Prologue
"....the tragedy of life is not death, but what we let die inside of us while living ...." -Norman Cousins
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Zihuatanejo, Mexico
Welcome back to another journey. Come along for the adventure.
We've headed out and away from winter for 3 months and moved into Zihua for the duration. So for this trip, no more 3-4 days of staying somewhere, then moving on...
Thought many of you would like to see what every day living in this wonderful Mexican beachside town looks and feels like.
So... if the thought of plowing the driveway, just once more is going to make you snap....then read on! There is another option...
Disfruta la vida!..... Enjoy life!
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We arrive in Zihuatanejo on November 30, 2019 on a painless, direct flight on Air Canada from Vancouver. Arrivals and clearing customs is generally a snap at the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo airport. Unlike Puerto Vallarta or even Cancun, the terminal here always seems quiet and efficient to get through.
And, with our carry-on Osprey 30 and 40 litre packs, we are 'here and gone' in mere minutes from the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo airport.
A short 100 m walk away from the taxis towards the highway, gets us on a combi for town. Cost for the van-bus 20 minute ride to El Centro is 15 pesos.
El Departmento (The Apartment)
In past trips, we'd stay in small hotels. Sometimes, we would book ahead online or just arrive at our new destination and look around for something suitable. Usually, simple rooms, close to centro or near a beach. They were always safe, clean, quiet and family run. And, we never had or used a kitchen.
We have scored a great place through a friend. She put us in contact with the local family who have a small set of apartments for rent.
Now, with a kitchen, laundry use, deck and roof top patio, along with el importante Air-con, fans and hot water, we have all the comforts of home for our 3 months stay here.
Nosotros departmento es muy close to el Centro. A 90 second walk to our favourite pubs, music spots and eateries. Muy tranquillo en la noche and safe, as it overlooks the local military/marine base of Zihuatanejo. Weekday mornings we leave the departmento to find 10 - 20 guards around our building. Greeted with smiles and Buenos dias...do we feel safe? Of course!
December in Zihuatanejo....1st month gone...
We have settled into a fairly normal 'home' routine. We are taking Spanish lessons 2-4 x a week and guitar lessons. There's a gym a block away, plus we've found an art studio that will give lessons. Our mornings are filled.
And then there's daily shopping for food ...along with all the essentials for keeping the apartment clean and running.
We eat breakfast 'n lunch in nosotros casa and generally head out for a dinner meal to one of the many places nearby in the evening
...meet friends at local bars...Brenda's Bar is our favourite...
...and dance the night away to great local bands that play a wide range of music in various venues
The Heartbeat of Zihuatanejo
Every village, town or city in Mexico has a central location, a plaza, park etc where people gather, they watch concerts, they dance, listen to school performances, cheer their favorite basketball team on.
In Zihuatanejo, the heartbeat is 'La Cancha'. It is a basketball court, music venue, community meeting place. Here, La Cancha is set just off Playa Principal, and central to all the centro activities Zihua offers.
Depending on the event...(and events seem to happen most nights)...the food vendors are out in full force, while the street alongside is closed to traffic.
It is also a time for families to be out, novios/novias (boyfriends/girlfriends) to meet.
It is crowded, noisy and full of colour and life and oh so much energy.,..
December seems especially frentic with energy and noise. In the days leading up to Christmas, the town pulses with people out having fun.
From music concerts to basketball games and the massively popular December 21 Christmas parade (featuring this year a Disney-Hollywood cartoon/superhero theme) that included at least 3 Santas and a Trump likeness riding a burro. (sorry, no picture of that one...)
December 24 is when Mexican Navidad is celebrated, while Christmas Day is quiet with many shops open for business.
And, with Christmas comes school holidays. Like everywhere else Mexican families head to the beaches para vacaciones. Some for several days others for a week or longer.
Las playas become busy with familias. They play in the water, on the sand (fútbol aka soccer)...turn up their own music systems or listen to locals strum away on their instruments. They eat, they drink...get sandy 'n wet. Children have a blast y mama y papa have so much fun con la familia.
Epilogue
...."As we grow older and wiser, we begin to realize what we need and what we need to leave behind. Sometimes there are things in our lives that aren’t meant to stay. Sometimes the changes we don’t want are the changes we need to grow. And sometimes walking away is a step forward.”.....—Unknown
Adios for now...just a bit of December as it has come and gone.
Feliz Año Nuevo 2020
Shayne y Yvonne
Seems staying 3 months in one place gives a traveler a sense of community and understanding of the rhythm of the calendar. Thanks for sharing your time in Z-town. I look forward to your return (near the 49th lat).
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