Hola Rob. I am finally returning home to Zihuatanejo on August 31. I left July 2020 and got reestablished in Minnesota. I did make it down to ZI for a couple of weeks in January and then for the month of March of this year. And it is my understanding that the cartels having several years ago taken over avocado and lime growers have since moved into the precious metals found throughout Mexico. they are creative in developing profit streams. I’m looking forward to stopping by Lupita store and perhaps have an opportunity to say hello to you as well. Best regards, Steven De Bernardi.

Hola Steven. I wouldn't say narcos have taken over those businesses. They've tried to. But citizens have taken up arms and stood up successfully against them. They're trying to enter mining the same way, through terrorism. But they control none of those markets.

While I don’t disagree that the US “war on drugs” plays a part, don’t you think the cartels would find another income source and continue their extortion. With the power they have now, I don’t think it’s likely they would give up if the drug profits dried up.

One hears this comment over and over again. It is true that organized crime is a global business and, as such, is always seeking out new revenue streams. However, that is not an argument for keeping recreational drugs illegal. On the contrary, it is the low hanging fruit that should be picked immediately. Stop Prohibition II. Legalize recreational drugs. Regulate the hell out o' 'em. Fund drug treatment with the taxes. Stop incarcerating a significant portion of our population. And, as Rob points out, you will cut off a huge percentage of their income.

We have spent well over a trillion US dollars since the beginning of the War on Drugs. The United States has the largest percentage of its population behind bars than any other civilization in recorded history. Recreational pharmaceuticals are easier to get than ever before. The drugs are more potent than ever before as the cartels find more efficient ways to transport more contraband. (This is why "rum running" was so popular. You can transport more product per shipment. Before Prohibition I, hard liquor was no where near as popular as beer and wine.) As one retired Orange County, California, judge who presided over drug cases and who was previously a drug prosecutor bringing those cases to trial said, "We could not have done a worse job if we had tried."

The most glaring barbarism about the War on Drugs is that the two most deadly drugs -- nicotine and alcohol -- go on their merry way killing hundreds of thousands each year. Logic and fairness dictate that if we are going to keep other recreational drugs illegal, then we should at least make tobacco and alcohol illegal. But we all know what happened when Prohibition I was tried. Prohibition II has been much, much more damaging to our global society.

How the war on drugs has made traffickers more ruthless and efficient --Vox
The Continued Failure of the Drug War -- Cato Institute
The war on drugs has not only failed, it was worsened drug use -- Baltimore Sun

Disclaimer: I am in no way advocating the use of recreational drugs. You are talking to the wrong guy. I get a buzz off the communion wine at mass. I can't even drink coffee without my hands shaking. However, even if this sad situation does not affect us personally, we all must analyze the situation with an unbiased eye. People are going to consume recreational pharmaceuticals, no matter how deadly or dangerous or severe the consequences. And if people are going to consume them, someone will supply them.

P.S. Oh, boy! We in the United States have just instituted yet another Prohibition, this time on abortion. We have opened up yet another war on ourselves. Everything changes. Some things mutate.

See you soon.

Wesley Emerson

While I don’t disagree that the US “war on drugs” plays a part, don’t you think the cartels would find another income source and continue their extortion. With the power they have now, I don’t think it’s likely they would give up if the drug profits dried up.

That's what I mean by "point of no return". Taking away what is currently their MAIN source of revenue will help level the playing field and give the state a chance to stand up to them. But as more BILLIONS pour into their coffers that becomes increasingly difficult, and we'll end up with a narco state. Maybe that's the USA's end game: to give it an excuse to invade Mexico within the next 50 years.

Local public transportation has again come to a standstill after the broad daylight shootings of combi drivers practically right under the noses of local police. I'm not certain of the number since neither the government nor local media are discussing the matter in detail, but according to area residents 3 drivers were killed in the area today.

This just can't be happening in my favorite place in the universe! How long before unregulated vigilante groups take up arms?

Other parts of the state already have them, and they keep having clashes with the police and military since when citizens take up arms you can't tell the bad guys from the good guys. Sound familiar? In Tamaulipas a local hero who has been working with an informal army of good citizens to clean up the region where they live was arrested while the bad guys roam free. In Michoacán you may remember Dr. Mireles whose autodefensas were sweeping the state and making a huge positive difference when the army stopped them in Apatzingán, the HQ of the bad guys, showing all of us in Mexico whose side Peña Nieto's PRI government was on. They eventually locked up Dr. Mireles who spent several years in prison. He is a HERO to the good and decent people of Mexico. He passed away not long ago. But all the good work he did has been undone by politicians who appear to work for the narcos.

Of course, as always, the solution to much of this is the legalization and regulation of all the stupidly banned substances that apparently tens of millions of estadounidenses want in order to remove the multi-billion dollar a year black market from the hands of violent organized criminals who, just like during Prohibition, continue to grow and expand their operations. Not sure if we've reached a point of no return, but there will be one, and for continuing to enforce stupid and failed policies both the U.S. and Mexican governments continue playing right into the hands of the criminals. How long does a policy have to be an ABJECT FAILURE before the people wake up from their propagandistic STUPOR and demand change from their governments? 50 years? 80?

Local public transportation has again come to a standstill after the broad daylight shootings of combi drivers practically right under the noses of local police. I'm not certain of the number since neither the government nor local media are discussing the matter in detail, but according to area residents 3 drivers were killed in the area today.

This just can't be happening in my favorite place in the universe! How long before unregulated vigilante groups take up arms?

State health officials report there are currently 131 active cases of Covid-19 in Zihuatanejo, 2 in La Unión, 16 in Petatlán, 908 in Acapulco, and 1,664 in the entire state of Guerrero. Many people are back to using facemasks wherever they go.

Local public transportation has again come to a standstill after the broad daylight shootings of combi drivers practically right under the noses of local police. I'm not certain of the number since neither the government nor local media are discussing the matter in detail, but according to area residents 3 drivers were killed in the area today. So there won't be any combi service until further notice, and this is not just in Zihuatanejo. Taxi service appears to still be operating but they're being cautious. Not sure if they're operating outside of the urban areas. This is all about extortion, and locals are pissed at the lack of information and attention by the municipal government who only said they were increasing patrols. Police speeding by in trucks with lights flashing is not my idea of increased public security. People need to get to and from work and the local government appears not to have a clue what to do. Frustrating! Passions are running high in paradise.

With the passing of the storms, our weather has returned to picture postcard perfect again. Scenic clouds. Mostly sunny. Light breezes. Hot only if you move too much or too quickly. Still nice in the evenings for sleeping. Actually slept under a sheet last night!

One of the hidden gems in public view in Ixtapa for a great breakfast, lunch or dinner is Deborah's Restaurant. Deborah's has a wonderful variety of local and international dishes. No matter what you eat, be sure to leave room for dessert because that is one of Deborah's specialties and you won't regret it.
Restaurants in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa, Troncones & Barra de Potosí

¡Cuidemos nuestro patrimonio!
#NoBlueFlagEnNuestrasPlayas
#PreservemosPlayaManzanillo

A fisherman tries his luck by the mouth of La Boquita Canal as the first rays of sunshine spread across Zihuatanejo's bay. Look at those green hills!