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.

ON THE BEACH

One of the main differences I see between a beach in Washington state and a Mexican beach is people actually go in the water! At home my experience has been very few adults venture into the water, some kids will, but not all. Some will just splash around the edge because it’s cold.

And only in Mexico would you see a full marching band complete with a tuba on the beach. Here the water is warm and at Playa Las Gatas where we were yesterday the reef protects it from any wave action so it’s like swimming in a very large pool with beautiful colored fish.There are yellow fish with black stripes bright neon blue ones some big ones and little ones. fascinating to snorkel along the reef. We have been returning to the same spot there, Gloria del Mar and have over the years made friends with Juan the waiter. He recognized us walking down the beach and waved us in, which was good as they are no longer allowed to have the sandwich board signs in front of their restaurants, the authorities decided it impeded strolling along the beach.

We had a wonderful red snapper fillet for a late lunch, soaked up some sun, getting abundance of vitamin D and generally just relaxing and visiting. My spanish professora would not be too pleased with me as I m still slow to use my spanish, and much english is spoken here. But I have learned a few new phrases and this will be a great help as we venture out more into the country side.

We had another lovely musical evening, again at the Baracruda this time with Steve Calvert and friends. We have been following Steve around town since we first heard his music several years ago coming in through our hotel kitchen window as it backed up to the now defunct Pacalos. He’s from Bremerton, but now lives and plays full-time in Zihuatanejo. Once again we are a music groupie!

We are becoming more Mexican as we find it hard not to go out at night

and enjoy the soft warm evenings, there is always activity somewhere and it’s just pleasant to stroll, greet friends and people watch. Although this might change for the Senor if we get connected up with TV tonight. Signing off KO

VERY EARLY ZIHUATANEJO MORNING

The sun isn’t up but I am. Spent the last hour writing on my blog, thought i saved it but it disappeared instead. I’m working on new tablet and as of yet I haven’t figured out how to edit my pictures, or zoom in on pictures. All this technology is pretty steep learning curve for me. But here on my balcony with the solar christmas lights we brought 20141217_164101 from home give us the feeling of Christmas. They work wonderfully on at dusk off at daylight

I like the early morning time, it’s so early the chickens haven’t woken the dogs to wake the neighborhoods yet. a nice time to ponder, reflect and plan. My balcony is beautifully decorated with rope christmas light that are solar power. With all the sun here they stay on all night and don’t go off until day light. Many businesses put up Christmas lights and there is a huge display of poinsettia and pinatas that I will walk out to see tomorrow

We plan to go to the beach today so it’s good I’m up this early to pull the chicken from the freezer. I like to do a chicken in the crock pot on beach days as we come back tired from all the sun and fun and don’t want to go out again.

Had dinner last night at Daniels on the beach, where Jimmi Mamou was playing. Caught his show the night before at the Baracruda. It’s like we’ve become part of a “groupie” that follows Jimmi Mamou where ever he is currently performing as we met up with the same friends again tonight. We still love that old-time rock and roll that he plays so well. We made our Christmas Eve reservations for Daniels, the Senor will be having the traditional turkey and stuffing, while I, being fisheterian, will have the lobster. And Jimmi will again be entertaining us.

Have just about become settled in our “casa”, everything is finally working, but our internet t home is still out preventing us from getting our home TV on the computer. With the help of skype I’ve called and set up another appointment to have it fixed, between our phone service going out and the internet just days before we left Century link just couldn’t quite send us the right repairman for the right job and only got the phone service up and running. Most difficult task was to find someone at home who would be available to let the repair man in. Our neighbor Trish who is usually at home has an appointment that my interfere with the time frame they gave me. Oh well one more day won’t hurt the Senor’s TV addiction too bad.

The sky is now pink with first light, this a favorite time of day for me especially here as sun rise is so beautiful. Signing off KO

Back in Sunny Zihuatanejo

And it feels like home, almost. We arrived to a few quirks at our apartment. Yesterday the air conditioner burnt out literally. This is the second time we have had an air conditioner go out in a shower of sparks in Mexico. Took all day but it was fixed good as new. We’ve eaten out the last couple of nights so we weren’t aware until this morning we the Senor went to cook breakfast that our stove doesn’t work. No problema we have a microwave. But lo and behold the microwave has been inhabited by goblins or spirits of some sort. He plugged it in set it for 3 minutes and the time came up 22 minutes. So we shut it off and a couple of minutes later it started it’s own. You have to stand there and watch it and open the door when you want it to stop. Then unplug it. Not the easiest way to cook eggs, but possible.

Our first day here we went to the commercial, the Mexican equivalent of a super market. Like Walmart it carries everything, but varies from time to time what is available. But they do have fresh Christmas trees and cheaper than we see at home which is amazing considering they may have been shipped from home. Less than $14 for 5-6 ft trees. It is also one of the very few stores that have cash register. All the shops just use little calculators.

Today we went to the Mercado for fruits and vegies, my favorite shopping place, it is definatly a sensory over load. There are baskets of spices that I have no idea what they are, yellow chickens complete with heads and feet, strips of beef hanging, flies flying and ladies waving fans over baked good to keep them away. Every thing from food to hardware under one roof.

Back at our “casa” Aurturo, the owner came and got both the stove and the micro wave up and running. I got busy on skype and called dish, Centurylink and Verizon discoverer ou tv problems here are because our internet at home still hasn’t been repaired. I think that will happen tomorrow. If Trish got my message and can hang around the house in the am. Problems all solved, feeling good. Signing off

I had envisioned that I would post twice weekly on my progress as a student. Well because I am a student I have no time left to post. I don’t know how these kids do 2 and 3 classes with all the homework.

Plus the fact that our rental house has imploded on us hasn’t helped the situation. I have successfully ( with the help of the courts and the Sheriff) successfully evicted a half-dozen squatters from the house and I am now am in the process of getting it cleaned up and rent able. Since it is located directly across from the college I attempted to post a listing for it at the school, but the person I asked where to go to do that was house hunting so she and her roommate have rented it and are helping with the cleaning and painting. They are two cute young gals attending Olympic College and are so excited about having a house with space. I think this will work well for all of us.

I have come to the conclusion that I will probably take this same class again next quarter rather than moving on to Spanish 102. I can do the written work, I can pass the tests, but it’s the oral part that I’m still weak in. My goal has never been to become a translator or even be truly “proficient” in Spanish, I just need to improve my vocabulary and my ability to “hear” rapidly spoken Spanish. Also to be able formulate basic sentences. I’m in no hurry, I won’t move on until I feel I have mastered the material. This is the luxury of taking a class for personal enrichment rather than credit.

What amuses me is that my costs for going to school on a $5 senior waiver ended up costing $47. On top of the $5 fee they had a security fee a student fee and a something else fee. But it’s cheap at twice the price so I’m sure not complaining. Signing off KO

WHAT WAS i THINKING ???

Spanish class has been another of those moments of “What was I thinking!” ! I was sure I was on the right track, doing my home work, studying the vocabulario, only to find I’m half a chapter behind. Did I not listen well enough in the class room? Why can I not find the information I need to complete this assignment? And then I remember I’m taking this class for fun? and relaxation? And to improve my mind. So I’ve come to the conclusion I now can’t spell in two languages!

I’m sure this is just getting into the swing of things. My vocabulary is ok, but I do struggle at composing proper sentences. But that’s OK as I will be happy if I only end up with the ability of speaking “pigeon” Spanish, rather than University perfect Spanish. My goal is simply to communicate

CAMPUS LIFE, MY PERSPECTIVE

The campus at Olympic College has changed so dramatically since I attended there in the 80″s that the only building I recognize is the Administration building. As a result when I went to school for my first day of class on Tuesday I knew which building was the Humanities Bldg where my class was to be held, but my registration sheet gave a number that I thought would be the room number but of course BIG Mistake. As I stood around looking totally bewildered a young man, a very young man, asked if he could help, I explained my dilemma and he then took to the registration area logged on to the computer used his ID number since I didn’t know mine and located the room number and showed me where the room was. I was impressed! How helpful was that, I wish I’d gotten his name. As I walked through the halls I couldn’t help but notice the variety of ages of the students and no I don’t look out of place. There are many of us Seniors on campus. But we dress a little more conservatively than some of the young ones. I couldn’t help but notice a platinum blonde, so platinum that it was a silvery shade. At my age that’s a shade I avoid like the plagues, but she was very young so I guess silver was OK. She wore ripped and almost shredded black tights, a short skirt and a black T shirt with a fur cape draped around her shoulders. I assume the cape was mink. Muy interesante,but not quite my style.

My fellow students are a mix of ages, with a couple comfortable enough in speaking Spanish that I’m sure they have just completed High school Spanish. Most of us are a bit tongue tied when asked to say or repeat something in Spanish. This has always been my short coming, I can read and write Spanish far better than I can pronounce it. That is why I choose this class with this teacher as she is all about speaking. At this point my head is swimming , I’m correcting a few bad habitats I have collected over the years. I try to offer my self up as the guinea pig, to volunteer to speak when a question is asked in Spanish and I must reply in Spanish. But then my answer gets critiqued until I get it right. The written work and the reading work at this point is a not a problem, but I know as time goes on it will get much more difficult. What was I thinking!

ZIHUATANEJO, I WILL MISS YOU

Last night we had happy hour at the Catalina’s Sunset Bar, with our friends Will and Sylvia and balcony neighbor Ruth, and then we stayed for dinner

Doyle and Kathleen sunset at the Catalina Sunset bar

which was quite good, actually my shrimp tacos were excellent. We finished off the evening with a night cap (or 2) at Zorrito’s. We had breakfast at the Zihuatanejo Pancake House, a favorite of ours, met and said goodbyes to friends along the way. It’s getting that time of year when many of the seasonal people are leaving. We spent the rest of the morning sorting what stays behind to be stored and what gets packed. I’m always amazed at how much we purchased that needs to be brought home. Then off to La Madera Beach for one last swim and a massage for the Senor. Finish the last minute packing and off to dinner at Don Memos with friends.

We fly home tomorrow, back to the land of doctor and dentist appointments, doing our own laundry, cooking all our meals, jackets, coats and all kinds of other responsibilities that we have enjoyed not having during our 2 months in Zihuatanejo.

I will miss this land where a pickup truck is transportation for a large family including aunts uncles, cousins friends and a dog or two, a motor scooter will carry mom and pop and a baby or two. Where on any street corner you would never wait more than a minute or two for a cab, where ten pesos on a bus gets you 15-20 miles. I will miss the friendly people who help me with my fractured Spanish. I will miss eating at least 2 meals a day out side, I will miss the sunrise from my balcony, and sunsets over the bay, warm evenings, the cooling breeze off the bay during the heat of the day, happy hour with friends. I will miss everything Zihuatanejo. But knowing we will be back makes it all bearable. We’ve reserved our little apartment for 3 months next year and we will be here for Christmas. That will be a new experience for us. Adios Zihuatanejo

Signing off until December KO

OUR DAYS ARE NUMBERED

My agenda for the day was to go to the Mercado and pick up some salt for a friend and some cheese for my neighbor, I took the long way there just for the opportunity to look around one more time. The Mercado is one of my favorite places, I never tire of seeing the beautiful arrays of fruits and vegetables, many of which I can’t even identify the trays of bakery items, piles of rice and other grains which again I can’t identify, booths with chickens complete with heads and feet and the meat market which today displayed a hogs head. These are sights that I will never see at home. Shopping at the

commissary at home will be so boring compared to this.

I needed to go to the bank, but the armed guards were there filling the ATM’s and the line was growing longer by the minute. Now at home our armored truck guards do carry side arms, but they don’t post 2 guards outside with M-16 rifles. I’ll go to the bank later in the day when the line is not so long. It will give me reason to wander around again and make sure I’ve missed nothing.

We watched a couple of movies I purchased here, Philomena and Nebraska. Philomena very good, Nebraska not so. They cost 2 for 20 pesos, so I won’t be bringing them back with us, but with prices like that I’ve learned it isn’t necessary to take up suitcase space bringing a stack of dvds from home.

We are going with friends and plan to meet more friends at the Catalina’s sunset bar this evening, they have lovely music on Wednesdays, appropriate for a sunset.

Our refrigerator is just about empty. Last night the Senor wanted fried chicken and since I don’t eat chicken, we did “take out” from 2 different places, he got his fried chicken and I got my chile relleno and we ate a last balcony meal, well we did have breakfast on the balcony this morning, but the rest of our meals will need to be eaten out. Signing off KO

ALIENS GONE COMPUTER OK

The aliens have left since I deleted every program that got added on 2 27 14. I have no idea where they all came from but the appear to be gone. As soon as we get home” Larry the computer guy” gets my net book as it is still very slow.

I attended Guitar fest last night and while I found it enjoyable and interesting, but I did I leave before it was over as it was too long for me. During the first hour I sat at a restaurant next to the area and ordered dinner as all the seats inside were in the sun and I can’t sit an hour in the sun without burning. While I know a lot of people sat there for most of the evening or just generally hung around, once the sun went down I paid my money and went inside. It’s a benefit, it’s not expensive and I would have felt like a cheat if I had stayed there the whole evening.

Colorfful building in Barre de Potosi — Octopus cooking over an open fire at La Condessa

Today we went to Barre de Potosi with friends, Will and Sylvia and Charlie and Christine. Charlie and Christine picked us all up at the very early hour of 8:00, we’ve made this trip a couple of times, but always on the bus and then the pasajara. We found scenery we had never noticed before as the view from a car is much different and very enjoyable. Christine and Charles brought us to their favorite, La Condessa and we found it most

enjoyable. We spent the morning beach walking and watching the surfers. Our lunch was delicious, my oysters were done to perfection, the Senor’s fillet was great, but those who ordered shrimp were disappointed as they hadn’t been deveined adding a lot more work than just pealing. We topped it off with that wonderful ice cream you get from the galvanized tubs. Nothing like strawberry ice cream where you can see that it was made with real berries

The Senor and I walked thru the town so that I could photograph the flowers and church that we found there on our last trip when I was sans camera. It sometimes amazes me what beauty you find in these dusty little villages.

Beautiful Flower in the village Bbarre de Potosi

This evening we have a real conundrum, the Senor is dreaming of fried chicken, and I can’t eat chicken. The place he wanted to go to only has chicken and potatoes. Other places have chicken,

Simple but beautiful Church in Barre de Potosi

but not “fried”. I suggested each of us getting what we wanted take out and bringing it back to eat here, but that was vetoed and we can’t fry it ourselves as the building has run out of gas, and like before when that happened it will probably manana before we have gas. Anyway I’m sure we won’t starve and will find something. It was another wonderful day in Mexico Signing off KO

LA CHULA VIDA, THE SWEET LIFE

The Senor had purchased at sail fest a dinner for two with bottle wine and desert at LA Chula Vida. Of course we had never heard of the place, but soon discovered it was on Playa Blanca, which we weren’t entirely sure where it was or how we would get there. A little research paid off and we received several suggestions on how to get there. The plan was to do a bus to the airport , and if the pick up with benches showed up we would take it, if not we would take a cab. Sounded simple enough. Next we located where to catch the bus to the airport. convinced our friends Will and Sylvia we really knew what we were doing, and planned to leave about 4 as I wanted to be there for the sunset, and really didn’t know how long it would take to make all the connections. Only waited about 5 minutes for the “colectivo” to the airport.which is a van with benches along all sides and hand rails on the inside roof so an unlimited amount of people can be packed in. For 10 peso each we rode to the airport stop, not seeing a cab insight we sort of wondered … what next? There were two Mexican fellows sitting in the shade across the road so I got elected to ask them how to get to Chula Vida . I was told in 5 min a collective would come. And sure enough it did but of the “pasajara” type, a covered pick up truck with benches. So for another 10

pesos we were on our way, this ride is truly air-conditioned as we were traveling quite fast as the road was empty except for one or two cars.

The ride was quite comfortable until we hit the dirt road and then it was very bumpy. Along the way we saw some beautiful villas, stunning views of the ocean a restaurant or two and one condominium complex. As we arrived at our destination we were greeted by a beautiful saddled burro which we learned later was the “town mayor’s” transportation.

La Chula Vida has a tiled dining patio, both floor and roof and a beach bar palapa with table made from huge tree stumps. Our hostess Lisette welcomed us and visited with us a bit and we learned that she hails from Woodland WA which is quite near us. We sat watching the sun go

down, cooled by very cold drinks and a lovely breeze from the ocean. One of the most peaceful relaxing places I have ever been. We opted to eat our dinner on the patio as after dark the breeze was getting a little too cool. The Senor and I had grilled”sierra” fish which was thick and moist, our friends had grilled shrimp which they proclaimed excellent. All served with a plate of grilled vegetables and followed up with a dish of almond ice cream. The setting was beautiful, the meal excellent, the company enjoyable, just can’t ask for more than that, definitely the sweet life, Chula Vida.

We had anticipated taking a taxi back to town, but Lisette said her husband Jorge needed to drive employee’s back to Zihuatanejo and if we didn’t mind waiting until dishes were washed he would bring us all home. How is that for hospitality! Of course we accepted. I rode in the cab with Jorge who had an oldies radio station on playing “All Shook Up” and “Good Golly “Miss Molly” sung in Spanish.. What a fun evening! Signing off KO

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