Trip Report: Dec 23 - Jan 6th

Great report thanks for sharing....... 3 more days and it will be our turn.

A little late but thought I would share our recent trip with the group here.
As a preamble - a special thanks to Rob for making this web site happen and leaving the graphics and layout almost unchanged for 15+ Years!! This web site is where I go every morning to check in and it feels like a nice pair of favorite beach shorts. Overall Zihua was much busier than a typical trip in mid-February but I cannot say enough about how lovely all of the people were. Mexicans know how to go to the beach and enjoy – smiles all over the place. The influx of people and crowds had no impact whatsoever on our vacation or enjoyment of this incredible destination.
Dec 23 - First time in 50+ years of living on this planet for a chance to leave the state of Minnesota for Christmas. Sun Country 8:30am Departure and check into Hotel Irma #304 around 2:30pm. This is the day of the huge fire on the NE Mountain side. Molly and I head straight to Valeria on Madera for Sol's and Mango Margaritas and exchange our sympathies with Jorge regarding Chuy. They worked together for 8 years at Valeria, and we share a tequila and a salud. Hamburguesas at the Fishing Hole for dinner.
Dec 24 - Morning run down the road to La Ropa and back up the beach and up the hill next to La Casa Que Canta. Big buffet breakfast at Irma and set up at La Perla around 11:00am, hang out there for the day and clean up for a 7:00pm dinner at La Gula - exceptionally good. Everyone in town is dressed up for the occasion, very different from the usual beach attire. Night cap at Bistro Del Mar - lots of fireworks after we get into bed but most noise did not overcome the a/c and a little news from the TV.
Dec 25 - morning walk down the paseo to the pier. Walkway repairs almost complete and lots of graffiti has been removed. Looks good but overwhelms the shoreline with its wider design and I do wonder if that cantilevered construction can stand up to the elements for very long. Dinner at Puerto Del Sol and the usual chat and after dinner drinks with Gabby and Jorge.
Dec 26 - Long walk to the other side of the bay all the way to the marina gas pump and where the Picante is anchored. Lunch and pool side at Irma - this view NEVER gets old and the breeze is refreshing. Crowds at the beach are big so this is kind of a nice spot to watch the world go by. Found the Madera beach web cam mounted on the upper level of the hotel next door. Dinner at Rufo's - Raul is a very talented piano player. Then into Centro - Molly bought a women's briefcase and I got a belt at Mario's Leather. Forget the name of the place - but 2nd floor vista overlooking the cancha, where we had beers and watched the stage performances.
Dec 27 – Another morning run and breakfast at Irma, then a stroll through the Mercado. Back to Mario’s again where I ordered a custom guitar strap – fit just for me with nickel rivets on the front (matches the nickel hardware on my Les Paul!). Back to Irma and we do the Spa at the hotel that overlooks the bay and get massages there. Almost twice the going rate of a standard beach massage but kind of nice to be up and away from the masses plus very nice ambiance. Return for another round at La Gula for dinner – that place is excellent and in terms of value for quality – second to none!
Dec 28 – 9:30am departure from the pier – Chiolo from Carlos Scuba picks us up for diving. Dive #1 with Thierry, Rolf, and Rosmarie was from the Rock (the little island out in front of the bay with the marker light on it). We see a big eel with a head about the size of a watermelon and an eagle ray with a 6’ wing span. Visibility was very good and went down about 85’. Second dive – Molly joined us and we did a 40’ off of Zacatoso, the northern most rocky island outcrop in front of Ixtapa. Rolf and his family are from Cuernavaca (where I lived and studied in college). Rolf taught Physics there for a special prep academy and is a dive instructor, daughter Rosmarie dive master, and wife is a rescue / recovery diver.
Dec 29 – Poolside at Irma and Fishing Hole that night where prototypical ex pats hang out. Nuf said…Finished reading Empty Copper Sea – John D. McDonald – had to bring this one after Rob had quoted a line or two.
Dec 30 – Molly’s Birthday! Check out of Hotel Irma and taxi to Troncones – Inn at Manzanillo Bay. Went with luxury for the 2nd half. Belem, Cesar, and Abel are all still present and accounted for. Belem arranged for flowers to be delivered to the room for the birthday girl and spent the afternoon swearing at the big screen during the Vikings loss to Chicago. Steakhouse for evening beverage and the tienda for basic needs.
Dec 31 – Gift shopping and strolling in town – walks up and down the beach. New Year’s dinner at the Inn: French onion soup, beef carpaccio, ensemble of fish, muscles, and octopus – cheesecake desert. After dinner we met Dick and Susan. Dick played football for Oregon from ’60 – ’64 and during that time they played my Minnesota Gophers twice. His blocking assignment for those two games? None other than Hall of Famer – Carl Eller! A fabulous couple and we toasted in the New Year together.
Jan 1 – Lazy day poolside / beach side – lunch at Jardin del Eden oven fired pizza. Watched the Rose Bowl with Dick, more laying around and then an evening chocolate brownie desert with a glass of merlot.
Jan 2 – Morning run from the Inn and head north thru Majahua, to the Palms and back. Round trip about 7.5k. Lunch at Costa Brava in town and jewelry shopping at Ignacio’s. Rib dinner at the end of the day and got into the Big Boy Tequila a little bit…
Jan 3 – Lazy day version 2…reading, bay views, and more gift acquisitions at Jardin del Eden shop. We meet Jilian and Sam from Vancouver who are also staying at the Inn. The six of us have dinner at Lo Sereno in Troncones – this place is very cool – great contemporary architecture and is now on our list to stay for next year.
Jan 4 – repeat the morning run and exercise on the beach. Start reading The Quick Red Fox, another Travis McGee novel. Snorkel in the bay and an evening dinner with Dick and Susan at the funky bohemian Amor Tropical. Check out the VW Van Bar when there!
Jan 5 – repeat morning exercise – this feels fantastic! Lunch at now Molly’s favorite pizza down at the Jardin del Eden and I have to admit that it is good. Dinner that evening with the six of us at Indigo – great time and very cool vibe. The last 4 days, Troncones has shifted back to its sleepy little pueblo pace.
Jan 6 – that’s a wrap – take some group photos, exchange numbers and contact details. First time we did a two week stay and now I can’t do anything less…. Thank you Zih, Troncones, and all of Mexico for being such great and accommodating hosts!!

WOW! Thanks for sharing and allowing us to relive a bit of your vacation with you. Man, that about wore me out!

Glad to hear you enjoyed John D. MacDonald. The one you read was one of my favorites for the descriptions of its locations and the events that Florida residents can relate to. But frankly I enjoyed reading every single one of his books and short stories.

Another of his excerpts I like from a different book:
"I get the feeling that this is the last time in history when the offbeats like me will have a chance to live free in the nooks and crannies of the huge and rigid structure of an increasingly codified society. Fifty years from now I would be hunted down in the street. They would drill little holes in my skull and make me sensible and reliable and adjusted."
Travis McGee from "The Quick Red Fox" (1964) John D. MacDonald

Man, that's why I left the States! They would either be hunting ME down today or feeding me through a hole in the wall.