Es peligroso

 I get that question all the time. And yes it is dangerous .

We're calling it Black Thursday here, the day they arrested Chapo's son in Culican and the government was so scared of revenge that they shut the city of Mazatlan down....period....no buses no open stores no nothin . Granted there were a few cars set on fire and of course up the road where the shoot out was 29 people were killed but here in Maz it was just weirder that it was scary . Now ten days later life is normal but with just a few more of the military convoys and helicopter fly overs that are a show of force that we're all used....so if you want to know the number one danger here it's this, by far .

Now you're saying " what the hell is that " ?......it's concrete of course . I was taught that you mixed in a wheel barrel but here in Mexico any flat surface will do. It's mixed and the repairs are made and then this gets left so that unwary walkers can catch a toe, vault forward and walla....a trip to Marina hospital for a broken hip. You can't imagine how many people get hurt walking in Mexico , happens routinely.

So a veteran ( like myself who has tripped many a time but was blessed with 9 lives and only taken off layers of skin ) learns to scan ahead so you see whats coming, you know , keep your head down and don't Barney Google to much. Then there's the uniformity issue like this :

Then the there's the to narrow to get through on the busiest narrow street issue :

Years ago one of friends was scoping out the local personalities when he did a Carl Wallenda off of one these....They are every where , our poor buddy face planted and looked like a 82 year old UFC fighter.

So my advice is simple...if you see an elephant on a garage door don't keep walking as you take in the wonder of it ...STOP....check it out, take your pic and then scan ahead and continue , you'll be just fine in this peligroso environment .

The next big danger in Mazatlan , Sinaloa Mexico is the food...and I'm not talking about getting the tourista or the Imodium diner  because all you have to do with that is don't eat from anybody that doesn't have business . The busy places turn over the food so it's always fresh and soooo good, that's the problem.

There I am eating the red Jalisco style Menudo that is traditionally served on Sundays as  a hang over cure. It is just so clean and tasty, the tripe in it has a texture you will come to like and it hydrates in the most wonderfully flavorful way . So what's the problem ???? well the food is so good that without discipline you can gain the Mazatlan kilo's that I used to. I'd go in the gym 3 months before our winter in Mexico and work my butt off to lose 10 pounds just so I could put them back on starting with our first night in Mazatlan when we go to F.I.S.H. and have Clam Chowder with an Oyster Poo Boy and the largest drat beer ever sold to man....How's about these Coconut Shrimp at El Mimmen ?

And hows about authentic Sinaloa style potato taco's at El Tunnel . They're served with the veggies over and not in and then you have a wonderful consommé sauce to pour over....it'll make a Bull Dog break his chain.

And of course part of the eating to much problem is the part where it's so affordable. If you love good Mexican food like we do it's impossible to spend more than twenty bucks for the two of us....tonight we're going to Taco's Martin for the Lengua ( tongue ) tacos that I like and the Vampiro's El Pastor that MP likes .

FISHING REPORT

Well I've over done it which is something I'm good at and am just now getting over a pinched nerve in my neck that took me out of the game for a while....But we've had a shift change here at Team X and things are getting exciting, many Corvina and Robalo to be caught and then there's this.....my buddy Steve with a really noble Toro, the kinda fish that can jerk the guts right of your reel .

So I'll end this Mile 14 edition with a song . I wish you all could be here to hear it person cause I know I said I wanted to be out there more...So I'm on the hunt for a place to welcome me and my three chord country  sometimes in the key of C . This time of year I've always entertained here in our building but the vibe has changed and it bothers me...I'd never want to be responsible for any hurt feelings with other musicians and for me in this stage of my life if things bother me I ain't doing them. I've been an outsider my whole life and I guess I still am . Period .  So if any of you Mazatlan friends need a picker call me at BR 549.....Hope you like the song, I didn't think I could hit the highs like Charlie Starr does but.....