Zihuatanejo

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.

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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

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

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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