Tepic - with a population of 489,511 - is the capital and largest city of the western Mexican state of Nayarit. The city is 225km from Guadalajara making Tepic halfway to Matzatlan and an ideal staging post en route to this ferry port from where we ship to Baja California! After the hustle bustle of Orozco City, Tepic proved itself to be a relaxed and easy going place.
We stayed at the Fiesta Inn in the Ecological Park on the outskirts of town and took in the delights of the Forum Shopping Mall where David became great friends with the staff of Burger King, eating there six times over our three day stay - BBQ Whopper with Bacon & Cheese - cooked fresh to order - only £2.34! And Amanda got to know the checkout hombre at Sam's Club where Chilean Reservado Sauvignon Blanc was just £3.40 a bottle!!
Why 3 days in Tepic? The Baja Ferry from Mazatlan to La Paz only runs 3 times a week, and the one we planned to catch was fully booked with folks returning home from Easter Hols.
The Fiesta Inn was lovely although David had another gun encounter on his way down to the Business Centre early one morning, as the lift doors opened on the Ground Floor he was confronted, at close quarters, by a 3 man Police Swat Team wearing full combat gear, including gloves, balaclavas and kevlar helmets, all toting fully loaded M4 Assault Rifles! He took them by surprise! They had just finished their shift and weren't expecting anyone to be in the lift at 6:30am!! Seems the Fiesta Inn provides accommodation to out of town Police Teams who park their heavily armed vehicles out in the Car Park and get some zzzeds in a comfy hotel room between shifts!
Mazatlan - population 658,354 - is a coastal city which Lonely Planet says "became one of Mexico's most alluring and inviting beach destinations in the mid-20th century, before it lurched past its prime into a midmarket, package-tourist category resort."
We stayed at City Express (David's loyalty Premios Card strikes gold again!) for two nights - just outside the Zona Dorada, and can certainly vouch for LP's words - although midmarket is a bit rich!
Highlight of our stay? The Mexican removal team made up of 3 generations of the same family who were in the hotel room directly above us, and who spent most of the late evening and early morning removing and replacing the furniture in their un-carpeted bedroom! Second favourite? Breakfast time Mexican Standoff due to scrambled egg shortage and seating overload - fortunately David had the key to the Business Centre where we enjoyed a peaceful and plentiful brekka!!
Enjoyed a stroll round Home Depot to buy a chunky screwdriver to open our room's sealed double glazed windows for a better view plus some fresh air, and Petland where we were tempted by a turquoise chameleon, but remembered the No Reptiles Rule when crossing the US Border!
