Things you can buy on the beach in Sinaloa.

Last week I went to the beach. Sitting by the thunderous Pacific ocean waves with a margarita in one hand and a fish taco in the other had been on my mind for (my whole life) weeks. There’s a lot going on with me at the moment so I decided a mini-getaway was what I deserved.

As most of us well know, no matter where you go, your situation remains the same. You’re just carrying it to a different place. Still, I truly believe that most of life’s complications are easier to process with the sea in front of you.

And, as is the case in Sinaloa, a delightful array of eclectic items for sale.

It’s a far cry from my days as a kid in Atlantic City, where the only thing you could buy on the beach was a Fudgsicle or a strawberry shortcake (I believe that was my go-to). Even from my many afternoons spent frying on the beaches in Barcelona where one could buy a MASAHEY MASAHEY or Miami, where cocaine (or something close to it) was on the menu from morning til night.

Everywhere’s got its “thing”.

And the “things” in Mexico’s northwest coast run aplenty. Here is a non-exhaustive list of purchasable merchandise available while hanging out under a rented umbrella and figuratively escaping real life in Mazatlán.

Fresh oysters with lime and hot sauce

Grilled shrimp with lime and hot sauce

Cut mango, watermelon, or coconut...with lime and hot sauce

Donuts (with chocolate icing or sugar)

Cannolis

Empanadas

Shredded coconut balls

Micheladas 

Piña coladas 

Squeaky toys for children or pets

Kites

Plastic pails and shovels

Beach coverups

All kinds of hats

Sunglasses

Henna tattoos

Beaded necklaces and bracelets

Hair braiding

Five minutes (or so) of Banda (a multi-piece band of men wearing jeans and long-sleeved shirts in 90+F dragging trombones, snare drums, speakers, and their signature sousaphones up and down the beach to serenade anyone willing to listen for a properly compensated time frame. See above.)

Rubber iguanas/iguanas muertas

Ceviche from a bucket

Pistachios

Spiced peanuts

Dried shrimp (with…you guessed it…lime and hot sauce)

Magnets that say Mazatlán

Marzipan 

Popsicles/paletas

Just when you think the parade is over, a leathery-skinned man comes slinking along with a jingling oversized trash bag lumped over his shoulder to collect your empty beer cans that I imagine he later exchanged for a handful of pesos.

There is a moment of respite.

And then the charade begins again.

To be honest, it wasn’t quite the beach vacation I was after. I was in the mood for something a bit more…elegant? South-of-Francey? Sparkling pink winey even though I don’t really like sparkling pink wine? It’s what I thought would do me best.

I was wrong. A fancy long weekend in Mallorca or Ibiza wasn’t what the doctor ordered (though I’ll still take it if anyone’s game). A chaotic beach in Sinaloa was. All that ruckus accomplished exactly what I wanted it to accomplish – a temporary detachment from my head. My attention was so wrapped up in the nearly-non-stop action that for those hours, nothing mattered but the roasting sun, sparkling sea, and raw oysters on the half shell with lime and Valentina sauce. 

Please note – not one vendor sold water.

Here are some pictures of Mazatlán for your viewing pleasure.

With love,

Bethany