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PLAYA LAS GATAS, A COLD, AND A SUNBURN

Maids day and beach day are often synonymous, we take off early and return to spic and span quarters. Playa Las Gates is our preferred beach for swimming and general relaxing. It’s never to hot, a bit of a breeze and our friendly waiter at Gloria del Mar. before we left a put on the crock pot to make a chicken stew so we would have dinner when we returned. Had a great lunch shrimp and fish shiskabob, swam just a little and then I made the mistake of thinking i could sit in the sun for 20 minutes to let my suit dry out a bit before going home. Bad mistake, the water must have washed all the #50 sunblock off me and I’m burnt to a crisp. And my cold is getting worse, by the time we sit down for dinner I have laryngitis so bad my voice is cracking. Of course with his bad hearing to begin with the Senor is up able to understand anything I say. Which at this point is probably a good thing, I don’t feel good— leave me alone! This has spoiled my plans of going out and listening to music tonight. Fortunately I have a real good Barbara King solver book in the works, read through most of the night, slept enough to feel a hundred times better this morning. But I know in the next couple of days I’ll be itching and peeling like a snake shedding its skin.

Little guy getting his picture taken with Iguana

Still is was a good day at La playa, I’ve always enjoyed the “stores” coming to you while you enjoy your drink and curling your toes in the sand.

I have so much of Juanita’s jewelry I had to pass, but I bought a lacy cover up to go over a stripped dress I have.

People watching is half the fun, this man was getting money from people who wanted their picture taken with his iguana. I keep thinking the marching band should get cooler uniforms as in lighter weight, it’s just tough enough carrying the heavy instruments. Signing off KO

Tuesday in Troncones and more.

I have found THE swimming pool

, Zihuatanejo’s Alberca Olimpia an olympic size, comfortable water temperature, clean and it opens at 7:00AM. It took me 20-25 minutes to walk there this morning. Paid my 20 pesos, I was almost alone in the pool , just one other person. Swam for 30 minutes and caught the first bus back to El Centro. Next on my agenda was the first Sailfest Volunteer meeting. We love Sailfest and since I’m going to be here for 3 months I figure I can spare a few days for the cause. I signed up to sell T-shirts. This should be interesting, me making change in foreign currency! I signed up for 2 shifts, I’m sure I’ll do more unless I screw up and they throw me out. The Senor is concerned I’ll over commit. It’s nice that he is concerned!! Back to the casa to pack for another over night to The Inn at Manzanilo Bay in Troncones for a dinner concert featuring Kim Marcoux

Al Alto on guitar, with songstress Kim Marcoux

songstress with Alan Alto guitarist. Alan is from our neck of the woods and we are loyal fans. It was a wonderful dinner show, we had a great time. Swam in the pool there, had great meals and this time we stayed in one of 2 upstairs rooms. This room was as lovely as any hotel room we have ever had. Completely private, a large outdoor sitting area and a nice size bedroom with a lovely bath. And no iguana this time. The Senor prefers this to the ambiance of a tropical thatched roof bungalow. I just don’t get it. El Senor is no romatico. I went for a walk on the beach the next morning and not only did I see the largest house I’ve ever scene just next door

, but since Mexican kids don’t have snow they have to resort to making rock men and rock families.

A little further down I noticed bicycle tracks in the sand and right beside the bicycle tracks were this other set. Looks like someone was out exercising their bird! We traveled to and from Troncones on the bus. It’s an easy trip but an adventure none the less. and far more economical than a cab and easy enough to do. We now travel like the locals.

These tracks made me think someone was exercising their bird?

A trip to the Commercial, drinks at the Flophouse with Dwight and Lynn and we are ready to fix some dinner and call it a day. I’ve been in computer hell the last couple of days , with a big computer a net book a tablet and a phone and all I’ve been able to do is totally confuse me. Signing off KO

SALSA AND MORE

While the Senor was footballing again on Sunday, my agenda was to go to El Pirata on La Ropa to listen to the music and watch the salsa dancing. As luck would have it my balcony neighbors were

just leaving for La Ropa so we caught a cab together and headed for the beach. We found El Pirata no trouble, found shady spot to sit and enjoy the

afternoon and watch the dancing. It appears to be the “in” spot for a Sunday afternoon as just about everyone we know was there. Including the handsome cheese vendor from El Mercado. Who knew he dancer! A few drinks, some nachos and guacamole, a lovely sunset and another lovely day has come to an end. We took the bus back, and in the future I would take the bus the bus both ways.

Donna and the handsome cheese vendor Bernardo

Easy enough to do and cheap, 7.5 pesos.

This morning I set out to locate the municipal pool, I had information that it was olympic size and very nice. I used google earth to locate the pool and the streets that I need to walk to get there. I got to the sports park that it is located in, but still didn’t see the pool, a couple of quick questions and the parking lot attendant sent me toward it on the opposite side of the park, as a gentleman passed me I asked if I was going the right way to the pool. He understood my spanish but as luck would have it he spoke a little more english that I do spanish. And as always the mexican people are so willing to help he walked with me to the office/reception area and I checked with the lady as to the time it opens and making sure it was open to the public, and the cost 20 pesos, less than $1.40. I thanked my new friend Deno for all his help and said I would return manana. I checked my phone and it was 1.60 miles, an easy walk in the cool of the morning. (Yes there is an app for that). I can either walk back or take any “El Centro bus” . I’m not sure what bus I would take to get there, and I don’t mind the walk and maybe I’ll learn the bus system yet. At home when I was working, that was one of my great skills, teaching the inmates how to maneuver the county by bus. Kind of excited to be swimming again in nice clean pool. After swimming in the open ocean at Troncones which is clear and clean, I really didn’t want to go back to swimming at La Madera where my suit smells fishy after swimming. Signing off KO

LOST A DAY

On the afternoon of the 6th, Tree Kings Day here in Mexico, I set out to buy some trim at the fabric store and instead discovered that for 5 blocks and maybe more a whole new bazar of temporary shops had been set up. Tarps had been hung street-side and on the side-walk between the tarps and the shops are a myriad little booths of toys, clothing , mandarin oranges, and Rosca Cakes all for Three Kings Day.

Between the tarp and the shops a whole new bazaar sprung up on the side-walks

Evidently they started on the 5th and I guess will be gone on the 7th and disappears like a circus leaving town. Evidently the Mexicans don’t believe in shopping early, and this looked like a bit of a shopping frenzy to me. The Rosca Cakes are a wreath type pastry cake within it is a small baby Jesus figurine. I’m told that whom ever receives the piece with the baby Jesus in it is to host the same guests to a fiesta on February 2nd, Candlemas Day, the 2nd of February. I’ve also been told that it’s tamales that are to be fixed for the fiesta on Candlemas Day. Later that evening our

balcony neighbors brought us a slice of the Rosca cake and I got a lamb in my piece , Lynn got a shepard in hers. I didn’t realize there were many little figurines in the cake. The cake was a little on the dry side, but should be great with strawberries or ice cream on it.

Since I didn’t find any suitable trim to make straps for my new pant/jumpsuit I decided the sewing ladies would be able to put straps on it for me. They are so sweet and agreeable, I will pick it up from them this afternoon. It was a good decision because I was wanting black straps but out in good light I discover I really need navy blue straps. That was the whole extent of my yesterday as I really wasn’t feeling up to par and found it necessary to keep close to home and slept or read most of the day.

Work up this morning feeling like my old self, scratch that, my normal self again. After my morning swim my street dogs found me, they were in luck, I had bones left over from our ham hock soup last night. As I walked by the Plaza, a pick up game of soccer was happening at the basketball court. Just another Zihuatanejo day.

The rest of the day will be spent with an excursion to the Comercial. Signing off KO

STREET DOGS, ROOF CATS, AND OTHER CURIOSITIES

Hard working lady cleaning the La Madera path and beach

Zihuatanejo is much quieter now that the Mexican tourists have returned to their homes. The morning path to La Madera is no longer crowded with the health seeking runners, soon to be replaced by different tourists as more and more American and Canadian visitors arrive fleeing from the cold climes. I often have the feeling that here in Zihuatanejo if you are willing to work, there is work to be found. I marvel at how hard the lady who cleans the path to La Madera works, it’s not a glamour job, but it’s honest work and one whose labors we reap the benefits of. I’m amazed at the piles of sand she sweeps off the path, and the wheel barrows of litter she removes each day. Same with the daily street sweepers who appear early each morning and clean up the careless, thoughtlessness of others. Definitely unsung heroes!

My gentle little street dog was not at the bridge to meet me this morning, I don’t think I’ll tell her that I gave her breakfast to a friendly street cat. Actually “Luna” is not a true street dog as she does have an owner and a home, but I doubt she is being fed a High protein

Street cat enjoying the Senors left-over chicken

Science diet formulated for lactating mothers. She belong to the coco man who owns the chickens I feed. There are many street dogs here vying for scraps from the garbage sacks or the kindness of strangers. There are many of the yellow “anywhere” dogs of which Luna is one. There are many of very questionable parentage that have produced some very odd-looking dogs. The one common trait they all seem to share is a gentle nature.

Cats tend to be roof cats, traveling blocks without touching ground. But also found along the fisherman’s walk, and the occasional shop cat. We have planters anchoring each end of our balcony which tends to attract the roof cat population cats for their nature calls. We know as we see kitty tracks across the balcony, and occasionally , in the wee hours of the morning we have even heard their loud discussions. Just before day light last week I heard a cat on the tile overhang just below us, my flashlight has a laser light on it and I couldn’t resist a game of laser tag . But the laser scared the hell out of this cat. She ran as I chased her with the light. She didn’t understand what a fun game it can be.

There is a curious library kiosk in the artist park, it looks quite similar to the one just erected on the campus of the college I attended, with the main difference being this one is locked up tight and the one at home is open for anyone to take or leave a book. Maybe it is used by the school once the children return to school?

Today is 3 Kings Day, I’m not sure if it is a true holiday or a day of celebration, I don’t know if the children wake up to their gifts or if it happens later tonight. But I’m curious to find out. Signing off KO

MAS FIREWORKS

The fireworks display last night was the best fireworks display I have ever seen and it came as quite a surprise. The Senor had gone to bed early the results of a hard day watching football with his cronies. I was on the balcony watching a movie with my earphones so as not to disturb anyone, when the fire works started with what appeared some smaller one down at the plaza where the usual Sunday event was going on. Then the fireworks began in earnest! Huge bursts one right after another, actually on top of each other. The sky rained beautiful colorful starburst and kept going on. A far better display than my town does for July 4th. Thank you Zihuatanejo. At the end of the show the people started leaving the plaza and our street became wall to wall people, I have no idea how many people attended, but it looked like the whole town plus all the tourists.

Yesterday when I went to swim by boat was gone, the”La Raya ” had left and only the mooring buoy was there. Not a great land mark to swim to as there are small swells and some times bigger swells and then I can’t see it and I’m a bit direction-ally challenged anyway. It’s just a lot more stopping seeing where you are, and changing course. I will admit lap swimming in a pool is much easier, but I’m ready for the “Sharkfest ” swim in Troncones Saturday the tenth.

I have learned that the children here get toys on “3 Kings Day”. La Playa bar, where the Senor enjoys his football games, is doing a toy drive. The Senor and I will pick up some toys today to add to the collection. My understanding is that the toys will then go to the bomberos for distribution. Last night I met a lady who is going to help distribute the toys and am hoping I can meet up with her afterwards to learn more about it. For the last several years we have brought a dozen or so boxes of colored pencils and sharpeners to be distributed to children in the poorer schools. And of course we are big participants in the “Sailfest” activities when it rolls around in February. We feel like we are enough of the community to want to participate when we can.

Had to laugh as I walked by the museum the other morning, which has iron bars on every door and window, none the less they also have a security guard on duty. Having worked many grave yard shifts when I was working in corrections, I could sympathize with him how difficult it is to stay alert when absolutely nothing is happening. I would just suggest a less public place to rest. Signing off KO

Saturday

A georgeus sunrise this morning. And errands to run and before I can get to my agenda. Went to pick up the laundry and they were just folding it. Yesterday when the Senor dropped it off he said we would pick it up manana instead of the usual 6 PM as every week we’ve forgotten to get it until the next day. Our clothes looked like they had either sat in a dryer all night or a laundry basket. Everything was wrinkled beyond belief. We’ve never had things wrinkled except for fold marks, we will see how it looks after it hangs for a day. Met with success at the bank-in-a-box, the line only had a half dozen people ahead of me, the night before there had to at least 20 people in line. We have found “Bannorte” to be user friendly for us so we continue to go there.

Now that the errands are accomplished I can go do what I had on my agenda and that is going to the Ecco Tianguis Saturday morning market. It’s noon by the time I get there and I’m hungry. One of the vegetarian items they are serving is a tamale cooked in and served on a banna leaf. It is very good, a tad spicey, but not too much. My purchases for today are a grapefruit for tomorrows breakfast and two pairs of earings which $60 pesos since Iwas buying two. I love this charming market, everything is either handmade, recycled and the food is vegetarian. My only issue is now that they are in ther school yard, there isn’t enough shade. It’s hot and back to our casa for a nap, followed by me cooking dinner of scollops and shrimp. Once again three scollops were over done as not all the shrimp was deveined and that took to much time whie the scolloped cooked. Classic example why I shoud be taken out to dinner every night, I am no cook. But that simply isn’t in our budget

Later my balcony neighbor and friend helped me set up my tablet and phone with a translator so maybe I can stop carring around a dictionary.

wrinklesbbbvv

NOT QUITE AN ORDINARY DAY

I woke up way before daylight on this last day of 2014, much earlier than usual especially since we stayed for the whole Jimmi Mamou show. We had planned to stay just for 1 drink. Anyway I read until time to go swim, was enjoying my book so much I considered not going. But good sense prevailed in the end, even though I had to make two trips back one for goggles, and one for camera. Sure glad I went back and got the camera. On the return trip from La Madera I saw a woman with a bright red t-shirt saying KITSAP on it which is the county the Senor and I are from so of course I stopped to talk with them and found out they bike in Kitsap bike events but are from Seattle, at the same time ran ran into the couple I’d met yesterday. So as we were walking back we noticed activity at the mouth of the canal. Turns out the “bomberos” (firemen) were called out to rescue an animal, and this was no kitty in a tree. But a very large looking crocodile with enourmous teeth. Now remember I had just been swimming a 10 minute walk away from this spot. A gentleman standing next to me said “Oh the almost never bother swimmers.” Not very reassuring. I decided I had a vested interest in having this crocodile relocated so I hung around until he was completely under control.

I was there for an good hour watching as the hunted him with ropes and grappling hooks in the water, finally getting him on land, but far from under control. They wrangled him for a good 20-30 minutes, loosing him once, gaining control again and making him roll over several times which seemed to be the way to get a rope around his snout tight. Then one climbed on his back, pulled the snout rope back bending the head way back and proceeded to get the more rope tight around his snout.Next they tied his feet over his back and at this point he was completely under control and the crowd walk around him some kids touched him and a very interested dog finally got to sniff him. One of the bomberos went for a truck to haul him away. What happens to him now I don’t know, I hope he doesn’t be come belts and steaks. Maybe I should check and see what’s barbecuing at the fire station. I do hope he just gets relocated. Many of the people here say you don’t need to do anything, he could have just been left alone and he would go back where he came from. I don’t know what is correct, or if they are endangered or protected species, or if they pose any danger to me as a swimmer. It’s a very popular beach where I swim so it can’t be dangerous.

Spent the rest of the day getting a manicure, reading and siesta-ing. The Senor made some stuffed celery and apples to take to the party tonight, had difficulties in transporting it as we had no box or Tupperware to get it there. Our friends picked us up and after driving the rough road way to La Ropa, and a short but rougher road to the hotel, the party tray survived, only a little worse for the wear. It was a very nice private party on the terrace of the Hotel Italiano high on La Ropa with a beautiful view and a live band. At home the neighbors would have called the “decibel police” out to shut us down for a band that played half that loud, but here the neighboring places came out on their terraces and balconies to enjoy or endure. We returned to town about a half hour before midnight to bring the new year in at Daniels and to watch the fire

works from the beach. The most spectacular fireworks display I have ever seen that lasted a good long time and more from La Ropa and more from La madera could all be seen at the same time.

There were also many, many flying luminarios. Its was amazing how high they fly. Happy 2015, Signing off KO

WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO

After 2 week here in Zihuatanejo I am settling into a bit of a routine. I’m an early riser, I like to enjoy the sunrise from the balcony, take my morning supplements and swim 4-5 laps out and around the blue sailboat anchored there.It’s not as long as I swim at home but I feel the walk makes up for it. On my way back I stop for coffee at La Tregua. Why do I do this. Fear! Fear of gaining weight and fear of feeling old. Now I don’t mind being old, for that matter I rather enjoy the many privileges of being old, one of which is being semi retired giving me the luxury of time to be able be here. But let me tell you I don’t want to feel old, I would prefer not to look old, but I can handle that, I just don’t want to feel old. So I’ll swim, I’ll dance and participate in life rather than being a spectator for as long as I can.

After my swim i find a place to stop for coffee, this past week it has been La Tregua where the kind staff pours coffee from beautiful pitcher. As I return”a la casa” the Senor is rising and is ready to cook my breakfast. In 18 years I have never cooked his breakfast, he cooks for me. . After showering and dressing I’m ready for the day. Today I need to go to the fish market and get a white fish fillet for a fish dish I have mastered at home. This is a big deal as I’m not much of a cook. I’m supposed to have “cananelli beans” per recipe, but I’m using some white beans I found in El Mercado. If it turns out poorly, I guess I’ll blame the beans.

It’s also manicure day, I should have had my nails cut at the first manicure, but vanity prevailed and I thought I could let them be long as I’m not working or gardening. Big mistake! Include a short siesta , fixing dinner and that will just about take care of this day.

I’s just amazing how busy a vacation day can be. Signing off KO

ONLY IN MEXICO

Some things we see here just boggle the mind, things you would never see at home. The Senor with 22 years of Navy service has a strong safety ethic, something that is so frequently ignored here. In the grocery store we see folks stocking shelves by climbing on several cases of goods stacked on top of one another to get to the top shelves, or standing on crates on a flat dolly and pulling himself down the row as he needs to move on. Yesterday a box delivery truck was determined to drive down what is a pedestrian only street to make his delivery. This was accomplished by one person standing on the roof of the delivery van lifting the electric light cords to allow the truck to fit under. It was slow going, I think a hand dolly would have been quicker, but maybe there was no dolly.

Somethings we see only here are so wonderful, like vanilla ice cream. At home I would never order a plain vanilla cone, but her they are so rich and full of flavor and not pale white but a rich golden tan and yummy. My preference is still to buy it from the old gentleman who bushes the galvanized tub through the streets. There are many ice cream vendors, but his ice cream is my favorite.

From inside our apartment I can recognize the many different vendors by their calls, early morning you hear the call of the man selling the rolls, I still can’t pronounce the name he calls out, then the paper seller calling the name of the paper he is hawking, the knife sharpener wheels his grinding wheel through town with a tin whistle sound and the clown horn honk of the ice cream sellers. The produce seller is one of my favorites, I love buying fruit and veggies from his hand wheeled cart right at our door step. And his produce is always ripe to perfection. Signing off KO

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balcony neighbors brought us a slice of the Rosca cake and I got a lamb in my piece , Lynn got a shepard in hers. I didn’t realize there were many little figurines in the cake. The cake was a little on the dry side, but should be great with strawberries or ice cream on it.

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