Short January trip report

A bit of a trip report for January and our annual stay in Zihua. Arrived the 11th of January. Delayed flight as this was the beginning of the cold snap in western Canada and the luggage doors were frozen shut. 2.5 hours on the tarmac in Calgary but finally flew out. It was one of the fastest trip through immigration, luggage & customs here in Zihua. Off the plane and in a taxi in less than 30 minutes.
Unfortunately 10 days into our stay I got Covid. Beware - lots saying it is a head cold but afraid much of it is probably Covid. Definitely caught it down here despite spending most of our time (besides sleeping) outdoors. As Rob has already mentioned there are also cases of dengue fever. If you a mosquito magnet, you will want to wear repellent.
The weather has been variable. Lots of cloud & humidity. Then some days of sunshine. Then clouds & humidity …But the temp is always warm and the ocean has been lovely.
A number of repeat visitors have commented it seems a little slower here this year in terms of numbers. Certainly La Ropa beach appears quieter. But the restaurants & bars appear to be doing a lively business!
Food prices whether at Soriano’s or Oxxo or in restaurant have all gone up. Mind you the Canadian dollar has taken a dive vs the Mexican peso so it is probably a combo of increased prices and lower currency value.
See many of the same smiling faces both visitors and locals. It is wonderful to be back and looking forward to our stay! Will report back near the end of February.

Interestingly, we have friends here on La Ropa for 5 weeks, and they have said many of the same things you have.

Living here, we feel that there are more tourists than in the past, but they seem to be gravitating more toward apartments/condos/rooms where they have a fridge and or cooking facilities than beach front hotels without.

California adopted new COVID rules as of Saturday, and again, our friends tested positive for COVID. With the new California rules, they are continuing to enjoy their stay, masked.

https://calmatters.org/health/2024/01/california-covid-rule-isolation/#:~:text=The%20new%20health%20order%20allows,isolate%2C%20according%20to%20th...

How did you determine you had covid?

Brought tests with me from home. Also very abruptly about 3 days in to the infection, I lost both taste & smell. Taste was back in about 24 hours. Smell took 2-3 days before it came back fully.

Brought tests with me from home. Also very abruptly about 3 days in to the infection, I lost both taste & smell. Taste was back in about 24 hours. Smell took 2-3 days before it came back fully.

Losing one's taste and smell is supposedly the dead ringer for Covid. From others who have had this experience, they said that was the most bizarre part of the illness.

And in Canada what tests are available?
Which ones did you bring?

Totally new: https://www.google.com/search?q=new+california+covid+rules&rlz=1C1EJFC_enMX905MX905&oq=new+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqDggAEEUYJxg7GIAEGIoFMg4...

I contracted covid 3 times so far and lucky for me, all I have been left with is a covid dry cough that comes and goes for the last 2 years. I am a fit, healthy guy and I am convinced if I had not been vaccinated, I would likely have ended up in hospital the first time I got sick. It was really bad for 2 weeks. The next 2 times I got sick were not too bad and the last time was similar to a bad cold/flu but only a few days. I am hoping not to get sick again. Never loss my sense of taste and smell. My brother did and a year later he is still struggling with brain fog and fatigue.

Did you get Covid in spite of being inoculated, or did you not get the shots?

Funny, you also see "anosmia" (lack of smell) in Kallmann Syndrome, a form of hypogonadism where you see a small penis,renal agenesis, abnormalities of bones in the fingers or toes, a cleft lip with or without an opening in the roof of the mouth (a cleft palate), abnormal eye movements, hearing loss, and abnormalities of tooth development.
Studies suggest that mutations in genes associated with Kallmann syndrome disrupt the migration of olfactory nerve cells and GnRH-producing nerve cells in the developing brain.
Still trying to understand why COVID Causes anosmia, when the ACE2 rerecptors are in the Lung.

I have a niece who is a nurse. She very nicely gave me a couple of tests which she uses if she is feeling any type of symptoms before going on shift. I am not sure of the brand name.

I have received inoculations. As mentioned by someone else, I credit the booster I received this past October with giving me a quick recovery time. No lingering symptoms.

I have been getting the vaccines and it is likely why I am still around but it does not mean you won't contract covid because you are vaccinated.