The good, the bad & the ugly

Bus Fare. It’s still a great deal and still under $10 pesos, but the fare on the green Camaron Sabalo buses has gone up to $9 pesos.

Alcohol Hours. Supposedly a temporary measure, hours for serving and selling alcohol have been reduced significantly. This is a very new law that’s being contested vehemently, as you can imagine, by just about everyone involved. Ostensibly restaurants can’t serve alcohol past 11 p.m. and bars must stop serving at 2 a.m.

Seat Belt Use. Cops are cracking down on folks not wearing them – whatever your nationality. Be prepared! In other words, yes, you probably should start wearing your seat belt again – always. The police have been setting up roadblocks all over Mazatlán and stopping drivers sans seatbelts to issue citations. You’ve been warned.

Wine Prices. It was bound to happen: restaurants are realizing that wine-drinkers would pay more for better wines. Do ask, even about a house wine, before you order. Prices can range from $40 pesos to $75 pesos for the same copa de vino tinto in restaurants right next to each other. Same with bottles – you’ll find Concha y Toro merlot can cost $140 at one place and $260 a few doors away.

…and all prices. The “crisis" (pronounced “cree-sees") has hit Mazatlán too, and folks have done what they need to do to stay in business. But when the basics – sugar, corn, beans, produce, meats, even water – cost more, your meal at almost every restaurant is going to reflect that increased cost.

M!’s new website. *Oops, you're here already - isn't our re-design gorgeous?!

Free internet along the malecon. Hard to believe – but yes, it’s true. From the Pacifico School (the blue one above Olas Altas) all the way to Valentino’s, you can access the internet, free, along the malecon. An intelligent, far-reaching, well-thought-out project of a local hotel association, it benefits everyone: visitors, residents, young and old.