Merry Christmas to all my family and friends! This was my first Christmas on the road and it wasn’t too bad. Got a few calls into my family so it was almost like I was there (albeit via Skype).

The 24th or “Holy Night” is the end of a nine day celebration of the Nativity so it was a little louder around here than it normally is. Fireworks were going off (nothing extravagant) and toward the end of the night the kids staying here were outside beating a Piñata with a stick. It was actually pretty fun to listen to the kids yelling and the adults singing. Here’s a good site that describes how the holiday is celebrated in Mexico. A lot of places are closed but not everything and thankfully not the restaurants. PB&J on Christmas would be bad.

I noticed something on the trip map that I posted yesterday that kind of has me intrigued a little. OK, more than a little. Cuba is very close. I did a little checking and there are daily flights from Cancun to Havana. There are some considerations to making a trip like this; especially to a country that is considered an “enemy” of the United States. Legally I can fly there but I can’t spend any money. My status as a dual citizen (Canada/United States) doesn’t help me out here either. Could I get away with not breaking this law by bringing my own food and camping? For the sake of this publicly posted web site… you bet!

Lot’s more research is needed before I pull the trigger on this one. For one thing I’d need to figure out how to pack my bike/gear up for the plane ride over. I’ve read nothing but good things from the other touring riders that have been over there. Columbus even described Cuba as, “the most beautiful land human eyes have ever seen.” How could I not go there?

Weather in Mazatlan when posted:

Temperature: 25 °C, Humidity: 50%, Wind Speed: 4km/hr, Cloud Cover: few clouds

There are now 5 touring riders staying in the hotel here. Byron didn’t leave this morning and might end up staying through Christmas. Tom and Haley, who I met a couple weeks ago in Santa Rosalia in Baja, are here now. James is also here. I ran into him at the town square but he’d already met Bryon who told him about this place.

While wandering around this morning I passed by a dentist office. Figuring it was a good time for a cleaning I walked in prepared to be told it would take a couple weeks and cost way more than I’d want to pay (no insurance). My appointment is tomorrow afternoon and it’ll cost just under US $40. Holy crap. I’m going to learn the phrase “no extractions!” just so there are no misunderstandings.

Went over and exchanged my bike seat for one that fits the brackets I have. I tried it on but I’m not sure I’m going to like it. I’ll keep the Brooks just in case.

Now if I could just track down a supermarket I’d be all set.

Just read this interesting bit about Mazatlan while trying to find the name of the church I saw this morning:

The city of Mazatlan then got the dubious distinction of being the 2nd city in the world after Tripoli, Libya of being one of the first to suffer aerial bombardment. During the revolution of 1910-17 General Venustiano Carranza (later president) intent on taking the city of Mazatlan, ordered a bi-plane to drop a crude bomb of nails and dynamite wrapped in leather to the target of Neveria Hill adjacent to the down town area of Mazatlan. Well the bomb was crude and the art of bombing was cruder. The bomb landed not on target but on the city streets of Mazatlan and in the process killed two citizens and wounded several others.

Weather in Mazatlan when posted:

Temperature: 23 °C, Humidity: 64%, Wind Speed: 6km/hr, Cloud Cover: scattered clouds