Archeological Site and Birthday Man

Archeological Site

Yet to be uncovered

Heidi, F, S, and Yadira

We visited an archeological site today, La Chole, that is in progress.  We went with F's teachers.  Amazing.  We got to go places that will eventually be available only for viewing, not walking around.  They say it will probably be one of the most important ruin sites in Mexico when finished.  Not much of it has been uncovered, yet.  They have a very nice museum which is only one year old.  We had a guide that was very knowledgable because he grew up around the ruins.  He took us to his home which was the first museum.  They date the site back to 500 years B.C.  The sports playing field had been worked on but they are going to leave the worship site as they found it.  The winners of each game were sacrificed and they found many skeletons around the sites.  I guess if you are raised with the idea of winning to lose your life, you accept it, like the suicide bombers today.  What was neat was to see a siite in progress, roped off and being brushed.  They showed us a hill that is a pyramid yet to be uncovered.  The site is about 30 minutes from Zihuatanejo.

Actual sports field reconstructed

Yadira, F and guide at Museum

Winner (?????) of game

Birthday Man
We were sitting on beach yesterday enjoying sights and sunset.  An older, nicely dressed man, came up and asked it he could join us.  Do we look like people who would be okay with a stranger joining them?  Benito was delightful.  He only spoke Spanish but spoke very clearly and slowly so we (mostly F) could understand him.  He had 2 kids in the states (Dallas and CA).  He had been a watchmaker.  F showed him his Dad's watch and Benito said it was very valuable because of the memories.  He said that yesterday was his birthday, 80 years.  Who really knows?  We fell for it all because he was such a nice man and just seemed lonely.  Very enjoyable experience.

Economy

Improved sidewalks

The economy here seems better than it has been when we were here before.  There is much construction.  Sidewalks on main drags have been replaced and overhangs added to shade them.  Grass has even been planted in places!  Very unusual.  Second stories have been added to many of the buildings on the main drags.  We understand that the richest nations seem to be in recessions but the 3rd world countries are in growth.  Interesting.  But the tourism seems down.  I assume because of the danger you see in the media.  Not sure if it is that or because Easter rush is coming up and this is just a down time.  But restaurants and beaches seem very slow and only slightly up on weekends.

Relections on Leaving and Lost Wallet

Reflections on Leaving

I won't miss:
Not having AC
Not having hot water
Shower that won't drain
Dirty mop
Kid and mom who cheated me and F's teacher out of $.20; it's the principle!
Sweating profusely most of the time and no AC to cool down
Seeing armed police in trucks whose guns just happen to point right at you as they zoom by Stray dogs that roam streets
Children selling Chicklets on beach that I have to turn down.  I tried to figure how much it
would cost if I bought from each of them.
Trash in streets Street noises from open windows at night and (way too!) early morning (buses and large trucks struggling to get up hill outside our window)
Not being able to put toilet paper in toilet
Not being able to drink water from faucet
Not having washer and dryer in house
Not finding a church we both enjoy
Dust on everything due to open windows
Not having dishwasher
Sand in bed after beach day

I will miss:
Breezes coming in unscreened windows
Not having flys or mosquitoes
Fresh fruits and avocados
Our totally different lifestyle
Beautiful skin tones
Sounds of the language
Trying new food
Talking to people from many different places
Seeing ruins
Seeing flowers growing spontaneously
$1.50 haircuts; cheap manicures, pedicures, grooming for Cloud
Trying to communicate in another language
Hearing F and Adolfo (apt manager) laugh as they try to understand each other's language
Going on adventures Yadira (teacher) thinks up for f's class to take
Seeing people's fascination with Cloud
Seeing gorgeous sunsets; only F sees sunrises
Spending time on pristine beaches
Gorgeous scenery as we travel in car
Walking everywhere
Street noises from open windows (roosters crowing, women selling bread, men selling water, kids walking to school)

Lost Wallet

We went to beach Sunday and had a great time.  When we got back to the apartment Pepe from the restaurant called to say F left his wallet in hammock.  He and Pepe made arrangements for F to get it Monday in Ixtapa where Pepe works his second job.  We met him Monday and it turns out that is Pepe's day off and he made a special trip to bring the wallet to F.  He refused any money.  What a nice man!  The wallet had everything in it. Isn't that a great story with all the bad stories you hear? 

Cloud Scare

F and I went to the Sports Park that is near us to walk with Cloud.  F had bought some basketball nets for the goals at the Park because all theirs were missing or about gone.  He and the worker at the park were putting up the nets.  F needed more rope so went across the busy street to get more.  Cloud was with me at the fence (R) by street.  When he saw F leave he took off and ran (L) around the fence to the exit after F.  I screamed because it is really a busy 4 way intersection with no light.  He ignored me and kept running across the intersection.  I just covered my eyes.  I knew there was no way he could get across safely.  When I opened my eyes he was in the shop with F, safe!  Unbelievable.  But he is limping tonight so I think he overdid it.

Last night we got with a couple we met here last year.  Paul and Sarah live in Idaho.  He is a big fisherman and she was a surfer in her younger days.  They brought a woman we also met last year who is the wife of the Christian Church pastor.  Rosie is a patient advocate at the hospital.  It was so good to see them.  Great scenery, great food, great company! (R)

One of F's class assignments was to interview some people and ask questions about their family, job, spare time, etc.  He has interviewed several shop owners and several waiters (R).  He also talked to a furniture builder close to our apartment, a young man who seemed very shy but was very nice.  The other day we were walking by the furniture shop on our way home and the man stopped F and showed him this sculpture (L) he had made for us.  It is F (very tall, F loves it), Sharon (very short but thin) and Cloud (who looks somewhat like a dinosaur).  We thought it was so nice and thoughtful.

Not a Good Day in Paradise

Our electricity went out.  That means no fans!  Turns out bill hasn't been paid for 4 months.  Not sure what happened but owner, Clara, was very apologetic.  Adolfo brought us power from another apartment with an extension cord.  Lasted only about 12 hours.  So paradise is back.

Yesterday F's class went to a small town about 1 hour away and we met some of Yadira's family at the store they operate.   The idea was to give her class an opportunity to use their Spanish with people who would be patient.  It was really enjoyable and her family all have as much personality as she does.  We were close to the beach and a cousin walked us to see it.  Beautiful.  Only one resturant.  Very pristine.  I guess it is far enough out of Zihua that tourists don't want to come that far.  They said it fills up on the weekends. 

 We ate lunch at El Calvario which has the most beautiful view of any resturant we've seen.  Gorgeous waves and a vista that went on and on.  It was open air, of course, so got a nice breeze.  I got shrimp in a coctail sauce.  Delicious.  About $8 for mine.  What's fun about Yadira's classes are hitting the hidden jewels we wouldn't know about otherwise.  Fun day!

Adolfo's family comes to dinner

We invited Adolfo and his family, Ermilia and Anna, to dinner at the apartment.  Fred cooked an "American" meal.  He had chicken fried steak, fried onion rings, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, salad with his Thousand Island dressing, and banana split for dessert.  They asked to come early so they could see how he cooked it.  Ermilia helped Fred cook.  She did everything just like Fred said.  She was really intrigued.  Even Anna, 12, ate everything.  They had never eaten the chicken fried steak or onion rings but said it was like "Kentucky" which they had in Acapulco.   It was a fun night!