Farewell to Zihuatanejo

El Mediteraneo

Wednesday night as usual we went out for dinner. El Mediteraneo is another restaurant we have meant to visit for years and one we now regret not visiting before. As you may guess from its name, the food is largely Italian. The owner has worked in many parts of Europe and the menu reflected his tastes-- fortunately, very similar to ours! It is located on the “restaurant strip” on Paseo del Pescador. We have passed by many times but somehow never dropped in.

Visit to the Ranch

Thursday we finally got the chance to visit the family ranch–not ours, but Edmundo and Gloria’s family ranch. Mundi and his dad, also Edmundo, arrived to lead us out to the ranch.







They set off the the pickup and we followed along in our own car. The ranch is located in Ixtapa and is no longer actively worked. It contains about 40 hectares or 100 acres. In it's heyday, there were 400 head of cattle, now only 20 remain, almost pets of Don Edmundo.










If you look carefully at the air roots of the tree on the right you can see what appears much like little men.








Besides the natural trees on the property there are acres of fruit trees--Don Edmundo picked several hands full of mandarines for us to savour as we toured. Besides the mandarins, there are orange, mango, papaya, starfruit and coconuts, many of which find their way in season to the El Manglar restaurant, owned by son Memo.







We climbed a small hill for a panoramic view then visited the old ranch house, still inhabited, where we quenched our thirst with fresh coconut water. (From fresh green coconuts, a light refreshing drink, not at all like coconut milk which comes from more mature nuts.)



Mundi says that many hundreds of the trees on the rancho were planted by his father. Don Edmundo himself admits to planting "hundreds" of Cedros that now line many of the old pastures as well as countless fruit trees.


Pangea Restaurant Again

Thursday night we returned for third time to the Pangea Restaurant for another wonderful meal. This time Art had the Tikka Masala while Gillian asked if there was a Special and Mal replied that he could do a stir-fry with chicken, prawns vegetarian--Gillian ordered the Chicken Stir-fry and was a bit startled to find it a Thai spiced meal! Fortunately she had a beer close to hand to quench the fire!

Friday March 6, our last day in Zihuatanejo for this season. We have already reserved our space for December 1st, and to ensure it will be ready for us we started a herb garden using cuttings and some dill seeds from Cal and Linda, our neighbours. Oregano, dill and maybe the basil will take–a cutting has sprouted 2 new leaves, but it is very tiny so far. Linda promised to water and care for it until we return.

Today we did not have a lot to do, we were pretty much packed up and really only needed to disconnect and go. Gillian was due back at the dentist for her crown and we had to return the Starchoice satellite remote control which we had borrowed from our good friend David, an American who has lived in Ixtapa for several years.

Art dropped Gillian off at the dentist then wandered down to the Zihuat Pancake House, owned by David’s wife Minerva, to have a farewell coffee and to leave the remote control. Then out to fill the car with gas, pick up copies of our driver’s licenses, (you never give a Mexican policeman your original) then back to Minerva’s to pick up Gill, and join her for an early lunch.

Back at the rig, Art took down the satellite dish, drained and flushed the black and gray water tanks, filled the fresh water tank and cleaned and stored the hoses and cables. Just have to remember to disconnect the AC Power cord before we pull out in the morning!

Even though we had already done almost everything, we were finally completely packed and ready barely in time to shower, change and join our Zihua friends in the El Manglar restaurant for a farewell supper.

On our way--eventually

Next morning we were up at a reasonable hour; for once we were going to get away as planned. At 8:15 as Art was relaxing with a second cup of tea he exclaimed “(use your imagination). . . . I forgot to pick up the battery hold down straps!”. . . . .

The batteries were not secured when we bought the rig, it had only half a strap with one metal clip hanging loose, so Art had asked Mundi if he knew where he could get some made. Mundi shortly after presented us with 5 new clips, exactly like the first, so off to the shoe repair shop to get nylon straps with plastic buckles attached.

The taller had to order the webbing and buckles and said that he would phone if they were ready on Saturday (a week before our leaving date) or else they would be ready Tuesday afternoon. . . .

Off to centro he went. The shop was open and the owner and his son were working away on something (stitching with awl and thread) when Art asked about his straps. “Ah. Si! Lunes.” (Monday!) was the reply. Art’s comments here should also be left to the imagination. Explaining that we were supposed to be leaving NOW, he waited for the response–which should have been expected: "Horita?" "Si, inmediatamente!"

The shoemaker began rummaging through shelves, boxes and under piles of stuff–old shoes, pieces of leather–with no luck. He asked his wife and son, but they were unable to help. About 15 minutes later he grinningly held up a small plastic bag, containing all the parts, still in pieces.
“Una Hora!” Una Hora? One Hour– we need to leave right away, can’t you do it quicker? Una Hora. OK one hour. Unable to understand why it would take one hour to sew on three buckle ends and 6 clips, Art nevertheless took the opportunity to wander down a couple of blocks to the Zihua Pancake House to fume over a coffee.

Minerva appeared a few minutes later accompanied by her 4 year old daughter Lara, who greeted him with “Hola Arturo” and a kiss. Art asked her what kind of book he should bring her next year, she replied “ princessa” (princess)! Mal (of Pangea) arrived shortly after, surprised to see Art still still in town, and laughed at the explanation. So they had a short last minute visit and Art went back up the street to see if he could hurry the process any.

Why the hour was required was quickly obvious; using awl and thread, binding the ends of each strap (12 ends) and sewing on the clips and buckles, 6 clips and 6 buckle ends, all took time. Art realised then that they had stitched on the free end of each buckle, which we would have to un-pick before we would be able to pull the traps tight. However. We were finally on our way by 11:05, 2 hours late. So what's new?!