Nov 25, 2019
A busy Saturday and some disappointing news
I decided last spring that I would be looking for a new hairdresser when we returned to Mazatlan. I did some research then and again once we arrived. However between us arriving five days late and my cold we did not get out into the city until this past Saturday. I wanted to check out the new salon and meet the person who would be working on my hair. I also wanted them to see my hair which was done over four weeks ago. My hair is fine and easily damaged. I had some horrific (orange hair, dark brown hair and hair falling out ) hair salon experiences ten years ago when we arrived here, so this was an important step for me.
We drove to the Isla Embarcadero parking area and took a lancha across the shipping channel to Mazatlan. It was exciting as this was our first trip over this winter. Hard to tell but there are four lanchas in this photo.
We then took a pulmonia to the hair salon which is very high up in the Golden Zone, close to Dr. Paty, the dentist. Our driver quoted us a good price but it was obvious when to us that we were going much further. Of course we got lost as there are few posted addresses or numbers on businesses in the area. I asked him to pull over and had him call to get proper directions. We had gone too far north. Of course we tipped the driver. I went in and while waiting chatted to a young lady from Seattle. She told me that she comes to this salon four times per year to get her hair done as they do a better job than her hairdresser back in the US 😉 Good to hear. I met Rosie whom I read did a great job with fine hair and found out that she does the cuts while her daughter Gaby does only color. Gaby’s salon is a family run enterprise. I believe that the fellow answering the phone and making appointments is the father/husband. It appeared to be very efficiently run and it has A/C and a toilet. What more do I need? I am ready to give it a try. Good thing I don’t need to go until December 19th, their first available appointment is the 5th. I am confident that I made a good choice.
The pulmonia waited for us and then drove us to the mercado in Centro for the same price yet again. We would later have to pay another 50 pesos to get back to the embarcadero. It cost us $18.50CAD/14.00USD for the three trips, well worth it as we had no idea where we were going. Plus we got to sit back and enjoy all the sights. Not sure if we will try the bus next time now that we know the way or take the Jeep. We really haven’t used the busses here in Mazatlan.
Time to do some shopping. Other than cheese, fresh greens and fruit we also picked up a dorado filet which we had for dinner last night ( real time ) plus some shrimp for later in the week.
Christmas is coming.
The market was busy but not full of people like usual. Most of the people were eating. This place stood out as there are people sitting on both sides of the counter and others waiting in line.
Fun Christmas lights.
I really liked all the color in this shot.
It was about 11:45AM, a bit early for lunch but we were ready to eat and then head home. Hey Tony’s has repainted its stools. But where is everyone?
The menu appears to be the same with some slightly higher prices. We sat down and ordered an orange juice.
None of the staff were familiar. The lady had to go to another booth and buy oranges, wash them, slice them and then squeeze them. The juice was great. Then we ordered. No camarones. No shrimp 😯 That is what we come here. I suggested that they just go and buy some shrimp if they ran out and we would be happy wait. That is when I got the bad news. This was no longer Tony’s 😥 I then noticed that there were no photos of Tony and his sax, actually nothing really alive and vibrant other than the red stools and bright orange prices. Apparently this happened three months ago and they still have not come up with a new name. We can only assume that Tony finally retired. I also noticed as I write this that in both of the photos the name Tony’s has been covered up.
In answer to my question about going to get shrimp for us ( Tony did this when they ran out ), the reply was that they no longer serve it. Period! So why I asked are they still showing on their menu that have shrimp burgers, burritos, etc? A mere shrug of the shoulders. Turns out that the lady in pink in the photo two up is the new manager and I think owner. I explained that we and many many of our friends come here to eat a shrimp burger, that this is the draw for us. She did not care. No wonder no one was sitting there at lunch time. Colin and I just sat and looked at each other. This was our big treat a few times or more per month, where we would bring all of our guests. I felt sick. We paid for our juice and left.
We decided to go upstairs to the markets restaurants. You can see the merchandise stalls below. We decided to eat at Restaurante Lorena as the food plates looked good on their board. I had the breaded shrimp and Colin had the coconut shrimp. Colin’s meal came as I finished mine. Mine was already cold when it arrived except for the fish so I went ahead and ate. We did ask four times where Colin’s meal was. Well we tried but we won’t be going back. I did ask about what we were served versus the photos on the menu board and was shown tiny print in the corner of the menu that the photos were off the internet and not indicative of what they served.
We are both in denial as I write this. How can there be no more Tony’s? Until they closed a few years ago, we used to get wonderful dorado burgers ( and great margaritas ) at the Beach Burger in the Plazueala Machado. I just found out today from a friend that that is now a Rin Rin Pizza joint 🙄
I had to laugh as we came back home. The lancha had someone fill the front of the boat with boxes of groceries including two whole fish. I heard that there was a new place here on the Isla, guess I better check that out.
Once unpacked and sitting out front we both saw the tuba player from one of the bands arrive at the restaurant next door on a scooter. If you look closely you will see that both his hands are on the tuba, playing as he cruises down the beach. His mates walked over a short time later.
Sunset in the distance, Chivos Island on the left. El Faro on the right.
Thanks for stopping by. After reading this blog before posting I have decided that every time we go to the mercado that we will go there and ask for shrimp burger. Maybe if enough of us do that, they will bring that burger back.
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Am I glad I had my last Tony’s shrimp burger when I was there in March! ?
You can take the tourist bus almost right from the Embarcadero all the way over the golden zone. I think it’s 11 pesos now. I miss the Mazatlan buses. You can go all over town with them. I find it really hard to live in a city with crappy public transport.
And the Mazatlan vegetable markets! I still can’t believe that I live in the tropics and I’m mostly eating frozen produce.
Good luck with your new hairdresser!
Had I known that this was the end I would have had a few more and savoured every bite. As it is I am usually moaning with every mouthful. Appreciate you bus input. I did not realize that your transport system was not as good as here.
That’s sad that your favourite restaurant is no longer 🙁 But good news that you found a hairdresser. I have had so many bad experiences in the states that I no longer get my hair done anywhere but home.
Yes the good and the bad. I just hope that I am not the ugly :). So what do you do with your hair all winter? And who do you use at home?
That is so disappointing when a favourite restaurant has an owner change and the food is no longer the same quality. Saw that happening many times. As to the hairdresser, I gave up on them when we started cruising with our boats and did both, Benno and mine, myself. Of course not as professionally but we were ok with that. After all, hair grows back 🙂 When it comes to the colouring, I buy the same product all the time and take enough with me if I’m not sure I can get it where I’m going. Perhaps (as a suggestion) you bring along the product of your choice and have the hairdresser use it instead of them experimenting with your hair. Just saying. Looking forward to your posting after your visit to the new hairdresser.
I actually have my hair colour formula with me and I did show it to her and she said she understood it. My product is an ounce of this mixed with 1/2 ounce of that, etc. Greek to me but not her. I do get foils as well to show up highlights so we shall see how it goes. I promise to post the results good or bad.
Rosie has been my hairdresser since 2009. She, and Terri at home are my only hairdressers and I love them both. Rosie is noted for her good works and giving back to her community. A very big heart! Sorry about Tony’s. The green bus, 11 pesos will take you to Gaby’s and back from your end of town.
Good to hear. You always appear so well coiffed. I do recall you talking bout a Rosie in you past posts and I thought then that she was a wonderful lady. Here I am about to spend some time with her. There are two ladies from here going in on Friday to see Rosie for a cut. Appreciate the bus info.
No more Tony’s.!!.. That is sad news. It was a bonus to finish off a shopping trip at the mercado and sit on a stool and have a great shrimp burger being made at Tony’s.
Alan
Sad indeed.
OMG…no Tonys!! One of our favorites too.
Good luck on the hairdo…I’m going today for a perm and haircut. I’ve worn my hair in a bun for years and I’m nervous too. Hopefully it will be a change for the better!
Looking forward to seeing you new do! You may have more curl than you want with all this humidity.
Tony’s was great, and now let’s wish Tony good health and a good life in whatever he’s chosen to do next. And let’s wish the new owner good health and success in what she’s chosen to do. And what she’s chosen to do does not, apparently, include shrimp burgers. Tony’s shrimp burgers are a thing of the past – even if you bullied her into making you a shrimp burger it wouldn’t be Tony’s, wouldn’t be the taste you wanted, nor the experience you fondly recall. Surely you don’t seriously mean you will repeatedly bully her/her staff each time you pass by, and encourage your friends to as well, by asking for something she’s clearly stated she does not sell (and seemingly has no interest in selling). Your grief over losing Tony’s shrimp burger should not be passed on to this lady. Let’s let her develop her business and shine at what she does do – and support her in that, or not. But for her to have taken over Tony’s space should not include her being subjected to his former customers acting out their petulant feelings about losing him.
You do make a point Dean. However I was not and would not bully her but simply asked. Do you make a shrimp burger, if not, could you? I was polite and will continue to be. Why would they advertise a product and not sell it? We don’t eat meat so this shrimp burger was a huge thing for us. I think that I am allowed to express myself in my blog as I wish.
Sorry about Tony’s – lots of changes here this year
So it appears.