Arriving in Zihuatanejo

We left home around 7 a.m. Friday morning so that we would arrive in time for our 10:45 flight with time for the security checks and traffic. Of course, it only took us an hour or less in Friday-lite traffic to arrive at the off-airport parking, and the shuttle had us to Alaska Air within ten minutes. After being denied a kiosk boarding ticket, we stood in line for a bit at customer service and were soon in another line to have our bags x-rayed. With all that, we were up in the boarding area with an hour and a half to spare, even before the flight was delayed by 45 minutes.

With the two hour time change, we arrived in Zee about 4:30, grabbed a taxi and headed to the Club. At Playa la Ropa, the taxi turned into the large palm sculptured gates and down the rather steep drive to the Club reception area. We were truly surprised at how tropical and open and nice the whole Club appeared and the staff welcomed us as warmly as the staff of the Ritz had welcomed us in Bali. After checking in, Carlos shouldered Carolyn's bag and grabbed my duffel as he climbed the two flights of stairs to our one bedroom condo while he mentioned to me that he can always tell the woman's bag! Our condo has a view over the reception area towards the bay and we can see parasails and boats plying the ocean. Sliding doors with great louvered shutters open fully to allow a view from our bed past the living area to the deck which has two great lounge chairs, an outside eating area, and a dipping pool with cool water (no jets).

We unpacked quickly and then headed down to the Zi bar to have an adult beverage (taking the service elevator by mistake instead of the stairway) to find ourselves the only couple in the place with the exception of the wait staff! But soon a few more couples found their way (several from the same flight) and we began talking to one couple seated at an adjacent table. It didn't take much time before we joined tables with Bill and Louise and started sharing stories. Bill and Louise have around 400 kids! They do foster care for abused and neglected infants in the Portland area, and Bill, after a twenty-five year career as a cop, is now in the travel business.

Saturday, we slept in late and then headed to the pool to enjoy the great temperatures and more than a few cervesas at the swim up bar. About mid-afternoon, we walked up the road and then down to the seaside walk as we went into Zihuatanejo for a little shopping. We entered several shops in the open market and then into a more exclusive store where Carolyn bought some jewelry, then it was off to the Super-mercado by taxi to buy staples for the week (beer, pastries, tortillas, chips, tequila, etc.) and then we grabbed another taxi for the ride back to the Club. We unloaded our stuff and Carlos helped take all the groceries to our room.

A message was blinking and answering it, Bill and Louise were asking us to join them for drinks and then dinner at one of the restaurants on the beach. About that time Carolyn discovered her bag with the jewelry was missing and must have been left in the cab. We hurried down to reception and Carlos told us not to worry, they had the cab number but he didn't have a radio so they would have to rely on other drivers to locate him and get him to return to the club. Carolyn was distressed, but we met up with Bill and Louise and headed out for a late dinner. Rossy's was practically shut down, but served us our late dinner and Carolyn and Bill both enjoyed their red snapper even though it came with head and eyes intact.

Then we walked the half mile back to the club and Carlos met us near the pool area in the golf cart to take us up the hill. His head was bowed as if they had been unable to find the cab driver, then he smiled and said he had paid a bounty to another cab driver and paid a reward to our driver for returning the goods (after threatening him with the loss of his taxi license) and he had the jewelry in his possession! Carolyn was so grateful and he reluctantly took another tip for his efforts.

A full day and thankfully a good day. More warm days in paradise are expected!!