A tourist in my own town....or how to get my Mexico on in 3 weeks and counting.

Finally back...all the stars aligned, our baby boy grandson was born, our daughter and her husband were ecstatic, our time spent in Ontario was time spent helping where we could and visiting a new area of the world for us.  We experienced winter with it's fierce winds and snow, experienced farm life and experienced family bonding...but when the date came, we drove through snow, winds and icy roads to make our flight from Toronto via Houston to Zihuatanejo. 




And coming to our Mexican home to be a tourist and to get that "Mexico feeling" that I crave.   First thoughts were all about the people....how it is so wonderful to walk the streets in our area and be called by name, hugged kissed and made to feel so very welcome.  Without our little dog, Cori...the regulars whom we've come to know ask us "Donde esta Cori?"  Luckily, we can say that he is coming in January!  But perhaps more interesting, not one of our condo neighbours has enquired.  Not one has said "felicidades" to us after the birth of our first grandchild...the same people who we've known for 7 years are here...granted, a few less due to circumstances...but really can we say this is "Home" with such a tepid response and guarded polite comments but no real interest in us personally from inside the 4 walls of Casa Ceiba??   I would expect more from the same people who we've been neighbourly with the last 7 years. 

But we refuse to let this behavior change our experience, so we've decided to use the presence of our friends Sue and Paul who joined us in Zihuatanejo after 3 weeks in Guanajauto and now Dawn, our friend and regular visitor to turn this into three weeks of being "tourists in our own town".... Eating out, swimming, attending every music opportunity we can, visiting Troncones, Barra and Playa Blanca...it's all here, for those of us who want to venture out of the 4 walls of Casa Ceiba. 








Our Nino's Adelante family has become even closer to us,  This year is Doraliz's final year at Prepa 13, the large public high school.  Doraliz has asked us for 3 years for a laptop for her birthday and each year we said "no" that we could not purchase this for her but this year, we felt that the timing was right.  So a few days after her actual birthday, when we arrived, we gave her the gift that will hopefully launch her towards her new career.  Doraliz has decided to pursue nursing as a career after she graduates.  I feel this is a realistic option for Doraliz, a kind and loving girl with a good work ethic who wants to live near her family but have an income and move ahead of her family.  She will be a good nurse someday. 

Again, it seems nearly impossible, but the town has survived the "low season"...oh some restaurants are gone, some stores have closed, some families have moved away,...but overall...the town has seen some improvements.  Politicians are in full campaign mode, showing off their achievements and proudly being photographed along the Parque Lineal, or in the rebuilt Cancha Solidaridad.   And what I've come to realize is that the politicians depend on the poorest, least educated citizens to be elected.  The more affluent Mexicans who live here, and the business owners,  have long ago given up hope that there will be honesty in politics.  They largely avoid political affiliations as it is either too dangerous or time wasted.  But meanwhile, the towns poorest are being recruited to support Juntos Somos Zihuas candidate Jorge!   My question is can any one politician meet the needs of the poor and the conflicting needs of a tourist resort that is wanting a new pier, a new waterfront walkway and downtown revitalization?  Life unfold slowly here in Zihuatanejo.  Each year goes by and the town survives, but only just.... 

Iguala and the massacre of students has become the barometer for all things wrong with Mexico.  But for us,...Mexico has rescued my sun starved skin, my body that needs and deserves warmth and my soul that responds to the love of Mexican people...their music, their food and their unabashed show of affection to those of us who care!

 

 

And one last photo...a lasting memory of what became my most dangerous experience in Mexico this year....look who was hiding in our toilet after our trip to Troncones....my little iguana who probably thought he was out of sight...note to self:  never ever sit without checking first!