Author: zihuathyme

I'm a traveler, not as frequently as I would like , but I plan on doing more. After working full time at Mount Rainier National Park during the summer of 22 I have decided to retire completely and forever. Prior to that I was semi retired as a Wedding Officiant I officiated at about 20 weddings a season, and with my small delivery service I handled the distribution of a local high-quality Home and Garden magazine . Prior to my "semi retirement" I was in corrections and before that I owned and operated a bail bond agency. I now plan to travel to new places and exciting places, getting ready to do that as a solo as the Senior is no longer with me, his choice, and I am OK with that. For hobbies I'm a reader and love my kindle. And I enjoy writing.

ONLY IN MEXICO

A few days ago our microwave died while I was cooking some bacon. I finished frying it up in the fry pan, but we far prefer microwave bacon and believe it is healthier than frying. (That’s kind of an oxymoron as we all know bacon isn’t really a healthy food.) In our apartment building the process for getting repairs done is you let the manager, Javier know the issue, he calls Arturo the owner and you hope Arturo isn’t too busy with his many other projects to take care of your issue.

We were in luck, Arturo came later that day checked out the microwave. After checking it out his comment was “no trabajando taking it to technician.” And I’m thinking only in Mexico would one think of fixing a microwave and even know where to find a microwave tech. I’m also thinking that’s the last we will see of it or any microwave, as my assumption is it would take weeks for the technician to fix it, if it was even fixable. And since we aren’t returning to the same apartment building next year they would be in no hurry to purchase a new one this late in the season.

Some times it is really nice to be 100% wrong! The very next afternoon when we returned to our apartment to find the microwave sitting at our door step all fixed. We have been in this apartment for at least 10 years and once before our microwave malfunctioned just as we were ending our stay in Mexico, the next year the microwave

was the one we have now. I don’t know if that other one was also fixed and ended up in different apartment as stuff does move from one place to another. I am a believer, anything can be repaired in Mexico.

Back in the states we would have thrown it out and headed to Walmart for another $69 microwave. No way could it have been repaired. Even if there was a microwave tech his labor costs would be $100 an hour plus parts. Makes one wonder why we have become such a throw away society. But we are just happy to be able to continue “nukeing” our bacon. Signing off KO

MOTHER NATURE AND HER WEIRD SENSE OF HUMOR

How we all go on bragging about sunny Mexico. My standard phrase to my friends back home is “86 and sunny every day”. Evening sail boat cruises and roof top parties have been in the planning for weeks as we get excited about this fantastic full, blue moon event and with an eclipse no less. And here we are in prime viewing area. So what does Mother Nature do? She decides to mess with us a bit and sends Zihuatanejo clouds! Heavy thick clouds all day long, even the temperature was low, probably never got above 80 all day. Well maybe it will clear up a bit at night. Well, no that didn’t happen either

But somehow it didn’t dampen the party spirit and as we set out for the particular rooftop we were headed for as one of our group remarked “maybe I should have brought something to cover my shoulders later”. Almost unheard of needing any sort of a wrap at night. The food that folks brought was delicious and abundant, the company was jovial and the view of the bay and the town was extraordinary. But only the briefest glimpse of the fickle moon through a tiny parting of clouds. Quite the sense of humor Mom Nature, not funny. Signing off KO

Bollos, The Mexican Staple

We have been coming to Mexico for 15 years, 13 of them to Zihuatanejo and just this year the Senior has discovered bollos, that wonderful mexican bun that just breaks apart down the middle. You see ladies with their white plastic tables all over town filling these marvelous buns with all kinds of interesting ingredients for sale. Every day the “bollo man” comes by calling out “boy yee os” as he walks through the streets with a large flat basket on his head. I have mentioned before the Senor is not big on trying new things, especially new foods. I’m just the opposite I prefer to order something on a menu that I have never had or heard of before, where the Senor sticks to hamburgers and steaks and then remarks that the steaks here just aren’t as good as at home. Which is true for the most part. But I digress from the subject at hand.

The Senor first discovered bollos at Christmas Dinner friends had prepared. He then discovered he could purchase them in a bakery around the corner and brought back a bag of them still warm from the oven only to discover they don’t stay fresh for days on end. This is not Wonderbread! It is a pure product, not chocked full of preservatives and unpronounceable chemicals. And there is no need to buy a bag of them as you can buy them fresh, everyday and just buy exactly what you need for that day as the Bollo Man will be back again in the morning singing his call. For a mere 5 pesos ( 25 cents) you get a fresh, warm bollo hand delivered to your door. What’s not to love about Mexico! Signing off KO

THE LITTLE SATURDAY MORNING MARKET

It’s official name is Ecco Tianquis Sanka ( hope I have spelled it right) and it is a market of local artist, bakers, craftsmen. Here you can purchase interesting organic foods, healthy baked goods and many home made crafts made from recycled materials. It is a visual feast of bright colors, pleasant sounds and smells and friendly local folks selling their wares. Sometimes there are farm fresh eggs, heirloom tomatoes, garden plants, herbs and spices. Their are also hand made clothing, embroidered blouses, paintings. You will find jewelry made from nature and also recycled CD”s. You can be sure of finding a one of a kind item to bring back as a gift for a friend that is truly Mexican. The coffee is good, come to the little plaza

across from the museum and nest to the school to get your breakfast served on a banana leaf and enjoy some local music and color and socialize with friends new and old. And also drop off your recyclable items help keep Zihuatanejo clean. Signing off KO

Movies in Zihuatanejo

One of our first years staying in Zihuatanejo, when we were only staying for a week, it was our last night and we didn’t have anything left on our “to do list”. Not wanting to bar hop we decided to try the movie theater as they had a movie in English. I don’t remember the movies, but I do remember they had chips and guacamole instead of popcorn. This little old lady was preparing fresh guacamole while you watched and then deposited a few chips in it. We always had to ask for extra chips as there was so much guacamole. Movies and guacamole and chips far out weighs movies and popcorn. And to top off the deal it was a two for one night. For the next couple of years we were more than willing to watch movies in the funky old theater with mildly uncomfortable seats just for the guacamole. But then popcorn took over and the guacamole disappeared and we abandoned the local theater for the one in Ixtapa.

The theater in Ixtapa is quite nice and has it’s two for one nights. We’ve enjoyed several good movies there. But this year we heard about the new Cinemex theater and we decided to try it. Checked out the shows online, picked an action movie for the Senor. My spanish isn’t good enough to purchase the tickets on line with certainty so we bought at the theater. We were a day too early for the 2 for 1 tickets, Tues-Thur, but that was ok. When we purchased our tickets, 35 pesos each, we picked out our seats on the computer seating chart, tickets were printed with the seat row and number. You can actually do this all on line and even have you ticket on your phone if you are tech savvy. Next we picked up our compartmentalized tray, ordered our popcorn and drinks, placed in the appropriate spots on the tray took the tray to our seat where in mounts on the arm and swivels between the seats and out of the way as others need to pass to their seats. Sound is a little loud and a little over air conditioned for my tastes but the Senior is very impressed so I’m sure we will do it again And the seats are comfortable and lots of leg room. Signing off KO

THE CHICK PARTY

The Chick Party is an annual Zihuatanejo event that has been going on for many many years and I can’t even tell you how it originally began. I’ve gone for the last 4-5 years, each year I try to bring someone who hasn’t been before. Vickie and Laura were the

newbies this years. It’s kind of a “see and be seen” social event for the ladies of

Sale of fascinators to benefit charities

Zihuatanejo. Where they gather together to socialize, purchase some local and hand made items from the 4-6 vendors, have a bite to eat, drink some wine and possible win a door prize all while watching the sunset from the largest and most gorgeous patio high on the hill over looking Zihuatanejo and the bay. A very pleasant evening! I did marvel at the cat that wandered through this group of about 150 women, making it quite obvious that this was his home and no amount of noisy women were going to make him feel uncomfortable in his own home. Signing off KO

THE MANY SHADES OF ZIHUATANEJO

The Senior is TV addicted, and believes we shown own all the latest gadgets advertised. Admittedly some are very functional but many are not. He also like catalogs and when he saw the full face snorkel mask he thought I should have one. Finally we saw a sale price for one so I bought it. I’ve used it about 3 or 4

times with varying results. The first time was probable the best, just a tiny trickle of water at the temple near the end of my swim. Now I have since discovered that I can mount my go pro camera directly on it for under water pictures and have done so the last two times I have used it, but I now have a leak. One big enough where you have to empty it out. Need to do more experimenting, but possibly the weight of the camera on the mask causes it. I would really like to get some under water fish pictures.

Our tomatoes are flourishing, we have about 10,

we just hope they ripen before we have to return home. The attractive weed that we thought might be a coleus. Isn’t! It is still a mystery, it looks like it is a climber and now has developed spines on the stem. If it behaves it can share our planter box, at least for now? Any ideas what it might be?

Everything in Zihuatanejo seems so colorful.These Roseated Spoonbill birds are some of my favorites. They can always be seen at the Refugio at Playa Linda, but I have seen them at the canal on the way to Playa Madera too. This beautiful, colorful candy cart can be founds rolling all over town. It’s as beautiful as a painting.

SHARKFEST 2018

.facebook_1515889621702.jpg — Dave, me and the Senior at Mi Casa

The Senior and I along with friends Dave and Vickie went to Troncones on Friday to stay and play at Mi Casa Es Su Casa before doing the 1.1 mile Sharkfest swim on Saturday. Enjoyed the food and the pool there but have discovered cabs are very expensive in Troncones and in future years will stay closer to Hacienda Eden where us Sharkfesters assemble Saturday morning.

There were 22 entrants this year, with the youngest swimmer being 24 years old and the oldest 79, I was the next oldest. The surf was quite flat which pleases me easier to get in and out of. And I have learned a bit about riding the waves or diving through them and they are not quite as intimidating as before. But nonetheless getting in the water at Majhua was a bit of a challenge as we were walking on rocks for quite a way before the water was deep enough to swim and one swimmer never made it off the beach due to a stingray. Once I get to water deep enough to float then I can get my fins on, I prefer to do this after I have passed the breakers, but didn’t wait today as I wanted off those miserable rocks. Now my fit-bit says I swam just mile and did it in 47 minutes. That’s about a standard time for me swimming in a pool. I was sure I swam more than a mile as the paddle boarders who keep us on course were forever turning me in the right direction. I can’t swim a straight line in a pool and sure try to head out to sea in the open ocean.

This is not a competition, there are no time keepers, most of us are happy to finish

swimming strong, and of course I never want to be the last one in. I had asked the senior to be ready to help me get standing after the swim. I always find it difficult to stand up at the shore edge with the sand and waves pulling you back and with my

new knee my balance is still a bit unsteady at times. Once at the shore edge I had a heck of a time getting my fins off as the breakers, small as they maybe, kept pushing me around and by the time I got the right one off I had done some damage to my 3rd toe. Probably just a sprain, but it hurts and is purple and has me limping a bit. Swimming is easy, getting in

and out of the ocean is not easy for me.

The Senior only had his “pre smartphone” cell phone to take pictures with and then the only way I could transfer them to the computer was to use my phone to take a picture of the picture on his cell phone. So picture not so good. All and all it was a good day, I will keep lap swimming and participating. Signing off KO

Changing Sounds and Growing Tomatos

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Sunrise from our roof top

I am an early riser, frequently up long before the sun. I used to say the roosters would wake the dogs and the dogs would wake the people and that is how Zihuatanejo comes to life each morning. But I’m not hearing roosters this year, and I miss that, but I still hear the dogs. Another sound I miss is the musical sound of the gas man as his horn tooted the “charge call ” followed by him calling out GAAAAAAZ. Some mornings we hear revelry from the Navy base, that’s familiar music to the Seniors ears.

Frequently I wake up to the scritch scritch of the street sweepers as they clean our street, shortly followed by the bakery man singing out “bollios” as he winds his way through the streets. He will be followed by the coconut man calling “coco, coco”.We have a neighbor with a parrot which adds a whole cacophony of interesting sounds. Next the sound of metal garage style doors being rolled up as one by one shops and restaurants begin to open. I still hear the tin whistle sound of the knife sharpener and the clown bell sound of the ice cream vendors. But I haven’t heard the steam whistle sound of the sweet potato man yet this year. All these sounds make up the rich fabric that makes Zihuatanejo so special.

The Senior’s tomato farm is flourishing, the Senior noticed his first tomato today. Granted it is the size of a pea, but the photo shows not only one

tomato, but two. Retirement is such fun, you get excited over the simplest of things. Signing off KO

Beach Days Are the Best

There is nothing like a day at the beach with good friends, sunshine, swimming and cool 26231495_1227564964047168_6684048461664235721_n drinks just can’t be beat. A table with a white table cloth was set up in the water for us to enjoy our drinks with our feet in the water. You actually do stay very cool even in the sunshine that way.

There is nothing quite as tasty as a beach margarita and with a banana boat in the background.

But to add to the excitement we had to take a ride on that banana boat. Five of the six of us ladies decided we had never done this and the time was right. So 10 folks got on the banana boat and the boat driver fastened the rope to his ankle and then swam out to the boat that would be pulling the banana while towing 10 of us on the banana. Quite a strong swimmer. He then climbed in the boat attached the tow from banana to the tow boat and we were on our way up and moving, well almost. The tow rope broke reminding Vickie that this was her second water mishap as their water taxi died mid channel and had to transfer to another boat then and there. But no problem the tow rope was retied and away we went. Got a fast, bumpy ride all around the bay and no one fell off. We were very proud that we all hung on.

I was very excited to try out my full face snorkel mask with my go pro attached only to discover the disc was full. Oh well maybe Monday at Isla Ixtapa I can photograph the fish. Still it was a great day. Signing off KO

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