Link Ups, Travel

The Doors of Mazatlán

Retirement Reflections

Our visit to Mazatlán, Mexico has been relaxing, rejuvenating and thought-provoking. This trip came with many bonuses, including providing me with rich material to participate in #ThursdayDoors. Here is a small sample of the endless variety of eye-catching entranceways we passed during our daily wanderings.

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Historic Doors

The architecture in Mazatlán’s historic district (Centro Historico) displays a brilliant mixture of Spanish, German, French and British influences. Often, the first storey of a building was created in the style of one country while additional storeys were later added in the style of another. When visiting this area, Richard and I attempted a self-guided walking tour. More on that later!

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Graffiti Doors

The mixture of graffiti turned street art combined with the peeling layers and rich textures of this facade completely captured my attention. Richard was several blocks ahead while I stood riveted in fascination.

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Overgrown Doors

I didn’t add (or move) the chair in this photo.  I loved the contrast that it created. Why was a single chair there? Why was it faced that way?
What do you think?

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Many Doors

Centro Historico is a brilliant maze containing numerous side streets that beckon exploration. This was one of the reasons that I added the word ‘attempted’ in reference to our walking tour. The other reason was that many of the historic buildings that we sought were not well marked….at least not in a way that I easily understood!

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Open Doors

So often when viewing intriguing doors (both IRL and online), I have a strong desire to peek inside. Thus, I couldn’t resist a quick snap when I happened upon this open door. (In hindsight, the word ‘trespassing’ definitely comes to mind!)

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Guarded Doors

Okay, I confess, the pups in this scene captured my full attention. Earlier in our walk, they dashed exuberantly through the streets. I appreciated that they finally chose to rest in front of a photo worthy door.

Sending Mazatlán warmth your way for a very happy February 14th!

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Thursday Doors is a weekly blogging feature that allows photographers/travelers/door lovers to view and share their favorite door photos from around the world. I encourage you to check out this week’s ‘door posts’ hosted by Norm Frampton at Norm 2.0. I look forward to seeing you there!

Published by Retirement Reflections

Prior to retirement, I lived and worked in Beijing China for fourteen years (Middle School Principal/Deputy Director at The Western Academy of Beijing). Leaving international life behind, my husband and I retired to Vancouver Island in June 2015. To document both this transition and our new adventures, ‘Retirement Reflections’ was born. I hope that you enjoy reading these reflections, and will be willing to share your own.

82 thoughts on “The Doors of Mazatlán”

  1. Your photographs are amazing, Donna. Before I read your caption, I wondered about that chair as well. Maybe the person who was sitting there was chased away by a swarm of bees. No doubt there’s a lot of pollinating going on up there. Thanks for sharing with us!

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  4. Envious of not only your warm weather but the striking venues you are visiting and capturing through your camera lens. Never realized til now that I have a ‘thing’ for doors, too! Your photographs remind me of some I have traveled past and through.
    It is always interesting to me how, if the paint on our own homes was peeling so badly, and the flowering bushes in our yard were overgrown, we would feel a need to ‘fix’ them…to paint, repair, do a little tree trimming. But in trying to make things more perfect or fresh or new, we are often undoing the real beauty.
    Yay for self-guided tours…the best kind, for mysterious single chairs in the road and canine sentries at the door.
    Enjoy the rest of your visit and continue capturing the charm of Mazatlan to share!

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    1. Hi, Leslie – You are very insightful! Often when we try to “tidy up” things around us, we “standardize” and unwittingly undo natural beauty.
      I’m glad that you have a thing for doors as well. If you have some door photos to share, why not link up with Norm (any Thursday)? I’d love to see you there!

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    1. Thanks, Ally – I felt a little shameless about including the dog pic….as it truly was the pups that made me stop to take the photo. I was very thankful that there was a door behind them (especially as there were many different places that they could have chosen for their siesta)!

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    1. Hi, Kate – Using the chair to save a parking space is an excellent explanation….although there did seem to be many available parking spaces all around.
      I didn’t make up the “brilliant sunshine” bit, but I do agree that it a redundant statement for a weather app. “Sunshine” would have sufficed nicely for me!

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  8. Thank you, Donna, for sending us Mazatlán warmth. I love the overgrown bougainvilleas and the vibrant colours that often exist in warmer climates. Enjoy the sunshine and happy Feb. 14th to you and Richard!

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  9. Oh, Mexico… my heart! I love your pictures of the doors and thank you for taking us along on your walking tour. My guess is that the chair was put there to save a parking space… but what an elegant way to do it! The last time I was in Mazatlán I hadn’t discovered the wonder of doors… I guess I need to go back! I hope you and Richard are enjoying the unique warmth of Mexico.

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  10. Enjoy your vacation, Donna! What I would do for some Mexican warmth! Even in the desert it is cold, rainy, and windy these days. 😦 No guilt about sitting inside every day and doing some work, though.

    I think the single chair is in that spot to “reserve” parking for someone visiting or needing to offload something. Happy Valentine!

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    1. Hi, Liesbet – I agree with your “Chair Explanation”….although it would be cool if it was for a “people watcher” to admire those coming and going on the sidewalk (not that we saw anyone using that, or any nearby sidewalks when we were there).
      Glad to hear that you are getting some writing done. See! Chilly days/nights can be useful for a few things! 🙂

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  11. It’s many years since I was in Mazatlan, but I do remember the gated entrances, and the colors of the buildings. Oh, I could use a trip there this winter, especially since we have had a bitterly cold spell! Love your photos of doors—good eye, Donna!

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  13. First of all, I’m glad you are enjoying a warm stay in Mexico…mmm, warm, I vaguely remember it! Beautiful doors and thanks for the reminder for me to snap some doors when we visit Hilo in March! I think that chair is holding a parking space…I would have done the same thing, LOL!

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  14. Love the colors. I agree with Kate, the chair is to hold the parking spot. The parking is limited on our street with people having multiple cars so while some folks use their garbage cans to hold their place, I can easily imagine someone putting a chair there. Thanks for sharing your trip!

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  15. These are all wonderful, so bright and cheerful. I absolutely love that gigantic spray of flowers in the chair photo and the chair as well. It made me smile and wonder, as you did, what the heck it was doing there? But it’s the fun sort of wonder. Happy Thursday!

    janet

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  17. Finally a Mexican destination that a blogger writes about where I’ve actually been! I loved Mazatlán; was lucky enough to visit it twice. I remember the graffiti and thought it was so artful, as you pointed out, Donna. Beautiful pictures. Enjoy your visit! – Marty

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    1. HI, Marty – I completely agree. ‘Graffiti’ and ‘Street Art’…there usually is a very fine line…and sometimes no line at all. Thanks for stopping by. I’m glad to hear that you’ve been here before. RIchard and I definitely hope to return here again!

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  18. Hi Donna, I love seeing doors in other countries and remember I found some fabulous doors in Spain and on a small Greek Island we visited. Mazatlán looks beautiful and what a lovely way to escape from the cold weather on Vancouver Island. I loved all of your photos and each caption was perfect. So pleased you had a good time and look forward to reading more about your trip. Have a lovely weekend. xx

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    1. Hi, Sue – I’ve been to Spain and agree that the doors there are amazing. Richard was often grinding his teeth in the background as I took yet another door photo. I have not yet been to the Greek Islands…but it is definitely on my list.
      Wishing a Happy Valentine’s Day to you, Mike and your family (although I do realize that it is a day ahead there)! 🙂

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  19. All the doors were interesting, the large photo at the top is so very colorful! My fav would be the rustic wooden door (Historic Doors) surrounded by brick. I have no idea why the lone chair was on the street, do you? In the same photo, is that a flowering shrub or a tree? I can’t see the tree trunk. Looks like it’s growing from the top of the building.

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    1. Hi, Dee – Great question about where the overgrown flowers were stemming from! I believe the plant is a bougainvillea. According to my quick research, this plant can grow on a trellis, over an arbor, against a building or fence, in containers, as a hedge or ground cover, in tree form, and as a bonsai. Next time I will need to investigate much more carefully!
      Sadly, I don’t know more about the origin of the lone chair. But it did add an additional flavour of mystery! 🙂

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      1. Still a cute picture. I’m pretty sure in Toronto, someone would move it and take the parking place 🙂

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  21. I ‘adore’ these doors and your story Donna!!! The stunning photos just ooze charm and stories and exploration. The overgrown door is my favourite! What a fabulous way top travel, thanks for taking me along with you in your post 🙂

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    1. Thanks, Deb. I appreciate you joining me on this adventure. If I had guessed in advance, I would have thought you would chose the “flower door” as your favourite. Funny how we get to know each other so well in this corner of the blogisphere! 🙂

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      1. Yes it is funny isn’t it? That’s what I love about blogging, this engagement is real and we get to know each other by our words, photos and sharing our thoughts. The flowers spilling over the door are just gorgeous and the single chair makes me want to sit there and take it all in.

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  22. Hi Donna,
    The doors are great…you are lucky to have escaped to the sunny south for a bit and escape the bad weather in Vancouver. Looking forward to hearing more about the vacation. Did you get lost? Is Richard as “good” at directions as Dan? Intrigued.
    And, I think the chair was holding a parking space. That’s what they do in Boston after a snowstorm. If you shovel out your parking space you can save it with a chair for a few days so your hard work is rewarded. But after that the DPW comes along and scoops it up and throws it out.
    They hadn’t had snow, had they?

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    1. HI, Nancy – All great questions! We didn’t get lost exactly….but the our ‘walking tour map’ and the route we actually took didn’t completely match! 🙂 The chair certainly could have been holding a parking space. Not from snow…..but perhaps for shade or for ease of loading/unloading!

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  23. I always love the colours of Mexico – and your photos were just perfect examples of the richness of the walls and the contrasts. I always smile when I see tourists taking door pictures – it’s definitely a “thing” these days 🙂

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    1. Hi, Leanne – I completely agree about the colours of Mexico — they amazed me every single day. Janis (Retirementally Challenged) and Joanne (My Life Lived Full) lead me to Norm (Norm 2.0). Since then I have been totally hooked on unique doors in new places, and the stories behind them.

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      1. He has a place in Mazatlan, and we have an open invite but it’s not an easy flight for us from here. He’s usually in north California so we tend to visit him there.

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  25. Oh how I would love to linger on the colorful streets you walked upon in the Centro Historic. Even the crumbling buildings come alive against the azure skies showcasing the new creations placed upon them. It’s been years since I’ve visited Mexico and you have me longing to sail in the Sea of Cortez.

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  27. That chair is way too small to be holding a parking space, Donna. I think it was at some stage in the shade of that beautiful flower display and that the person sat on it was looking at the beautiful view through the gate it is facing while out of the hot sun. What they saw through the gate is another story. Maybe they got up and checked something mysterious they saw through the gate?
    I love how some of the doors were also left open. I guess to capture a cool breeze? But, can a breeze be captured?
    Enjoy the rest of the trip, Donna.

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  30. Beautiful doors Donna. The cracked, peeling one is my favorite. Typically, my husband would have been far away before he noticed that I had stopped to ponder, but lately he is getting better at recognizing what catches my attention and sometimes even points things out that I have missed. There is always hope.

    The mystery chair. At first, I thought of the obvious – save the space, but that doesn’t seem to be the case, other than possibly a drop-off. My other thought is that someone was enjoying the sun during breaks. But, based on the position of the shadow, (I sit face to the sun, not in my ear) I think not. I suppose it shall forever remain a mystery. Thanks for sharing.

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  31. Hi, Suzanne – Your comment completely resonates with me. Cracked, peeling doors where I can see the original building materials, and the layers pilled upon it, are my absolute favourite. I agree there is hope for our husband’s patience. Richard is getting much better at understanding my need to stand and ponder.

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  34. I’ve never heard of this place but it’s certainly rich in photographic possibilities. Those doors, that architecture, that colour. (As an aside I don’t think it’s trespassing if the lens doesn’t cross the actual threshold…)

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  35. Nice to live vicariously through you, Donna, enjoying the best of both climates, Winnipeg and Mexico. It is interesting how the additional storeys in one building can vary. You have captured the vibrant colours of the doorways. I am with you and I also wonder what is behind those doors. As for the chair…..likely was on the sidewalk, temporarily moved to allow room for passerby’s and then left there…..?

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  36. I found your post long buried in my inbox – and what a visual treat it’s been!!
    I agree with Kate … I think the chair is to block a parking space.
    The third photo is STUNNING! OMG – that flowering tree is beautiful!

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