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Zane Paxton | profile | all galleries >> Mexico Nov. 2003 >> Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico: A Photo Essay tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Ixtapa, Guerrero, Mexico | Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico: A Photo Essay | Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico | Morelia, Michoacan, México

Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico: A Photo Essay

This is more of a photo essay and just vacation snapshots.

Zihua, as the locals call it, is a charming little town that exists for the tourist trade from Ixtapa. This place invites you to eat the local seafood, enjoy a few cold cervezas and to play in the surf which is as warm as bath water. It is at times chaotic, compelling, impoverished yet rich in culture. There are layers upon layers of different realities and little is really as it seems on the surface. It felt safe, yet most everything was structured to get you to part with as much of your pesos as could gracefully be accomplished. Prices were cheaper the farther you ventured out of town and of course, also depending on one's negotiating determination.
From the market along Cinco de Mayo near the beach. A chaotic riot of color and wares to tempt you. Deep inside the ramshackle shops there were lots of lacquerware, silverwork and other crafts but it was hard to linger because it was so stiflingly hot with no cross ventilation.
Market on Cinco de Mayo Street		From the market along Cinco de Mayo near the beach.
A chaotic riot of color and wares to tempt you.
Deep inside the ramshackle shops there were lots of lacquerware,
silverwork and other crafts but it was hard to linger because it was
so stiflingly hot with no cross ventilation.		 Our favorite restaurant right on the beach. We had lobster for thanksgiving diner with Pina Coladas. Nice.
Casa Arcadia		Our favorite restaurant right on the beach. We had lobster for thanksgiving diner with Pina Coladas. Nice.
A bright & Hazy, hot & steamy day on the beach taken just in front of the restaurant row. Well, time to get back to my Coco frio!
The beach		A bright & Hazy, hot & steamy day on the beach taken just in front of the restaurant row. Well, time to get back to my Coco frio! Back for the shrimp and Indio Cervezas. The coco frio was nice too and they removed the cocoanut meat for me. It was interesting watching them expertly hack-off the top of the fresh local cocoanut with a machette.
Lunch at Casa Arcadia		Back for the shrimp and Indio Cervezas. The coco frio was nice too and they removed the cocoanut meat for me. It was interesting watching them expertly hack-off the top of the fresh local cocoanut with a machette.
This local guy caught maybe 2 dozen 6 fish with two casts then retired under his big umbrella and finished his cerveza. It took them a long time to remove the small fish from the net.
Local Fisherman		This local guy caught maybe 2 dozen 6" fish with two casts then retired under his big umbrella and finished his cerveza. It took them a long time to remove the small fish from the net. This says open, but it was closed. Paying in dollars was easy.
Money Exchange		This says "open", but it was closed. Paying in dollars was easy.
A small local church opposite the market. The presence of the Catholic church was everywhere.
Local Church		A small local church opposite the market. The presence of the Catholic church was everywhere. There were many, many odd uses crammed together in a way that could only be possible with little or no planning regulations. Visually chaotic and the result of making do with what ever is available, or not. And also charming at the same time.
Shop		There were many, many odd uses crammed together in a way that could only be possible with little or no planning regulations. Visually chaotic and the result of making do with what ever is available, or not. And also charming at the same time.
An street entrance to a typical house, usually opening onto an interior couryard. No big front yards like in the USA.
Casa		An street entrance to a typical house, usually opening onto an interior couryard. No big front yards like in the USA. Map of Mexico
Map of Mexico
These were everywhere; the colors were wonderful. Almost like formal grafitti. Many were outdated. There were many paintstores, but the signs were the best evidence of it's use, most of the buildings were not.
Wall Signs		These were everywhere; the colors were wonderful. Almost like formal grafitti. Many were outdated. There were many paintstores, but the signs were the best evidence of it's use, most of the buildings were not. Map of State of Guerrero
Map of State of Guerrero

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MEGAN 01-Nov-2009 07:23
JAUN DIAZ HERNANDEZ ADOND ESTA TE AMO MEGAN BREWSTER WA
andy14-Jul-2006 16:31
Nice synopsis of Zihua. We loved it there and walked just south of the main beach on the seawalk to something like Casa Arcadia. Good memories. I like the Photo Essay format for the travelog feature.
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