Mar 02, 2014
Breathtaking Fireworks
What a spectacular evening! I can’t think of a better way to kick off Carnival. Mazatlan certainly does things in a big way with over 79 thousand people crowding into the Olas Altas area to view the fireworks last night.
The area is closed off and you pay a 30 peso entrance fee. We got there early, about 8PM and it was already teaming with people. Folks had rented rooms with balconies overlooking the ocean. Normally there is a 3 night minimum on these. So much to see.
Masks, glue on moustaches, wigs, flashing earrings or head bands, you name it and it is for sale.
All part of the fun. I borrowed a camera last evening and it had the date setting turned on. All of my shots are with this new to me camera. I think there is a new camera in my future.
He was having a blast!
Many band stands had been set up and will be playing nightly throughout Carnival. Olas Altas is the place to be. We were too early to see any performances but we certainly heard them later and even once we got back home on the Isla. There are dozens of beer tents set up and waiting to serve you.
We didn't stay down on the street but rather went to the very top of hotel you see here.
Looking down at the crowds. By the time the fireworks started at 10:30PM there wasn't any standing room left.
The hotel had two areas they had sold tickets for. We were on the very top floor sitting around the pool area in the open air. It was crowded and the service was slow but it was Carnival and the atmosphere was electric. My margaritas were not great but I still enjoyed them, I did have the choice to switch to wine. Of course beer was the beverage of choice but I don’t enjoy it. Those who had reservations one floor down faired much better with service and food. They were closer to the bar and the kitchen but had to look out of windows as opposed to our panoramic views. When I made the reservations we were told that food would be available and it sort of was. I only bring this up as the neighbors from the RV Park that came with us waited over an hour for their meal and finally due to hunger left. We were starving also but kept nagging our overworked waiter and we finally got a plate of food to share. Sadly they missed the greatest fireworks we have ever seen. They did see it but not from our prime location. Coming from Vancouver we had attended the Symphony of Fire competitions for a number of years. These were exceptional. Of course the fireworks can be viewed from everywhere along Olas Altas but to be so high up and feel like you were in the middle of a burst of color is beyond description.
While waiting for the extravaganza to begin we visited with old friends who were there. Hola Debbie!
Even my dancing partner Laurie from January 17th at the Plazuela Machado with my boy band 🙂
...and we made new friends, Donna and her husband Mark from White Rock, B.C. but shown here with Colin.
As well as their friends and now ours, Vicki and Jack from Vancouver, Washington USA.
These two couples have been viewing the fireworks from this location for three years now. They claim it to be the best location. Yes the hotel ran out of wine last year but things happen and with over 79 thousand people in such a confined area you just go with the flow. They came back again and guess what, we are going back with them next year 
There was a technical glitch last evening and the fireworks had a 13 minute delay but that delay was soon forgotten by the show itself. At one point there was so much smoke that we could not see the people on the ground. From our vantage point and with the slight wind we had the perfect experience.
I took this from the Noreste online paper to show you a different perspective from where we were.
I let Colin take the photos as I was overwhelmed. We could hear the sizzle of each dot of fire and the colors were so impressive. It was hard to know where to look, the fireworks were out on the water, then back and forth from the shore, then low along the shore, then on either side of us and then the best part was when we were simply enclosed with the bursts of color all around us. Somehow I would like to try and capture that next year. Meanwhile here are just a few of Colin’s many awesome photos.
Getting back to the Isla was another story. Needless to say many of the crowd poured out of the Olas Altas area and the streets in all directions were curb to curb with people.
Quite the crowd.
We elected to stay put and have another drink before heading down to the street. It made little difference. People were everywhere and traffic was not moving. Total gridlock. We headed off towards side streets that were slightly passable and tried to make our way towards the embarcadero. Finally we found a taxi that took us the rest of the way, saving us about 8 minutes of walking. The pangas were full in both directions. Everyone was very festive. We even had a fish jump into our panga, I guess he wanted to party also. That was a first for us. Another first was our walk back to our RV. We had travelled into Mazatlan with our neighbors and because they had left the hotel early we were on our own. The walk back was tiring but it was pleasant to see the Isla from yet another perspective at 1:00AM.
The parade is next. Stay tuned.
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Glad to hear you had such a wonderful time, and your photo’s are truly spectacular!
Thanks for sharing…
Gracias everyone for your comments. Wait until you see the parade shots.
Marty….we were quite far North on the malecon, almost near the end of the parade @ the condo complex Las Gavias.
George….I didn’t know that you were here for Carnival????
Janet….you better join us.
Sue…Colin can do the walk in 8 minutes but it took me 20 minutes.
Val…actually there were a few tables in front of us who also got food. But now we know that next time we eat elsewhere first and bring snacks. It was a great learning experience.
Oh, wow. I have no better words to say than “wow, wOW, WOW!!!”
Great shots, Colin! Wow, what a riot. Looking forward to the parade.
Great fireworks, can’t wait to see the parade pictures. Where are you going to watch the parade from?
WOW! Amazing that the fireworks were so close to you up that high! Sounds like you had a wonderful time even considering all the “overload” that many people caused so such a tiny area (and overwhelmed staff)!
Also can’t believe a fish jumping into your panga– how wild!
Too much fun there and more great photos.
brings back memories.
Great pics!
Next year!
Hope to join you!
Great fireworks show! I love Mexican fireworks…
Spectacular fireworks photos! Glad you made it back to the RV okay through all those crowds.
Great pictures. We have only experienced carnival once with my brother and sister-in-law. We had a great time. By the way how long is the walk back to the rv park?
the reason we left was because we had booked and they had no food left for any of us, all the people from the table we were sitting with ordered food also with no luck. In fact I think you and colin were the only ones who got food. But yes the fireworks was great even from the crowds
It is too bad that John and Val missed the fireworks experience of their lives to feed their tummies. I think their frustration got the better of them. If they waited 1/2 hour more they would have seen and experienced this event from a location that only 50 out of 79,000 people were positioned. The weird thing is, their car was still at the panga parking lot and we walked by it on our way home. We had no idea where they ended up.