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On the morning of the first day of December the Christmas Flags went up on our street soon followed by inflatable

Frosty and other characters appear each night after dark at the corner by the statue.

This morning I walked up to the “Buenoche” market and bought two beautiful poinsettia plants to make our apartment more festive. And every evening our balcony has solar Christmas lights on the railing.

Buen Noche

Christmas marker

Pinatas and poinsettias

But Christmas arrived early for us in the form of a long awaited for fed ex package. En route to Zihuatanejo I had left a small purse with a debit card and my drivers license at and  the Seattle hotel.

My son retrieved it and was to send it along with the computer hard drive that my daughter copies movies and TV series and mails to us for use in Zihuatanejo. It arrived at our home the day after we left, so my son put my purse in that package readdressed it, put the  debit card receipt in the box showing how much he paid fed to send it priority to us. It got to Mexico in 2 days and then was held hostage in Mexican customs for 16 days.  FedEx was little to no help in helping to resolve what the problem was, or what items were in question. But 17 days later  and $175. we have the package with everything in it except the receipt. So we got the Christmas presents from my daughter ( we never would have brought them with us, no need of a sweat shirt or the medallions for my walking stick) But I am enjoying the framed photo of all 4 of my kids, especially since  they so rarely are all together. signing off KO

When we began staying in Mexico long enough to need laundry being done the Senior would weekly load one of our wheeled suitcases up to the local “laundaria” where for very few pesos they would wash dry and fold your laundry having it ready for you at the end of the day. At home the Senior always does the laundry and just assumed the job here. This worked great for a couple of years until some thing got ruined in the process, water too hot for the fabric and once crusted undissolved soap power crusted on clothing leaving stains. Our choice were at that point sit at the laundaria and do it our self taking up half a day or do it on our roof top as a washing machine had been installed there.

But as with many things in Mexico, the washer didn’t  work exactly as expected.  This washing machine fills with very a slow drip.  We soon discovered that by  filling buckets of water at the wash sink and dumping them in the washer it would save considerable time, but it is considerable work and the Senior decided he didn’t have the patience or the desire to spend that much time on the hot roof top and the job fell to me. It takes 6-7 buckets of water for each wash load and again 6-7 buckets for the rinse.

So now I weekly collect our clothing, personal bath towels and sheets and head to the roof in the cool, cool, cool of the evening about 9 pm, take up my kindle a glass of wine and proceed to do the laundry. I’m entertained by my kindle and the bar down the street that pumps out music for the whole town to hear and enjoy a glass or two of wine while our clothes wash. Each load is then hung on the lines to dry.  Usually by 10 am its all dry and can be taken in and the clothes didn’t spend the whole day baking in hot sun for the colors to bleach out.  My system works well and now the Senior in charge of maintaining our supply of ice and arranging for the timely delivery of drinking water. Fair trade!

This year the was a new wrinkle in the laundry system. They hung badly needed new  clothes lines, but they are higher than I can reach. Lucky for me there is a nice ladder on the roof, its a little awkward hanging clothes on the line from a ladder but do-able. Signing off KO

Once again we woke up to water in our apartment.  About an inch covered the kitchen floor. Upon further investigation we discover the source of the issue is in the apartment next door with a leaking  intake water pipe. The Senor blocked the flow of water from our kitchen into the rest of our apartment with a large towel and decided to wait until daylight to mop up the mess.

The first year we were in this apartment we had 2-3 inches of water across the entire apartment floor due to a rain storm that had filled one of the balconies that didn’t have a drain. It proceeded to flood all 3 apartments, we swept so much water down the stairs it looked like a real water fall. A couple of years ago friends down stairs woke to water in their apartment that came from the apartment next door to them. A hot water line broke making that apartment look like a sauna. Why is it these thing always happen during the middle of the night and aren’t discovered until morning maximizing the amount of water to be dealt with.

Had a pleasant Friday evening listen to Jimmy Mamou, marveling at his energy.  Then we stopped by Legends as we heard music coming from there where a young Mexican fellow was singing  good old american rock and roll. He was quite good. But we were home by 11, not much of night owls any more.

We have never been “La Ropa beach people.  We have preferred Playa Las Gattas or Ixtapa Island for beach life and swimming.  But this year will be different and I don’t have enough bending ability in my new artificial knee to handle the getting on and off the water taxis and we can take the bus to La Ropa.  I’ve been going to the gym daily to ride the exercycle, sometimes twice daily but I’ not seeing any noticeable improvement. Very frustrating as it is keeping me from doing so many of the things I enjoy doing.But for ever the optimist I will persevere and see what happens.  Signing off KO

We had such good intentions of spending the day yesterday poolside at Escollera, a lovely hotel and restaurant high above Zihuatanejo only to discover it deserted and a sign stating they had no intentions of being open to the general public until mid December.  We briefly entertained the thought of a quick dip in their pool anyway , but instead walked back down the hill and enjoyed drinks and lunch at Rossy’s. Nice meal, nice day.

For most of my adult life I  prepared, cooked and cleaned up after Thanksgiving Dinner for 10 to 12 people and most of the time I enjoyed it.  There were a couple times in recent years we had an invitation out, but still participated in some food preparation and definitely the clean  up.  I truly look forward to this Thanksgiving, I have cooked nothing but breakfast, will enjoy a lovely meal prepared in a restaurant with some good friends and can admit to having done nothing today other read my kindle, interrupted by 2 quick trips to the gym to ride the “exercycle”. I hate every minute of it, but I have to keep this knee moving even though it is low on cooperation. I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving, signing off KO

Hurry is not in our vocabulary here in Mexico. And it is nice to slow down and not have a daily agenda of appointments and places to go. But at the same time I donot slow to the pace the Senior is comfortable with. I need to get out everyday, walk around a bit, socialize or just people watch. Fortunately just about everyday I can find some  reason to go out and about. Yesterday it was making reservations for Thanksgiving dinner at “The Captain’s Daughter, we considered going to Santa Prisia for Pazzole instead but the Senior decided he would prefer the traditional. In my wanderings after making the reservation I walked down this alley and saw this magnificent tree.  Now I have seen it before from a friends apartment and admired it, but standing at the base I was truly impresses by it’s enormity, it has to be over 4 ft wide at the base and I assume it is ancient.

A long the beach front I came across Zihuatanejo’s sand carver. He does these huge sand carvings, and just puts out a tip jar.  It appears to all be on the honor system, but I only put in a tip when he is there working. The carvings will  last for weeks before weather or rowdy kids start to take them down.

Monday was the 117th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution and was celebrated by a very extensive parade.  We first heard drum and bugle band music while breakfasting on our balcony and could see that there was parading along the water front. An hour or so later we needed to go to the bank and then planned to catch a cab to the grocery store only to discover all the main routes through town were tied up for the parade. Had to walk about 5 blocks and then were able to catch a bus to the store. It looked like all the area schools were participating and also the unions. Unfortunately all my pictures are in my cell phone and are “locked and can;t be transferred. I need to get back to my telcell guy, he thinks he can fix it. Also need to carry a camera at all times.  You never know what you might see.

It is the day before Thanksgiving and I have nothing to do except work in the gym and go swimming. The knee is not quite ready for a water taxi so we are going with friends to the pool at Escollera. After so many years of planning and cooking for 10 to 12 people on Thanksgiving, I almost feel guilty with nothing to do. Almost.  Signing off KO

Before  my knee surgery my  Doctor, who has time share on La Ropa, knew when I was traveling, his comment was the warmer weather might be good as would “no cooking no cleaning”. Obviously he doesn’t understand the Senor or those of us that travel on a “cervesa budget”. It’s a nice thought to eat all your meals out but not practical or really even desirable. A nice salad on our balcony last night was much better that walking a couple of blocks to a restaurant. I’m not supposed to walk or stand a lot so I haven’t been able to get out to the pool yet. I suppose I will have to take a cab out as I have no idea which bus will take me there efficiently.  Any bus will take me back to El Centro.

The Senior helps me a couple of times a day exercise bending my knee trying to get that 120 degree bend they say I need. I think he gets a bit of masochistic pleasure out of it. Also I  I have my large PT ball that I walk up and down the wall.

My Mexican elliptical

me on excercycle as seen from our balcony

Yesterday I started a membership at the gym which is right across the street from our balcony. I must admit I have never seen so much rust in any one location, but it all seems to be functional. I am using an exercycle, with a seat with the padding so completely missing so I have to strap a pillow over the seat to avoid injury , quite a difference from the electronic elliptical I was using during physical therapy. But, hey this is Mexico.

We were successful in signing up and paying for a “contracto” for high speed internet. But it will be 10-15 days before they get around to delivering the equipment and being Mexico I suspect even longer, but the cost is so reasonable. Our phones are now set up with Mexican chips. 2 cell phones for half the price of one at home.

We are just about at that point of being all set up and ready to get down to some serious relaxing. Signing off KO

Five weeks before our travel date I had a full left knee replacement. I knew it was pushing it but it had to be done then only time we could fit it in. Since I had done the right one several years ago I knew what I was in for and since I was highly motivated to just “kick ass” through the rehab I just knew all would work out perfect.  What I didn’t count on was my knee swelled and has refused to “unswell”, slowing rehab to a minimum and me limping around Zihuatanejo.  Then of course for our first 2 days the air conditioner was out of order and considering that it is hotter than normal it was pretty uncomfortable. Couldn’t just lie around the room icing and elevating as it was hotter inside than out. But now the room is cool and comfortable, JC was able to bring all our storage boxes to our room.

This morning,our 3rd day, I finally have all the suitcases unpacked and out away all 5 of the storage boxes are unpacked and put away and I feel like we are finally at home in Zihuatanejo. Today I will get our cell phones set up, put in for our personal WIFI and get signed up at the gym across the street so I can start resuming full rehab of this ridiculously fat knee.

We did have a pleasant dinner out last night and have run across most of the folks that we know that have arrived early like us.  I’s always great to resume our Zihuatanejo friendships and always look forward to meeting new friends. Looking forward to lots of lazy relaxing time, reading, building up strength in my knee, visiting with friends old and new and generally enjoying the good life that Zihuatanejo offers.  signing off KO

Our time in Zihuatanejo is at an end.  We have packed up our apartment, all 5 storage boxes, contracted with our Mexican friend JC to haul them down stairs and put them in Javier’s storage loft. We cleaned out the cupboards and closets and delivered to our friend Tess, who lives here year round, a couple of boxes for her use and other odds and ends that she can find folks that could use them.   We enjoyed a last box of wine and some salmon tapas with her and had a nice visit.  I also looked at an apartment just down stairs from her, not for next year but possibly the future.

The suitcases are packed, we are ready to head for home.  Most of our goodbyes are said. I know we need to go, but I am sad. There is a part of me that just isn’t ready to go.  We have signed on for 4 months next year, we will arrive mid November and leave mid March so I do have that to look forward to. I have that to look forward to.

At home I have other things to look forward to. Tax preparation, finish filing all our medical claims that travel insurance won’t pay for until our home insurance pays first. And as I still am employed part time, my delivery route begins a couple of weeks after we get home .And we have problems with our rental house to deal with.  The upside is looking forward to seeing our cat which my oldest son has lovingly taken care of during our absence, watching our talented grandson play high school baseball, and seeing our other grandchildren, reuniting with good friends at home, and planting a garden that may produce if the Washington sun is willing. A few RV trips and what ever life throws at us.

I want to thank everyone who has made comments on the blog, and all the lovely people who have introduce themselves to me as blog readers.  This means a lot to me. I so love Mexico and my time here and want to share it all with everyone both in Mexico and those thinking of Mexico. And has given me the opportunity of meeting so many interesting people. Signing off until November KO

Troncones is a little village on the Pacific Coast of Mexico about 30 miles from Zihuatanejo. It’s a 27 peso ( less than $1.50) 1 hour bus ride or a 30 minute 450 peso ($24) 30 minute taxi ride. 4

of us hopped on the 10 am bus with two suitcases, 2 back packs a a couple of tote bags to spend a couple of days at the El Tropico pretty much in the heart of Troncones. Earlier this year we spent an overnight at The Inn at Manzanillo Bay which is at the far end of this beach front village, but this time we were among many restaurants to choose from.

We were house sharing with friends Paul and Faye, and what a lovely house it was 2 bedroom 2 baths nice well stocked kitchen and a full length front porch that looks directly on to the ocean. It even came complete

with a cat! Real casual luxury! We all want to go back.

Troncones is a nice lazy break from busier Zihuatanejo.

Long term it might be too lazy and with out a car too difficult to stock up on supplies for a long stay. In the 60’s and 70’s the surfers discovered, but now there are many large homes, small condos and B & B’s with a half dozen shops and 19 restaurants, some of the beach and pool type restaurants, others with good and interesting menus. As we were across the street from Chenco’s we enjoyed both a breakfast and a dinner there and had an interesting dinner at La Mexicana. Chile rellenos are one of my favorite foods, but this time I had one with “huitlachoche” added.

Never having heard of it before I had to ask what it was and still decided to try in even after learning it is a black corn fungus. I will compare it to something like a mushroom. It was a good chile relleno, the huitlacoche interesting, but not particularly impressive.

We had two lovely days of eating, drinking, relaxing, swimming, watching the waves and listening to the sound of the ocean and being entertained by a cat who seemed to think we were

OK visitors to her home. We had to check out by 11 and we waited until the last minute to collect our suitcases and wait for the little combi to take us to the bigger bus. As we stood on the street corner a gentleman and his wife pulled up in a suburban type vehicle and asked us us if we were headed to town or the airport and would we like a ride. We generously accepted the offer from Jim and Alene of Omaha who we are pleased to now count among our friends getting acquainted as they drove us to town on their way to the airport.  You meet the nicest people in Mexico.  Signing off KO