Backpacks and Flipflops: Back to Mexico.....Zihuatenejo...(Not the Shawshank Redemption beach)...this little beach town grows on you...

....Throw your dreams into space like a kite... and you do not know what it will bring back.... a new life... a new friend... a new love... a new country .... Anais Nin

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Hola to all......we are back on the road....join us...if you wish...

Mexico....The Beaches...

If the coastline of Mexico is her necklace, then the beaches are her shining gemstones.....a lover's gift....they dazzle and shine....all sizes, shapes... the sand soft to touch....golden, brown...even black...the grains ....fine or coarse...slip through fingers easily...like talcum powder on a naked back ......wild and free.... civilized and tame...the hidden coves ..... glistening bays.... they frame her voluptuous body... showcasing her curves and ...... granting passage to her hidden valleys...rough....smooth....polished...

.....here... the wind....sun.... sea.... burnish the skin bronze....the hair free... thoughts are cleansed... visions enhanced.... futures are crystallized... bodies press...

.....these gems are those places where romance takes hold.....passion erupts... dreams begin....from the long walks on quiet beaches....skirting incoming tides... surrendering to the warm surf and pounding waves.... to a lazy hammock day....the beaches of Mexico are......where a heart beat begins .....and the wonder of the green flash at day's end remains....SK

...Excerpt from our blog... Backpacks and Flipflops....The Highway 200 trip

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Anyway...it's 2018.....and we've decided to revisit .... Zihuatenejo .....one of our favourite beach towns in Mexico.....

Located way south of Puerto Vallarta (PV) ...north of Acapulco... Zihuatenejo is a smaller, less of everything version of PV.

Located on a great bay with a backdrop of mountains that frame the town....this is a place that has it all....sun....beaches....food... entertainment...and less of crowds....noise... traffic....that is starting to overwhelm PV...

Somehow the downtown core continues to hold a small town feel....with great music, food, drink and services all within walking distance.

We're here a little longer than our usual 3-4 days and the town is a great place for long-term stays. We've rented a pretty basic, safe, clean Airbnb called Pino Comfort for about $30 Can/night. Close to Centro, quiet and there's even a great little cantina around the corner. Perfect for us.

We even have time for Spanish lessons. With a bit of searching and emails we find a great teacher, Valeria for cinco dias....dos horas por dia. We meet at the El Rincon Del Cafe over a leisurely meal and coffees.

Zihuatenejo Beaches....

The town has easy access to a number of beaches...

Las Gatas Beach

....located across the bay from Centro....this beach is just a short 50 peso ride from town. You can also walk from Playa La Ropa along a slightly rugged shore-line path. Gentle water for swimming and lots of palapas and chairs to soak up the sun. The rock boulder breakwater keeps the wave action on the beach to a minimum.

For the more adventurous....there is a sunken statue of Jesus to swim out to offshore. It stands 4 metres tall and is 1.5 metres below the surface of the water with a large floating water bottle marking its spot. Mornings are best for viewing with calmer waters and less snorkelers. In addition, there is an historical anchor and bell in the waters in front of the breakwater that are easily seen with a mask and snorkel.

Madera Beach
..... it's an easy 10 minute walk from town along the shore pathway. There's more surf, but still plenty safe for little ones to run around in the water's edge.

Madera is also where a number of long term apartments and hotels can be found. Irma's...one of the original hotels is still in operation overlooking Madera Beach.

Playa La Ropa
...this is about a 10 minute collectivo ride 8.5 pesos/ or a 40 peso taxi. This the longest of the beaches. Flat for walking or running, it is also home to plenty of lodgings. Night life and entertainment is virtually non existent after the sun goes down. Tranquillo...is the rule ...unless you BYOB.

Finally....there are a number of beaches a short bus or taxi ride from Zihuatanejo.....Ixtapa Island...Troncones....Barra de Potosi....

Zihuatenejo....a town worth considering...

Additional Random Photos