Vacation report-Part 2

Something else that saddened me was learning about the closure of Club Med In Ixtapa where I worked many years ago and a place that contributed to several projects that were beneficial to the area including the airport being modernized. Club Med helped the local economy big time! And not just in the amount of local jobs it created but all the things they were purchasing from food supplies to maintenance equipment to shows being performed by local artists, etc. Being a destination favored by a majority of Americans, the drop of these tourists there and no change in the horizon with the Trump situation was the final factor to seal the fate of that resort. I was also sad to see that the old Senor Frogs was closed too. I have a lot of memories there and had some great friends working there too. That one is a complicated situation and closed due to several factors. But having almost only all included hotels is not helping the local economy and it is painfully visible to anybody walking the streets of Ixtapa on a weekend evening. If you have been there before, especially people like myself that have seen the changes over decades, Ixtapa is nothing like it used to be. I was there 3 evenings and restaurants and bars/club were not doing good. Talking to old friends that are working there and been doing so since the 80's, they tell me what is going on and how they have to adjust to a different clientele with less spending power, looking for the best deal and not going out as often. The clubs/bars are not as busy as not as many tourists out since they stay mostly at their resorts and locals do not have as much money and it is expensive to go out for many. Ixtapa used to be so vibrant at night. This is where you were going after Zihua was closing down after 22:00 if you wanted to enjoy a late night. I remember all the stores still busy late in the evenings with nice boutiques all over the place. Most are gone and the selection is very different today for those that live in Ixtapa. Not looking great for the future!

Right in the middle of my trip was when the cartel leader got killed. Now, I have seen a lot of violence in Mexico and Zihua over the years and very aware of the cartel influence. Most of the time I have spent in Zihua-Ixtapa over the years was in the fall/winter and would hear about what was going on from local friends. But never did I ever saw something like that Sunday/Monday. The town literally shut down after news of what was happening in PV and other locations came in, and after vehicles started to be set afire. It was eerie to be in Centro mid afternoon on a Sunday and there was barely anybody and all was shutting down. For basically a day not much transportation going on, especially on the Sunday afternoon/evening. But frankly that was the most of it for tourists. A few vehicles got burned and a boat too but the violence was contained and there was a heavy police/army presence. Not once did I feel unsafe. I think the city played it safe and it was the smart way of doing it. Any activities that Sunday got canceled and tourists were told it was best to stay home that evening. I was with my friend and we needed to eat so went to a local taqueria across her family home and enjoyed a great dinner of tacos, enchiladas and horchata drinks.

My third weekend was when Guitar Festival was taking place. I got lucky to enjoy some awesome musicians in a few spots. Always a pleasure to do so but I wish it was way cheaper for tickets as it sure limits who can go and many of the locals can't afford it. I feel that festival was way more inclusive in it's beginnings.

I spent my last few days trying to connect with as many friends as I could but sadly missed some. It is hard or many as this is peak tourists season for them and they are busy while I am on vacation. And my schedule is different than many so it does not help. I ended up having a few online chats with some we could not meet in person. As well, it was shopping time for the goodies I wanted to bring home and stuff friends had asked me to bring back. It was busy and I managed to forget to bring back one treat I enjoy from here, my coconut roll. Now I will have to wait until next year to enjoy some fresh ones. I did get some vanilla, tequila, mezcal and a few other things. As well, I had to look at my way back to Mexico City for my return home. This was going to be an adventure!

I could not find any deals flying so bussing it was going to be. As I did not want to take a chance arriving late in Mexico City, I ended up having to purchase the 05:20 departure from Zihua with several stops along the way. That was supposed to bring me to Mexico City at 16:20 and my flight was at 01:00 so all good. The price was about $100 CDN with Costa Line and this is for a comfortable touring bus with reclining seats that you can easily sleep in and they give you a bottle of water when you board. I booked in person at the terminal but you can get better pricing online and especially if booking sooner. They also have deals from time to time. I had a pass for a lounge at the airport to eat, drink and kill time too so all good. And as it was a first time for me doing this run, it was going to be nice for me. Well, I am not a morning person and could not sleep that last night and got picked up at 04:15 by my buddy to go to the bus terminal. unloaded and waited there for my bus and my friend joined me. By 05:00 with still no bus and no info, we checked with security and learned the bus was on it's way but delayed as the bus came from Mexico City and had been stuck for 6 hours in another city due to a protest the day before. I got worried as if it was delayed by this much I would miss my flight. But the bus showed up a bit late and we ended up leaving about 45 minutes late.

It was a very scenic trip. It was still dark the first hour or so and I was sleepy so missed a bit until the first stop, then slept another hour or two. I think we had a total of 6 or 7 stops but only one we had to get off the bus and they took the bus to refuel and wash. Way bigger bus terminal but unfortunately all the stands there were selling the same junk food so I did not get anything. My friend that does that run often told me later that just outside the terminal there ware good places to eat but did not want to chance it as we only had 20 minutes and I was groggy from the sleeping at the beginning. The scenery started to change from hills/mountain side and mostly cactus to more greens and when we got to Cuernavaca, we even got a good rain and beautiful forest/greens and some different flower blooms than in Zihua. Lots of pines along the road too. Big city and different architecture After we pass the city and started going down the rain had stopped but no sun. It got cooler as we got closer to Mexico City but very comfortable. Arrived at the bus terminal 45 minutes late but with plenty of time to kill. Would I do this drive again? If rested properly before, likely. I would prefer a direct one saving me a few hours or doing the overnight and sleeping the way there. But a good way to save money as I was never charged for my suitcases and if you have time, it is a great way to travel.

At the bus terminal, they have a taxi service similar to the Zihua airport. You prepay and the pricing is based on the destination. I find that the taxi service within Zihua are priced very reasonable but always found that from the airport to town they are expensive. And this was corroborated big time with how much I was charged in Mexico City. 297 pesos to go from terminal Sur to airport Terminal 1. Best case it is a 30 minutes drive. That day was a solid 45 minutes drive and only because I had an F1 driver lol. It should have taken an hour. In Zihua they charge 400-500 for a 10-15 minutes drive!!! So I arrive at the terminal 1 with plenty of time and went to the WestJet counter.

Well, no luck again. I had messaged my lounge I was going to be late due to traffic getting to the airport as I had booked a couple services at the lounge. But the WestJet counter was closed. A security guard there originally told me it would open at 19:00(it was 18:00 at that point) but talking to others, it looked like they were not going to be open until 22:00 and I was hungry so I went to get a bite at the food court and kill time. Came back at 21:30 and got checked in at 22:00 and left for my lounge. Never got the services I had booked and found that lounge was not as described on their website and not one I would use again. But only had 2 hours there and enjoyed some decent food and drinks and had a good conversation with a Mexican fellow that was going to be on my flight. A quick walk from the lounge and made it to my boarding and was happy to see that this flight to Calgary was in a plane with decent leg space. We left a few minutes late due to an equipment failure on the ground but arrived in Calgary more or less on time and in a snow storm and -20*. Not what I wanted to see and I thought my next flight might be delayed but the storm stopped an hour later. I had time for breakfast at the airport and made it to Winnipeg around 13:00 and home by 13:30. Glad I was not back at work until the next day as Winnipeg was cold and no sun!

Been back now for 5 days and so missing Zihua! Of course the sun and the view of the ocean and beaches. But mostly it's people, the food and sounds of that city. Can't wait to be back!