Zihuatanejo

Monday March 13, 2006 LOCATION: Zihuatanejo, Mexico
GOOGLE EARTH COORDINATES: 17 37.731N,101 33.009W

A couple more stops along the way and we have made it to Zihuatanejo. Our much anticipated destination as the last stop on the Mexico itinerary before we make our exciting cross of the Pacific Ocean, affectionately known as the "Puddle Jump". Someone had a sense of humor didn't they.

After Tenicatita we made a quick one night stop in Barre de Navidad. Barre refers to the fact that the area is largely a sand bar. The channel leading into the harbor and large lagoon are known to be very shallow and continually dredged in order to maintain depths for vessels to enter. We glided in with no problem and were immediately impressed. To the left is a small lagoon and the town of Barre. It sits on the ocean side and backs right up to the beach. The boys and I had quite a nice time playing on the beach, climbing on rocks and Bruce got in his own day of surfing. On the right hand side, the lagoon opens up into this amazing oasis of a resort and marina. The Grand Bay Hotel rivals even Paradise Village Marina, dare I say even a bit more classy. It was very expensive and out of our league but impressive. The grounds were absolutely beautiful and the boys thought the pool was even better than the ones at Paradise Village. I didn't think that was possible. We will definitely have to try that spot again someday. We enjoyed a nice dinner and a walk though the town. We stumbled upon an aviary of sorts in someone's yard where they raised every bird imaginable from the smallest of parakeets and chickens to the largest ostriches we've seen.

Next stop on the list was Manzanillo. A town originally named for trees that used to grow there producing a fruit that looked like apples. The fruit it provided turned out to be poisonous and making the explorers sick. The trees were eventually eradicated from the land and the name stuck. We spent one night there to rest up and prepare for our overnight sail to Zihuatanejo. We never even touched land and had a most relaxing swim and reading time.
We departed from Manzanillo early in the morning around 7 am and had a perfectly uneventful sail/motor to Zihuatanejo. We were able to pull into the bay and drop anchor just after lunch. The bay as you enter has the look of a mini Cabo San Lucas. The bay offers a few different anchoring areas though we were really surprised to see the enormous Princess Line cruise ship smack in the middle. We had no idea that this was such a popular tourist destination. We heard it was growing but didn't realize that much. The town itself is quite comfortable and homey. You feel the effects of the cruise ship when it is in town but aside from that it is quiet and peaceful. Very relaxed. There is not quite the omnipresent pushy peddlers we have tried so hard to avoid in other towns. Quite a few of our cruising buddies were here and preparing for their crossing as well.
Tomorrow Tim Mason comes to visit again for one more wild week of surf and sun. After he departs, my parents (Lisa's) will arrive with my sister and one of two nephews. They will be here to fill us up with our last bits of hugs and lovin' and see us off as we jump that puddle.
until next time,
lisa and the boys