Chance of Rain low 73°F high 89°F
Well, it’s finally July, the first month when even the hardcore locals will admit it’s starting to get hot. The few full-time gringos that still wander about during daylight hours do so clad in shorts, tank tops and flip-flops. The rare gringo tourists that for some unknown reason have picked July to come to Mazatlán, will find themselves hunting for cooler shorts, thinner tank tops and footwear their feet won’t sweat in. Both the locals and the searching tourists face the same dilemma when it comes to finding decent summer clothing in Mazatlan. The nationals go around fully dressed, with long pants, undershirts and even long-sleeved shirts during the heat of the day. For us wimpy gringos, the less clothes the better.
If you’re not very particular about what your apparel says about your inner being, you’ll have no problem finding T-shirts or tank tops at any of ropa de playa shops in the Gold Zone. Shopping there can be both convenient and entertaining.
Total nudity is another alternative; however, severe sunburn and prudish Mexican laws preclude this option.
Several weeks ago, while searching for an acceptable tank top, I watched a family peruse the T-shirt racks of a well-stocked beach store. The wife was flipping through the racks fairly quickly, obviously somewhat dismayed by the garish and lewd depictions on the clothing. The rather overweight husband was admiring a stunning shirt that featured both a bare-breasted woman and a large sailfish, while the teenage son was checking out a shirt with a slogan on it in Mexican slang that could probably get him shot in some rural villages. It was the young daughter that really caught my attention, though; the look on her face was enough to tell me she’d found one of the raunchiest shirts in the store. She was holding up the front flap of a two-part shirt and staring at a cotton and polyester rendition of something even statues have discerningly covered with fig leaves.
It was right about this time that Mom decided to check on the kids. When she realized the little girl’s fascination was with something rather pornographic, she went nuclear; it was clearly time to leave. The husband hastily replaced the sexy fish shirt although the teenage son was instantly enamored by the pop-up porn his little sister had inadvertently discovered.
As the scene unfolded, the smiling store owner - thinking a sale was imminent -stepped forward to offer a bargain price for the offensive article of clothing. The family, each in some state of shock or awe, hurriedly found the nearest exit. I knew I’d just witnessed another of those great Mazatlán moments, sure to induce an involuntary chuckle whenever it passes through what’s left of my mind.
Finding non-offensive or even tastefully done T-shirts is actually not that difficult, but it does require some diligence on the part of the shopper. I’ve discovered that no matter what type of clothing you choose, though, its lifespan – after repeated exposure to Mazatlán’s intense sun – is short and bittersweet. Given this fact, I do most of my shopping at the bazars in Centro or the Sunday street market in Juarez. At both these places I can buy slightly used, good-quality, name brand shorts or shirts for $20 to $30 pesos each - without embarrassing pictures or inane sayings.
However, as the heat presses on throughout the summer, even a T-shirt becomes too much clothing and either a tank top or a loose, lightweight Hawaiian-type shirt is the preferred form of dress. Total nudity is another alternative; however severe sunburn and prudish Mexican laws preclude this option.
Bodie Kellogg was last seen going through the rag piles at the Juarez market while wearing a tasteless shirt that said “Party till you puke!” Even Snickers was keeping her distance. If you wish to contact this destitute, rag-draped vagrant, he can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Comments
Thanks, jim