Mazatlan, the Pearl of the Pacific, is a wonderful seaside resort that Nadine and I have made our home after spending a couple of winters here. Mazatlan is an ancient Nahuatl word for "land of the deer" and in fact the Mazatlan baseball team is called the "Venados," which is Spanish for deer. I discovered Mazatlan almost by accident. Nadine had been coming here since she was a young girl, and brought me down here on a vacation. We both got very depressed the day before we had to leave, and swore we would return. The next year we came back, built a house, and are presently living happily ever after. The following Web pages will try to convey to you why we have chosen to settle down in Mazatlan, and hopefully entice you to come down for a visit and give Mazatlan a try for yourself. Let's start with some sights and sounds of our wonderful city, and then proceed to learn a little about the history of the city of Mazatlan Did you know that the United States Army once captured and occupied Mexico City? Most people come here in the winter for the climate. Want to get your bearings? Check out a couple of maps, one of the golden zone and the other of downtown Mazatlan. Find practical information about Mazatlan, such as what travel documents you need. What about electricity, water, guns, and alcohol? Bringing down your pets, or even getting married down here. There are more things to do in Mazatlan than you can get to in a week, and that's not even counting doing nothing, and there just might be a special event going on while you are here. Want to be entertained? There are plenty of things to see too. Bullfights, baseball, cliff divers, art galleries and more. When you are ready to leave, be sure to visit the butcher shop at the Mercado. Been there, done that? Try some of these places that are off the beaten path! Some of our favorite places to eat , and why. You can get any kind of food here, as long a it is Mexican. (just kidding) The range of food is very wide, from McDonald's to beachfront palaces with waiters in tuxedos. Bring these coupons down to Mazatlan and get free drinks, discounts, and more from our local merchants. Interested in retiring in Mazatlan? Find out more about medical care, home prices, owning property, etc. Considering buying some real estate, check out our tips, find an agent, and search our Mazatlan online property system. If you are easily amused, take a look at some of my favorite " only in Mexico " stories or if you are a little more analytical, you can check out some articles I have written for the Pacific Pearl, which try to explain the world around us. I've been collecting some snippets of Mexican culture, which you might enjoy. Looking for a place to stay? Try out some lovely that they don't tell you about in the guidebooks. What do I do in my spare time in Mazatlan? Why write PERL programs of course. Most are too ugly for public consumption, but recently I have posted my efforts. Feeling a little blue, and can't afford a thorough checkup in the US? You can get a first class medical checkup here in Mazatlan. How about some more pictures? These are aerial views of Mazatlan shot from the top of the El Cid hotel, and these are images of Mazatlan as it was a long long time ago! If you need a doctor, a vet, a realtor, an architect, or a jeweler, we can personally recommend these people Read the answers to the most before you ask. Have you found every morsel of information? Check out our site map and see. Read what your fellow travelers have to say about Mazatlan and our humble online info. Have you found our info helpful? Are you looking for a way to say thank you, Nadine and Henry. The Laxen family album - few photos of the wife, the kids and me. Just the thing to bore your friends with. I can see you yawning already. If you're curious about where we live, we cordially invite you to visit our homes. Am I goofing off at the computer, or goofing off at the beach? Well here's a live shot of my office in Mazatlan. Still haven't had enough, try these links to other Mazatlan resources. You can now search these pages to find specific information fast! Have a gripe or a recommendation? Leave your comments here! Visit some local businesses that Nadine and I recommend and tell us what you think. Better yet, add to the Mazatlan Knowledge Base by adding your valuable input to the Mazatlan kwiki Looking for somebody? We publish a local phone directory of foreign residents every January. Some friends of mine have gone through a lot of trouble writing some books about Mazatlan that you really should consider reading. Need some new reading material? Perhaps you should visit the Reading Library. Our friend, Rafael, has a daughter who is a very talented artist. She will create a custom painting for you, if you are interested.

Quote of the day:
Finally, in conclusion, let me say just this.
Peter Sellers