Retiring to Mazatlan: When is a walk, not a walk?

Married couples do things differently.

For example, Hub lives to scuba dive...while I love to shop, and on occasion we do things together... like walking, which is enjoyable, great exercise and in Maz there’s lots to see, even while enjoying a leisurely stroll.

This particular morning I announce "I’m ready" as I see Hubs eyes look down at my feet.

‘You’re not wearing those shoes are you?’ as he points at my flip flops.

I quickly turn around mid stairs and head back up to change the footwear as I hear him calling up from the living room...‘While you’re up there don’t forget the hat and sunscreen.’

I calmly descend the stairs ready to start our walk, now covered in sun protection and wearing the proper footwear, sunglasses, hat, and proceed to hand him the camera (the big one with the neck strap), a bag for collecting found treasures, phone and grab my purse.

‘Have you got my glasses in your purse?’ Hub asks as he locks the back gates.

“Naturally.”

‘And my sugar packets, in case we stop along the way.’

“Of course” as I try to get my purse over the damn hat.

‘Keys?’

“Check and all accounted for Sir” as I snap to attention.

‘Don’t be a smart ass.’

“And just how long will our manoeuver take Sir?”

‘Well a couple of hours...I’m thinking El Faro.’

Panic hits my throat as I drop it all on the table on the deck...“I’m thinking your nuts!”

‘Come on...togetherness and all that!’

Let me say that El Faro is Hubs idea of exercise. Three mornings a week, at 6am, he grumbles and moans about how hard it is and how boring it is just walking by himself, even though there are many other exercise nuts doing the same thing every day.

He leans over and whispers in my ear...’the view is spectacular!’

“Hey, I can see the same thing from a hotel roof on the beach with a cocktail in my hand.”

‘But it’s great exercise!’

“I can carry a cocktail AND climb the stairs repeatedly to the aforementioned roof.”

Hub puts his arm around my shoulders, dramatically sweeping his other hand through the air...‘Just picture the waves crashing below you, birds flying above you and you see the whole of Mazatlan in one direction with mountains as far as your eyes can see and then you turn ‘round and there’s the whole Pacific right there!’

“hmmmm.”

Then with added excitement in his voice I hear...‘Anddddd, you know, that El Faro is the second highest natural lighthouse in the world...157 meters (523 feet) high... a mere 5620 steps according to Ella and some days you actually go through the clouds!!!’