It just happened to be Día de la Bandera— National Flag Day— today here in Mexico.
While catching the sunset at the beach in Old Mazatlán, we spotted the giant Mexican flag on the flagpole way down along the promenade—a rare treat since it’s only up a few days each year.
We reached it in the nick of time, just as the flag was being lowered and taken away.
P.S. Built in the early 1920s (often cited as 1919–1920) by Californian Louis Bradbury, Hotel Belmar is Mazatlán’s original oceanfront hotel, representing the city’s golden age. Located on the Olas Altas boardwalk, it was a 1940s/50s hot spot for Hollywood stars like John Wayne and Lucille Ball, known for its elegant, historic, and slightly bohemian atmosphere.








