New program by the Mexican tourism board to promote Zihua

Zihuatanejo is the heaven you go to while you are still alive.The town is perfect Mexico. The people are fantastic, so friendly and helpful, and truly happy to meet you.The restaurants all treat you warmly and offer assistance in any way they can. The taxi drivers are friendly, helpful and very honest.
Zih is a beautiful city where you can wander the streets without the slightest of fears.
We stay for two weeks at Villa Mexicana and one week at Club Intrawest and love every minute. We walk to the Commercial Mexicana for groceries and other things then take a taxi to Banditos for lunch.
We have been coming for eight years and plan for many, many more.

I don't believe the ban on dogs is going to help. After coming down for tow months this winter I am moving to Zihua next week but, if Max Maggie and I can not go to the beach, we will move. I do not think I am the only one.

I'd like to vouch for Eloisa and congratulate her on her endeavor, which in her capable hands can help bring some much needed positive publicity to Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa and attract some like-minded people to our destination.

Eloisa, feel free to also peruse older messages here and in the Old Message Board Archives. I can help you contact anyone who posts here in case they wish to protect their privacy.

Here, I'll even go:

Hola, my name is Rob Whitehead. I first came to Zihuatanejo from Longboat Key, Florida 40 years ago for a 6-month stay when I was a teenager. During my residence here I met a local girl and fell in love and we dated for a while, but due to circumstances I left and returned to Florida without her mailing address or phone number. Zihuatanejo had gotten deep under my skin and I often found myself missing the place and its extremely warm and friendly people. Fifteen years later I got the opportunity to return to visit my mother who had recently moved here. It was love at first sight for the second time with the same girl from my youth and also with Zihuatanejo, so I risked everything for love and stayed. After a year I married my childhood sweetheart, Lupita Bravo of Lupita's Boutique, and we've been enjoying our honeymoon ever since. We'll celebrate our 24th anniversary this year. I started working here as an English teacher but when Internet arrived to Zihuatanejo almost by accident I began making websites, including www.Zihuatanejo.net, which almost by accident has become the most popular website for our region. Now besides designing and maintaining websites, I also try to help our community, including promoting our region. My wife and I have also helped to channel generous donations made by my Message Board readers to many worthwhile local causes, including schools and elderly care facilities and the Sociedad Protectora de Animales de Zihuatanejo. Now we are grandparents excited to be watching our family grow. One thing I endeavor to help preserve is Zihuatanejo's culture and history. While I think the town has grown too fast and too haphazardly, I know that there are many good and decent hardworking local people who love Zihuatanejo deeply and who will strive like my wife and I to help shape its future in a positive manner.

Must see: La Chole Museum and archaeological site, Las Gatas, Barra de Potosí, Isla Ixtapa, Troncones, Mesas de Bravo, Petatlán, La Unión, La Barrita, Papanoa

Must do: Charter a boat or go out on the Picante catamaran to spend a a few hours on the water outside our bay along our coast to enjoy the majesty of the view and the sea life. In the winter you may see whales. Any time of year you're almost sure to see dolphins.

Where to eat: I love all the restaurants listed in my Guide to Local Restaurants (that's why they're listed).

How's that? Did I leave anything out?

The Story of Rob & Lupita

Hola, my name is Sydney Stewart. I first visited Zihuatanejo in 2008. I was on a cruise with friends and one of the stops was Zihuatanejo. The minute I set foot in this charming little town, I knew I must return one day. Later that year, I met my now husband, Roy, and in Feb. 2011, we made our first trip together to Zihuatanejo. We stayed at Casa Kau Kan on Playa Larga and Roy proposed to me (on one knee I might add!) on the second day at sunset. A year later, we returned to Casa Kau Kan, with 12 of our friends, and got married on the beach at sunset. The entire event was planned by Ricardo, the owner of Casa Kau Kan, and was perfect, from the minute our guests arrived until everyone left a week later. We have returned to Casa Kau Kan each Feb. since then, and also explored Troncones and other hotels in Zihuatanejo. We fell in love with the town, and the people and this last Feb. purchased land overlooking the Pacific Ocean. In Oct. of this year, Roy will be moving to Zihua and will build our house/B&B. Next summer, I will retire from my teaching job and join him. We are both beyond excited! We hope you will visit our B&B when we are up and running and enjoy our hospitality

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3654277481170&set=a.3654188838954.167375.1401550312&type=3&theater

It was a 2nd marriage for both of us and we did a Apple Vacations Mexican Riviera Cruise in Jan 1998 with one of the stops was "Z". In Jan 1999 we wanted to go to some place in Mexico for a week. A friend suggested that we do a Apple Vacations and go to Ixtapa and stay at the Dorado Hotel. We fell in love with Ixtapa even though I got sick from the ice the best we can figure. Fate had us walking up the beach that Tuesday morning and a couple of sales reps came out from the beach area at Pacifica and asked if we would like breakfast the next morning at El Faro's and do a sales presentation- we thought we wanted to go to El Faro's anyway and a free breakfast. The next morning, 3 hours after going for breakfast we are walking back to the hotel and we asked our selves what did we just do. We had bought 1 Gold week at the Sands they were enlarging. Each time they came up with a new concept our girl who had graduated from college and we were her first American customer would tell Kathie. Kathie's response was always we just want to look. 1 week went to 2 when we bought the Aqua. Then we had to go look at the Grand when they had just started and of course we had to get a week at the Grand. The year my mother passed we were scheduled to go to the Grand a day later after she passed. We had arrived on Thursday morning and was on a plane back to the States on Friday. We went to Pacifica that Friday morning- the manager said go book this year's week and pay the maintenance for next year and we could stay 2 weeks at that time. While at the Grand that year we decided to get a 2nd week in "Z". Now we have 2 weeks at the Aqua in Ixtapa and 2 weeks at the Grand in "Z". We were at breakfast at El Faro's 2 years ago and was joking with our salesman friend and told him I would be 95 when our weeks ran out- he said did you here of Points. Now we traded the 4 weeks to Points and can go down as often as we want and when as long as there is available units and Points left. The last 2 years have gone down for 3 weeks each trip and for 2015 we booked 4 weeks at the Grand. We love the people we have met and the way the staff with Pacifica treats us is out of this world- the girl that showed us our first unit is the General Manager of the resort. We have not missed a year since our first time in January 1999. Thanks- Paul Ford

Hola, Eloisa -- Paulette here (my sister Connie is locahermanas 1 and I am locahermanas2; she might write separately)
We first came to the area sometime in the early 1990s on a timeshare exchange in Ixtapa. We were there for two weeks and had a nice vacation (don't get me wrong) but toward the end of it we decided to check out Zihuatanejo -- that's when we were hooked! Since then, we've returned to the area about 7 or 8 times -- always to Zihuatanejo. (Since we retired, we stay about 3 months and we bring family in for short stays while we're here.)

The first "longer stay" occurred when my sister and I left the guys at home and rented a small apartment behind the bottle return plant for a month -- very simple, no pool or amenities -- but we were so close to everything that charms us, we knew that we'd be back with our family members. Favorite memory from that time: "Pedrito" the parrot who sings Mexican songs (but only sometimes!)

Taking the lead from Rob, I'll simplify what we like:

WHAT WE LIKE BEST: The local people: friendly, helpful, very seldom annoyed by our presence; always willing to struggle with us while we attempt to communicate in our very sad version of Spanish. We are remembered by many from year to year. I remember one time in particular when -- wheerever we walked -- the locals would say "Oh, here come the happy sisters!) WHen we do something silly, we have the feeling that we are being laughed WITH not at! (Like this year when I dressed up in a pink wig and flashy bow for the carnaval parade -- looking like a very fat gringa in a clown suit! Everyone, even the teens, laughed along with me and my husband and I had a ball.) Most important: we've made some very good true friends among locals residents.

THE MARKET -- We buy almost everything in the central market, using Commercial primarily for dry goods, etc. We love to cook while we're here and we love to chat with the vendors who are always helpful and ready to tell us what to do with something we might not have used before.

Sundays at the beach -- what beach? Just about any beach, but certainly LaMadera and LaRopa or Barra de Potossi. Why Sunday? Great, friendly people watching and interaction with local families, their kids and dogs. I love it when the beach is full of people having fun.

FAVORITE BEACH -- Sorry, this one goes to Troncones -- but having that community accessible from Zihuatanejo is just fantastic. And Troncones is perfect for longer term beach getaways -- we definitely will return.

Sunday night at LaCancha -- street food, ball games, events, music...every week like a trip to a fair.

Food -- From the most inexpensive to the high end -- the restuarants are excellent. I have never been disappointed by a meal here. I do spen most of my time in Zihua centro, dining in the fondas,, along Calle Adelita, or along Playa Principal, --- always something new to try or something I missed in previous years.

MUSIC -- Of course Guitar Festival -- but I must say that my favorite music experience this year were the two younger groups of local musicians playing old AMerican rock n roll. I would LOVE to hear them weave in more modern Mexican music in their repetoire. DO NOT SHUT THESE KIDS DOWN. There was a lot of grumbling about noise factors -- I found every single event high energy and lots of fun -- and they did not go on and on into the wee small hours, so I can't imagine why there was a fuss. Local musicians and artists need our support and encouragement. Hope there will be more music in small club/bar venues. ALways nice to listen to live music during the week.

EASE OF TRAVEL -- My first choice in getting around beyond walking distance is the bus/collectivo -- perfect, fun, reliable. Just hang on if you're going out of city limits. Second, taxis. But the taxi price war is bad news and causing lots of difficulty if you want to really enjoy the surrounding area -- te fares to and from Troncones are ridiculous and difficult to justify. Same true from the airport to anywhere. With very few excedptions, however, the taxi drivers are friendly and helpful.

ACCOMMODATIONS -- we rent condos from several different private owners, or we rent boutique hotels. I will say that ANY place in LaMadera is the BEST place to stay. Having everything in easy walking distance just can't be beat.

POZOLE THURSDAY -- okay, this could fit under food, but a separate catefory because I love the entertainment that goes along with the soup. Like to try all the places.

MUSEO -- We try to go to whatever event is takign place in the Museo -- always interesting.

MEDICAL -- WInter 2013 I broke my leg (In Ixtapa) -- and I received EXCELLENT health care in Zihuatanejo from the regular doctor, Xray technicians, and orthopedic specialist -- all house calls, and all so reasonably priced I can't imagine anyone not using health care in Zihua. Another time I broke my glasses and had excellent service and reasonable pricing from the optometrist -- including all new frames I still love.

EASY LIVING -- this one from my husband. When I asked what he meant he said "the neighborhood is great. What I do down there is great. No pressure. Great people."

CONSCIENCE CITY WORKERS -- For all those folks who don't pick up after themselves -- there is a cadre' of hardworking people who clean up the streets. I would add more of these workers to the public payrolls and spread their skills all around town, not just in the high touristy areas.

CARNAVAL -- every year, but especially this year with the focus on Mexican culture and traditions. The very best parade EVER.

CIVIC BUILDING -- Love the new walk from Kyoto to Commercial. Love the playgrounds for kids and the exercise equipment for everyone. Love the plants. Love the great building going on all over town. NO matter how "nice and modern" it gets it will always be a thousand billion times better than Ixtapa.

SO THE WHAT'S thE DOWNSIDE?
One thing we're really concerned about is the noxious odor from the sewers. It was very ripe, very often this year. This really needs serious attention.

Too many stray dogs. I love dogs -- and cats, too. We've kept pets all our lives. But dog poop on the streets and beaches is not cool. We visited San Miguel this year and couldn't help but notice that every "pet" was on a leash (many on soft muzzles) and owners carried pooper scoops -- and there was also concerted effort to pick up after the very few strays we saw.

SO VERY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO RETURN AGAIN AND AGAIN

About 10 years ago we went with friends to Ixtapa to their timeshare, we returned the second year, but that was the year we discovered Zihuatanejo. Our friends took us to Playa Las Gattas, following our day at the beach we wandered the streets of Zihuatanejo. We kept saying this is Mexico, this is our Mexico, and made plans for the next year in Zihuatanejo.

We always stay in El Centro,as we love the activity , the shops and the ability to walk to everywhere. It took us a couple years to find the perfect little apartment which we now return to every year. At first we could only stay a week, soon two, then a month, last year two months, this year 3 months. This place grows in your heart. The people are friendly, the area safe, the sun and the beaches fantastic.

The Mercado is a fun place to shop for fruits, veggies and almost everything else. There are so many wonderful restaurants, it makes the decisions difficult. My list of favorites places include the museum at La Chole including the pyramid and ball court, Playas Las Gattas, La Madera, La Ropa, Barre de Potosi, Sunday night at the basketball court, Saturday morning Ecco-Tianguis at the artists park. And keep an eye on Rob's message board to keep you in formed of activities and events that pop up that may become your favorite. The message board is sort of like the town newspaper.

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KO