I’m basically heading toward Guatemala via the Pacific Coast road. From Guadalajara, first was Colima. Colima is the capital of the small state of the same name. LP calls it “charming”, and I must say I kind of agree. It has only about 130,000, just about right for me, at least at this time. People were nice to me all the time and I liked my hostel a lot. There isn’t much in particular to say about it. There isn’t so much to do. Here are some pictures. You will recognize the typical zocalo, cathedral and street scenes.
As in most cities, there is music and dancing in the evening. The band is in the gazebo. It does remind me of China, but the Mexicans do it with way more flair.
There’s a big park which is a real getaway. It’s about the size of Shapingba Park but not crowded, even though it’s wooded and shady, hence a good way to avoid the heat. There are even some bird and animal exhibits, including a couple of male lions. The lions were sleeping in their not photoworthy houses. I am happy to report they do have a fairly big outdoors area to walk around.
As I said, there isn’t much to say about Colima. I just liked it there and stayed several days.
Moving on, this place called Palma Sola on the coast toward Zihuatanejo was recommended to me by the hostel owner. He knows people there. I figured I’d do the deserted beach thing again, so I went. It was indeed a good choice. There are some towns and villages along the road, but this is only a hamlet. Down by the beach, there seems to be some activity during the tourist season, but it will not be tourist season for another couple of months at least. Now, there are a couple of families who live there. The people the hostel guy knows, Margarita and Adolfo, are the heads of one of the households. They were definitely not in tourist mode, but welcomed me and I felt right at home. I stayed in one of their two cabanas and basically walked the beaches around there and hung out. No internet this time, so I just read. Here are some pics.
During the tourist season, I suppose some number of folks kick back under these coverings.
No footprints in the sand except mine right now.
Chill out in the hammock or sit at your table for one and watch the sunset. That’s three liters of lemonade there. It sure goes down easy in the heat.
By the way, Margarita cooked up the best fish one night and octopus the next. Yum! She’s also a good brink maker. The family is upgrading there wood and palm frond buildings. Here she is stomping the mixture into the molds. Even the kids have jobs.
Three days was just about right there, so moved on.
I actually was in Zihuatenejo once. In 1984, I took a cruise ship down the Mexican coast, stopping at Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Zihuatenejo and Acapulco. Many of us got off the cruise liner for day excursions. I can’t say I remember it much from then, but I do remember Zihua was not nearly as developed as it is now. Now, there is about a square kilometer of touristy area. All the sidewalks (which there were none of last time) are covered and it’s pretty nice to stroll around and look at the stuff or get a cappuccino. I wouldn’t say it’s photoworthy, but it was pleasant for the three days I was there. The beach and shoreline area is built up, but still nice enough. There’s a walkway part of the way around the bay. Young couples love this in he evening, I noticed.
Here’s a look at the boats.
The rest of town is unremarkable. It’s gotta be a hoot when a couple hundred people from a liner descend on the place. I should know. I was one of them that time. There’s a high end resort area a few kilometers away, Ixtapa. It had just started being developed in ’84, only to have been destroyed in an earthquake in ’84 just before we arrived at that time. I guess now it’s like a mini Cancun. I didn’t go over there this time.
So, today I came to Acapulco. Everyone, and I mean everyone, said it’s crime ridden dump. I was advised not to even leave the bus station, but hey, how bad can it be if you stay right along the tourist strand by the water. My next stop is Puerto Escondido which is 7-8 hours down the road. After four hours on the bus today, I was in no mood to spend 7-8 more just to avoid Acapulco. Taking the safe bet, I got a hotel room right on the strand and am luxuriating in a proper air conditioned room, writing this. Ahhhh, it’s nice to be out of the heat!
I walked along the strand for a couple of hours when I got here. IT’s as I remember it from ’84, busy and crowded.
For any of the nervous Nellies who think Acapulco is unsafe at any speed, for what it’s worth here’s my hotel, that seven story white building in the middle behind the white boat. I can go out on this street fine, under the watchful eyes of about ten thousand people.
My agenda for the evening is to Skype Myung in about an hour when she gets up (China is 13 hours ahead), get a bite to eat and watch the Giants game on the internet. Tomorrow at noon, I head for Puerto Escodido. (I have no idea why this is in italics. I’m not going back to change it. I have my principles. One take. The Reagan end-run and publish.)
So, that’s it for now. Talk to you later. Be well, all of you.