Stops on way home

Stops

Started from Zicatella motel "Puerto del Sol"

Pemex 1.5 hrs west of Mexico City

Pemex near Culiaca

Pemex at Nogales 

Pheonix by motel in truck parking lot 

Casino parking lot in little town of Wells, Nevada

Home at 1:00am

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Home

After hearing about Terry's passing, we decided to curtail the holiday and head home. 

From Puerto Escondido, we put in 5 long driving days and ended up home at 1:00am Saturday 

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March 3. Another $50 day!

You have got to love vacationing in this country, with the warmth, beaches, nice people, reasonably priced hotels and interesting shopping--at less than $50 per day in certain spots.

Today we were actually well under that figure. Our hotel, across the road from the beach is great with its pool and fruit and smoothy bar. This is what we see across the road each day.

This morning I went for a walk in the beach to where the fishermen congregate. For $5.00 I had a nice tuna that would be enough for 3 large meals! We have a very nice outdoor kitchen here and Ade put together a wonderful meal.

On our beach walk today we went beyond the sand to a rock cliff formation that the city had cut out an ocean side walkway within the rock face. It is a camera-person's dream with the emerald water and surf pounding below your feet.

Toward the end of the 3 km walk it got pretty warm so we started walking back on the roads, taking shelter at times under the many shade awnings of retail shops--Ade lucked out and bought a nice pair of shorts. We eventually flagged down a taxi for the approximately 5 km ride home. Interesting that every cab fare here and in Huatulco has cost us $1.50 - $1.75 -- pretty good deal.



From there to lunch, then the pool and finally a 5:45 sunset. It gets dark quick here but that is good because it keeps the temperature down a bit.

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March 2. Puerto Escondido

Yesterday afternoon we made the short trip from Ventanilla to Puerto Escondido ( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Escondido,_Oaxaca )  and were fortunate enough to secure a room right on the beach, in the same hotel we were at 9 years ago. 

Wikipedia has the town with a population of 45,000 in 2013. It is certainly bigger than that now. 

The town has grown as a major tourist location so fast since we were last here that it is a bit disappointing. The demographic has aged considerably from the young adventure and sports minded traveller. Now it is the "white haired" generation (like me😃) who make up a good percentage of the tourists. Also the town has cleaned and tile-paved many streets to improve its image for the bigger spending middle class. Both Ade and I think it has lost some of its original hippy character but it definitely is a beautiful spot. 

We spent the evening at a "grey bar" on the beach listening to live music from the '80's. With the surf cash behind the band and a "U" shaped 1/8 th moon in the sky it was a treat. It was interesting that the bar owner and all the "grey hairs" were Canadian. We seem to be taking over southern Mexico.  

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March 1. Goodbye Zipolite

Any place that boasts sunny weather, surf, a sandy beach with palapa restaurants,  a small downtown street lined with unique shops and restaurants has to have a charm all its own. Spice it up with an attractive twenty-something woman, clothed with only an acoustic guitar singing folk songs on the beach to a small crowd of enthusiastic guys and women;  you have Zipolite!

Time to continue north if we hope to make it home by April 11--the last day for our medical plan!!

Before Puerto Escondido we stopped at Ventanilla  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Ventanilla,_Oaxaca

for a swamp jungle tour. It was a delight. Behind the ocean sandbar was a decent size lake and swampy area with a dry land island in the middle. The tour guide took us out in the lake in a large row boat he paddled. The area was quiet beyond belief with jungle vegetation and mangrove trees lining much of the island. 

We saw a number of crocodiles en route and eventually docked on the shores of the island.  Large and small crocs, monkies, deer, iguana, and many birds made the island home along with some "captives" used in the breeding programs. Termites nests the size of stacked old tires were also common. They helped clean up dead wood in the forests. 

Mexico has come a long way in now valuing its natural beauty with parks that highlight the counties natural beauty. They realize how people from around the world will come and spend money to enjoy these wonders. Many people will come to this park tomorrow to supervise and assist baby leatherback turtles on their treacherous walk across the expansive sandy beach in their way to the ocean. This program prevents the predators in the area from having  an easy "snack", and has helped take this spicies from the the verge of extinction 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazunte

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Feb 28. The Zipolite paradox

From Huatulco where the tourist population is reputed to be 80% Mexican to Zipolite where over half the toursits are "whities" like us--what a difference. 

In Huatulco, The Mexicans are so friendly with "hola" , smiles and waves coming from most of them to Zipolite where it is rare to get any sort of smile or eye contact from the Canadians, Europeans or Americans. It is obviously a cultural thing, but the Mexicans make you feel much more at ease in a matter of minutes if you are able to overcome the language predicament. Even with the language block, Mexicans make every effort to try to help you. My Google translator app has helped us immensely-- to the point where my Spanish has started to evolve in my own unique way!

Sunrise this morning was spectacular, as usual. 

We decided to extend our stay here another day--our camp spot, restaurant, sand and water was too nice to hurry ourselves. 

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Feb 27. Hello Zipolite

Since the late 1960's this village has been a haven (heaven?) for "back to the landers", draft diggers and just plain old hippies.  The mile stretch of golden sand is also a retreat for surfers and nudists!  

During my previous 2 visits of 9 and 14 years  ago, it still retained the flavour of its roots. However popularity and legend have resulted in significant development and changes. There are many more small hotels with more guests. The roads are now paved, and most of the hippies have been replaced by Yuppies or old timers trying to regain their youth--I guess like us!😃😃. 

One place that has not changed is located at the north/west end of the beach. Since 1972 it has operated under the name Shambala. This place is a timewarp for want-to-be hippies, Music, meditation, probably some drugs, and free love. It is one of the few places in this town that has not changed much in over 40 years. 

We got lucky and we're able to stay in the same hotel as we did years ago. It is great. We just set up the van in the parking lo under a shade tree about 20 meters from the beach and a table with a shady palapa over it. 

Fabulous waves, a few surfers, good sandy beach to paddle in and walk, plus a few nude bodies to spice up the view make Zipolite an interesting stay. 

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Feb 26. Sunday at Huatulco

This morning, we take a little bit of a hike up a very grand walkway behind our hotel and into the village of La Crucecita. The government certainly had a bundle to spend on this promenade as 50 ft blasting scars border each side of this half km. walk. 

Even though it was 8:00 in the morning, at the end of the promenade there was an open building in a park with very loud music playing. Over 200 Mexicans were doing rock dance exercise moves led by a city recreation worker. There were people from 6 to 70 having a great time to the music. It is done every day and day workers participate before their day shift at work!

In the village we have a snack and returned in the evening for a scrumptious taco dinner with 2 new friends. 

After an enjoyable walk through shops and the town square, plus 2 deserts in local storefronts,  we headed back on the "chicken" bus. 

In the afternoon we did have a bit of a surprise. The air conditioning unit in the room leaked water on the floor and beds--a bit of a mess but staff fixed things up in a few hours while we killed time in the pool. Tough day again. 

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Feb 25. Arrocito bay

This is one of the bays that we had visited, last time through. It was about a 3km bike ride from the hire this morning but we arrived about 9:00 am. After a good walk down many stairs, we had the pick of the restaurant tables with umbrellas right near the water. 

Being a beautiful swimming bay, with a restaurant that served good, we settled in for the day. 

Yesterday we thought we found the best restaurant in town for a late dinner. Today we actually were able to match it when a couple of our new Canadian friends waved us off the street to join them. 

Tough day!😃

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Feb 25. Caught with my pants down

Today we were talking to a couple of women from Kelowna and Campbell River (formerly from Princeton). 

The question came up. "What are you doing for our 150th birthday this year?"

I was caught in my tracks. Neither of us  have even thought about an activity to celebrate our national birthday other than our usual "ho hum" spring-summer-fall activities. 

One of the ladies was describing her birthday celebration activity and it made me feel a little sheepish. She was taking a plane trip for a week that stopped in locations from White Horse to Iqualuit in the north and back to Vancouver via a southern route. Each of the stops has a CANADA celebration activity. 

Adrienne and I started brain storming to come up with something unique--a place like a national park we have not seen, or some activity we have put off or place we have yet to see. 

If you have any good ideas for celebrating our National Birthday, let me know. We might even join you in doing it if it works out. 

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Feb 24. Yesterday's shaker

I forgot to mention that yesterday, at 4:27 AM we experience earthquake.  It woke us up with a shock. The hotel sounded like a huge vehicle hitting the rumble strip in the side of a highway. Although it lasted for less than Ten seconds, it felt much longer. We did not quite know what to do. We jumped out of bed but could not go outside because we are on the second floor and it was dangerous standing on the balcony because there is another cement balcony above our heads. 

We got back into bed thinking about an escape plan. I was on the internet searching earthquake history in the area, when sure enough a half hour later a second tremor occurred. This one lasted longer than the first.  It was certainly a bit unnerving. 

The first quake was 4.8 in the richter scale and apparently quakes of this magnitude are common in this area. No damage was reported, but as can be expected, Ade had a hard time getting back to sleep. I just crashed, but with my clothes on!!

Today I had a day full of fun. Ade took a break and I rented a scooter for the day. From 9:00 until 11:00 I just drove throughout Huatulco from bay to bay, get a complete "lay of the land". Next it was off to Entrega bay to resume my scuba adventure. 

Sure enough my guide from yesterday was there with three other clients to take me on a free dive and get the pictures that failed to come out yesterday. 

We saw the same sorts of fish and she got some great video of them eating from a shell in my hand. Along with one of her clients, she took us into the ocean cave again. It was much easier overcoming my claustrophobia today as a swell propelled us through the narrow waterway into the open cave area. The 15 year old from Brooks Alberta was beside himself with excitement--especially on our way out as experienced divers seemed to soar below us as they were diving right below us through the narrow entry way. 

The guide was so good to me as she took my email, assuring me that the pictures would be on my computer tomorrow. 

Next, I was back to see Ade for a bit before doing a bit more exploring in the afternoon. It was sad when 5:30 came and I had to return my machine. 

Village of Bocano Capalita where Chay and I stopped and tried our luck at surfing. 

The restaurant we are going to this evening only had one reservation left at 9:00. It will be a late dinner. 

Wow!! What a great dinner. Can you imagine? A French restaurant in Huatulco, Mexico?  I thought our hotel restaurant meal was great last night. This meal definitely raised the standard!  The entries and drinks were great and the fresh made lava cake (cooked while you eat so you order it at the start of your meal!) was more than we ever expected along with the home made ice cream (made each morning in the restaurant) sent the meal over the top!  All for just over $20!!!

The late stroll home topped everything off with the stars and perfect evening temperature with slight breeze. 

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Feb 23 Huatulco on an ATV

As I mentioned another entry on the blog, Huatulco is not really a city. It is an enormous park and within the park are three communities. These communities are Santa Cruz, Tangolunda and La Crucecita. 

 There are about 9 distinctive bays within the Huatulco park. Each one has a distinctive character with a nice clean sandy beach. We road our bikes to look at 2 of the bays yesterday.  

Huatulco' location on the North American continent is rather unique.

Because of the way Mexico bends around at the lower quarter , the coast line runs directly east and west, rather than the traditional north and south in Canada and USA. It takes a bit of getting used to when following or giving directions. Also, the sun does not set over middle of the ocean, it rises and sets near the shoreline here. 

An interesting point about tourism in this area is that traditionally 80% of the business in this town is generated  from within Mexico. Although you would find that figure hard to believe at this time of year when everywhere you look you can find Canadians. There is now a direct Air Transat flight from Vancouver!  A couple of our new surfer friends took it on a seat sale for only $500 CND return!

Of the more than a dozen people we have met, not one was American--all Canadian from Oliver, Campbell River, Brooks, Calgary, Regina , Toronto, Quebec and a whole bus load from the Bochello resort that we all Canadian. 

Our Mexican guide told us there are basically 2 kinds of tourists here--Mexicans and Canadians. 

Yesterday, after a rather warm bike ride, it was the pool for a refreshing dip. Then lunch--same delicious shrimp salad on the beach. 

Today it was an ATV trip along the beautiful landscape roadways of Huatulco. Traffic is so light that our tour rider had permits to allow us on any road in the Santa Cruz area!

Eventually she took us to a couple of kilometres of trails within the park. Then we ended up on a totally secluded bay for about 40 minutes. Here we took a swim and truly enjoyed the isolation of the area.

Next we were back on normal roadway driving. The colours and palm trees along the roadway are a treat.  Our next stop was a lighthouse at one of the points within the park. Stunning views were on three sides of us. Our final destination was another cove where we parked our ATVs beside a restaurant. Here we had lunch and then she took me snorkelling to a reef area within one of the bays. It was quite magical in the Clearwater viewing the coral and the hundreds of multicoloured tropical fish. At one point I had an old shell in my hand and there were dozens of fish eating from the shell in my hand. She took several pictures of it, but disappointing me they did not turn out.

The upside of this was she offered to take me again tomorrow, to redo the pictures.  Typically Mexican--very accommodating!

Here is an interesting shot of OUR HARBOUR BAY. There is actually a a small bay behind the cruise ship pier. It forms a marina with at least 200 boats in it behind the buildings with red roofs. We are located at the end of the marina behind the red roofs in the white building called the Skippers Club. 

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