ACAPULCO AND THE CLIFF DIVERS OF LA QUEBRADA
February 6, 2009
On the morning of the third day at sea we arrived in the Harbor of Acapulco, Mexico. Acapulco is an old city whose history goes back several hundred years. It has been a trading hub between Asia and the Americas for many years and has felt the influence of both the French and Spanish explorers form the 15th to the 17th centuries. In the 1950’s Acapulco became a destination for tourists from the US and other parts of the world because of its beautiful location and very reasonable prices. Today it is still a major destination and top notch pick for college students on Spring Break.
As we entered the harbor at 6:30 AM, there was a huge white cross on top of one of the mountains attesting to the strong Catholic background of many of the people who live here. The ship slowly made its way into the docking area and we got a good look at some of the high rises and hotels that lined the waterfront. There are any number of resorts and all-inclusives here and you will find deluxe 5 star hotels as well as those little inexpensive Mom and Pop facilities. There is so much to choose from you should find a knowledgeable travel agent or at least a recent copy of a Fodor’s Guide to the area.
Shopping in Acapulco is terrific. There were huge selections of silver and gold items as well as many reasonably priced gem stones. Hand tooled lather was in abundance and there were good selections of purses, belts, boots and shoes. We found loads of tourist stuff at all different prices. Not much had a sticker price on it so you had to ask and then make an offer of about one half of what ever was asked. Don’t be afraid to haggle in the outdoor markets but you have to ask plenty of questions too. If you have any doubts regarding quality then go on to the next vendor. There is plenty to choose from.
We found taxis everywhere in Acapulco but they are usually not metered and you MUST agree on a fare before starting your journey. Because there are so many, you can get a driver to take you out to dinner and commit to a return trip that same evening at a specified fare. Be very careful about riding the buses. In Acapulco they are privately owned and drivers have been known to race each other to the stops to be sure to get the next passengers that show up. It is not a good idea to try renting a car in Acapulco. Parking is scarce, traffic is heavy and streets do not run on any particular grid. This is an old city and the streets will sometimes abruptly change names for no apparent reason.
In a city of this size there are many night spots and several are worth stopping by. El Alebrije claims to be the biggest night club in Latin America and is capable of holding around 5,000 people. The cover charge is around $33.00 and that includes all the drinks
you can handle. The crowd here is a little younger and runs about 18 – 30. Next is the Palladium which is nestled right on the cliffs above Acapulco bay. The entire front of the building is glass and gives you a fantastic view of the harbor at night.
You may choose to spend the evening on the cities’ main street La Costera. You’ll find electronic music and beautiful girls at Andromedas and there is a mermaid swimming in a huge tank. There are several places to eat and you won’t have any problem finding a great meal in Acapulco. Try Casanova for great Italian food, La Perla which is a nice restaurant with a good view of the cliff divers. Any trip to Acapulco has to include a stop at Hotel La Merida and an hour or two of watching the young men as they dive off the 100 foot cliffs into 12 feet of sea water.
Manzanillo Colima on the Mexican Riviera
February 6, 2009
Manzanillo is said to be the busiest industrial port on the Pacific coast of Mexico. It is a city with a population of about 115,000 people and is the second largest city in the state of Colima. It is located about half way between Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta. Manzanillo is also a beach resort and claims to be the sailfish capital of the world. Every year they host a sailfishing tournament that draws fisherman from almost every continent. Along with sail fishing, Manzanillo has a reputation for having the most efficient port for landing tuna in all of Mexico.
This very busy seaport does a huge business in containerized cargo and has rail lines to Guadalajara and Mexico City. When we visited the harbor we found long lines of brand new automobiles waiting to be loaded on to ocean going vessels which attests to the industrialization of the area. We also found this port to be the home of the Mexican Naval Force of the Pacific and there were many naval vessels in the harbor.
Even tho there were a couple of very nice resorts and hotels in the area, this industrial harbor only gets visited by two or three cruise ships each week. There were several interesting shore excursions available and while we visited Manzanillo, we went an a shore tour that gave us a look at an area where salt water was evaporated and sea salt was harvested. We were driven in new tour buses through citrus and mango groves and then on to a seaside breeding ground for the endangered sea turtles which was maintained by university personnel. There were a number of turtles that were old enough to be released to the ocean so some of the people on our tour were allowed to bring young turtles to the edge of the surf and release them into the sand. It was a real treat to watch the little turtles as they scurried toward the water that would be their home for the next couple of years.
The next part of the tour was a ride to a local seaside restaurant where we were served a lunch and given a few minutes to explore the vendor’s stalls and try to find a perfect souvenir to take back home. We found a hand woven hanging chair for a one person that could be suspended from a tree and only cost us $17.00
Shore excursions at Ixtapa and Zihuatenejo
February 6, 2009
The morning mist was just rising off the coast as the cruise ship move into the harbor at 6:00 in the morning. We had traveled about 150 miles to the North of Acapulco along the Pacific coast and were entering the bay at Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa. These two villages are close together but in reality are very different places. Zihua is an older fishing village which is a little more laid back and still retains the flavor of old Mexico. Ixtapa is a more modern development with newer hotels and resorts which were promoted by the governmental tourist agency. We waited for a few minutes in the morning sun while the life boats were lowered into the water so they could tender the passengers ashore who wanted to do some local exploring.
There were a variety of shore excursions available for us to choose from and our friends were off in all sorts of different directions. Several of us decided to get a feel of the local culture and took a tour into the country side. We began by driving up the intercontinental
highway for several miles and then off into a local coconut plantation. We learned all about growing and harvesting coconuts from a very interesting guided tour (coconuts are probably the largest seeds in the world). Then we were given a demonstration of how roofing tiles are made and fired in brick ovens.
As the day wore on we were driven to a small seaside village where we were treated to lunch on the beach and of course the ever present vendors came to see us with their handfuls of souvenirs.
As we returned to the cruise ship that afternoon, another of the passengers became sick on the bus. When we were back on board, the captain made the announcement that several persons had come down with the flu and it was time to take more strict action to keep the flu bug under control. A few people with symptoms were quarantined to their rooms and everyone entering any of the eating areas had to sanitize their hands. None of the passengers was allowed to come to the drink dispensing machines and the staff took care of filling all glasses with the different beverages.
2009 FED CUP QUARTER FINALS
February 5, 2009
This morning while I was in Surprise Arizona, I decided to take a look at the new Tennis and Racquet Complex that’s been built near to the Surprise Stadium. The complex is only a couple of years old and has been recognized as the largest public tennis facility in the state of Arizona. It will be managed by Former Wimbledon Champ John Austin. The Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex will offer lessons for all levels of participation and
will be used for tournaments and local as well as regional competitions.
This beautiful new facility lies in the midst of a rapidly growing center for sports in the city of Surprise. It is located about 30 miles to the Northwest of down town Phoenix and will take about 45 minutes driving time. Right next door in the Surprise City Park there is a playground and picnic facilities, an aquatic park with a swimming pool and great water slide for the kids. There is plenty of parking right nearby at the Surprise Stadium where the Royals and the Rangers hold Spring Training.
The Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex is preparing to host the Quarterfinal Competition this weekend for the FED CUP which will find the U.S. Team battling the team from Argentina. Playoffs begin at 12:00PM on Saturday the 7th and at 12:00PM on Sunday the 8th of February. You’ll be able to find tickets through www.Ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-888-334-8782.
If you are planning to attend the event this weekend, be sure to make your transportation
arrangements well in advance. Phoenix municipal buses will be impossible to find out in Surprise. Taxi service will be quite costly. For questions about inexpensive and reliable transportation contact Copper Trails Towncar service at http://www.jeretowncarservice.vpweb.com/
Cabo San Lucas on the Mexican Riviera
February 3, 2009
Cabo San Lucas is located at the tip of the Baja Peninsula, the longest peninsula in the world and it is about 30 miles south of the Tropic of Cancer. Cabo San Lucas is actually a small city that’s becoming the leader in the resort scene in Mexico and is a popular port-of-call for cruise ships. Cabo makes for a great vacation spot with acres of gorgeous white sand beaches and a host of excellent restaurants and activities. In addition, Cabo is known as the marlin fishing capital of the world. The warmth of the waters at Cabo San Lucas, the beauty of its beaches, the abundance of sport fish, have all helped to motivate a large number of both foreign and Mexican vacationers to spend their free time here. Most of this started in 1974 when the Mexican government began a concerted effort to turn Cabo San Lucas into one of the most attractive centers for tourism in Mexico. Here at Lands End you will find many beautiful beaches to explore and for your entertainment there are a multitude of recreational activities available. You can choose from golf, scuba diving, snorkeling, wind surfing, whale watching, fishing, surfing and many more.
Fishing
Cabo San Lucas is famous for its marlin fishing. If you are a sport fishing enthusiast, you will find some of the best fishing in the world in the area around Cabo San Lucas. You may want to take part in some of the sporting events such as the annual Baja 1000 and several of the other competitions held in Cabo almost all year round. This is probably the biggest attraction to this area.
Hotels
The heart of Cabo is the hospitality. It can be found everywhere from the all-inclusive resorts to smaller hotels and beachfront villas. Exclusive hotels and gated residential communities attract a wide clientele of rich and famous from all over the world but many of the visitors are from southern California and you’ll find English is spoken in hotels, restaurants, and most of the stores. From luxurious five-star hotels to affordable inns and motels, you are certain to find accommodations that would suit your taste and budget at Cabo.
Activities
Every year thousands of people are drawn to Cabo San Lucas and the Baja Peninsula to experience its natural beauty and enjoy this destination that has all the things that go into making a wonderful vacation: sun, surf, outdoor adventures, and exciting nightlife and you’ll find several world class golf courses that are right along the coast line. The beaches are protected by beautiful Land’s End, and the activities are endless: jet-skis, banana boats, parasailing, snorkeling, kite sailing, diving and horseback riding can all be done just by walking down to the beach. On land, by sea or in the air, exciting tours and activities give visitors the chance to experience the magic of Las Cabos.
Cabo San Lucas has come a long way from being the remote fishing village of only a few years ago. Cabo is now an anchor port for cruises sailing on to the Mexican Riviera or to the Sea of Cortez and because of this honor is experiencing a huge surge in growth. Cabo San Lucas has become an excellent vacation destination and now there are many vacation packages that usually combine airfare and accommodations. These packages can prove to be the least expensive way to make your way to the city as soon as you have decided to spend your next vacation at the “Lands’ End”.
