February 2005
Folweiler Chiropractic-main page
We went to Zihuatanejo, Mexico recently. Here's a view of the
bay. It's prettier when it's sunny, but nonetheless the bay is full
of sailboats from the US and Canada and local Mexican boats.
You can easily go on a fishing or SCUBA trip or take a ferry
across the bay to a pretty beach.
Here's the main beach - Playa Municipal. The fishing skiffs are
run up on the beach during the day. I think most of the fishing
occurs at night. There were two dozen on the beach and another
several dozen in a nearby lagoon. Unfortunately, there is a lingering
odor of raw sewage, suggesting that it flows untreated into the bay.
Here's a nearby marina. We stayed on a pretty beach in the background
across the bay - Playa La Ropa - named for a load of clothing that washed
up there from a ship wreck.
Here we are mucking it up on Playa Municipal. Note the load of fishing
skiffs in the background.
We got great fruit liquados from this stand in a small beach town - Playa Azul.
Camille and Molly look relaxed.
Here's the one of the pools at the Hotel Playa Azul, where we stayed.
Camille and Daniel hang on the beach.
Camille made friend with a little Mexican girl and slid many, many
times together down the water slide. Camille was very disappointed
when the slide was closed the next day (because it was a weekday).
Sunny smiles.
Some classmates at a school in Playa Azul.
We stayed a few nights away from the beach in Pátzcuaro in the highlands
in the state of Michoacán. Here is a picture of the inner courtyard of our
Colonial hotel just off the main plaza. The buildings were lovely old Colonial
structures with arcades around a beautiful plaza.
We stayed in Playa Azul (at the bottom of the map) and in Pátzcuaro near the center.
Given the Colonial influence from Spain, a large Catholic church was inevitable.
Camille was desperate to play with other kids. She was also very frustrated
about their lack of English skills and her own lack of Spanish skills. Via Molly's
translation services, she was able to play briefly with two local Pátzcuaro girls.
Molly chatted up their mother.
While Molly and Daniel were feeling a bit under the weather, Camille (my
adventurous daughter) and I headed for nearby Janitzio Island.
Here's a typical ferry to the island.
There's a statue of some religious figure on top.
We were serenaded on the way to the island with some
local Michoacán musicians.
These "butterfly" nets were used historically to clean almost
all of the fish out of the lake. These fellows earn money now by
putting on a well-choreographed show for the ferry passengers,
then passing a hat around the boat.
Camille models on the top of the island with Pátzcuaro in the background.
Monkeying around at the top of the island with the statue in the background.
Another side trip took us to Tzinzunzan, where there were well decorated
gravesites and ruins.
Posing in front of the lake by the ruins at Tzinzunzan.
At the end of our trip, we returned to Zihuatanejo and spent time
during the day at nearby Ixtapa. Ixtapa is a resort town built on a
beautiful beach. Hotel rooms are $200/night and up. That price
gets you lots of service and near complete isolation from the "real
Mexico." Nonetheless, we crashed some hotel pools. Here Camille
comes careening down a long slide with glee.
Meanwhile, Daniel lounges in a inner tube in a quieter spot.
Here Camille tries her hand at ice skating at the Seattle Center.
They set up a rink around the holidays. Notice the excellent
ankle control.
Just outside the family takes a spin on the merry-go-round.
Through a warp in the space-time continuum, comes Daniel's
third birthday!
Daniel has a cupcake from Cupcake Royale in Ballard at
his pre-school. They're awesome!
A game of musical squares ensues. It's the modern
equivalent of musical chairs, but no one is eliminated.
It's supposed to rid the game of losers.
Daniel opens a card with the help of his big sister.
Lauren reads a book to Daniel on the couch. Notice
the homemade crown. Camille wrote "Happy Birthday
Daniel" on it.