August 8, 2011 = 2nd Anniversary: Hike #5 - El Faro - Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico

I still did my regular Tuesday hike this last week while on vacation with family in Mazatlan. (P.S. Don't believe the rumors... you are perfectly fine to travel there.) Aaron and I spent the morning of our anniversary hiking to the top of the highest natural lighthouse in the world (the lighthouse isn't tall, the location of it is just high). We walked 1.4 miles to get to the start of the trail up to the lighthouse.

You can make out the lighthouse at the top of the peak in the background.

I spotted a couple hermit crabs on our walk.

Ready to start our ascent. Until Aaron was distracted by work...

Right next to the trail was what appears to be part of the city water system. Aaron has been working on a water system in Oregon so he was intrigued and already wondering whether he could involve himself in this project : )

We met a lot of animal friends on this hike. This is an Iguana. After talking to some locals we learned that the brightly colored green iguanas like this one are not native to the area, but have resulted from escaped pets. 

We hiked on the gravel path and then reached a set of stairs with 300 steps. 

It sounds like a lot, but it wasn't too bad. The heat and humidity were the hardest to deal with.

(...even Aaron made it up!)

We were rewarded with a stunning view of the city and ocean below.

The lighthouse

We almost came home with a pet... until he made a yucky sound like he was about to puke and hopped up on Aaron to try and get a nibble of his shorts. (We assume this little guy belongs to the lighthouse keeper.) Aaron has dubbed him "Mexican Rudy."

After a break we made our way back down. We saw more people heading up and more animals taking in the views and the heat.

This iguana is native to the area and one of the bigger ones we saw.

Watch out for the spiders!

...and feral cats! For those of you that don't know me well... I'm not really a pet person. Growing up the only pets we were allowed were fish. (Although, Jazmin and Danny snuck a few cats and dogs in a time or two.) For some odd reason they are attracted to me; especially cats! Aaron just laughed as this guy followed me down a couple switchbacks.

Afterward we walked back to the house and relaxed in the pool. Later that night we celebrated out anniversary by taking a walk on the "Malecón" (boardwalk) and having dinner at an Italian restaurant in Plaza Machado. The two years has flown by! I'm so lucky to get to share my life with you babycake : )