Christmas was quiet. Very quiet. We didn't hear even the usual shuffling and breakfast making noises from our neighbors until after 1:00 pm. Not a soul walked down our street, not a car drove by. The previous evening's celebrations didn't wind down until about 5:00 am, so I guess everyone was sleeping in.

Chuck and I enjoyed a quiet morning to ourselves. It was a pleasant, sunny day. As the afternoon warmed, we decided to take advantage of the gift and go for a walk. We left the house around 2:00 and wandered through the city with no particular destination in mind.

It was a very surreal experience walking through the deserted streets of the usually bustling city. I kept expecting to hear Rod Serling's voice at any moment. We walked in the middle of the streets and encountered not one soul. Before we left the house, we noticed there was a cruise ship in port and wondered where all of the passengers were. What was there for them to do in Mazatlan on Christmas?

Eventually we found our way to the Plazuela Machado. The decorations for Carnaval are starting to go up. Enormous blue griffins mingled with the Christmas trees and fairy lights. All of the restaurants except one were closed. La Tramoya was packed to bursting with confused cruise ship passengers desperate for something to eat. As we walked by, a tour bus stopped, disgorging another load of ravenous tourists.

We continued walking to Plaza Revolucion, the main square in the city. Here we found the shoe shine stands hard at work, hustling for business. Families strolled in the sun, children chased pigeons, and old couples huddled together under blankets watching the world go by. There was a magical peacefulness that captured us, and we strolled in the sun and watched for awhile too.

Eventually we moved on. We meandered through the streets, turning right or left as impulse dictated. Finally, we found ourselves on the malecon, enjoying the ocean. We saw a large group of people had gathered down by the cliff divers, so we decided to check it out. As we got closer, and could see further around the bend, we saw more and more people. There were over a hundred people on the little plaza. Vendors of every sort lined the street. Families walked and played, showing off their new Christmas presents.

The children all wore their new clothes and carried shiny, new backpacks while they ran and chased. Ten different people were flying kites, causing an aerial traffic jam. Two kites crossed strings and plummeted back to Earth. Kids zipped across the plaza on all sorts of new transportation – bicycles, scooters, roller blades, skate boards – while nervous fathers ran along side. The tinkling laughter of children filled the air.

The grown ups put their new toys to use too. Mothers with cameras, video and still, recorded the action with the camera in one hand and the instruction manual in the other. I couldn't help but take some pictures [4] too. The scene was just so Norman Rockwell. The only thing that kept it from being corny was the pure honesty of it all.

Around 5:00, the sun started to set and it started to get cold again, so we headed for home. On the way we passed a father teaching his sons how to skate board. Somebody's new Christmas puppy wandered up to say hello. We admired the cute little guy until the juvenile new owner came running up to claim the dog and happily carried him off, rear feet dangling in space.

I hope all of you had an equally merry Christmas. We wish you all the joy and peace of Mazatlan in the new year.