ADIOS MEXICO

ZIHUATANEJO-IXTAPA

We arrived November 4 and walked into Zihuatanejo. Loved this town. It is a real Mexican community with real people and stores that cater to the locals as well as tourists. Nice atmosphere and definitely a go-to place. The beach is right by town and we stopped for a beer and chips in a restaurant with a lovely interior garden. Took photos and if either of us could figure out how to drop a photo into this blog directly from our cameras, we would do so! Did not bother to go to Ixtapa which is only a 50 cent bus ride away as Barb had been there before and Lynne´s theory is that one big American resort is like another and you cannot tell where in the world you are when you are in one!

We recommend this place for a winter vacation.

ACAPULCO

Next stop, next day, was Acapulco....eugh! 2,000,000 people, 3,000,000 cars and all on the road at once! Big plans to double the population in the next decade or so and many very expensive vacation homes built and planned.

We went to TEHUACALCO RUINS - a wonderful tour. The Mexican government decided to fund the archeological dig in 2002 and it opened to the public in 2008. It was a 1.5 hour ride each way. The scenery was lovely and over a brand new toll highway. We climbed to 1500 metres and it was a good thing we were in a small van as no bus could navigate the turns into the ruins.

The ruins total 65 acres but only 10% has been excavated. We saw their sacred ball court, two ritual pyramids and the plaza where the ordinary people congregated. The guide showed us glyphs carved into a large rock which were the Mayan calendar based on the moon. Barb climbed to the very top and then discovered she had to go down sideways! The steps are narrow because you go up and down sidways as it not allowed to face either forward or backward from the Gods. This tour was marked average but it was strenuous and several people were not able to climb the 75 stairs at the entry. Well worth the time and effort.

HUATULCO (pronounced watelco)

November 6 and we docked right at the most beautiful beach!. We walked around on our own and took a $2 taxi ride up into the town. It was very clean with a nice park in the centre. Checked out a couple of hotels at $20 night and up - monthly rates negotiable - and decided that the Canada Hotel by the beach looked pretty good to us!

We had breakfast of beer and nachos at 9 am under a palapa on the beach and followed up with $1 foot massage. Barb actually went into the ocean and the water was wonderful - she says! This resort is being developed with the ecology in mind and looks like it will be another go-to place for a winter break.

Next stop Guatamala and we will post whenever we can find an internet cafe.