OUR VISITOR ARRIVES!

Thursday night Therese and I took the kids for a walk on the beach. Here's Cas and Keller ...

We don't get there often but at the end of the beach are these rocks and shells - which are sadly lacking at our end. I'll take a picture of a few of them - there the orange and purple ones - LOVE them!

Yesterday morning we learned about a benefit concert - with a guitarist from Colorado - for the Zihuatanejo Humane Society Friday night at Loot. So - first we had to figure out where Loot was. With a little research we realized it's the place we go by, either by combi or taxi, that has the Volkswagon food truck. We thought it might be a fun thing to do with Derek's mom so we walked over Friday morning to take a look at the place.

Along the way Cassia pointed out this guy as he was walking back from his piece of fruit on the road.

Very pretty - right?! First one we have seen in Mexico this year.

The Loot sign out front. I always wondered what kind of place it was….

A food truck in Mexico!

Loot.

It's hard not to like a place with chairs like these…..

A Hipster kind of place. 

 Fun to look.

Great posters - Cas and I liked the one on the left best.

Craft beer!  

Yes, we LOVE craft beer but not for 95 pesos per bottle. Sigh.

 Sohnfeld by the way is brewed in Mexico.

We took ourselves on a bit of a tour. Communal restroom sink - pretty neat.

The view from the second floor.

Heading up to the third floor where the concert was to be held.

With our curiosity of Loot satisfied we headed back home via the beach.

Since the manta rays were around it was a good chance to TRY to get some shots. 

They seem to love surfing.

Derek took all these shots standing about waist deep in the ocean. He was there for a least a half an hour - so - lots of patience to get a few good shots.

We've grown to enjoy having them swim around us.

Of course - as most of you know - Friday afternoon we were headed to the airport to pick up Derek's mom. Boy was Cassia excited. Here we are in the back of our neighbour Bill's truck. He generously offered to take us to pick Audrey up.

The airport is along highway 200 about 15 minutes south of Zihuatanejo.

Waiting, waiting - actually a fairly small airport but nice.

Derek's mom - arriving from Canada - she was last in Zihuatanejo 30 years ago.

With a late afternoon arrival we headed back to Playa La Ropa - back to El Manglar and over to her hotel room - then….

to the beach!

Last nights sunset as we walked down for dinner at Paty's and then over to Loot for the concert. In the end we only stayed at Loot for a little while. We realized that a concert start time of 9:00pm was going to be too late for all of us. So - we headed home.

Tonight we headed back down to the beach for a sunset walk.

Derek, Cas, and Audrey.

Cassia and I with Audrey.

There tends to be quite a few dead puffer fish on our beach. We heard that they get caught in the nets and the fisherman throw them over board. Once in a while they are still moving around like this one. We do what we can - Derek threw him back in - hopefully we were in time.

Just as we got back we found Bill and Marlo at the beach. 

Derek vs. Marlo!

Marlo with his prize.

This evening we enjoyed sitting out on Audrey's balcony listening to the music coming from Rossy's - a nearby restaurant. Not a great picture but here's the three girls dancing and then giving Cas a swing.

So - a busy few days for the Wood Clan.

Once our trip to the Commerical Mexicana was out of the way this morning, we enjoyed the rest of the day ensconced in the luxury of an air conditioned hotel room and back at the beach.

Teresa

PUPPIES, KITTENS, CROCODILES & MANTA RAYS

This week we changed things a bit and went into El Centro and grocery shopping on Tuesday instead of Monday. We still had enough groceries to last us - better to go in when we really need to. 

As we always do - we took the combi from Playa La Ropa - just down the way from us - to very close to the Cancha Municipal. We've become very good at getting dropped off at just the right spot. We still have to walk but it isn't far.

First, things first, to the Zihuatanejo Animal Humane Society. I forget sometimes that not everyone reads every post. Elizabeth saw the pictures of us walking a puppy and wondered if he was a new addition to the Wood Clan. Nope - Rufus is enough for us - and the van. However, we are happy to help the Society by walking a dog - or two - each week. If you are visiting Zihuatanejo and can help out - please do - they need all they can get as it is mainly run by volunteers.

Frisky - the pup we so named that we have walked for the last two weeks wasn't there. Dare we hope that he was adopted! This week, Frisky 2 and Frisky 3. The poor dogs - they are so wound up by the time they get out for their walk. First stop - the park for a few minutes then up and over the bridge.

Last time we went left - this time we went right as we noticed this nice sidewalk. 

Only a bit challenging walking a frisky dog and taking a picture. Derek in lead and Cassia the 'bag holder' in the middle.

We walked as far as this open field. 

There was construction going on in the distance so maybe it is new.

I'm gonna love ya and squeeze ya…

Then back over the bridge and back to the Humane Society.

We visited with the dogs/puppies for a bit. They tend to get very excited when humans are there so very loud. There were about 5 pups in this cage. This guy has the look of desperation in his eyes - hard to see.

On the other hand, we were thrilled to see this dog here. She is a stray and was hanging around the RV Park for a few days until someone called. Volunteers came to pick her up. She looks pregnant - at least she is getting looked after here. She has the saddest eyes.

The view from the HS balcony.

Then down to the second floor for our second visit with the kittens.

Then to our place - El Cafecito. Man am I going to miss this place. There is the Owner - a nice guy. I really should get his, his wife's and daughter's name before we leave. 

This has been our table for the last three visits. I could live right there - view of the ocean, shade, a gentle warm breeze, people watching, great coffee…… 

Then on to our somewhat gruelling walk - because of the heat - to the Commercial Mexicana. We stopped by the crocs at the basket ball court for Cassia to visit with them. The same crocs she kissed back two years ago when we had Dinner at the Basketball Court.

I'm gonna love ya and squeeze ya…

We often run into Memo at the Commerical Mexicana - he is the Owner of El Manglar - as he is out buying groceries for the restaurant. Since we ended up behind him at the check out we managed to get ourselves a lift home. 

He only had one more stop to make which was here…… 

Memo parked a few streets away and he and I walked over. I was looking for garlic which I found. I was surprised to find that this was the exact place we purchased our produce - very cheaply - last time during our Market Day in Zihuatanejo. We had lost it but now it was found. Sadly, only weeks before we are leaving. Sigh. 

We were home fairly early - mid afternoon. After walking and driving around in the heat the beach was the only place to go.

Our little goldfish…

Kaden, Keller and Cassia. 

Cloudy and even looked like rain but nothing came of it. 

I can always tell when Cassia has been slammed by a wave by her hair style.

We haven't been swimming alone these last few weeks. We have company - especially in the morning. The manta rays….

Fun to watch - they are small and alone or in groups of 3, 4, 5, 6. Therese and I were really nervous at first and did our research. Seems all is fine unless you step on one - which apparently REALLY hurts. We do the sand shuffle now. 

I so desperately would like to get a picture of them in the surf - it's amazing to see. I think my chances are as good as photographing lightning. 

Derek and I did see one leaping which you can also see over at Roads Less Travelled - Mark and Emily sailed by here and got a few pictures.

So - with last nights post - that has been our week thus far.

Only two more sleeps until Cassia's Grandma arrives. Good thing - I don't know that her excitement - or ours - can be contained much longer. 

Friday afternoon our friend Bill from the RV Park is taking us to the airport. That should be fun - we've never been there before. I'll have those pics next post - fingers crossed - Friday night.

Teresa