Zihuatanejo Mexico – Page 14

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

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

THIS TOWN IS FULL OF MEXICANS!

That may seem like a strange statement since we are in Mexico, but Mexican tourist have arrive by the bus loads, big beautiful touring buses. I saw a row of at least 10 buses day before yesterday They have come from all over Mexico to spend their holidays at the beach. Families travel together, large extended families with grandparents, all their children, sisters, brothers, cousins down to babes in arms. They move through town in large groups of 15 to 20 people sometimes and the main goal seems to be the beach. I do hope they visit the restaurants as they all say business has been slow. But the streets are full, the plaza is crowed to the max and has some type of entertainment every evening.

Yesterday was a busy day trying to get the Senor more comfortable, his recent back surgery has not relieved his sciatica, and he was getting more and more miserable, and grouchy as one does when not feeling well. So we went to the doctor. This amuses me because last year when I had a sore throat and needed to go to the doctor he gives me the money and tells me to go. But when he needs to go It’s required that I go also. He makes fun of my taking Spanish classes, but it’s times like this that my exceeding limited Spanish is helpful. The Dr Speaks perfect English and thinks part of the Senior’s problem is that one leg is shorter than the other, he measured him and said a lift in one shoe would help. So we out to find the “ortopedia” store, (actually a neighborhood of 3 orthopedic stores) it was about 6 blocks away with a map and some directions, we got close but not quite there when a group of people walked by and the one in the group that spoke English asked if he could help us and while he wasn’t from the area but his friends were and knew where we needed to go and took us there. Mission accomplished, we got the heel lift. Later that afternoon when I went out to get the Senor’s prescriptions filled and had been to 3 pharmacies with no luck again I run into the same group who again offered assistance , or if I needed help with translations. I explained it wasn’t a language issue, just lack of supply. I’m always impressed how helpful people here are. Stand on any street corner and look confused and someone will come by and offer assistance. In turn when ever I see English-speaking folks looking for something I been coming here long enough I can frequently offer assistance.

I love grocery shopping here, and buying eggs in plastic bags amazes me.

While reading and napping in the late afternoon I set my glasses down on the bed and then later rolled over on them bending the frame, I’ve done this before here so I knew exactly where to go get them fixed. 20 minutes later they were fixed and it only cost 20 pesos (about a buck 35 cents). Just amazes me, the price of things, or people’s time.

By night fall the Senor was feeling better so we went out for dinner at The Captains Daughter and finished up the evening at the Barracruda listening to Steve and friends play.

Usually it is the ladies that take off their shoes to dance

Their music just makes folks want to dance. Signing off KO

TWAS THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS

Christmas in Mexico has been, fun, interesting and very different. There isn’t the “in your face” commercialism, not on the TV, not in the stores, and certainly not in the tiendas, the little shops. I had to look long and hard to find some interesting Christmas ornaments to bring home to my family. The big Comercial had the standard balls and a few

cheap decorations, but nothing special. But I did pursue and found some nice ones. Christmas trees here are interesting,

many are quite creative. I was disappointed that the church bell seems not to be working this year, with the church just round the corner I usually hear them. I misses that. We spent Christmas day much in our usual way, the Senor watching television, I went for walk, visited with friends at one of the beach front restaurants, feed the chickens, and found sweet street dog to

give our left overs to. The day was overcast at first then changed to sun, we ended our day watching movie just like we would have at home. But this time we watched on the computer transferred to the TV instead of going out to a theater. there are 2 theatres here, but none showing anything we liked in a language we could understand.

For the past several days there have been programs t the plaza, they last until 10 or sometimes later. None on Christmas eve as it would have been rained out. There is music, comedians and children programs and because of the mexicans love of loud speakers they can be heard from our balcony loud and clear. When it’s music it’s nice, but the comedians and other speakers tend to be a bit annoying. Last night I decided to go see hat the action was as it didn’t appear to be to busy. I’m not fan of tight crowds. Lots going on but not jam-packed but they little battery powered cars for kids to rent and ride around all over the plaza. to me it looked those carnival bumper cars turned out in public, with kids

creening all over, some running into each other purposely, some not on purpose. Absolutly crazy, sometimes you had to move quick to avoid being run over, but I don’t believe there is a mexican word for “liability”. Signing off KO

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM BEAUTIFUL IF NOT SUNNY ZIHUATANEJO

Yesterday it drizzled on and off all day, not the kind of rain that is cold or that gets you wet. But the skies were cloudy and it was definitely cooler. But by the time we were getting ready to go out for the evening the drizzle became rain. Not the tropical down pour that soaks you in minutes, just plain rain. It wasn’t cold, no wraps were needed but to keep dry getting to our destination, dinner,at Daniels, we had one street and the plaza to cross out in the rain. And who likes to arrive looking like a wet dog, so we used our beach towels as serape and arrived no worse for the weather. Everyone is grousing about the strange weather, they say it is never cloudy or rainy this time of year. The forecast is warmer today and back to normal tomorrow.

We had a great Christmas dinner, most of the folks we know were there. They moved all the tables inside, which made the dance floor small but adequate. As alway Jimmi Mamou’s music was outstanding. My lobster was good, the Senor enjoyed his turkey, even if there was no cranberry sauce, and the chicken and fillet that came with my lobster came home in a box for the Senor to enjoy today along with a large slice of rich gooey chocolate cake. There was a really great fruit salad that came with the meal. I could enjoy just that for another meal some time. sometime during the evening the rain stopped so we arrived back at our “casa” dry and no worse for the weather. I will admit it seemed strange to people wearing long sleeves and some folks in jackets and women wrapping up in shawls. It was cool, but not that cold. Had a brief chat with Santa on our way back, Signing off KO

IT’S CHRISTMAS EVE DAY

Woke up this morning to the sound of rain, it’s another cloudy day with a bit of a fine Washington mist now coming down. Not enough to get you wet, and it’s warm. I decided that I need to swim more or I won’t be in shape for Sharkfest in Troncones on Jan 10th. So at 7:30 this morning I went to Playa La Madera, just a short walk from where we stay and swam 3 laps out and back around a sailboat anchored out. This is to become my new morning routine. I can walk at other times, but there is almost no one at the beach at that time of the day and it is close to my normal home routine.

Since our TV service is not currently carrying the Senor’s favorite channel, I’ve learned to stream it from another source. I use the word learn loosely, more like just plain luck, but it keeps him happy and informed.

The Senor decided he needs a new white shirt to wear with his dress white shorts for our Christmas Eve dinner so we will do some brief shopping this morningand hopefully check in with the sand artist as I hope this rain hasn’t damaged his work of art. Meantime we are playing Christmas music on my I pod and enjoying our little Christmas display, feeling just “Christmasy” enough.

Met with success on our shopping trip, the senor got his new shirt and I learned that a “bolsa” is not only a bag or purse but also a pocket. Checked in with the sand carver, I’m so impressed. It’s been fun watching the progess and so glad the rain hasn’t hurt his work of art. He has brought me much enjoyment

Tonight we will join friends and enjoy a Christmas feast at Daniels, and enjoy the music of Jimmi Mamou FelizeNavidad from our casa to yours. Signing off KO

slowly findi g my way in espanol

The plan for the day was to attend the Sat morning market, the “ecologiatianguissanka”, a charming littlebazzar composed of local artist making hand crafted items, many from recycled materials and organic foods that are usually served on a banana leaf. I found several things I liked, but settled on a Christmas decoration for one of y daughters. I have more time for other purchases and limited suitcase space. My purchase had tobe done in Spanish, rocky but successful. Next was to get our phones set up. I knew where a

Telcel store was, the one with the handsome young man with the grey eyes who spoke fair, but not proficient english. Together we got my regular home cell phone up and running, and then he ran out of sim cards. But one phone does us little good as we use them just to communicate with each other. So now I’m off to a different Tel cell (they are as common as coffee stands at home.) But here no english is spoken. None the less I leave with the Senor’s phone up and running. Next I run into our friends from Ixtapa, Iswear all you need to do is just walk around town and you will eventually meet everyone you know.

Onward to purchase a hamburgerguesa from the corner bar for the Senor who has opted for a day of football and socializing at the Captians Daughter. The cook speaks good english but he his going to make me do it all in Spanish. Good practice, but makes me nervous but I do try.

After a brief siesta I’m off to the Posada in the La Madera neighborhood. I am told this is very traditional Mexico. A block or two is blocked off from street traffic. Both sides of the street are lined with tables with a variety of food, drink and other wares, much like at any bazar.

It begins with the children dressed as Mary and Joseph along with an angel and another child at the top of the street where folks are gathered arround singing what appers to be a song with many, many verses, then the ribbon across the street is

dropped and the children parade down to the front of the stage and sit in the first row and you don’t see them again. On stage sits the childrens orchastra, dressed in jeans and white shirts. The program proceeds much like the School Christmas programs, the orchestra plays and they are good, a group of children singing stand below. Some music was familiar, others not. Christmas carols that we are familiar were sung in spanish of course, but the absolute star of the program was when they sang the beatles

“Imagine” in english, show casing the voices of two teenage fellows with great voices, an absolute show stopper. The startling difference between this program and kids christmas programs at home was much of the audience had beer or other drinks in their hands. Next were some folkloric dancers, very good, and then a group of latin dancers who were ok.

A pinata was hung from a tree in the center of the street and the kids gathered around to take turns batting at it until it would break. The man from the latin dancers got upset came and told them to stop the pinata until his group was done dancing on the stage. I was takings pictures of the kids and he told me “pinata later, now dancing” I think they did one more dance and it was pinata time again. He wasn’t making any friends They did several pinatas and when the pinata finally breaks it is definitely a dog pile and the kids grab all they can get. I’m amazed no one gets hurt, but the kids here tough and not whiney at all. Fun evening!

After returning to our ‘casa” Ii look out from the balcony and there is an art show set up in the street below. Of course I went down to see, I’m forever amazed a the beautiful

art here. The big news for the day is the Senor finally has his TV going, still can’t get all the channels he wants but he cn live with this. Thanks to all who helped. Signing oiff KO

OUR DAYS ARE NUMBERED

My agenda for the day was to go to the Mercado and pick up some salt for a friend and some cheese for my neighbor, I took the long way there just for the opportunity to look around one more time. The Mercado is one of my favorite places, I never tire of seeing the beautiful arrays of fruits and vegetables, many of which I can’t even identify the trays of bakery items, piles of rice and other grains which again I can’t identify, booths with chickens complete with heads and feet and the meat market which today displayed a hogs head. These are sights that I will never see at home. Shopping at the

commissary at home will be so boring compared to this.

I needed to go to the bank, but the armed guards were there filling the ATM’s and the line was growing longer by the minute. Now at home our armored truck guards do carry side arms, but they don’t post 2 guards outside with M-16 rifles. I’ll go to the bank later in the day when the line is not so long. It will give me reason to wander around again and make sure I’ve missed nothing.

We watched a couple of movies I purchased here, Philomena and Nebraska. Philomena very good, Nebraska not so. They cost 2 for 20 pesos, so I won’t be bringing them back with us, but with prices like that I’ve learned it isn’t necessary to take up suitcase space bringing a stack of dvds from home.

We are going with friends and plan to meet more friends at the Catalina’s sunset bar this evening, they have lovely music on Wednesdays, appropriate for a sunset.

Our refrigerator is just about empty. Last night the Senor wanted fried chicken and since I don’t eat chicken, we did “take out” from 2 different places, he got his fried chicken and I got my chile relleno and we ate a last balcony meal, well we did have breakfast on the balcony this morning, but the rest of our meals will need to be eaten out. Signing off KO

ALIENS GONE COMPUTER OK

The aliens have left since I deleted every program that got added on 2 27 14. I have no idea where they all came from but the appear to be gone. As soon as we get home” Larry the computer guy” gets my net book as it is still very slow.

I attended Guitar fest last night and while I found it enjoyable and interesting, but I did I leave before it was over as it was too long for me. During the first hour I sat at a restaurant next to the area and ordered dinner as all the seats inside were in the sun and I can’t sit an hour in the sun without burning. While I know a lot of people sat there for most of the evening or just generally hung around, once the sun went down I paid my money and went inside. It’s a benefit, it’s not expensive and I would have felt like a cheat if I had stayed there the whole evening.

Colorfful building in Barre de Potosi — Octopus cooking over an open fire at La Condessa

Today we went to Barre de Potosi with friends, Will and Sylvia and Charlie and Christine. Charlie and Christine picked us all up at the very early hour of 8:00, we’ve made this trip a couple of times, but always on the bus and then the pasajara. We found scenery we had never noticed before as the view from a car is much different and very enjoyable. Christine and Charles brought us to their favorite, La Condessa and we found it most

enjoyable. We spent the morning beach walking and watching the surfers. Our lunch was delicious, my oysters were done to perfection, the Senor’s fillet was great, but those who ordered shrimp were disappointed as they hadn’t been deveined adding a lot more work than just pealing. We topped it off with that wonderful ice cream you get from the galvanized tubs. Nothing like strawberry ice cream where you can see that it was made with real berries

The Senor and I walked thru the town so that I could photograph the flowers and church that we found there on our last trip when I was sans camera. It sometimes amazes me what beauty you find in these dusty little villages.

Beautiful Flower in the village Bbarre de Potosi

This evening we have a real conundrum, the Senor is dreaming of fried chicken, and I can’t eat chicken. The place he wanted to go to only has chicken and potatoes. Other places have chicken,

Simple but beautiful Church in Barre de Potosi

but not “fried”. I suggested each of us getting what we wanted take out and bringing it back to eat here, but that was vetoed and we can’t fry it ourselves as the building has run out of gas, and like before when that happened it will probably manana before we have gas. Anyway I’m sure we won’t starve and will find something. It was another wonderful day in Mexico Signing off KO

LA CHULA VIDA, THE SWEET LIFE

The Senor had purchased at sail fest a dinner for two with bottle wine and desert at LA Chula Vida. Of course we had never heard of the place, but soon discovered it was on Playa Blanca, which we weren’t entirely sure where it was or how we would get there. A little research paid off and we received several suggestions on how to get there. The plan was to do a bus to the airport , and if the pick up with benches showed up we would take it, if not we would take a cab. Sounded simple enough. Next we located where to catch the bus to the airport. convinced our friends Will and Sylvia we really knew what we were doing, and planned to leave about 4 as I wanted to be there for the sunset, and really didn’t know how long it would take to make all the connections. Only waited about 5 minutes for the “colectivo” to the airport.which is a van with benches along all sides and hand rails on the inside roof so an unlimited amount of people can be packed in. For 10 peso each we rode to the airport stop, not seeing a cab insight we sort of wondered … what next? There were two Mexican fellows sitting in the shade across the road so I got elected to ask them how to get to Chula Vida . I was told in 5 min a collective would come. And sure enough it did but of the “pasajara” type, a covered pick up truck with benches. So for another 10

pesos we were on our way, this ride is truly air-conditioned as we were traveling quite fast as the road was empty except for one or two cars.

The ride was quite comfortable until we hit the dirt road and then it was very bumpy. Along the way we saw some beautiful villas, stunning views of the ocean a restaurant or two and one condominium complex. As we arrived at our destination we were greeted by a beautiful saddled burro which we learned later was the “town mayor’s” transportation.

La Chula Vida has a tiled dining patio, both floor and roof and a beach bar palapa with table made from huge tree stumps. Our hostess Lisette welcomed us and visited with us a bit and we learned that she hails from Woodland WA which is quite near us. We sat watching the sun go

down, cooled by very cold drinks and a lovely breeze from the ocean. One of the most peaceful relaxing places I have ever been. We opted to eat our dinner on the patio as after dark the breeze was getting a little too cool. The Senor and I had grilled”sierra” fish which was thick and moist, our friends had grilled shrimp which they proclaimed excellent. All served with a plate of grilled vegetables and followed up with a dish of almond ice cream. The setting was beautiful, the meal excellent, the company enjoyable, just can’t ask for more than that, definitely the sweet life, Chula Vida.

We had anticipated taking a taxi back to town, but Lisette said her husband Jorge needed to drive employee’s back to Zihuatanejo and if we didn’t mind waiting until dishes were washed he would bring us all home. How is that for hospitality! Of course we accepted. I rode in the cab with Jorge who had an oldies radio station on playing “All Shook Up” and “Good Golly “Miss Molly” sung in Spanish.. What a fun evening! Signing off KO

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