HEADING NORTH

Our trip from Puerto Escondido was slow but eventful. We didn't get run over by any cars on the very winding roads. We didn't run over the snake or the iguana or the skinny dog. Along the two lane highway were some of the beautiful and interesting trees that grow here. The huge Ceiba trees with their pods. Trees with yellow blossoms which are at the end of their limbs. Others with red blossoms. Wish I knew the names of all the plants that we see. There were bird's nest hanging down from the tree limbs probably weaver birds. Then we saw very large nests too. Don't know about them.

We had a week exchange at Acapulco Mayan Palace for March 14, so we decided we would ask them if we could just spend 2days now. To our surprise, they said we could take the whole week now. We are not going to stay the whole time but this is a wonderful family resort and a person could golf. The rooms are like a condo and very nene. There are several pools all connected, children's water play areas, amazingingly beautiful grounds and pretty good food.

We will travel to Zihuatanego tomorrow, Wednesday, and then make our way to Guadalajara where we hope our friends will put us up.

Wednesday, March 4th

We left Acapulco, traveled over pretty bad roads to near Zihuatanego and decided to continue on to Playa Azul. Before We got to Playa Azul and decided we could continue to Uruapan where we would stay two nights to regroup by getting hair cuts and washing the car before showing ourselves to our friends in Guadalajara. We went from the seashore (winding roads) to the dry mountains with the organ pipe cactus to the green green valley around Uruapan. We saw miles of coconut forests farms. Some homes had high stacks of coconut husks beside them because that is what they did for a living. Lots of papaya grown too.

At some points the views of the ocean were stunning. Waves crashing on the beach very close to the highway. It was amazing to see so much open and uninhabited area on the ocean side and through the mountains and beautiful mountain lakes. Mexico seems so crowded with people and more babies that it is surprising to notice the uninhabited parts.

We were on a toll road from Playa Azul until Uruapan so I will tell you my thoughts
about highways. Cuotas, toll roads, are like our freeways only they are not free. Libremientos, which in Spanish means "free", are free but not freeways they are what we would call local roads. Roads which go through every town and small spot in the road and which each have at least three topes to slow you down. BUT, Mexicans and I guess everyone else have rights it seems. They can ride bicycles on the freeway, toll roads, they can walk, they can ride a horse or a domkey,buses frequently stop too.

Speaking of transportation, the Mexicans have many choices, walking is done a lot by very young as well as berry old. You can ride many types of bicycle, there are cabs of all kinds including small three wheeled contraptions which look as if they were made in India, maybe they were. There are pickup trucks which are converted into people carriers, there are the regular taxis that are sometimes collectives, picking up and letting off people at every turn. You can drive an auto of your choice or a motorbike , a motor cycle, or a ATV all with or without your helmet, your choice. You can ride a horse or a donkey. Whatever, they are always busy and on the go. Mexico is moving, you only have to see how much the are doing on their roads and bridges, not to mention the wind and solar power along with the rich oil deposits.