CHAPTER 10 - MAZATLAN VACATION TRIPS For Christmas in 1962, Bob and I and our families agreed to go to Mazatlan, Mexico. Dicky was home from his Mission to Chile and Reggie had gone to Peru for his. So DeVonne and I, with Dicky and Kandy traveled in our car, a 1960 Chevrolet, running in caravan with Bob, Dura, Judy and her friend, Silvia. We left home on 21 December and drove to El Centro and met Bob and family and stayed overnight in the El Dorado Motel. Next day we crossed the border into Mexicali, Mexico, over to Nogales and to Sonoyta to have our papers checked and then down to Hermosillo and on into Guaymas where we stayed the night at Motel Marlin. The next day we traveled through Los Mochis and Culiacan and on into Mazatlan, arriving Sunday, 23 December. Dicky's knowledge of Spanish was very helpful to all of us as we traveled through Mexico. The natives also seemed to appreciate his ability to converse with them. We had Rooms 137 & 138 reserved at the Playa Hotel on the outskirts of the town. Bob and I took a swim before dinner. The accommodations were very good, the food excellent and the Mexican waiters, who were young boys, were charming. Monday, Christmas Eve, we spent most of the day on the beach. We did a little shopping in the afternoon and went into town again for the Midnight Mass at the Cathedral and then returned to the Playa to open our presents. We spent Christmas Day on the beach. On the 26th Bob treated Dicky, Kandy and me to a fishing trip. I caught a shark and so did Bob. Dicky was the only one to catch a Marlin. It weighed in at 135 pounds. Kandy did not fish. At age 15 (nearly 16) Marlin fishing would have been a little too much for her. DeVonne, Dura, Judy and Sylvia stayed on the beach at the hotel. The Ocean was warm, about 80 Deg. Fahr., even at Christmas time. Thursday it clouded up and rained. We spent the afternoon shopping in town. DeVonne got a pair of shoes for 180 Pesos, or $14.40. Visiting the market places in town and viewing the natives gave us a feel for the poverty of Mexico. We stayed for about a week and then started the drive back home. I left with our family a day ahead of Bob. We drove to Guaymas the first day and found all the motels full and went on to Hermosillo and stayed overnight in the San Alberto Hotel for 90 Pesos. We shopped at "Bona's" in Hermosillo before heading north again. We crossed the border again at Mexicali and then took the back route to come out at DeVonne's sister, June's in Banning where we spent the night before going on home to Panorama City. MAZATLAN SECOND VACATION TRIP In October of 1969 Bob, Dura, Ted & Lois Maxwell, DeVonne and I flew down to Mazatlan, via Mexicana Airlines. The plane was air conditioned and when we stepped off the plane in Mazatlan it was like stepping into an oven. It took a little while to adjust to it. We stayed at the Playa Hotel again. A hurricane had just hit them a few days before our arrival and our rooms were damaged so we had to take others. We found the equivalent of a 31 flavors ice cream shop. Bob had convinced the owner on one of his previous trips that he needed to provide more flavors, and had told him about 31 Flavors in the States. The owner had adapted his shop as well as he could. An island, El Lobo, is off the coast of Mazatlan. It didn't look very far to me and I decided to swim over to it. I took a four foot rubber raft with me and made it across. The currents were quite strong as I approached the island and I had to tie the raft to my foot and swim as hard as I could to make it to the shore. There wasn't much to see on the island but I picked up an odd shaped rock for DeVonne and tucked it into the back of my trunks to carry back to the mainland. After I had rested up I started back at a slow pace, lying on the raft and paddling with my hands. The roughness of the raft rubbed against my upper arms as I swam and when I reached the mainland they were sore and red. It was then that I asked the owner of the hotel how far it was and I was surprised when he said it was a little over a mile. I didn't realize it was that far. We found the local Branch of the Mormon Church and DeVonne, Dura and I went Sunday morning. Yolanda Urquijo who played the piano was a member of the Church. She was the daughter of the Mayor of Mazatlan and the only member of the family that had joined the Church. The Branch President announced that they would have to raise money for a chapel. He said it was necessary for the local people to raise $12,000.00 and the Church would pay the rest. That much money to that little group of people in Mexico was a great amount but when he asked for a show of hands, who would support him in raising the funds, every hand went up. I was particularly impressed by the Relief Society President who stood up and raised both hands. In one hand she held up the Book of Mormon and in the other hand she held up her purse. Bob and Dura were friends of the Mayor and his family: Senor Don Ricardo Urquijo. The Mayor invited all of us to join his family one evening for dinner at a local restaurant. His family included his wife, Manuela; son, Ricardo Jr.; daughter, Yolanda, who I mentioned above; and his sister, Bertha. It was a very charming family and although we spoke no Spanish we managed to have an enjoyable dinner together. After dinner it was interesting to note that the Mayor's son followed his aunt's (Bertha) car home in his car to be certain that she arrived safely. Bertha had for years ran a private school in Mazatlan that was founded by her and the Mayor's aunt (La Profesora Augustina Monterde) known as "Titi." Bertha and Yolanda both taught in the school. Titi never married but dedicated her life to the school and the church. She died at age 104 in 1977-78. DeVonne and I left after a week in Mazatlan and flew home while Bob & Dura and Ted & Lois stayed for a few more days.