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.
The Senor and I went to the M-Dock concert last night at El Pueblito restaurant. It is a large open court yard restaurant, very beautiful. The M -Dock band I believe is out of Michigan, or one of those cold states.
M-Dock Band at El Pueblito
They’ve been coming for the last 13 years to benefit Sailfest which will officially start the first week in February. While here they pick up a couple of local musicians to play with them, Steve Calvert and Allen Alto. An when I say local, they are local not only to Zihuatanejo, but also Kitsap/No Mason counties in Washington. Also was Paco Padilla, a charming Mexican recording artist, with a great voice and beautiful guitar.
Paco Padilla
We arrived early to get good seating and frankly we got there way too early. Our previous experience was get there early before all the good seats are spoken for. Not so much last night. The crowd was good, but not packed. anyway we had a fun evening dancing. It was good to get the Senor away from his TV.
The Senor and I
Anyway we bought our new Sailfest T Shirts and today I delivered a shopping bag full of colored pencils and crayons and a few odds and ends for the needy children. I guess I failed to mention that Sailfest raises funds with a week full of fun activities that replaces sub standard schools with real buildings. These are the schools of the poorest children, many of them of lesser quality than our chicken coop. When replaced they have bathrooms with running water and concrete/brick buildings with electricity. It’s a project we choose to support.
On my morning walk to feed my chickens I also needed to find a deserving street dog for meat scraps from El Senor’s dinner. I am noticing a preponderance of cats and not so many street dogs. I
Street dog getting his treat
have heard that from time to time and as funds are available the local humane society rounds up some of the street dogs to neuter to keep the population down. I finally found a nice fellow who checked me out first to make sure I was friend not foe and then eagerly accepted my treats. Street dogs are remarkably well behaved, they seldom bark, they don’t beg, and they don’t follow you after getting a treat, they are very gentle, but wary enough to watch out for those who will give them a swift kick.
Later in the afternoon I past a shop with 2 ladies sewing on an antique, rusty looking sewing machines making beautiful dresses. There was one I really wanted, but it was strapless. At my age straps to cover bra straps are a necessary thing. I tried on the dress, loved it but said Yo nessicito (I need) and snapped my straps. They showed me some extra fabric and told me 10 minutos. So I waited while she put on the straps, paid my 500 pesos which converts to $37.55. An absolute bargain and I love the dress. Pictures tomorrow.
Yesterday the Senor and I went to Las Gatas Beach. We take a water taxi to get there, while it is not an island it is most easily accessed by water. Now that my knee has completely healed it is much easier getting on and off the boat. Last year it was a bit of a challenge. I’m always thankful for the young men who are there to help and we tip generously. We went to the same beach restaurant we did last year, but the Senor’s favorite waiter wasn’t there, the food wasn’t very good. But they did make killer margarita’s.
Chips with guacamole best part of lunchThis is a killer maragrita
More on that later. My snorkel mask’s frame broke, but the senor said he thinks he can glue it back together so I rented one for the day. No sooner than we got there than I realized not only had I forgotten my mango drink powder that I have become addicted to but also I had not packed my swim scarf. I can’t swim with out something on my head or I would burn to a crisp. So I had to buy a big scarf and fold it up
Improvised swim scarf
many times before I could tie it on, but it worked. I was just out of luck with my powered drink mix. I’ve learned if I drink 3-4 bottles of water each day I don’t get leg cramps at night. But I hate plain water, so I flavor it with a non calorie drink mix. I brought some from home, but have found a great mango flavor here that I’ve also acquired a swim shirt. I swam out past the reef which was teeming with fish some in large schools that you swim right through. We ordered fish fillet in garlic which we share and fortunately it came with chips and guacamole as the fish was dry. I had a margarita with my lunch, went out for another swim came back and had another margarita while we watched this young man shoot up out of the
Higher
water on this jet pack until he was 20ft in the air. It is powered by a hose from the jet ski behind him. Looks interesting, but I’m sure it would take more balance than I have.
And higher
I’ll be content to be a spectator. One more Margarita and back to the apartment where I have a crock pot of ribs waiting for the Senor.
I had a bit of trouble navigating back to the apartment, but once there safe and sound, well you know the old saying one tequila, two tequila, three tequila floor. Well that is exactly what happened I fell flat on the floor, slit my lip and woke up to a black eye. I will look lovely at the M-Dock concert tonight. Lessons learned, don’t go the beach with out making sure the bag is fully packed, head scarf and mango powder included. Never more than 2 margaritas.
On Playoff Sunday, every bar that has a TV is playing the game, it is standing room only for late comers with the fans rooting for their personal favorites. The Senor’s favorite place to watch the games is the Captain’s Daughter. He enjoys his cronies there, bets a little on the games. Not being a football fan I headed out to the beach restaurants that do not play the game and are pretty empty. I usually bring my kindle to read, but I’m trying something new
Sea Food Soup
today, along with my kindle I brought my little net book. I can buy some food and drink and I can sit here the rest of the afternoon where I’m cooled by the ocean breeze and watch the world pass by, nibbling on my seafood soup doing my blog. Now I’m not sure that life gets much better than this. I listen to the street musicians, some good, some not so good and some are just short of terrible, the push cart vendors pass by with ice cream, fruit juices ,
Cacahuete vendor
cacahuetes (peanuts) which I’ve actually learned to pronounce. In the late afternoon I head back to the apartment and pick up some cucumbers and tomatoes for a salad. After my siesta it is dark and I can hear the cheering from the bar below.
One place where I shop
The game must still be on, and curiosity has me wanting to know how the Seahawks are doing. As the whole world knows, they won. The Senor is happy, I meet him in our street visiting with all his football cronies rehashing the game. We set off for some ice cream cones. Great end to a lovely Mexican Sunday. Signing off KO
Sunrise Zihuatanejo Bay this morning, a reflection in the clouds as it is looking west
The warm or I should say hot weather here keeps me lazier in the day time than usual. But I cope just fine. To begin with I am a morning person and up usually up by 6:30 no matter where I am. I like sunrise, it always holds such promise. On the other hand the Senor is not a morning person and rarely is awake before 8 and likes an hour or two before moving far off the bed. And this works as I run my errands, and do our Mercado shopping early and allows my time to walk about and explore town. This morning a group of school kids were practicing drill team maneuvers at the zocolo. They were quite good.
Drill team at practiceSunrise looking east
we’ve had a bit of an hot water issue here this year. I complained to Javier the first day here and he immediately got on the phone and I thought the problem would soon be solved, I asked our balcony neighbor if he had hot water. His reply is you let it run a long time and it gets warm. That may work for him he is a guitarist working in several of the bars and late in the day the sun has warmed the storage take to luke warm, George across the hall said he liked cold showers and the girl down stairs said its so warm here it doesn’t matter. I knew enough from previous years to make sure the pilot light was lit and tried adjusting the temperature controls with no luck. Well we cook in quite bit and many times I’ve had to boil water for dishes. Since I shower early and the water was cold, I brought down a cup of the supposed hot water to Javier and stated my complaint one more time. On the phone again and in no time we had HOT water . Mission accomplished!
Street cat on a bench
On my walk a noticed a cute black and white cat sitting at the street corner, while I was fumbling for my camera a street dog rounded the corner that was twice the cats size and she had no where to run. The dog looked at her, she arched her back and hissed and the dog got a look of terror in his eyes and made a very wide arc around her. She calmly resumed her position. Cats Rule!
Went to the movies last night, Ultimo Viejo Las Vegas. It was in English with Spanish subtitles. Very funny, with all the great actors. Then on to the Barracuda to listen to Steve and Allen play classic rock and roll. Another great evening. Signing Off KO
Last night we had a rip roaring thunder an lightening storm. Beautiful but only lasted about an hour , but the lightening was spectacular and only a brief flicker of a power failure. This morning I woke to a almost daylight sky with a full moon shinning in thru our patio door, and clear skies. But what to my wondering eyes should appear over the bay but a whole string of lights that had never been there before. Thankfully my camera
cruise ship super zoom
has a good zoom, I can’t hold the camera still enough to get a good picture on super zoom, but good enough to see that it was a large cruise ship. I knew no cruise ships had scheduled stops in Zihuatanejo this year, so I suspect they were seeing safe harbor from the storm. By one that afternoon they were gone.
Cruise ship Amadeus bound for French Polynesian Islands
Also yesterday a large yacht came into the bay. I wonder now if they had warnings about the weather and decided to “slum it overnight” in our bay. Yachts like that aren’t the average visitor here.
Yacht in Zihuatanejo Bay
I keep finding traces of Christmas here and there. No one is in a hurry to take down the decorations. On my morning quest to get my newspaper I discovered this large cactus still decorated. But I didn’t find the paper. At 8:30 I was told come back at 1-00. I went back 2:30 and I was told manana. Now I have learned that manana does not necessarily mean tomorrow, it just simply means not today.
Cactus Christmas tree
As I write this it is just a little after midnight I’m sitting on the balcony listening to music coming from about 3 different bars. The temperature is in the high 70’s right now and a little humid. There is a possibility of more thunder storms tomorrow, should be interesting. The music so far it is pleasant as they are not real loud. One of them will play until 6 am, and sometimes. Signing off KO
When I started this blog I flaunted it as a daily blog, and pretty much it is. But don’t set your clock by it. I’m on vacation, and I write as the mood strikes and events happen. Thus said I headed out on my morning walk at daybreak with a bag of kitchen scraps for the flock I feed. At home the Senor is the “chicken meister” with a flock of about 20-24 chickens, so I am in the habit of saving kitchen scraps for chickens. I have adopted a small flock of chickens just over the bridge to La Madera where the “coco man sets up”. I think they are his chickens. He taught me how to call them, not here chick chick chick, but something like adow, adow adow,. Anyway this morning they were still in bed when I arrived and I had to call them down from their tree limb. I wish our chickens and one rooster at home would sleep in that late! Chicks are fed and I head back to walk along the beach.
Sad eyed dog getting a steak bone
Here I encounter a street dog with big sad eyes. It’s his lucky day I have a steak bone and meat scraps for him. He is very thankful. street dogs in Mexico are sad, but very sweet tempered, they don’t bark or bite and appreciate anything you have for them. I was once chastised for “encouraging their begging. I never see them beg, but just stand around looking hopeful, and my answer will always be. I choose to feed them directly rather than wait for them to root through the garbage that is set out each night
Dad waling sons to school hand in hand
I continue on to the other bridge at La Noria and up the cobblestone roadway, where I encounter a dad walking his young sons to school. This is one of my favorite scenes and it is the way most young children arrive at school each day, hand in hand with one or the other parent. You can’t help but think what one to one special time this is for both.
On to my quest for my morning newspaper, as there is an english language paper produced out of Mexico city which is neither republican or democratic, enroute I see a young boy, he can’t be more than 10 wielding a very large knife scraping cactus thorns from the leaves to be sold in his parents stall. Then on to the Mercado to get 2 avocados “un por hoy un por manana” One for today and one for tomorrow. A good vegetable stall will help you pick them out that way.
Our afternoon quest is to replace our broken micro wave platter and replace my watch battery. With help from the local web message board, I’m off to find the “electric repair shop that deals in ‘Micro ondos”. The senor and I find it and he backs off to let me manage the deal. I tell him I need a microwave turntable. plate, which comes out ” yo necesito un plato por micro ondo” surprisingly enough he dug through his many old microwaves and came up with a turntable plate. I asked how much I was told 10. So I got out 10 pesso ,about $1 no, he said “cien” meaning $10. Now some one else would have bargained, but we were happy and paid and took our prize home.
Now onward to the “batteria” problem. I’ve already been to a half dozen places which all indicate many blocks away at what now seems like a mystical watch shop. The senor and I head that direction and with only 2-3 false stops and inquires we finally reach the “Relojeria” where a young boy about 15 or so appears to be apprenticing a watch maker. That problema is now solved and we are on to cena (lunch) at a new coffee shop that gave us a promo brochures. Good lunch, but too much food for us and we are back to the apartment for a well deserved siesta.
We will dine in tonight with a big chef salad, call it a day while watching the lightening storm that is brewing tonight through the clouds. The senor is insisting I come in off the balcony. I might as well as I’m just not quick enough with the camera to catch the flashes. Noisy but beautiful.
I’m fascinated with the differences of culture here, true they are small differences, but differences just the same. An therefore I usually carry a camera with me where ever I go. I wish I were more brazen about taking pictures, but sometimes it feels rude to take some of the pictures of people doing things that I find so different. I don’t want to be an “ugly American” to quote an old phrase. I’m very cautious about taking pictures of the police. I’m always concerned that they will confiscate my camera. But the police around here are very different and very interesting. There are several types here, Tourista, Municipal and Federales. Also we have both Army and Navy base here with their police. They all carry rifles with them plus side arms and ride around 4-8 of them in pickup trucks with a manned gun mounted on the roof of the cab. You feel very safe with enormous amount of armament traveling all around the town. All this fascinates me mostly because you sure don’t see it in Port Orchard.
Military helo that flies over our ap from time to time
I went to use the ATM at the Commercial yesterday and they were refilling one of the 4 machines. Two bank guards with rifles and side arms kept the crowd at bay while one filled one of the machines. No one could use any of the other machines during this process. At other times you will see a whole contingent of police types surrounding a bank. No not a robbery, just restocking.
This afternoon we went to La Madera, me for swimming the Senor for a massage. On the walk down I noticed a cute teen couple in front of us. Both in school uniforms, he with a back back on and carrying her pink back pack under his arm. Chivalry is not dead. I reached for my camera to take their picture, but the memory stick was back in the computer. No picture! A little further on we came upon some pictures drawn in the sand. Some were just detailed designs but there were also mermaids and fishes. We waved to the young artist to let him know we liked his pictures, he smiled back, but no camera to record the art work.
Wood faced apt. expected a surfer dude here
On my morning quest for a watermelon and a news paper I did see this most unusually second story abode. Everything here is usually concrete and stucco as the humidity here creates an environment for insects that love wood. But there it was a rustic wood faced apartment. It looked more3 northwest than Mexico. I have expected a blonde surfer dude to emerge, but it was a handsome young man who briefly opened the door.
Tonight we are going to the movies, it’s just across the street, in an old and not very comfortable seats. But the price is right. less than 4 bucks. Several years ago they served guacamole and chips,I thought that was better than pop corn, but not any more . We will eat popcorn.
Sometimes accomplishing a very ordinary task here feels like a major success. This is partially due to language difficulties and cultural differences. I was very successful in obtaining the right USB cord to connect our laptop TV programing to the larger flat screen TV, it works great. Very unsuccessful getting a new battery for my watch. The camera store didn’t have the right one and had no suggestion where to go. Still don’t know where to go. At home Walmart changes my batteries. But then time is that important here.
Haven’t been able to buy a large bottle of tums, only small bottle or a roll. At 5 a day for calcium I’d like a decent size bottle. But while buying groceries at the Comercial an attached dress shop had a darling jumpsuit that fit me perfect. It’s that great fabric that you can just roll up to pack in a suitcase .And I wasn’t even looking for clothes. Win some loose some.
We do try to limit our shopping trips to what we can fit in our canvas rolling shopping cart. It’s a good plan on two accounts, first we aren’t wearing ourselves out lugging bags of groceries around and it gets the Senor out and about more frequently.
It never ceases to amaze me how things rotate between the 8 apartments here.This year we have the great patio furniture on our balcony. Last year it was on our neighbors balcony. Our clunky old tv has been replaced with a new flat screen. I hope this is an update and no one else got stuck with the old one. We always see kitchen gadgets migrate apartment to apartment. The only thing that we bought that has remained for the past 5 years is an oil cloth table cloth, probably stays as it is rather plain.
Allen Alto at the Flop House BarSunrise from Playa Principal
Last night we spent a pleasant evening at the Flophouse Bar, one of our favorite places to listen to music. Last night it was Allen Alto taking requests for just about everything. Great musician and also hails from our neighborhood in Wa. Then on to Chez Leo for a late dinner. Great as we have come to expect.
This morning I went out early to try to photo the sun rise with my new camera, but the results were less than spectacular. I think you would need more clouds for a spectacular effect. I did do pretty good with some of the statues that are scattered around town. I love these statues, each represents a distinct are of Mexico and it appears the the artist is anonymous. El Pescadore, the fisherman, is my favorite, but very difficult to photograph. Photos just don’t do him the justice or capture the strength that the sculptor did. The Pescadore represents this area where fishing always has been and still is the major occupation.
My balcony is like an extra room to our apartment, while quite small about 10×4 ft it is all we need. We have a nice table and 2 chairs to which we have added cushions and a birds eye view of much activity. It is on the shady side of the building so we eat breakfast out here and if we are eating in we also dine out here.
Breakfast with lots of fruitBalcony view towards Bay
We have small view of the bay, but if the palm tree keep growing we we see it only through the fronds in a couple of years. Mornings are so soft here it’s almost impossible not to be out side. Just the gentles of breezes blows while I watch the morning activity.
Every morning a small army of street sweepers descends upon the streets to remove all signs of the prior evenings revelry, soon the street vendors begin their calls, bakery items, coconuts, fruit juices and fruits, in the afternoon the clown horn sound of the ice cream vendors and yesterday I saw the candy man for the first time. Just wait and the store will come to you. The sound of roll up garage doors signals the shops are opening, and soon each shop owner has their dish of water to scatter across their portion of the sidewalk to sweep clean each day, some throw scraps out in the street for the pigeons to peck at. Morning has arrived on Cuauhtemoc St in sunny Zihuatanjo Mexico
Today the sky is so blue and not a cloud in sight, just the frigate birds circling over the bay. The roof dog of last year is no longer with us and we don’t miss him. He set up a ruckus everytime a street dog passed this way. But we have a flurry of roof cats this year. I was entertained by two white-ish male cats after a small grey female cat who
Cat out catting around
was determined to resist their attentions. So far she is winning. Last year the midnight cats would use the new planter boxes on the balcony and leave dirt scattered everywhere for us to clean up. So far no problem. I’ve thought about leaving some left overs from dinner they might enjoy, but I guess I better not encourage them.
For us life slows down here, we notice more, laugh more, spend more personal time together and fine each day a new adventure. For all of this I am so thankful for.
Today my mission is to buy a USB cord to connect the laptop computer to the flat screenTV. The Senor get his TV over the computer and we would like to transfer it to the flat screen. I know it can be done, but with both of us being very non tech and with my very limited Spanish it should be an adventure in itself. Signing off KO
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.
Zihuatanejo 