zihuatanejo re-cap

OK, well I didn't keep up the blog, so will recap the highlights of the trip.  I must do better next month when we go to Chile.
Let's see, the last entry was after posole night.  We managed to contact the taxi driver we had the last time we were in Zihua (thank you Bob for keeping his card!).  Andres is wonderful.  He's in his 50s and has lived in Zihua since he was 8.  He took us on an all day tour for $120 US for 4 of us.  We went to Casa Vieja, the oldest hotel in Zihua.  Then to the old town square, pointing out the original church and some original homes.  Then to Playa Larga, a 10 mile beach south of Zihua that has not been developed.  Then to a convenience store that has a tree full of iguanas out back, at least half a dozen of the big guys in the trees.  Then to see a barrel tile maker who is in his 70s who has been doing this since he was 8.  Oh, and the coconut harvest.  It happens every 3 months.  There are piles of coconuts on the ground. The first place we stopped, the man (who has no body fat) was splitting whole coconuts (with husks) with a hatchet. Georgia tried it.  Crazy.  The guy splits 3000 coconuts a day like this and he does not wear shoes! No OSHA in Mexico.  Another coconut site they were using a tire rim on it's side with an upright post that had a very ugly curved blade sticking up.  Three swipes and the coconut is husked.  They didn't let us try that one. One man can husk 2000 coconuts a day - no gloves. Then to the archeological site which is slowly being excavated from the surrounding jungle.  Carmelitias for dinner where G and I had chile rellenos stuffed with mahi mahi. Yum!
The next day, the guys had a bit of tourista, so G and I walked down the beach to the fanciest restaurant with tables set up on the beach with white table cloths.  We had a lovely (and expensive dinner) topped off with Mexican coffee drinks where they light the alcohol on fire and swirl it back and forth.  Sorry guys - it was great.
Next day I got to check something off my bucket list by riding horses on Playa Larga.  Luckily I know the words viejo and despacio in Spanish (old and slow).  It was magical none the less.
All too soon our time in the sun was over and back home.  Dean did really well with his foot and was able to walk the full length of the beach (1.5 miles total) by the end of the week.
Next postings will be from the Chile trip.