightly worn shoes, linens, blankets coats, new toys, or candy. 100% goes to those in need. Post and Ship will be happy to collect items if you drop them off there (beside Dolce Mami, across from FedEx).
  6. Help pack the food into packets—the two weeks before Christmas.
  7. Join us to go out with community leaders to deliver tickets for chickens, to ensure all receive their fair share, the weekend before Christmas. Instructions are below.
  8. Help us load the trucks and deliver the goodies on December 24th! This is, of course, the most fun and a terrific tradition with friends and family.

When and where is the breakfast?
It’s usually the first Saturday in December, 8:30-10:30 am in the cruise ship dock/API. In 2018 the breakfast will be on Saturday December 8th. Please join us and bring all your friends! Your ticket includes a full homemade breakfast, coffee and juice, a ticket for the door prize, a ticket for the raffle, and access to the Christmas bazaar. This is a very multicultural affair, with announcements in Spanish and English and hundreds of locals and expats attending.

API dock is on Emilio Barragón nearly across from the OXXO. Below is a map. If you can’t find it, ask any taxi driver or blue shirt/Tourism Volunteer.

API

How can I get to Quince Letras on December 24th?
Come by 6:30 am if you are driving a truck, 7:00 am if you are helping us load and deliver. We usually finish by 11:30 or noon, but some years it’s taken longer (depends how many routes you participate in).

Quince Letras, corner of Tampico and Francisco Villas streets We load from either side of this

Quince Letras, corner of Tampico and Francisco Villas streets We load from either side of this “Coca Cola” store on the corner

LOCATION: 15 (QUINCE) LETRAS, corner of Francisco Villa and Tampico, just down the hill from the Church of Cristo Rey (Christ the King—photo below).

  1. From Avenida del Mar turn East at the Fisherman’s Monument.
  2. Go to the first light and turn right.
  3. Proceed one block and turn left (Francisco Villa street, just before the Pemex station).
  4. Go two blocks.
  5. If you are NOT driving a truck or transporting supplies, please park in the next block. This will give us room for loading. Once you’ve parked, walk another block down, past the iron works business called “Quince Letras.” On the corner of Francisco Villa and Tampico you will see a small store with a bright red “Coca Cola” hand painted on the outside, across from a tortillería. A door next to the Cocheras Automaticas business will be open. That’s Yolanda’s mother’s house, and it’s from there that we’ll be loading.
  6. If you are driving a truck or transporting supplies, please drive up to Tampico street (the “Coca Cola” store on your right on the corner), turn right, and park. We will be loading right there.

IMG_0669If you can’t find it, just ask someone for “Quince Letras” or “Desayuno de los Pollos/Medina family.” Everyone in the area will know.

Merry Christmas to all! And see you there!

  1. Download and view or use a PowerPoint presentation with a full explanation of the project: chicken-breakfast-presentation
  2. Download a gift certificate to fill out, and we’ll advertise your business or service at the breakfast! Just contact us and we’ll pick it up!
  3. Download and print a poster to help advertise.

Have questions? Contact the organizers:

  • Jorge Medina (speaks English well) on his mobile, (669) 110-0744
  • Yolanda Medina (some English) at (669) 431-4529

Starlight Star Bright

DSC_0573©Like this photo of a starry night over Deer Island, with a splash from an ocean wave thrown in for good measure? I know I do! (You can click on it or any photo in this post to view it much larger.)

Last night I went out with a new photography partner and he taught me how to use the “intervalometer” on my Nikon. He had already been experimenting with taking photos of the night sky, and advised me to set my ISO to its highest, adjust my white balance, open my aperture as far as it’ll go, and set the speed to eight seconds. Sounds very simple, but it was amazing! The photo below, of the trees on Deer Island, is taken from the beach in front of El Quijote Inn in pitch blackness—my eyes couldn’t even see the island, yet look at that detail and color in the pic!

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My partner explained to me that the human eye could actually see this and much more, but our eyes are set to “video mode.” Isn’t he brilliant? The other really cool thing he said is that my camera’s aperture controls depth of field, speed controls flow or movement, and ISO controls graininess. Why don’t photography sites and teachers speak in terms like this? How simple and accurate is that description, I ask you?

Obviously I was thrilled with my camera’s capabilities; there is most definitely a whole computer inside, just waiting for me to figure out how to use it. There was a lot of light on the beach, and a party going on with a laser light show, so that obviously interfered with picture quality (or added interest; your call). I also had some fun taking photos of the lights from the restaurants playing in the waves.

Stars, waves, shrimp boats and rocks
Laser lights over Deer Island
The Milky Way over Deer Island
Stars, waves, shrimp boats and rocks
Restaurant lights reflecting in the waves
Restaurant lights reflecting in the waves

I was so excited that I spontaneously woke up about 4:00 this morning, and set my camera up out on the terrace. Living here on the malecón, there was way too much ambient light to take star pics over the island or the city, so I pointed the camera up at the sky. And, I caught TWO shooting stars! I also made my first time-lapse movie! It’s cool to watch how the stars move over the course of two hours. Take a look, below:

My new mentor encouraged me to make a star trail. I did so, using the very same images as you see in the video above. The photo below shows you the lines the stars followed over two hours:

Star Trail Nov 9 2015©

I then changed my shot to look out over the city, and filmed a time-lapse of the sunrise. I like it, too, and I hope you will. Yes, I now see that my lens needs cleaning; a little late! I could have photographed longer, but we needed to get hiking the lighthouse before starting work!

We are thinking to start a photography club here in town. It would be bilingual (Spanish and English), and we’d take turns being in charge of new techniques to teach or excursions to arrange. If you’re interested, please contact me. Thanks!

Mazatlán Photo Calendars are Out!

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Photographers whose works are in the calendar: Lenny, Beverly, Dianne and John, with Dee Hulen from Sonrisas in yellow in the center. Missing is Lloyd.

Sonrisas, the small group of powerful expatriate women who give scholarships to outstanding students, has just published their third “photos of Mazatlán” calendar. I am once again proud to be included in this very worthwhile effort. Be sure to get your calendars, and those you want to give as gifts, quickly. They always run out long before Christmas!

Yesterday afternoon (Friday) was the launch party at Macaw’s downtown, just prior to ArtWalk. On hand were some of the women in the group, as well as all but one of the photographers. Photographers with works in the Sonrisas calendar this year include Beverly Kreutzer (the cover), Lenny Wollitz, Dianne Hofner Saphiere, John Kirsch, and Lloyd Goldstein. Click a photo below to enlarge it.

Lynn, Dee, Judith, Kathy, Marg
The official “launch” of the calendar
A couple of pages in this year’s calendar.

The Sonrisas group has been around for about ten years, though several of these ladies have lived in Mazatlán for decades. The group includes Lynn Hopkins de Hernández, Dee Hulen, Judith Wolfberg, Kathy Thompson, Marg Deane, Valerie Byrd, Lena Brown, Trish Kenison, Tish Loeppke, Claire Robertson, and Diane Hoover.

They have helped students get a good education, sponsoring academically-talented youngsters from elementary school clear through, for outstanding scholars, to university. They are even sponsoring one student who is currently studying abroad in Valparaiso, Chile!

Each lady contributes money to the scholarship fund, and they also conduct fundraising activities such as the calendar, bi-annual trips to a spa north of town or to Guadalajara/Tonalá and Tlaquepaque to go shopping; they’ve made and sold handmade greeting cards, and they used to have a large garage sale, as well.

The calendars contain 14 months (November 2015-January 2017), are bilingual, and list Mexican, Canadian and US American holidays—and this year they have a hole for hanging! They cost only 100 pesos each. Calendars are available at:

  • Twisted Mamas in the Golden Zone
  • Cafe Playa Sur downtown

Dee Hulen will be at Macaws every Friday from 4-6 pm till mid-December or till the calendars are sold out (they printed 600 this year). Group members will also be selling calendars at Rico’s and Looney Bean.

For more information please canemail Dee Hulen or Lynne Hopkins.

Go NOW and Get Your Tickets for Playapalooza!

11826044_1668255580056760_2044999750367621509_nWe went last night, it ROCKED, and you don’t want to miss the next one!

Lance Vient and the Hotel Playa have a new series of shows this year, and if last night is any indication, Mazatlán is indeed blessed! Called Playa Palooza, last night’s show had a nearly full house dancing till we dropped.

Headliner was a Patsy Cline impersonator, Amberley Beatty. Her voice is sultry and sweet, and her personality sassy. She most definitely charmed our audience. Below is a short clip of her opening her set with “Pearl Bailey:”

Click on any photo to enlarge it or view a slideshow.

Amberley Beatty as Patsy Cline in Playapalooza Mazatlán
Amberley Beatty as Patsy Cline in Playapalooza Mazatlán
Amberley Beatty as Patsy Cline in Playapalooza Mazatlán

Amberley came out into the audience several times to engage the crowd. Below is a clip of her flirting with one happy man from the audience:

Opening for Patsy was Buddy Holly impersonator, Jeff Scott. He had the energy and the moves, and included some Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens and Johnny Cash tunes in his repertoire. Here’s a short clip of him singing “That’ll Be the Day:”

And a few pics of Jeff; click to enlarge or see a slideshow:

Jeff Scott as Buddy Holly in Playapalooza Mazatlán
Jeff Scott as Buddy Holly in Playapalooza Mazatlán
Jeff Scott as Buddy Holly in Playapalooza Mazatlán

And here’s a short video of Jeff singing “Peggy Sue:”

Both Patsy and Buddy were wonderful, and they were what drew Greg and me in, but what really made the night for all of us was the INCREDIBLE rockabilly group from Culiacán—Los Moustros del Espacio Exterior. Yes, weird name, but the group is AWESOME! Very, very tight; excellent musicians. The lead singer, “Voodoo” Sanchez, is completely bilingual, which adds so much feeling to those old favorites. Guitar, bass, sax, drums, and keyboards combined to get even this more “seasoned” crowd jumping to their feet and dancing in the wings of the Venado Showroom. I know we’ll be contacting them for our next party! Check out this short excerpt of just one song:

The group had nearly everyone on our feet, shouting like teenagers. They know how to rock! Click photos to enlarge or view a slideshow.

Los Moustros in Playapalooza Mazatlán
Los Moustros in Playapalooza Mazatlán
Los Moustros in Playapalooza Mazatlán
Los Moustros in Playapalooza Mazatlán

The Hotel Playa has long been our absolute favorite hotel in town. It’s gorgeous—the architecture, the lighting, the setting, the beach. We can rely on the Playa to have excellent dance music in the evenings, though we do miss their weekly fireworks displays (hint, hint).

For three decades before we moved to Mazatlán full time we stayed at the Hotel Playa on family trips, and we hosted our wedding party here as well. Our son Danny grew up with Paulina, who worked at the pool café. And now, keeping it in the family, Lance Vient is managing things. Below you can see a pic of him last night with his beautiful wife Brooke.

Entering the Hotel Playa for Playapalooza last night
Brooke and Lance Vient
The final bow last night

There isn’t a bad seat in the Venado Showroom, everyone, so run over to the Hotel Playa Mazatlán right now and get tickets for the remainder of the series! Mazatlán is home to some of the world’s best musicians; music runs in the blood of patasaladas. So, it’s especially encouraging to see the Hotel Playa bringing music front and center via its innovative Playapalooza!

My Favorite 2015 Day of the Dead Story!

XoloAnubisThis year’s official theme for Day of the Dead cultural activities in Mazatlán was Mictlán—the world of death in Aztec mythology. Navigating the nine levels of Mictlán towards the evening star in the heavens was said to take nearly four years and was full of challenges. The dead needed help, a guide, and they found it in a dog—Xoloitzcuintle—a carnation of Xolotl, the god of fire, lightning, sickness and deformities, twin brother of Quetzalcoatl.

Xolo effigyClay dog statues have been found ritualistically placed in the tombs of Aztecs, Mayans and Colima Indians, as have the skeletons of actual dogs. Sort of reminds you of Anubis, the Egyptian dog-god, lord of the underworld, doesn’t it? They are both black, guide the dead, and have pointy, stand-up ears!

Well, a modern-day incarnation of Xoloitzcuintle apparently lives in El Rosario, and her name is La Tigresa!

For the past year, every time Tigresa hears the funeral bells of Our Lady of Rosario ring, she walks into church and politely sits down to attend the funeral mass. When the mass is finished, she walks in the funerary procession, in front of the casket, all the way to the cemetery. There she stays with the body until the last person has gone home.

La Tigresa distinguishes between the bells of a funeral mass and those of ordinary mass, which she never attends. If there are two simultaneous funerals, Tigresa walks in between the two coffins, treating both equitably. If there’s a funeral in the morning and another in the afternoon, she attends both. If the body is taken back home after mass, that’s where she heads, too.

Photo from the Noroeste by Hugo Gómez

Photo from the Noroeste by Hugo Gómez

I want to thank my good friend Lupita, who shared this story with me from Sunday’s Noroeste. I just love it, and hope you will, too! We’ve got to meet La Tigresa!

Xoloitcuintle is, of course, a breed of dog here in Mexico, often shortened to “Xolo.” These beautiful, often black, hairless (and therefore flea-less) dogs were almost extinct, but concerted efforts to rescue it have been successful. It is believed to be one of the world’s oldest and rarest breeds, dating 3000 to 7000 years. In pre-hispanic times they were considered sacred, with healing properties both for the body and the soul.

The name is a combination of the god’s name, Xolotl, and izcuintli, which means “dog” in Nahuatl, though there are those who say the name means “he who snatches his food with teeth sharp as obsidian.” The breed has three unique features that baffle biologists:

  1. The absence of teeth between the molars and the incisors.
  2. A body temperature a few degrees higher than is normal for a dog.
  3. The dog sweats through its skin rather than by panting its tongue.

La Tigresa is obviously not a Xoloitcuintle breed, but would, indeed, appear to be an embodiment of this guardian of the underworld!