Sunday, January 4, 2015

HIKING, EATING OUT AND SAYING GOOD BYE TO FRIENDS

With all of the excitement around the New Year I haven't had a chance to show you some of the pictures we collected from last week. 

In a rare moment of energy, the four of us headed out early to a favourite gringo walking area other than the beach. There is a partially built road beginning beside Jungle Pizza that was to lead to the airport. Not sure when it was built but it's definitely a no go now. At the entrance to the road there is even an old sales office still showing all the properties available. 

It's a nice place to walk because there is little to no traffic and a good change in elevation to make you really feel like you did something. 

Sadly, this is the first time we have walked here this year --- we really should be making more of an effort, especially for Rufus. The problem is that it needs to be done early - and well, we can't really be called morning people. 

Two years ago when we took this walk I called the post Hiking the Hills of Zihuatanejo. It looks the same just more overgrown. I'm always amazed when I look back at the change in Cassia since we were here last time.


For some reason we were up early. We didn't have breakfast so that we could get going - it's now about 8:30am. That's Derek and Rufus wayyyyy ahead of Cassia and I.


Still a few For Sale signs up - one thing is for sure - it'd be quiet.


With all of the flowering bushes planted it would have really been something had it been successful and maintained.



Lots to look at a long the way.


Derek and Rufus are long gone - Cassia and I are doing our best just to keep going - did I mention that it's pretty steep?!


Another For Sale sign near the top - nice view but I'm not sure how you would go about developing this lot!


The view! Of Zihuatanejo. Along our trek there was only one place to see below due to all the overgrown trees.


Cassia and I rounding the corner - with Derek on his way back down. Who needs to go to the top?


A family photo.


Like always, downhill was easier except for on our knees.


Just like last time - donkeys along the way. If you check the link up above of our walk last time you'll see both Rufus and Cassia touching a very friendly donkey.



As with our visits to Jungle Pizza, the tricky part of our walk is taking on the busy road between there and El Manglar. No sidewalks unfortunately.

In a few minutes we went from this to …..


this! 
Following a short pit stop at home we were comfortably sitting at Rossy's at the beach.


Since we started our walk without breakfast we easily talked ourselves into coming here after our walk. Rossy's has a great breakfast which we only realized just before we left two years ago. We've been talking about returning ever since we arrived back in November. We finally made it. A huge breakfast menu and good prices!


I enjoyed my orange juice and Cassia her pineapple juice. Her's was whipped - amazingly good.


Quite the spread - right?!
 It's just enough - we finished it all but didn't eat much until dinner. 
Remember Rossy's for breakfast if you are ever on Playa La Ropa.


Since we were right at the beach, off Cassia went swimming while Derek and I continued to enjoy our spot under the restaurant umbrella.



Cassia is becoming quite the water girl since we have arrived. Brave - very brave to take on some of those waves.


I think I've been neglecting Rufus in many of our posts. 


I don't think this is Rufus's favourite place to winter but he's also being brave.

So - that was last week Tuesday.


Since then we have been spending most of our time at the beach. Yesterday, after a few hours swimming we decided to go for lunch at El Manglar. Considering that we have only been there twice in the 1 1/2 months that we have been here, we figured we were doing pretty well - especially since it's one of the best restaurants on the beach.


Our view - nice sitting in the shade.


Ahhhh - 5 year olds.


Cassia and I over at the mangrove looking at the crocodiles.


Nice that Derek reached over and grabbed the camera.


An amazing meal. Periodically I share pictures on Facebook that El Manglar posts of their food - it is very very good. Those are mahi mahi fish sticks - very rich and very filling.


Nice that this iguana came down just as we were sitting there. Generally they are up in the trees so are challenging to get. 


Today our neighbours Sergio and Leonor - on the left - went home to Morelia. We sure enjoyed visiting with them since their arrival before Christmas. That's Lulu standing beside me - her and George are here until next Sunday.
Hmmm - interesting - I thought Derek and I were the same height!


They left early so Bill and George opened the gate for them.


They have a nice little rig - perfect for Mexico travel.

So - that's how it's been here.

We've been spending much of our time with Therese and her boys Kaden and Keller - either at each other's homes or at the beach. The kids have become good friends.

Our exciting news is that Derek's mom, Audrey, will be arriving here on the 16th to visit for 12 days. We are looking forward to taking her around to all of our favourite places and of course - just hanging out at the beach.

Tomorrow is our Humane Society visit and shopping day - boy, time sure goes fast - it feels like we were just there. I'm looking forward to my El Cafeicito coffee already!

Teresa





Thursday, January 1, 2015

NEW YEARS EVE AT EL MANGLAR

Because it was Wednesday, we spent much of the day at the restaurant. We love that it is closed and we can enjoy the shade and ocean breeze for a day. The difference between the heat at our van and here under the palapa roof is amazing. All we need is a place to hang our hammock!

Cassia was pretty excited when the boys returned from shopping with a set of new cars - with a new little truck for her - to add to her collection.


The kids setting things up. Apparently, Cassia was too busy to look up. 

A RV Park get together was planned for 6:00pm. Just as with Christmas - the timing was right so that we could get together at the restaurant. 


I just caught the last sunset of the year.


The party getting started. 
Our usual RV Park friends - with one addition. Yesterday afternoon a family from Fort St. John BC arrived at El Manglar for the night. They are on their way to Central America - if you are looking for another travel blog to follow here is the link to theirs - Sand to Snow. A very nice family we wish them a wonderful trip.


Keller wasn't feeling well so he didn't come to the party until later. Here's Cas and Kaden looking over the stone wall at the crabs.


Another good looking spread - we don't starve with these get togethers.


Again, Lulu was the creative force behind it all.


After dark a few of us went out to the beach. Our neighbour Bill had told me in the afternoon that he had a couple of hot air ballon lanterns. I was surprised because I had just seen them on Contessa's blog and thought how nice that would be - especially for Cassia. Now - here we were with two of them.

I keep trying to take a good photo of Zihuatanejo across the water at night.
 I don't think it works well because we are so far.


Sadly, it was just to windy to get the lanterns airborne. We'll have to try them another night. 
Nice that we did see several of them up in the air after the fireworks.

At around 8:30pm the three of us headed back to the van. Cassia went to bed and Derek and I hung out on the internet. 

At 11:30pm we headed back to the beach. We decided to bring Cassia along with us even though it meant waking her up.


Many of us brought chairs out from the restaurant to be comfortable.

Earlier in the day Derek, Cas and I had walked down the beach. The size of the firework set up promised quite the show. We learned later in the afternoon that the same set up was at several points along the beach. 

Just before midnight the show began.


It's been a long time since I've seen a fireworks show - actually  I can't even recall the last time. 


Of course it was amazing! 


I wasn't sure how the photos would turn out.  I found that the best way was to just keep clicking - waiting for a burst only meant I would miss it. 


If you are wondering where to spend next New Year's Eve - I'd put Zihuatanejo on the list - it was magical.



One of my favourite shots.







I even managed to take a movie!



Even though we trust that Cassia will be able to experience fireworks many times in her lifetime we were happy that we woke her up brought her out for this. 


After our show at Playa La Ropa had finished, the fireworks continued for a few minutes more at the main plaza.

Too bad it couldn't go on ……. and on and on.

After a round of Feliz Ano Nuevo to all of our friends we headed home.

Cas was asleep in minutes. Before we turned in, I called my mom who lives on Vancouver Island and posted the pictures on Facebook.

A good New Year's Eve for the Wood Clan. 

Although rare in that we had a place to go - Derek and I, in previous years, have kept things low key. 

Teresa




FELIZ ANO NUEVO!



From the Wood Clan!!!!
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