We had a nice dinner last night at the Italian restaurant just down the street, never can remember the name of it, but I get good fish there and the Senor likes the spaghetti. The proprietress is very friendly and always remembers us and treats us like friends. Then on the Flophouse for drinks where we met old friends and made new ones, made plans for Ixtapa Island with Charlie and
At the Flophouse Bar
Christina and turned in early which is becoming a regular plan as the Senor does tire out more readily now.
I’m an early riser, usually about 5:30 which is just before a couple of the bars in our neighborhood close. They are noisy with loud thumping music, but with the doors and windows closed and the air on they are only a
Morning moon from balcony
distant hum. Until I grab the computer and slip on to the balcony, then it gets very lively as the bars close and the young people spill out onto the street, motor scooters starting up, people laughing , yelling as if they were still yelling over the music a veritable feast of sounds. But this morning there was a different sound, anger. Lots of anger, this time people yelling at each other and several pushing and shoving at each other. I was happy to be three stories up and just a silent observer, but I’m wondering if real trouble is about to break out. Then slowly up the street walk two figures in camouflage riot gear holding shot guns and then two more arrive. The crowd didn’t disperse instantly, but with a half dozen more armed policia in the pickup truck at the foot of the street I thankfully knew it was over, and slowly they all went home just as the sun came up. Excitement all over.
The rest of the day was spent with errands to Waldo’s, and laundry. It takes about 2 hours for a load of laundry to wash and by the time you hang that load out your previous load has already dried and is ready to bring in. Takes up quite a bit of time, but not much work, easy enough.
Mexican clothes dryer, takes less time than the dry cycle at home
The Senor has taken to watching the football games in our apartment instead of going out to the bars to watch it since we now get channel 13, 4,5 and 7 on cable. I know it’s better for him, but that used to be some of my best movie time. Oh well I can adjust. Signing off KO
Yesterday the cleaning lady was due so we went out for breakfast, while I ordered breakfast, in Spanish I might add, the Senor did his task of running the laundry to the laundaria. At home he does the laundry and has continued doing so here. But here all he has to do is deliver it in the morning and pick it up in the evening. Everything is simpler here. After breakfast we decided to check out a hotel near the “hole in the wall” bus station . Brand new hotel offering $250 (mexican pesos) a night rooms if you stayed 2 weeks or more. This was a hell of a good deal so we decided we had best check it out. The desk clerk spoke no English, but my 2 or three words got the message across and she showed us a room. Nice room with great bath and a balcony, but small and no micro or refrigerator. I asked her if they had any rooms with cooking and she said no. So we thanked her, briefly considered if the lesser cost would make up for eating out every night as it did have a pool and wifi and cable. We decided no, it just wasn’t for us, but very nice for someone who just needs a room. Then on to the archeological museum at the end of the malecon where both the history of the area is displayed but also lots of art work for sale.
A 1936 movie projector in the museum
We then went for a stroll on the malecon and ran into a couple I had met on the boat parade. I introduced them to the Senor , we visited briefly as they were just finishing their lunch and we took over their table when they left. Our waiter brought out a white board sandwich board which showed the selections offered that day. Cheese quesadilla for me and a BLT for the Senor. He was very happy to find a real sandwich. We people watched, watched the fishermen and enjoyed a very leisurely lunch. Soon a friend we had made through other friends stopped by and we visited with her for a while remarking we hardly go anywhere any more where we don’t run into someone we know. A very pleasant feeling.
New vendor came by the flop house, cakes by the slice
We opted to go to the Flophouse for drinks, and get dinner at the restaurant next door. Not my favorite place to eat, but we always have a good time at the and meet friends and enjoyed, Allan on the guitar, Nelson on the sax and a couple of singers joined in. As we expected several of our friends showed up so it was a pleasant evening.
Morning has us filling out our shopping list and heading to the Commercial, we are on our downhill side of our vacation so we are trying to buy only what we absolutely need, purchasing in small sizes. On the way we discovered a new type of Mexican Roof dog.
Different type of “roof” dog
He really startled us as we walked by. We tried to shop carefully, but still came back with more than our rolling bag holds, but sure love that bag, it makes getting the groceries the block to our apartment from the taxi stop a breeze.
We have set our dates for next year, December 15 to March 15, we’ve never been here during the holiday season nor have we ever been away from home for Christmas. It will be a new experience for us. Now my job is to try to negotiate a better rate at our apartment as we are staying longer. My Spanish dictionary isn’t any help with phrases, we will see how we do. Signing off KO
Steve and Brian accompanying the children from the orphans home.
We seem to stay busy even though we have no daily agenda, and time passes so quickly. Sunday evening we went to the Zocolo which is the town square or plaza and also the basketball court. On Sunday it looks like the entire town gathers there to eat from many of the vendors carts, buy trinkets and toys for children, socialize and watch a evening performance. This Sunday the children from the orphans home presented a few songs they had learned. There had been no music program there until Brian, a gifted professional musician, who happens to be our balcony neighbor, volunteered to start one with the children. He has spent much time teaching them songs and they performed a couple of them Sunday at the Zocolo. They sang “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” in Spanish and then in English Not a one was shy and a couple were very busy stealing the show. Some people just have more heart than others and Brian is definitely one. we finished the evening with dinner on the beach with Will and Sylvia.
The Senor at the Commercial Bakery
The Senor enjoys the bakery, Mexican bakeries have the most enormous selection of goodies I’ve ever seen. The senor takes a tray and tongs and walks around placing his selected items on the tray and then goes to the bakery counter and she wraps them up for him.
The senor and I went to the Mario’s Leather shop as I was looking for an attractive leather binder to hold my wedding ceremonies. Fortunately he spoke English, knew what I wanted but didn’t have anything with “rings” First try was take a 6 inch set of rings off a daytimer size binder but they were much to fat, so then he left us in his shop, while he
Mario Making my leather binder
went over to the “papeleria”,(think stationary store) bought a 3 ring binder, took the rings out of it installed them in a beautiful red leather folder and now AI have exactly what I needed. I’m amazed the lengths that people here will go to serve you.
On my Monday morning walk after feeding my flock of chickens I had meat scraps for a deserving street dog. Not many dogs out and about in the morning, they are mostly night time wanderers. But I found this sad eyed dog, encouraged her to come get my treats, she was very wary and very skittish and no wonder as I’m sure she had been abused. She had a rough hemp rope around her neck and body kind of harness like. I tried to untie it but she wouldn’t let me tough her and would jump out of the way once almost getting hit by a car. Today
Street dog tied up with rope
when I go out I will have scissors with me, and may be I can cut her loose.
Part Siamese kitten with a beautiful face
While breakfasting on our balcony the Senor noticed some kittens on the overhang of the balcony below us, they were coming and going thru the drain hole on the building next door. This kitten has the sweetest face and if I didn’t have a cat at home that would object I would have climbed down there and claimed her.
We had a wonderful stuffed avocado a that the Senor and I shared at the Monkey
Allen and Patricia wailing the blues
House for lunch. 5:30 finds us on our usual bar stools at the Flophouse. We prefer sitting on the stools that
are actually on the side walk as it is cooler. Soon Will and Sylvia joined us as we enjoyed the “blues” with Alan and Patricia. Our choice of a place to eat was a mistake, our mistake. We didn’t want a big or expensive meal just something to eat, but a Sushi House just isn’t what we should have picked. Signing off KO
Silvia and Scott getting ready to board our transport to the museum
I’ve been wanting to get to the archeological site at La Chile ever since I first heard about it. I had been to the village many years prior, saw the huge, ancient cactus but the site was off-limits and the museum was just being constructed.
We arranged for Scott to be our interpreter and accompany myself and friends Will and Sylvia as the Senor opted not to go. We met at 8:30 am, and headed off to the local bus depot to catch the Petalon bus which leaves every 5 minutes. Our bus was a newer model not one of the “music and curtains” busses and we were dropped off on the highway at an intersection the bus driver said was La Chole. If you are not familiar with the area you would feel like you had been dropped real close to “nowhere”. Now starting right here is where Scott proved himself invaluable as all we saw was a rough bench with an equally rough palapa over it occupied by 8 or so mexican folks. Scott spoke with them and we learned this was the bus stop to go to La Chole and the museum. They are not one in the same as the digs and the museum area bout 5 km down the road and the village of La Chole is further down the road. By the time our transportation arrived Scott was laughing and joking with the m en like they were old buddy, they all helped us board the pickup, and we learned the fee was 10 pesos, we felt very welcome and not like strange people in a strange place.
The museum
Once at the museum we were met by another guide who spoke almost no english and wanted to read us every information in Spanish
“The goal post from the ball court”
without giving Scott time to translate. Soon a new guide Estaban or Eddy as he smilingly told us took over . Eddy speaks decent enough english and was happy to answer our questions and explain all about the artifacts we were seeing. He kept apologizing about his english, without need, as when we didn’t understand him Scott would translate. Scott not only is fluent in Spanish but has a broad knowledge of Mexican history and the history of pyramids and the Mexican pyramids all inter-relate how they inter-relate. We learned that many of the artifacts we saw at the museum while found there at La Chole were actually trade items from other village some distance away. After we completely investigated the Museum we walked down the road about 200 Meters to the excavated ball court.
The ball court
We had already seen the “goal posts” in the museum”, but here in front of us was a perfectly preserved ball court where people played games many years before Christ was born. We next walked a short walk to where the pyramid was. The pyramid is 100 meters square and I don’t remember how high, but it’s high. Absolutely spectacular! There are additional ball courts and pyramids on the site, but due to financial restraints they have not even begun to excavate. I’ve heard that this site is a very important and significant archeological find and they will be working on it for years to come.
The pyramid showing stone steps to the topKO,Scott,Silvia,Will at the bottom of the pyramidThe pyramid as you first approach it
We didn’t go to the village, but returned to the museum area to wait for our transportation back to the main road. We tipped Estaban, and thanked him for all his enthusiastically shared knowledge. Across the road from the museum is a small refreshment stand, beer, water soda and a few snacks, where you can sit and wait for the return transportation.
Here again Scott was with his language skills was invaluable as he makes friends where ever he goes and in turn that makes us comfortable as we know exactly what is happening. So when the pick up truck passes us by we don’t have to panic as he explains the transport will drop people off further down and return for us on his return trip.
Once again we board the back of the pick up, which appears to be standard mode of transportation for folks living in the country and are dropped off at the highway where we cross the highway and just miss the bus, but true to what we were told in less than 5 minutes another one is there for the return trip to the bus station in Zihuatanejo.
Some of the artifacts on display
We were back at our apartment before 2:30, a very interesting day. This trip can be done with adding in the village of La Chole, and Petalan, you could include a meal. Just however you choose to go. But I do highly recommend going if you have any interest in history. I know there are cab drivers and guides that you can book formal trips with, but for a personal, informational and economical adventure Scott would be a great person to contact, he usually is in front of the Barracruda Bar. Stop and visit with him, as he has a wealth of knowledge of this area and all of Mexico. Once at he museum unless you can read and understand Spanish I highly recommend asking for “Eddy”
We finished off the evening at one of our favorite water holes, the Flophouse Bar to listen to Allan and Buddy and joined by Nelson later. One of the many things I love about the Flophouse is the music comes early in the evening, you can enjoy some great music, great drinks, then go for a bite to eat and it doesn’t have to be a late night.
Pyramid at La Chole
Our time is getting very short, we still have so many things we want to do, places to eat, people to say good-by to. Tuesday will be here all too soon. Signing off KO
Monday is always the day our wonderful cleaning lady, Letty, comes to take care of our apartment. As she arrives fairly early we go out for breakfast and let her do her magic. Tres Amigos is close by where we have a great breakfast and head out to do some shopping for the Senor. He wanted to pick up a couple of more “Mexico” shirts and replace a pair of shoes that fell apart last week. Found shirts easy enough, but no luck with the shoes even though there is quite a selection at the Mercado.
My fabric being measured and cut
Across the street from the mercado is what I call ” The JO-Ann Fabrics of Mexico” but it is much bigger than any fabric store in my area with a huge selection of all types of fabrics, curtain and drapery fabric, dish towel fabric, cottons for every day wear lace and satin for bridal or party wear. Racks of ribbons and trims and other decorations. It’s just a great store. The Senor asked what I was looking for and I told him I don’t know but I will know it when I see it. And sure enough there it was a beautiful crepe in blue with pink swirls, looks like a water color. But it is a process to purchase the fabric. You don’t pick up the bolt and take it to the cutting counter. You show the staff person what you want, they bring it to the cutting counter and ask how much you want. I requested 6 meters, she then measured and cut it wrote on a piece of paper what the price was, $239.90 ($18.81US) and I get the piece of paper, not the fabric. I then take my piece of paper to the cashier where she takes my money and gives me another piece of paper which I take to another place and exchange that piece of paper for my fabric. Ya got to love Mexico!On our way back just up the street from the Pancake house I got quite a start. Slithering out from some potted plants was a large snake. There was lots of folks around and someone called out it just his pet, but it brought momentary flashbacks of when my daughter and I were held hostage on a trail on Cumberland Island by a cottonmouth snake until the ranger rescued us. Pet or no I still gave him wide berth just as a young man stepped inches from the snake’s head, barefooted. He had a grin on his face, and I had to holler ‘Show off”
Snake near Elviro’s
An afternoon of reading at the beach, dinner on the balcony, Scottie’s blues at the Flophouse Bar with neighbors Will and Sylvia, brought another day in Paradise to an end.
So happy to be back in peaceful, quiet Zihuatanejo. With no agenda other than with a vist to the chickens as now my neighbors in our building are saving their scraps for me to bring to them and a little shopping. As I headed out to the Mercado for fruit a colorful serape caught my eye as the ideal thing to put across the foot of our bed for the sole purpose of keeping the bedspread clean, as we lay on the bed to watch TV and read.
Serape for bed
We settled on a price and it was mine, I put it in my rolling bag, where it soon was joined by cucumbers and cheese . A stop at the Merza for bug spray and milk was added to the bag, then on to the pink bakery for “bollios,” probably not spelling it correctly, but the senor wanted to try them instead of regular bread, Purchased three and the daily shopping was done. Why is shopping here such an enjoyable experience, where back home it’s just a chore? We quickly put our new sarape to test for siesta time. A great addition to our little home.
Evening found us at the Flophouse Bar listening to Al Alto and soon joined by
Allan Alto
Nelson on the saxaphone. What a great combination.
We visited with old friends, made new ones, learned the best place to get the rolls or “bollios” is just up the street from the Flop house,
Later that evening several of residents of our building gathered together for a bit of wine and/ or tequila and conversation. A great end to another great day. Signing off KO
the Senor likes the spaghetti. The proprietress is very friendly and always remembers us and treats us like friends. Then on the Flophouse for drinks where we met old friends and made new ones, made plans for Ixtapa Island with Charlie and
Zihuathyme 