The last week of July 1999, Sandy and I went for a week's vacation to the Zhijuatanejo-Ixtapa area on the Costa Grande southwestern coast of Mexico.

This was the first place where we stayed. Sotavento Catalina. A beautiful old place that would have been nice EXCEPT...

that it was about 95F and about 95% humidity and we knew we were not going to sleep well without A/C.

By the way, the white buildings on the left side of the next picture show the whole complex.

That night we went on a search for air conditioning. A couple of very nice men at Villa Mexicana struggled with my Spanish and we got ourselves set for the next night.

Here is one of the many bouganvilla blossoms that adorn the streets.

As we decided to both save money and act as native as we could, we took the bus everywhere we could. It cost 2 1/2 pesos (about 30 cents) each way to town (about a mile up and down hill). The rides were an adventure and we even were seranaded on one trip home, but this particular day things got a little more daring than we expected. This wonderful family decided not to wait any longer for the the bus and grandma (on the right) went out into the street soliciting any moving vehicle to take then into town. WELL...the only thing that would pull over was a dump truck. I guess they had hauled cement or dirt that day and it was filthy. Sandy and I sat on our bench and watched the family laugh and scream as they climbed up the tire and up the ladder on the side of the truck and into the back. The father motioned us to join them. Well, we did. I know that Sandy agreed to forego the luxury appointments, but she outdid herself here. We climbed in and went zooming down the hill. Here are some shots of the ride.

I don't know if she really had expected this!

This was an E ticket ride (for all you old folks). It was wild as we screamed and laughed our way down the hill. It seems I still have a way to go with my Spanish as I readily misunderstood the word "duck" and got nailed by a tree branch. Luckily, I have a thick skull. We made it to town and went to dinner. Who could possibly eat? Yeah, us! We ate at Elvira's which had killer quacamole and maragaritas. We only found it after a lady who couldn't understand Sandy's Elviras, said like the country song. In Spanish it is ael vee raas. She read our guide book and pointed us in the correct direction. We got there, ate and then strolled around the city. It was amazing how lost we could get in an area of about 4 by 5 blocks. To our credit, we didn't get killed by or in one of Mr. Toad's wild cab rides, that they have down here.

We went snorkeling at our local beach, Playa La Ropa, named because a Spanish galleon once landed there, depositing Chinese silk clothing all over the beach. We loved Playa Las Gatas, named after the nurse sharks that once swam there, and Ixtapa Island, named after Ixtapa, meaning place of large American hotels where everyone looks/acts American, but can say they were in Mexico. Sandy is really developing into a strong snorkeler. We saw Moorish Idols, butterfly and Angelfish. There were various types of wrasses, gobies, and spiny and blue spotted pufferfish.

The guacamole and shrimp cocktails were to die for. We ate really well this trip, at least until Sandy's flu caught up with her.

Any (the owner's name) made many varities of tamales. I had the pork with mole wrapped in a banana leaf. Great, although I miss A/C in these open air sauna/restaurants.

This is my wife's contented guacamole smile. Margarita enhanced at Elvira's

Sirena Gorda was the place for mesquite smoked ahi-ahi.

We actually ate there 3 times. Sorry kids, there are various

pictures of the fat mermaid all over the restuarant.

Not Disneyesque at all. Toy boats hang from the ceiling

represesting many of the pleasure boats that have sailed into the harbor.

Sandy liked laying on the beaches. This is from Playa Las Ropas facing Playa Las Gatas.

The beach's view of Sandy and the Villa Mexicana

Sunset in Ixtapa.

You have to leave

Zhijuatanejo for

sunsets as our beaches all faced south, not west.

Technology has reached Zhijuantanejo, but I think this culture shock might even do Willi Olsen in. Sandy wouldn't let me go in. I'll always wonder what wonders were inside this cybercafe.

Of course Barbie has changed a bit.

I laughed when I saw this sign, thinking of Sylvia Graff and Robert Domingos always explaining how the B and V were often confused in Spanish. Why not BarBi or VarVi?

We went to the Archeological Museum and saw many artifacts. I wonder if these were early Barbies.

The most important part of Mexico were the people. These kids at the market loved looking at their pictures on the digital camera.

A couple of shots of Sandy on Playa Las Gatas. I want to go back (whimper).

To the left, is me getting a bit blurry. Let's see, you put the lime in the cocoanut and drink it all up.

To the right were some beautiful Moorish Idols again off Las Gatas.

Hopefully more pictures will be coming in soon and I can add to our travelogue. thanks for perusing.

Barry and Sandy

Link to vacation 2000