Faltando PrecipitaZIHón

I answer a lot of inquiries about our region in e-mails and social media everyday, and one topic that keeps coming up is where people can relax at a beach without being obligated to go to an expensive beach restaurant such as those in Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa. While the cifras alegres tell an incomplete story, the fact is that folks of all economic classes don't like being searched like a criminal when going to a beach, and they don't like being forced to have to eat or drink at expensive restaurants. The Blue Flag continues being a failure. And local authorities stupidly act like it's the only one.

The first time we came to Zihua, at the suggestion of a friend, we took a water taxi to Playa Las Gatas. Walking along the beach, as we passed each restaurant, someone tried to get us to come in. Finally getting to the far end of the beach, Franco, the head waiter at Otilia's, asked if we'd like to have a seat. Me: "Do we have to pay for it?" Franco: "Only if you want to". Otilia's became our regular beach hangout for 20 years.