You know, it’s one thing to *read* about Mazatlán. It’s a completely different matter to *see* it for yourself, right?

So I took this quick video for you of Mazatlán while my husband, Dick, and I were driving around town. You’ll see McDonalds, Applebee’s, the ocean and a whole lot of other familiar places.

You would not believe how fast Mazatlán is growing – despite the slow economy in the U.S. In a lot of ways, Mazatlán is just like your typical vacation city… like Orlando or San Diego or Myrtle Beach, complete with all of the amenities that you would expect.

So without further delay, here’s my video, proudly (and simply) titled  “Driving around Mazatlán”. Let me give you a quick tour….

On the way to Rosario, south of Mazatlán, there is a small, quaint town called Aguacaliente. It’s absolutely stunning! Imagine a tropical paradise complete with banana trees, mango trees, orange trees and coconut groves. And guess what?! There is a natural hot spring! Those of you who know Spanish have probably already figured this out; as the name suggests (in Spanish) “agua” means water and “caliente” is hot. Thus,“hot water (springs)”.

As you go on, you’ll see Copala, a picturesque colonial village that’s nestled in the hills. It’s actually an ancient mining town with beautiful red roofs, and steep cobblestoned streets with lots of smiling, friendly people. It’s truly a place where time seems to stand still.

About twenty minutes from Copala, is a little German-inspired village called, La Capilla del Taxte. Are you a bird watcher? Then I have some news for you! Bird watching is the central activity here. La Capilla del Taxte is also a great place for scenic hikes through the gentle sloping hills. You’ll catch an amazing view of the Sierra Madre. It’s truly a dream come true.

Then… less that five minutes before you enter Concordia, off a little dirt road, we passed a colorful little school. The road was a little steep! We had to drive very slowly. There was a  concrete pillared, open-air structure shading the natural hot springs.

For the locals, these natural hot springs are a laundry center, where the women come to wash the clothes.

In fact, there are actually three nearby towns known for their hot springs: Garate, Santa Fe and Arrona. Not really large enough to be full-fledged hot springs, the locals call these tiny refuges “aguita calientes” or “little hot springs.”

Before I close this letter to you, my dear reader, be sure to visit Concordia, a beautiful town founded in 1565 as Villa De San Sebastian.

Once you’re in town, you will find a charming old town square. As usual, it’s right in front of a church…but this church is over 350 years old! In fact, it the oldest church in the state of Sinaloa. You will probably want to stroll through the many antique and furniture stands.

One final thought: Do remember to drive carefully, please…and enjoy the trip. And of course, be sure to check with the U.S. state department and your local expat contacts (which you can find on the Internet) to check on the local conditions.

What about you? Have you been to Mazatlán? What’s your opinion??