Today was the last day of school before the Vacaciones Navideñas. Crowds should start arriving this weekend. The weather is perfect. The beaches are beautiful. The hotels, restaurants, merchants, and tourist services are certainly quite ready. Students won't return to classes until Jan. 9.

Christmas decorations are going up around Zihuatanejo. Lights and ornaments are appearing all over the place. I hate seeing the amate tree in Plaza del Artista lit up like a Las Vegas casino with all the crap the city nails onto it. I think it's beautiful au natural. The city thinks phony evergreen plastic around the trunk and twinkly lights all over it looks good.

Dozens of buffet tables of food and dozens more dining tables with chairs were set up at the pier this Friday evening when we strolled by this evening, but there were no people there. The Sternos were burning out, and I imagine the food was drying out, too. No idea what the problem was. Bummer to see food ruined and going to waste.

There was also a cultural event at the Cancha, but it also appeared to have issues. When we walked by the first time an orchestra of young people were setting up, but upon our return nothing had changed. Lots of people standing around waiting for I don't know what.

But at least there was good music happening at Daniel's as well as in Plaza del Artista where nicely dressed elderly couples were danzing to Danzón music, an old Zihuatanejo tradition. Absolutely beautiful!

If you have any banking to do, I recommend getting it done early Saturday before the crowds arrive. Monday will be a madhouse because of the quincena and the arriving visitors.

Don't forget to visit the Eco-Tianguis "Sanka" across the street from the Museo Arqueológico de la Costa Grande from 9 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. Saturday mornings. And in La Ropa next to Casa Tucanes is "Las Iguanas Bazar" on Saturday and Sunday from 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. with local artisans and merchants and lots of sustainable products.

Tucked away on a quiet street in La Madera neighborhood is the lovely vacation inn, Villa Cruz del Mar. A colonial-style home converted into a small family-run vacation inn featuring 12 comfortable air-conditioned rooms, some with kitchenettes, all with cable TV, surrounding an enclosed garden courtyard with a pool. Free wireless internet access and secure parking. Located less than 100 yards from the beach.
Zihuatanejo Hotels, Inns & B&Bs

¡Cuidemos nuestro patrimonio!
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Barrenderos limpian Playa Principal frente a la bocana del canal "La Boquita" mientras una garza blanca los observa al amanecer en la bahía de Zihuatanejo.