Author: zihuathyme

The  pool is up and running again, still doesn’t have enough water in it to make getting out of it easy. It has become “strength training” to haul my body out of it on that 3 rung ladder. But I’m happy as I have become so used to lap swimming in a pool that when I swim else where it’s just for fun and I don’t get the exercise I really need.

I like walking too. I find all kinds of interesting sites in my walks all over town.  This way I don’t miss the little stuff. I’m also learing my way around too, especially knowing if I get lost I just hail a cab and they will get me back. 

I have found my way from the pool to the Bodega  to the Comercial, and then to the Mercado and can combine my swim with the marketing and get it all done in the morning. This should please the Senor, allways the efficiency expert.

The fruit here is wonderful, the little bananas have become my favorite. I eat them with my breakfast and lunch and snack on them in between.

The Senor and I have been spending our afternoons watching the series  “Game of Thrones” that my daughter recorded for us, we have all 5 seasons and are midway through season 2. It’s a pleasant retreat during the heat of the day, and also at night when the senor is too tired to go anywhere. He’s doing much better and getting out more but tiers easily.

The other night I attended the “chic party” with a couple of friends.

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Lovely patio

We enjoyed the view from high above Zihuatanejo, watched a fantastic sunset, perused the vendors, enjoyed drinks and food and met many new friends. One friend commented she had never seen so many ladies all in one place. All in all a most enoyable evening at the loveliest patios in Zihuatanejo. Signing off KO

Saturday morning was unusually cool and overcast, a great day for Sylvia and I going to this outdoor market that springs up in front of the Vicente Guerrero. It features local hand made articles, many made from recycled materials. The food is organic and not only healthy but very tasty. One of my goals was to talk with the folks from the turtle rescue and conservation center, “Campamento Tortuguero”. I wanted to arrange for a time to visit and see the turtles released. So Monday I will visit there.

While buying our coffee and and tamales and a dish that was made from carrots, zucchini and other veggies cut in a veggie “spiral-er” into noodles, topped with an organic peanut sauce and sprinkled with peanuts that was very good we learned that the market is trying to be 0 garbage. Foods that you eat or drink there are served in either banana leaves and baskets or cups and plates that are to be returned, washed and reused.  If you plan to take food items away you need to bring something with you to carry it out in.

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My purchases consisted of earnings made of beans and another pair of fish scales. These artists are so cleaver. Next market I will arrive with my own coffee cup, take out boxes for food items and a large shopping bag. Looking forward to it.

The Senor dropped and broke his electric razor en route to Mexico. We have been trying to find one ever since.Of course language is part only of the difficulties.  Even using goggle translate you don’t necessarily come up with the correct phrase. So today we were going to try Sams Club, which would require buying a membership which we wouldn’t ever use again, but decided to try La Bodega first, a store similar to the Commercial. Good thing we did, of course there were none to be seen in the store, but I found a clerk who was willing to help, he found another who got me to the right department who got me to the lady with the UPC gun who pointed at an empty slot, then said “si” and pointed to a shelf on top of a shelf on top of a shelf.  With that the young man climbed up to the top, opened the case, took out 1 and brought it to me. Of course he didn’t bring down more to fill the empty slot. Great personal service to me, but no thought of restocking for future customers.  Such is Mexico.

The weather has been exceptionally cool today and by night a light sweater was welcome while out on the balcony.

It was down to the mid 70’s, almost un-heard of here, but no one is complaining as the heat will return.  Signing off KO

Since the pool has been closed this week I’ve been walking each morning.  This morning I set out just at dawn to catch the sun rise and the activity at the fishermen’s beach. This is Zihuatanejo as it has been time immemorial.

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Mexico doesn’t geat more real than this!  I watched as the night fishermen unloaded their catches and the local folks came to haggle over prices. Other fishermen were throwing their nets close to the shore to catch surf fish, other boats were headed out with paying clientel hoping  would befor a trophy catch.

As the sun rose it became obvious this would be stellar day, perfect day for the long delayed  beach day. It was also maid day in our building so it was also perfect timing to be out of her way and on our way.  The Senor and I did breakfast once again at the retaurant which we have yet to learn the name of at the corner of Cuautemoc and Nicholas Bravo. They have a half dozen tables out side and a few more inside air-conditioned. As before breakfast and service is great.

Now on to the beach after much discussion of bus or cab the 6 of us elected to take 2 cabs to La Perla. Our friends had been there before this was our first time.  We tend not to be La Ropa people for the simple reason that I like to swim and/and or snorkle. La Ropa beach is great for bobing in the water and bouncing in the waves, but te skidoos and the parasail boat make me too nervous to really swim.  It is a great lay on the beach and watch the people area.

Under the Palapa

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This was our first time at La Perla and we learned that the price had gone up to 100 pesos for two lounge chairs and an umbrella up from 80 pesos that our friends paid last week. As their were 6 of us we opted for a free table under a palapa which served our needs very well.  All in all we had a great afternoon, I bobbed in the waves, floated on my back, and thought I might find enough waves to practice jumping into them, but the surf was low. To my way of thinking our waiter gave us poor service, but others in our group thought it was pleasant that the wait staff left you alone and didn’t bother you. Just a different point of perception. Signing off KO

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Last Wednesday the friendly folks in our building decided to do a beach day at La Ropa. While Las Gatas was the first choice we decided on La Ropa as you can take a bus or taxi instead of a water taxi which requires a couple of young men to pull you off the boat and onto the pier. None of us are as agile as we once were. But Wednesday dawned rainy so no problema, we will wait and go Thursday, but Thursday turned into a heavy tropical rain and we said maybe manana.

Wednesday and Thursday were spent hunkered down in front of TV’s and computers watching Netfilx or in our case the  first season of Game of Thrones. By Thursday night we were all suffering from cabin fever and headed out to Coconuts for happy hour. As we got to the street Charlie and Christine from Ixtaa had just arrived and joined us. Thursday night was a great night to be doing Coconuts as their bar tapas were 25% off.  With 4 couples with several rounds of drinks and tapas the bill was 1,095 pesos.

Sounds like a lot  doesn’t it.  But it’s not, pesos come with too many zeros But such a flurry of pretty colors as we  just

The Senor and Kathleen

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Christine and Charlie

colorful pesos

split the bill 4 ways.  Signing off KO

As I walk through town I am contually amazed at given the slightest chance somethings will grow, through a crack in the side walk, cover an old wall, or up through a drain grate. There are lots of lovely plantings, colorful pots of flowers yet the Mexican people think more of necessity than athesics.

I am amazed at how shop keepers faithfully, every morning  prior to opening sweep their store front walk way, thow a pan or two of water down and sweep away yesterday. Daily the streets are swept by a person bushing a broom and a rolling garbage can along. At the same time vacant lots are frequently treated as dumping grounds,  Trash collection is handled daily by folks putting out their trash bags, boxes or cardboard on the street corner  at night, giving plenty of time for the street dogs and scavengers to pick thru and find what they like. Instead of this reducing the pile it tends to scatter it. And it starts all over again manana and all the mananas after that. This dives the Senor nuts!

I’m amazed how Mexican Mammas carry or wear their babys, seldom do you see them pushed around and certainly not in a big “SUV” stroller complete with cupholders. I’m amazed how Mamas and Papas walk their uniformed children to school while holding hands with their child. School kids in uniforms look so sharp, I wish US public schools would adopt this policy.

I’m amazed at kids working to help support the family, I’m amazed at how many people earn their living out of a wheel barrow or off a white plastic table or even just a cooler. I’m amazed at how social and out going the mexican people are.

I’m amazed that they appreciate my trying to use their language and help me out rather than being frustrated by my poor pronunciation.  I’m amazed at the lackof toilet seats on toilets in public places, where do they all go. I’m amazed by the wonderful food, and the interesting varieties of foods and spices to be found in El Mercado.

I’m amazed at roof dogs instead of other security devices. I’m amazed and pleased how kindly the people of Zihuatanejo treat the street dogs, no so other places.  I’ve been fighting with the computer for two days to get pictures in the right place and post this so edited or not here it is.  Signing off KO

After loosing my goggles, swim cap and swimmers iPod to waves at my Sharkfest swim I have acquired a new bright orange swim cap, reflective goggles and thanks to Amazon going global I will soon have a new iPod to swim with. So as I arrive at the pool this morning, ready to don my new gear only to have my favorite grounds keeper explain they are closing the pool as they can’t keep it clean.  The water level is getting so low I doubt that the filters are even operating properly.  He suggested I come back next week.  I admit that something needs to be done about the water level.

In order to get out of the pool you have to get your feet up to chest height to get on the bottom rung of 3 rungs and then try to hoist yourself out. So hoping to find a hotel pool that will let me swim there for a few pesos. Mean time I will do a lot of walking to keep me going.

I like to walk about town, that’s  how I learn where  things are and how people really live. I enjoy watching the

mamas and papas escorting their uniformed children to school. The kids look so sharp in their uniforms holding the hand of which ever parent is doing the escorting. I’ve always thought that US Public schools should adopt the policy of school uniforms.

Transportation comes in many different forms here.  Many of the full size buses here look ancient, but over the last few years they have updated the VW buses to some very nice van type buses, and small 14 passenger buses. And of course there are the huge tour buses that are far more comfortable than the airplane that brought us down here. In the mornings I see people heading to work in taxi’s, all size buses,

pick up trucks with several folks in the back and this dump truck which I’m sure will hold 20.  A

motor scooter is transportation for a family of 4. The driving here is crazy, scary.

I’ve been on a bus with the driver checking his emails, seen dozens of close calls, but no accidents. The police are everywhere in the forms of tourist police,then  municipal, state, and federal Police in about that pecking order. Also in the mix is the army and the navy. They all have a presence, mostly in groups of 6 or more in pick up trucks, all carrying m 16 type  weapons. Many times they are just waling around town. But I’ve never seen a traffic stop by any police personnel, I don’t think traffic is much of a concern to them.  Needless to say we feel safe.

I have become an aficionado of iced coffee. The Senor has always laughed at my habit of leaving my coffee to get cold and then drinking it anyway. Now in the morning  I purposely prepare a couple of cups of coffee extra strong, add my sweetener and creamer to my taste, let it stand until cool enough to refrigerate.  Then in the afternoon when it is really warm fill a glass with ice  and the cold coffee and enjoy. A splash of Baileys at night is a nice touch. Signing off KO