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.
Friends invited the Senor and I to spend the day with them at Ixtapa Island today, so back to the beach we went. Charlie and Christine picked up the 4 of us and we drove to Playa Linda were we caught the water taxi to the island. We always go to Paraisio Esconido where we get great food and service from Juan and his lovely wife.
It was a beautiful day, a huge, beautiful yacht pulled in I swam out to it and if they had been friendly I was going to ask for a tour, but they weren’t friendly. What a disappointment!
Lunch was excellent, the company was also. The Senor and I got matching tattoo’s in an attempt to scandalize our children. They weren’t shocked, the replies I got were ” I hope it’s real” and “You are having too much fun”, haven’t heard from the rest yet.
One of the people we met there was from Lake Tahuya, WA. Small world, you have to be from our home area to have ever even heard of Lake Tahuya. But there on the beach of Island Ixtapa in Mexico is a beautiful 12th man flag. GO HAWKS!
As the afternoon moved on many more boats arrived and moored out, one looked like the little brother to the big yacht, obviously the same manufacturer. It was such a relaxing afternoon, but Mexico seems to have that effect on the Senor and I. Here we don’t get that guilty feeling for just laying back and enjoying ourselves our friends and this beautiful country. Signing off KO
Playa Las Gatas is the favorite beach for the Senor and I. It’s a short walk to the pier, 2 40 peso tickets and we are on the water taxi and on our way. We did find our favorite waiter Jose at Gloria Del Mar, at least I think that’s the correct name of the restaurant. As they are side by side all along the beach it can be hard to distinguish one from another at first glance. This day we got the right one we were looking for. Will and Sylvia accompanied us and we staked out our lounge chairs and table. I seem to be the only swimmer in the group, everyone else comes to eat, drink and enjoy the ambiance of the beach, shop and people watch.
Beautiful margaritas
Juanita, my favorite beach vendor always has beautiful and interesting bead and shell necklaces, bracelets. I always find something I like and this day was no different. I would love to shop the silver vendor, but silver
Juanita changing the length on my necklace while Sylvia looks on
makes me itch. The candy lady comes by, as does the lady who hauls a huge load of beach wear around, it must weigh 50 lbs. I am always impressed with how hard these people work, long hours, physically demanding work and then hear they earn very little. I love lying on a beach lounge soaking up vitamin D and having the stores come to you. I know some folks find all the vendors annoying, but I enjoy them. The Silver salesman even carries a visa swipe machine with him.
I choose to swim out to the point of Owen Lee’s beach property. Swimming against incoming swells at times, I
Point I’m swimming to
could feel the rise and fall of the swells, kind of fun. It was a much easier swim on the return as the waves
give you a push. I’m so directionally challenged when I swim that I had to walk back past a dozen or so restaurants to get to our location
The senor, Kathleen, Will Sylvia
Our fish was cooked to perfection, our drinks were perfect (not the killer kind) it was anther great Zihuatanejo day, with enough of a breeze to keep one cooled off. Signing off KO
My flock of chickens were lazy this morning and just getting off their roost in a tree when I arrived with their breakfast. After feeding them I continued on down Calle Adalita, a beautiful recently bricked paved street of small hotels and restaurants. It’s early and some of the establishments are
Display of plants and flowers
beginning to open for the coffee and breakfast crowd. The street has already been swept, the flowers are in bloom and only a few residents are out and about. Many of those out are out for exercise, they walk fast, and many jog. At home I walk for exercise on the weekends when the pool isn’t open, and I walk a pretty brisk pace. In Mexico I walk for culture and beauty and I walk quite slow, making sure I smell the flowers along the way. I speak to everyone I pass, either good morning or Buenos Dias and everyone
Kitten found shelter, but crying for food
replies.
Along the way I hear the plaintive cries of a small kitten. She has made her home under a kind of man-hole cover on the side-walk. She’s not more that 6-8 weeks old and I’m sure she is hungry and she is alone. I feel bad as don’t have anything to feed her, but since the street is very popular I’m hoping someone else drops her something. She is probably the only one of her litter mates that have survived this far. For a street kitten to make it to full-fledged “cathood” you’ve got to be tough. I hope she is as tough as she is our spoken.
Mosaic bench in front of shop
On my way back up Calle Adelita I walk on the other side of the street to get a different perspective and make sure I’ve missed
Everybody needs to eat
nothing. I stop at a small restaurant, Terracita. It has come with high recommendations. I plan to have coffee, but also decide on the yogurt and granola. I looked at their dinner menu for future planning, it looked good. I’d like to return. It is new with nice tables and friendly service. Just before crossing the La Madera bridge I stopped to buy a coin purse from the Senor who kids with me each morning when I go to tend to my flock. Off to the beach this afternoon. Signing off KO
The Senor and I along with two other couples arrived at El Pueblito a half hour early anticipating getting a great table, but the restaurant was almost full already in anticipation of a great evening of music.Judy greeted us asking if we had reservations,. The thought of making reservations never occurred to us, we just show up. She found us a nice table near the back but said there was a table for the dignitaries and if they didn’t show she would try to move us there. They were a no show and we got the ringside table.
The Mark and Andy Show
At most concerts the warm up band is a new up and coming group. Last night it was the reverse, the “old guys” opened for the up and coming band. The Mike and Andy Show played some rock and roll and some folk music and had the crowed warmed up nicely for Expressions Inmune. Expressions Inmune consists of 5 local youth ranging in age from 16 – 26. They dressed in matching mauve satiny shirts with the one very pretty Senorita in a dress of the same color. They looked very professional and wowed the crowd with their skill and enthusiasm belting out all the old
Expressions Inmune
favorites us oldies grew up dancing to. It’s timeless music, Beatles, CCR and many others. Some couples danced every dance, others just to their favorites, the Senor and I not at all. The Senor wasn’t feeling his best, normally he likes to dance.It was hard to just sit and listen. We contributed to a 50/50 raffle and the Senor was lucky and won the pot. About 1100
Tim and Donna danced every dance
pesos, the other 50% went to benefit the home. Before the end of the evening the band played a salsa number that i just couldn’t resist and went out on the dance floor with some Mexican ladies.
That’s me dancing
At home we don’t go out a lot, so It’s fun here to dress up and go out. Now dressing up here consists of the Senor selecting his favorite comfortable shorts and a loose shirt and sandals, As for me, I got a manicure, wore my newest sundress, put on my strappiest sandals, hung my new”limon” earrings that are actual lime slices from my ears, and selected the proper hat for the occasion
Bet Shalom is a worthy project providing needed care for the elderly in a culture where that is the normal responsibility of family. Not everyone has family, and some elderly citizens had no one to come to pick them up after a hospital stay.
Another wonderful Zihuatanejo evening of good food, good drinks, good friends and good music for a worthy cause. Signing off KO
For the last several days I’ve had a bit of a sore throat that bothers me mostly at night. during the day with enough food and drink It’s not been as uncomfortable. But in the evening my voice gets horse and at night it feels dry as sand paper. So I wake up a hundred times a, night drink water, but no real relief. Since I am extremely healthy I thought it might just run its course and go away. Well not the case, so I decided to go to the doctor. Two or three years ago I got the same sore throat, but at that time the Dr. Grayeb was just around the corner, and I probably would have gone sooner if he was still there. Now he is several blocks away and I vaguely remember how to get there, and decide to walk. But was smart enough to take a map. I knew the far side of the market just beyond Kyoto Circle, and bless his heart there is a sign on Las Palamas pointing the direction. There is always a couple of folks waiting to see him but my wait was very short. I got a shot 2 prescriptions and I already feel better today.
Dr. Grayeb told me to drink some orange juice with in 20 minutes of receiving the shot. so on my way back I
Sunset over Zihuatanejo Bay
bought a little bottle of OJ but due to an ongoing digestive issue I was only able to get 1/2 the bottle down, I was a bit concerned that might slow everything down. I filled my prescriptions but wasn’t feeling to good-by the time I got back home. Slept all afternoon and didn’t wake up till 6:30 spoiling our plans to go to see “The secret Life of Walter Mitty” in Ixtapa. I was pissed, with no one to blame but my self (and the Senor for not walking me up). The Senor could care less and he has his TV. At home we never go to movies maybe once or twice a year. I love movies and here is willing to go as often as they change. Also there is a clothing shop not far from the movie theatre that I like, and since my weight loss I’ve dropped 3 sizes and was hopping to do some shopping before the movie.
All’s well that ends well, I feel one hundred percent better this morning and looking forward to going to El Pueblito to-night to see the young group of Mexicans that have been doing street performances under our balcony twice a week. This is their debut “professional appearance “IMPRESSIONS INMUNE” doing a benefit
Impressions Imune
concert for aid for the home for seniors in Zihuatanejo. In Mexico the culture is that families take care of the aged, but if you don’t have family you are in a tough spot. From everything I hear the senior home has great need. I believe it is a $10 donation to get in, and while these kids don’t speak any English, they sing in English the Beatles, CCR fantastically and also a Latin Salsa number that makes you want to get up and dance. Signing off KO
Steve and Brian accompanying the children from the orphans home.
We seem to stay busy even though we have no daily agenda, and time passes so quickly. Sunday evening we went to the Zocolo which is the town square or plaza and also the basketball court. On Sunday it looks like the entire town gathers there to eat from many of the vendors carts, buy trinkets and toys for children, socialize and watch a evening performance. This Sunday the children from the orphans home presented a few songs they had learned. There had been no music program there until Brian, a gifted professional musician, who happens to be our balcony neighbor, volunteered to start one with the children. He has spent much time teaching them songs and they performed a couple of them Sunday at the Zocolo. They sang “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” in Spanish and then in English Not a one was shy and a couple were very busy stealing the show. Some people just have more heart than others and Brian is definitely one. we finished the evening with dinner on the beach with Will and Sylvia.
The Senor at the Commercial Bakery
The Senor enjoys the bakery, Mexican bakeries have the most enormous selection of goodies I’ve ever seen. The senor takes a tray and tongs and walks around placing his selected items on the tray and then goes to the bakery counter and she wraps them up for him.
The senor and I went to the Mario’s Leather shop as I was looking for an attractive leather binder to hold my wedding ceremonies. Fortunately he spoke English, knew what I wanted but didn’t have anything with “rings” First try was take a 6 inch set of rings off a daytimer size binder but they were much to fat, so then he left us in his shop, while he
Mario Making my leather binder
went over to the “papeleria”,(think stationary store) bought a 3 ring binder, took the rings out of it installed them in a beautiful red leather folder and now AI have exactly what I needed. I’m amazed the lengths that people here will go to serve you.
On my Monday morning walk after feeding my flock of chickens I had meat scraps for a deserving street dog. Not many dogs out and about in the morning, they are mostly night time wanderers. But I found this sad eyed dog, encouraged her to come get my treats, she was very wary and very skittish and no wonder as I’m sure she had been abused. She had a rough hemp rope around her neck and body kind of harness like. I tried to untie it but she wouldn’t let me tough her and would jump out of the way once almost getting hit by a car. Today
Street dog tied up with rope
when I go out I will have scissors with me, and may be I can cut her loose.
Part Siamese kitten with a beautiful face
While breakfasting on our balcony the Senor noticed some kittens on the overhang of the balcony below us, they were coming and going thru the drain hole on the building next door. This kitten has the sweetest face and if I didn’t have a cat at home that would object I would have climbed down there and claimed her.
We had a wonderful stuffed avocado a that the Senor and I shared at the Monkey
Allen and Patricia wailing the blues
House for lunch. 5:30 finds us on our usual bar stools at the Flophouse. We prefer sitting on the stools that
are actually on the side walk as it is cooler. Soon Will and Sylvia joined us as we enjoyed the “blues” with Alan and Patricia. Our choice of a place to eat was a mistake, our mistake. We didn’t want a big or expensive meal just something to eat, but a Sushi House just isn’t what we should have picked. Signing off KO
Ecotianguis Sanka very loosely translated is a local, ecologically/organic farmers market that is held each Saturday morning it what I call the artist plaza at the waterfront. It’s a fascinating array of food, some vegetarian, some organic, all local and all very good just depending on your personal tastes. It also hosts a variety of crafts people with a very creative area of items to purchase. Many of the food items you can taste to help you make your decisions. My friend Sylvia and I made our first stop for a cup of local coffee. We then headed to the food
One of the three Breakfast tacos
table where we had our breakfast served on a banana leaf for a plate. We choose to sample all three of the organic vegetarian choices, one was a tofu in barbacoa seasoning, one was a shredded egg-plant dish and the third I can’t remember. Three tortillas were spread with a small amount of refried beans then a serving of each was placed the tortillas. We each ended up with 3 tortillas one of each flavor on a banana leaf plate. We both thought the egg-plant was fantastic, the one we can’t remember the name of was good and we weren’t crazy about the seasoning on the tofu. Other things we tasted was apple slices with a tamarind, a hibiscus jelly, and date/nut/fruit ball that is marketed as an energy snack very good and no sugar and small rolled candies that have nuts and a bite of a maple flavor. We bought papayas, and grapefruit and I bought a pair of earrings that are actual lime slices. Very interesting! We saw everything from beautiful jewelry made from coiled paper to coconut soap. All made here locally.
Embroidery Work
We visited with friends, people watched and only wished there were more sitting space as we might have lingered longer. On our returned, the fruit cart vendor was in front of our apartment so we purchased
Sylvia buying bananas
bananas and strawberries. This is cart is basically a
wheelbarrow with a board on top, then loaded with boxes of beautifully displayed fruit. He has to be immensely strong to wheel this around.
The Senor and I waited until after dark to head out for dinner, we browsed several menus along the malecon and decided on Casa Elvira as the rib eye steak was reasonably priced for the Senor. the waiters remembered us from last year and the service was very good. Next on to the Zocolo as I had heard that Zihuatanejo was going to be a sub venue for an international film festival based in Acapulco. There was a large crowd and many chairs had been set out. It appeared that what was being played was a Japanese animated film. The music from the Baracruda drew us in for the Steve Allen Show, that soon becomes a jam session as other musicians join in. The music we hear in Zihuatanejo is beyond comparison, we love it. signing off KO
Friday it looked like it was going to be very hot so the Senor and I decided to go to the La Ropa Beach. Good choice as the breeze kept us cool. While la Ropa is a highly favored beach, is not our favorite beach. And once again it proved so. Now it could be that we don’t know the best place to go, or how to negotiate for what we want. We went to Rossi’s had a nice lunch of fish fillet in garlic. All the lounge chairs were in the sun, and my fair gringo skin doesn’t handle the sun well. The lounge chairs had numbers on the back giving the Senor the idea that they were reserved and or “pay per lounge”. The Senor does well in the sun, becoming a lovely copper color and does enjoy a lounge chair. But for this trip we sat in plastic chairs at a table with a nice umbrella where we watched the parasailing and the Catamaran Picante’s big Genoa giving people ride
Picante with Spinnaker rider
high in the sky then dipping them in the water. I like to swim, but I find Las Gatas or Ixtapa Island better for swimming and snorkeling. The waves at La Ropa are a bit tough to get past and then there are a lot of small swells and too many boats that have drivers looking skyward not for swimmers. The Senor is happy to have a couple of beers, wade in the water to cool off and people watch. We had a pleasant but short stay.
The evening found us once again at the Flophouse Bar, which has one of the most interesting music venues in El Centro. And the music comes early in the evening, you
Tim, Allen, Brian at the Flophouse
don’t have to stay out late to enjoy. Last night it was Allen Alto, Tim on the Harmonica and Brian Hill also on a guitar. We met new friends and hooked up with our old friends Will and Sylvia for dinner at Don Memos’ and to listen to the great Jimmi Mamou.
the Great Jimmi Mamou
Everyone’s meal was great, but I will rave about the fillet in wine sauce that I had. For my tastes it’s about the best fish I’ve ever had. I could only eat half of it and saved the other half for a lunch. Another day another adventure signing off KO
The other day I chose to walk to the Commercial for our supplies. I started from the bridge to La Madera where I fed my flock of chickens and walked along the canal. From Plaza Kyoto to the Commercial they have built a new pedestrian path which makes the trip a breeze. I’m guestimating it’s about a mile, a 20 minute walk. Once there the air conditioning is muchly appreciated.
Along the way I did notice how unless you are rich, your homes are quite boxy, and seldom with any style. Boxy 3-4 story apartment buildings. Or smaller boxes stacked on one another which may be a different home on each floor. Very little color, mostly white, but not a bright white, some pink and some green. The residential areas I see are mostly unattractive, little gardening done except on an occasional balcony. Interspersed you might see a lovely home with beautiful iron work, gates and patio’s. But it is the exception. The wealthy visitors, and residents have incredible villas on the hillsides, with fantastic views and infinity pools high above the masses. Sometimes I get so busy taking pictures of the extraordinary that I forget to take picture of the ordinary.
Zihuatanejo is not what one would call a beautiful town. But a town with great character. It is a fishing village at heart. At the pier there is a beautiful shrine to the Virgin Mary “La Reigna de la Gente de Mar”, the queen of the people of the sea. The church that is just around the corner from us is jam packed every Sunday with standing room only 3 deep out side the many doors Signing off KO
Shrine at the pierWe hear the bells of this church every Sunday
Yesterday after breakfast at the Zihuatanejo Pancake House, our favorite breakfast place, the Senor headed to Zoe’s and got the full treatment, a pedicure and a hair cut.
The hair cut
We then walked about town a bit, I bought a pair of sandals I’d been eyeing. The Senor calls them my “duck dynasty” shoes as they are army green and the straps have frayed edges. I think they are cute and they are so comfortable which for me is unusual. We stopped by the sewing ladies who fixed straps for my
One of the seamstresses
dress and took their picture and then discovered a new ice cream shop that is literally right under our noses. There are plenty of places to buy ice cream, but few have a place to sit and eat your ice cream. The lobby of the movie theatre that is directly across the street from us is open for food and snacks during the day and they have a good selection of ice cream and tables and chairs that are shaded. How cool is that! after ice cream, back to our apartment for siesta.
The terrace, well maybe half of it
That night I attended the “chick party”. I’d been hearing about it hear and there and decided I would go. A little nervous about walking into someone’s home by myself not knowing if I would know anyone there, but I did know couple of people and met more. This party was held on the terrace and what a terrace it was. It was on several levels and much larger than most homes, mostly covered overhead with a view to die for. It is situated high above the far end of La Ropa almost Las Gatas with the
View of Zihuatanejo Bay
most amazing view of all of Zihuatanejo Bay. The event started at 6 and I’m sure the timing was so that the guests could enjoy the sunset. And enjoy I did. Several artist and vendors were there displaying their wares. but there was no pressure to buy. You bought tickets for drinks, there were door prizes and I won a bracelet. A very nice evening in a gorgeous place with many lovely people. I am so glad I went.
Friends invited the Senor and I to spend the day with them at Ixtapa Island today, so back to the beach we went. Charlie and Christine picked up the 4 of us and we drove to Playa Linda were we caught the water taxi to the island. We always go to Paraisio Esconido where we get great food and service from Juan and his lovely wife.
had been friendly I was going to ask for a tour, but they weren’t friendly. What a disappointment!
Lunch was excellent, the company was also. The Senor and I got matching tattoo’s in an attempt 
to scandalize our children. They weren’t shocked, the replies I got were ” I hope it’s real” and “You are having too much fun”, haven’t heard from the rest yet.
obviously the same manufacturer. It was such a relaxing afternoon, but Mexico seems to have that effect on the Senor and I. Here we don’t get that guilty feeling for just laying back and enjoying ourselves our friends and this beautiful country. Signing off KO
Zihuatanejo 