(How a jewel like Copala in Sinaloa could be excluded, and Zihua included, is a mystery.)

Politics. "Poli-" means many and "-tics" are blood-sucking insects.

I spoke with various friends today who are proud of the Majico status and with their Government.

Different strokes for different folks.

Yes, bright shiny new things are always popular with the non-discerning masses. But I think you and your friends missed the point. It would've been much more appropriate if the designation had come when it was first sought around 24 years ago by a committee that included my wife and a group of her friends. If Zihuatanejo today has anything in common with places like Taxco, Pátzcuaro, or any other Pueblo Mágico, feel free to point it out. We don't have any real history beyond the 20th century. Whatever quaintness we had has long ago been covered over by painted concrete and tens of thousands of hillside squatters promoted by corrupt politicians. We are no longer a pueblo but a ciudad with over 100,000 residents. So it's quite fitting and ironic that we get the designation the same year a Barbie movie comes out in theaters. But our real complaint is with the tacky decorations, the abuse of our remaining waterfront trees and the cartoonish Disneylandish look the current administration has given our town to commemorate the designation.

Thanks for this, Rob. When we read that Zihua had been added to the list of Pueblos Magicos, we wondered what the criteria had become, but held our tongues. We've visited many of the 132+ communities on the list. Though we love Zihua and have spent, cumulatively, the equivalent of perhaps 5 or 6 years "living there" over the past 20+ years, Zihua is not a Pueblo Magico, if the term is to mean anything.
(How a jewel like Copala in Sinaloa could be excluded, and Zihua included, is a mystery.)

But, here is a good one ... man, these gentlemen, Los Romanceros del Balsas, were so down to earth and great to spend time with hearing their wonderful stories and beautiful music.

https://youtu.be/sle_EY2jZFc

I believe the live music performed by Jose Luis Cobo y Jossy Gallegos at la cancha referenced Zihuatanejo.

You BELIEVE they did? Can you name any of the songs? I've never heard either one of them sing the most famous one of all, "Zihuatanejo", by Los Dandy's. That should've been the THEME SONG for the entire occasion. Or perhaps "Bendito Puerto" by Toño Urbina Bello. Songs most all of us know. Or one of the many songs about our town by Raymundo Lara.

https://www.youtube.com/live/lf8enMryZww?feature=share

Yes, the Callejoneada was a huge success and a great party. The Cancha, the plazas and the streets were all jam packed. The people had a wonderful time. Everyone enjoyed the food and drink and the music. Surprisingly, among all the recorded music up and down the Paseo, I didn't hear one single song about Zihuatanejo even though there are so many good ones. Maybe I just missed them. We heard plenty of music from La Costa Chica, which is a different region of the state with a distinct culture. Oh well.

Really festive celebration!

I have been watching the changes in Zihuatanejo for over 40 years. I agree that the bustling city of today has little resemblance to the town of 24 years ago. It would have been nice if the nature of that town had been preserved through the changes that have occurred over the decades.

I confess I find it easier to cross the paved streets that the cobblestone of 40 years ago, but still, they paved paradise and put up a parking lot. Although it seems to me that there aren’t many parking spaces either.

Big Yellow Taxi

Maybe Mexico ought to have a Pueblito Mágico designation to preserve villages like Troncones.

Even the paved streets and sidewalks of the downtown area wouldn't be so bad if they weren't FAUX BRICK. The ONLY REASON they are faux brick is to drive the cost up to give more kickback to the politicians from the builders from the public budgets. In the current case, both the politician and the builder are the same entity. What I liked about the adoquín was it kept vehicle speeds down and it gave temporary work out of season to many albañiles to smooth out the streets every few years.

I confess I find it easier to cross the paved streets that the cobblestone of 40 years ago, but still, they paved paradise and put up a parking lot. Although it seems to me that there aren’t many parking spaces either.

Big Yellow Taxi

Maybe Mexico ought to have a Pueblito Mágico designation to preserve villages like Troncones.

It's hard to imagine that locals elect greedy scumbuckets, time after time, who just want to make money. Aren't there any decent individuals wanting to run for office, who want to take proper care of this town?

Not as long as the narco trade remains illegal.

I spoke with various friends today who are proud of the Majico status and with their Government.

Different strokes for different folks.

Yes, bright shiny new things are always popular with the non-discerning masses. But I think you and your friends missed the point. It would've been much more appropriate if the designation had come when it was first sought around 24 years ago by a committee that included my wife and a group of her friends. If Zihuatanejo today has anything in common with places like Taxco, Pátzcuaro, or any other Pueblo Mágico, feel free to point it out. We don't have any real history beyond the 20th century. Whatever quaintness we had has long ago been covered over by painted concrete and tens of thousands of hillside squatters promoted by corrupt politicians. We are no longer a pueblo but a ciudad with over 100,000 residents. So it's quite fitting and ironic that we get the designation the same year a Barbie movie comes out in theaters. But our real complaint is with the tacky decorations, the abuse of our remaining waterfront trees and the cartoonish Disneylandish look the current administration has given our town to commemorate the designation.

Different strokes for different folks.

Looks like it rained on the mayor's parade this Saturday evening when a brief rainshower passed over Zihuatanejo just before the start of the Callejoneada to commemorate the naming of Zihuatanejo as a Pueblo Mágico, so they cancelled the event until Sunday evening. Awwwwwwww.

Apparently our responsible authorities in Zihuatanejo's municipal government have "Pueblo Mágico" confused with "Reino Mágico", because downtown with all its painted concrete and tacky decorations looks more and more like a set from Disneyland than anything related to Zihuatanejo. Personally my wife and I are furious at what they've done to the amate tree on the beach in front of Plaza del Artista. It seems the local government keeps trying to kill this beautiful tree. They keep harming it more and more hanging things from it, breaking branches, digging up roots, cementing it in, and now nailing colored light strips to it. Lupita gave the workers a good chewing out while they were nailing the light strips to it, but unfortunately our city government doesn't appreciate trees or Mother Nature, so it was a lost cause. But I was sure proud of her.

The reason I'm so critical of our local government is because I love Zihuatanejo very much, especially its people, and I see one administration after another doing more harm than good to our community while manipulating its people who deserve to be treated better.

The heat from La Canícula continues. It felt like 40° C most of today even though the morning was cloudy and it sprinkled slightly. Fortunately, the brief rain this evening brought the temperature down a bit.

Since we haven't had any heavy rains since last weekend, now's a good time for diving. The water is cooler a little ways down, too, so it's a refreshing adventure. We have several good dive shops in our area, but my favorite to recommend is my dear friend Thierry from Carlo Scuba based at Playa Las Gatas. Thierry is a 3rd generation local diver, and few people know our local waters better than he does.
Activities in Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa

¡Cuidemos nuestro patrimonio!
#NoQueremosMuelleParaCruceros
#NoQueremosBlueFlagEnLasPlayas
#PreservemosPlayaManzanillo

Una mañana nublada tranquila y hermosa en Zihuatanejo.