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.
Rain poring off the roof across the street
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
Unknown tree growing beside powerpole bearing fruitTry growing beside powerpole bearing fruit
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.
Cart vendor with fresh veggies and fruit
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.
Unknown tree growing beside powerpole bearing fruit
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.
There are only 3 rungs to this ladder, water just barely covers the third rung
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
Dad waling sons to school hand in hand
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.
Newer buses
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
Workers riding to their work site in the dump truck. Very efficient!
motor scooter is transportation for a family of 4. The driving here is crazy, scary.
Carpooling Zihuatanejo style
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
Saturday Jan 9th 2016 I participated in my 3rd Sharkfest swim at Troncones Mexico. This is the only international swim in the Sharkfest swim series, other locations are Alcatraz to San Francisco and Lake Tahoe in California and many other locations around the country. Troncones is a sleeping little fishing, surfing village on the Pacific ocean. At this time of year the surf is usually quite flat making it an ideal time of year for an open water swim. At other times it is prime surfing teritory. Troncones is about 30 miles from where we spend our winters in Zihuatanejo. To get there we ride 2 busses. When we got on the first bus in Zihuatanejo we were 2 of 3 passengers on a 16 seat bus if you include the 2 seats up front by the driver. By the time we traveled through the multitude of miniscule villages along the way we were 20 mexicans and 3 gringos, us with a small suitcase and my swim bag and a variety of bags and boxes the other folks acquired on their shopping trips. No chickens or pigs.
Once at Troncones we transfer to a small minivan converted to a bus to take us the 3-4 miles through the village to the Inn at Manzanillo Bay where we choose to stay the night before the event. It is as beautiful a spot as I have ever seen.
The Inn at Manzanillo Bay, our bungalow is on the right.
We stay in a thatched roof poolside bungalow, steps from the pool and the ocean. A fantastic restaurant with friendly service. This is about 1/4 mile from where we assemble and register for the event.
Saturday morning is bright and sunny, but the surf is a little high, I usually swim in the bay where there is no surf to contend with. We head off to our starting point and due to the surf conditions we have to go a little further along the beach than we have before as we have to swim around a point with lots of rocks where the surf is pounding.
Some of us at the finish point.
Our instructions are to swim out around the boat that goes with us to keep every one away from the rocks. No problem, but I’m thinking this is definately going to be a little more than the 1.1 mile it’s been in previous years. I can definatly feel the rolling ocean but I’m swimming strong and enjoying the music from my swimmers ipod that is attached to my goggles. I do have difficulty staying on course as I am directionaly challenged even on land, but the folks an the paddle board keep us all on course. I’m at the point where I need to turn and swim straight for shore and our finish point, I’m getting closer, and closer and then I get slammed by a wave, it knocks the breath out of me, and I loose one fin as I come up to the surface catch my breath I get hit by the second wave, then the third. By this time I have lost both fins, my goggles have been ripped off head along with my cap and I know I need help. A young man comes out and grabs me just as a fourth wave pulls us both under, but I know I’m OK as this man has a firm grasp on me, a second young man comes out and the two of them help me walk in. Not exactly the finish I was hoping for but I did finish and once again in the midddle of the pack of 23 swimmers.
As the oldest swimmer in group I really don’t want to be last. But I seem to be the only one who didn’t know how to handle the waves. Guess I’ll have to paractice up. My fins did float up and were rescued, but not so my googles with my beloved Ipod, maybe they will show up in Japan.
As the Senor and I walk the beach back to our Inn we watch a dog who is very intent on watching some surfers. We surmise that his owner is one of them. And then we watch this dog swim out and give a real demonstration on how to handle the waves. Gotta love this dog, I could learn a lot from her. The video won’t insert on the blog so I will have to post it to face book. Signing off. KO
I was in desparate need of a manicure and decided to get a pedicure as well. The Senor usually enjoys a pedacure here also. After trying several spots last year we discovered “Kushi”, hopefully I’m spelling it correctly. The ambiance is wonderful, you feel pampered upon entering, soft music, lovely decore, soft seats and china bowls to soak in. As we both dipped our feet in warm water we were offered coffee, tea or VINO. Just guess what, I had
getting our pedicures
The Senor of course opted for “te negro” black tea but I on the other hand enjoyed a wonderful glass of wine. So now our feet have been sanded, trimmed, massaged and in my case polished. the senor headed back to the apartment while I had my manicure. I then phoned him to meet me for lunch, as it was Thursday, it was Pazole day a lovely hominy, brothy soup with condiments for me and a nacatamale for the Senor.
Now we must pack for an over night at the Inn at Manzanillo Bay. A truly unique lovely establishment in Troncones. We will stay there on Friday night as my “Sharkfest swim” is Saturday morning.
This is my 3rd” Sharkfest swim”. It is a 1.1 mile open ocean water swim from Majahua to Hacienda Eden. As a daily mile swimmer the challenge is not the distance, but keeping orientated.This much different than swimming laps in a pool. There are no black lines on the bottom of the ocean and I continually seem to want to swim out to sea rather than follow the coastline. There is also the challenges of getting past the rolling surf and into the open waters and the continual wave patterns. At this time of year the surf is mostly calm at other times this is a prime surfing beach area. Of course the main challenge is not coming in last. As I am usually the oldest swimmer at 72 years, I want to finish strong, not in last place.
So wish me luck as I swim with the fishes on Saturday. Signing off KO
We started our day in great confusion having planned to meet two couples from our apartment building for breakfast at this corner restaurant that is just around the corner and a block away. This restaurant had been selected as it is air conditioned and that’s what our friends wanted. So the Senor and I set off saying we would get a table for 6. Well 20 minutes later no friends and there the two of us were occupying a table for 6 in a busy restaurant. We had already been served our coffee and bread when we noticed Dwight hurrying by the corner, twice. The Senor jumped up and went out to flag him down, only to learn that on opposite sides of the same corner there was another air conditioned restaurant, they were at that one occupying a table for 6,while we at the other one. As it turned out our breakfast was excellent and they didn’t care for theirs. Oh well there will be another day.
From breakfast we were on to the beach at Las Gatas and had a great day. As always we went to Gloria del Mar to spend some time with our favorite waiter Jose.
Jose our friend and waiter
This super nice fellow last year spent an hour picking coral out of my hands and knees with a cactus needle when I got washed onto some coral and had great difficulty getting off the reef. We swam, ate, drank, visited and generally had a great time. We ate shrimp crusted in sesame seeds, with sort of a sweet and sour dipping sauce, very tasty. The beach seemed
Shrimp In sesame seeds
almost empty now that the majority of the Mexican National Touristas have returned home from their holiday.
A day on the beach wears us completely out and we return back ready to nap, watch TV , movies and read. Interesting to know that when we have difficulties streaming the Senor’s TV shows ( wrestling) if we opt to record it and view it later we have no difficulties with buffetings or completely stoppage. Signing off KO
The last couple of days I saw the construction of all the temporary booths being erected along the main drag of Juan Alvarez to house an enormous amount of what appears to be cheap plastic toys.
Blue tarp booths along the side walk selling toys and 3 Kings Day cakes
Since I’m told the Mexican children receive gifts on 3 Kings day I guess parents wait util the last minute to shop. Sure solves the problem of hiding gifts from snooping kids. There are also tables and tables of the special cake that has the little figures baked in it. They come in every size imaginable depending on the size of your family gathering. And if I remember correctly who ever gets the baby Jesus in their piece gets to host the whole group to a tamale
Blue tarp booths along the side walk selling toys and 3 Kings Day cakes
feast on Candelmas Day. Then there is the “Bike Market” along the canal.
Last night from my balcony I watched the fire dancer perform, not the best view as the palm tree gets in the way a bit, entertaining none the less. This was followed by a brief but hard rain shower, all done in minutes
Fire dancer as seen from my balcony
There also has been a mass exodus of Mexican tourists as their holidays ends, the foot traffic around town is manageable again and hopefully the music from the Zocolo won’t be blasting down our street nightly. I’m forever amazed at how folks can party all night until six am. It’s 5:00 am and the bar down the street is still playing music, this morning the music is pleasant and not just the “thump thump” type and not so loud to be heard inside the apartment but surprising pleasant out here on my balcony.
The Senor just suggested going to the beach today. I’m so excited! Getting him out and about has been a real chore this year. Sometimes I feel a little “trapped” up in our room. Signing off KO
Over Saturday and Sunday more of our friends have arrived in town, Dwight and Lynn our balcony neighbors are here, I once did a terrible typo and referred to them as our “baloney” neighbors so I’m really careful when I type that word now. Our building is full, lots of friendly people, but reservations got confused Will and Sylvia didn’t get the room they reserved, but all is OK.
On Sunday the Senor went to the bar at the Captain’s Daughter to see the Seahawks play and stayed for the second game. It was good for him to finally get out for a while. He is doing the rest and relax to the max. I took my kindle to the beach and read for a while then stopped in at Coconuts for happy hour. It was two for one drinks and the drinks were only 30 pesos. That could become habit forming, it’s a lovely bar and restaurant. When I got back to the apartment a group was forming to go out to dinner so I joined them. We headed out to Olga’s a really cute place a little off the beaten track. The food was great as was the service and the company wonderful. I took some pictures on my cell phone, down loaded them this morning and now I can’t find them in the computer anywhere and I erased them off the phone as I have a habit of overloading it’s capabilities. I still had my kindle with me and left it at the restaurant but the proprietress texted one of our group that she had it. He said he would pick it up for me, but I’ve had to go a whole day with out it. Having withdrawals .
On Monday my new laptop computer is working again. I haven’t been able to get it to connect to the internet for a couple of weeks. I guess it just wanted time to aclimate. I’ve discovered netflix doesn’t want to down load movies here in Mexico.I don’t know if it is all movies but the ones I wanted to watch are available in not in this geographic region. Had better luck with Amazon Prime and then I have a whole load of movies on an external drive my daughter sent me. So I have plenty to entertain myself.
Tuesday early morning went to down load pictures, all of Jan pictures are not to be found. I’m signing off to go ook fort them KO
That is nothing we have to do, I don’t swim on the weekends so we had a leisurely lovely breakfast on the balcony while listening to the church bells calling the faithful. Surprisingly this is the first time we have heard the bells. The Senor is always the breakfast cook and this morning he out did himself with this marvelous fruit bowl. It would be such a healthy breakfast if we hadn’t have stuffed ourselves.
Our pigeon bathing across the street in a “tinaco”
Our morning entertainment was watching our pigeon take a bath in the neighbors water supply “tinaco”. This is a daily event that truly amuses me. But I have checked out the tinacos on our roof and know they are covered, no bathing birds there.
Roof top swimming hole
another sight that amuses me is a half block away on about the 3rd floor roof is what I believe is an old cement rooftop cistern that has taken on a new life as a swimming hole. Several times I have seen kids whooping and splashing in it.
So much of Mexico is interesting and no matter how frequently I see it it never ceases to amaze and amuse me. Almost every evening there will be a couple of restaurants roasting this cut of pork over an open fire and continuing to
Mystery meat
slice little bits. Not being a meat eater I have no idea how it is served, and the Senor is not an adventurous eater this will remain “mystery meat” to us.
A day or so ago I noticed the sail boat the PATRICIA BELLE was anchored in the bay. She was hand built by the captain just a couple of
The Patricia Belle
miles from our home in Washington. I had the opportunity to sail on her last Sail Fest and hope to do so again. She is one of the largest sailboats we see here. Signing off, KO
We love New Years Eve here in Mexico, it’s noisy, colorful and lots of light harted celebrating. The fire works are magnificent. We had dinner at Puerto del Sol, a beautiful balcony type restaurant over looking the bay on the road to la Ropa. I of course had a good seafood Relleno and the Senor the Pork Adobe. We danced to the music of Steve and Bryan and rang the new year in with whistles and horns.
Steve and Bryan
Shortly after midnight, just as we were getting ready to leave we met a very nice couple who stay in the condo that his brother owns. A lovely place with the thatched palm roof right next door. It was late so we said our goodbyes and went to hail a cab. All were full coming up the hill so we walked down the hill a couple of buildings hopping to sport an empty one coming up the hill. Finally there was an empty cab going up who said he would turn around at first opening so we jumped in. That was our first mistake, just as we passed the restaurant we were just at and past the next building we noticed a fairly small fire on the palapa roof. The bomberos, (firemen) were already there and waved us on and our cab turned around to go back
from the street
down the hill only to come to a complete stop.All traffic was blocked both ways. Over the next hour a few cars got out of line and headed back up the hill and we inched forward until we were to close to what was now a roof fully engaged. Embers were flying, falling on the street and the cab wisely moved off the street into a drive way. No traffic was moving on the only road in or out of this area.We decided to pay off the cab as he wasn’t going anywhere and decided to see
From Puerto del Sol where we had dinner
if we could safely walk past this conflagration and fine a cab on the other side. Surprisingly we walked right through the police and bomberos, (no yellow caution tape here) We got as far as the Puerto del Sol on the down side of the fire and went back in where we had just left a little over an hour ago to discover the couple we had previously met had just enough warning to be able to get there things out before the whole building was fully engulfed. Our hearts go out to those who lost so much in the fire, be it personal belongings, a home away from home, but glad all were safe. Fortunately the fire didn’t spread to any of the other buildings around with palapa roofs.
Earlier in the evening I had commented on how much I liked the “sky lanterns” or “Illuminarios”, as they were quiet and some times as many as 7 or 8 would be just quietly casting this red glow, floating across the sky. But what they really are is a paper bag with a candle in it and exceedingly dangerous. It only took one to take out this beautiful condo. I will never look upon them as beautiful again, only as a dangerous, destructive weapon.
Sky lanterns over Zihuatanejo bay
We only had to walk about a couple blocks before we able to catch a cab and arrived back to our apartment in El Centro at 3:00 am. That is definitely the latest these old times have stayed out in years. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year! Signing off KO
Zihuatanejo 