Peter Greenberg Worldwide—Mazatlan, Mexico—April 28, 2018
Mario López Valdez, Governor of Sinaloa, discusses the true beauty of the people of Mazatlan and how the city itself is, in his eyes, an incredibly secure tourist location. Valdez s how there are 121 arrivals of cruises at the city next year and how there is a rich foodie culture in Mazatlan with much more than your usual tortillas or enchiladas.
Enrique de la Madrid, Mexico Secretary of Tourism, discusses the importance of Mexico’s tourism industry as it is one of the most visited countries in the world. He talks about how Mazatlan is great for tourists as Mexican people like hosting tourists and want tourists to have a great experience that leads to them coming back. He explains how because of Tianguis, a large travel convention, Mazatlan has had a chance to restore its city with amazing food, cultural areas and beaches. He also states how he believes there is a different standard tied to Mexico than other countries when it comes to safety in travel, but overall the tourism industry between United States and Mexico is thriving, with a 12% annual growth rate of American visitors who have visited Mexico in the last six years. Lastly, he talks about his thoughts on marijuana and how he feels if legalizing it could be important to reducing violence in countries around the world.
Daniel Lamarre, President CEO of Cirque du Soleil, talks about the number of shows currently in Cirque’s portfolio, and how they have now started a permanent show in Cancun. He explains how Cirque has fantastic athletes, a diverse roster of talent and how it is ever-growing. He talks about how he has become an Ambassador of Mexico and how his connection with the culture plays into the traveling Mexico show. Lastly, he concludes by talking about how Cirque is in expansion mode.
Lloyd Nancy Goldstein, U.S. Expats Administration for Mazatlan My City, stop by to talk about their experience living in Mexico and how they’ve had a positive experience despite the warnings from the U.S. State Department. The couple explains the diverse art and food scenes in the Mazatlan area as well as how living in the city has become incredibly cost-effective for the couple. They then go on to talk about how they got to Mazatlan through their love story and how dramatically different Mazatlan is from where they are used to, but how beneficial it has been for their lives.
Sheila Madsen, Canadian Expat Owner and Publisher of Mazatlan Life, s how Mazatlan has improved over the years that she’s lived there and how it has become an incredibly healthy place for her to live. She talks about how spontaneous the culture is and how her magazine supports itself. She then goes on to speak about her favorite spots in the city, including her favorite breakfast, lunch and dinner spots and how the city’s eclectic cuisine can transform a visitor’s experience when visiting the city.
Cecilia Sanchez, Director of Mazatlan Art Museum, explains how much richness there is in the art scene in the city. She talks about how the art in the city celebrates ecological culture and how there are about 300 different shows with artists from around the world, including two artists that are currently being featured that are from Canada. She explains the trademark of the museum and how there are no permanent exhibits because of the humidity. Lastly, she concludes by talking about why the sea of plastic art surprised her the most.
Simon Lynd, Founder of Mazatlan My City Advisor for the Venados baseball team, discusses how he has been living in the area for 13 years and his involvement in Venados, the local baseball team. He explains how the team continues to grow with the addition of 6,000 seats and how the team is a part of the true atmosphere of the area. He delves deeper into the similarities of Mexican baseball with the leagues in the United States, and also explains what led him to moving to Mazatlan from the U.K.
Raul Rico, Director of the Cultural Center of Mazatlan, explains how the center was founded in the 19th century by American, English and Spanish people. He speaks about how the center is an incubator for artists and dancers and how the center’s growth is directly related to the cultural changes in the city. Lastly, he talks about how a lot of the group’s support comes from American or Canadian audiences.
Diego Becerra, Chef at Presidio, dishes how, for him, Mexican food is street food with the diverse palette of flavors and choices. He speaks to why he feels the batter has to be crispy and how having the right tortillas and sauces are incredibly important to enjoying the culture’s food options. He talks about how it’s important to eat cooked food and how street food vendors make the freshest food. He concludes by talking about how much he enjoys Southern cooking and how that relates to his food experience in Mazatlan.
