26 January 2010
You can find us camping in Zihua (Zihuatanejo) by using Google at 17.63208N, 101.54655
We really had no idea of what we’d find here in “Zihua” (Zee-Wa) and we’re pleasantly surprised. The drive here was un-eventful with the exception that Louise wasn’t feeling good. She woke this morning with a bad stomachache but wanted to continue on for the larger city, sick or not. This stuck with her for a couple of days and fortunately she’s now back to normal. We’ve been using the Camp Mexico book by the Church’s, so when we decided which campground we wanted to check-in to we headed directly to it. Of course with Louise not feeling well, I was receiving my directions from the back of the coach. Well that can and did create some problems and sure as heck I got us off track and found myself negotiating my way directly through the city. Again we found ourselves really lucky we didn’t have the other coach on this trip. It doesn’t make much difference whether you’re negotiating the larger cities or a small village, the infrastructure wasn’t set up for the larger motor homes. Anyway, I did find our way to the campground but upon entering it we were told “We’re completely full…”. After talking with the management, it was determined that ALL the campgrounds were filled with possibly one exception… Mary’s Restaurant/Campground. It is really small but the location is primo. We drove from the full campground to find Mary’s but immediately found ourselves just one block off… the problem with making this mistake is we now have to back out. We drove so far down into this very narrow road with cars parked on both sides, the only way out was to back out… We even drew a crowd along the sidewalk, most likely taking bets on whether I make it or not without taking a door or mirror off of someone’s car. Luck was with me as I backed out of the trouble spot and made the turn so that I could now make it over to Mary’s. There is only one other motor home here and this coach stays here year around. Mary’s would only hold 3 RV’s with hook-ups, but there is enough space for about 6 total.
When we go to the beach we walk through Mary’s restaurant or the mini-market and walk down the corridor about 50 feet to the beach.
It’s quiet (except when the “guard dogs” start barking”) and it’s secure. We can catch a cab for $30 pesos or a bus for $5 to Zihua and they are both at the end of the block. Zihua is a wonderful city to find just about anything you might want and is easy to find your way around as a pedestrian. There is an Artisans Market
and a Farmers Market in the city and we’ve enjoyed both of them.
This morning we heard that a turtle had come up onto the beach just in front of us and was laying her eggs. We couldn’t get ourselves around the corner fast enough to see her in the nest, but we were there to watch as she made her way back into the sea. What an amazing sight…
We were also amazed to find a cruise ship in the harbor this morning. Hell, it just about filled the complete opening. Since we’ve been here we’ve walked down to the beach each night to watch the sun setting.
Tonight wasn’t an exception except that once we hit the beach we saw the darn cruise ship blocked that too. All wasn’t lost as the view of the ship with the sun setting behind it turned out to be worthwhile after all.
We were also here when Mary’s hired a young man to climb the Coconut trees and remove all the coconuts…glad it was him and not me.
He was paid $5 pesos for each coconut that he removed. He’s sure not going to get rich doing that. $5 pesos is about $.40 US. I would guess he took down 20-25 and then the restaurant takes them and sell’s them for $25 pesos as a coconut. A quick blow with a machete, a carefully placed straw, and your enjoying that drink of coconut milk.