Bruce aka Pancho writing here: Sunday morning we gladly left Melaque and continued south down the west coast of the Mexican mainland. After initially thinking we would explore Barra de Navidad, we decided to continue on and make it a long day of driving. We actually drove 7 hours but only made 220 miles. Averaged 30 miles per hour! Highway was very "sinuous" as the signs say and the going was slow with many twists and turns. Along the way we encountered our first search by the military. We were ready for the extreme interrogations and possibly thumbscrews but after a very courteous 10 minute search all the officer asked was what was in a long green bag. "Telescope?" he asked, I said "No, la silla". Just a carrying case for our folding green chair. We were on our way dealing with more sinuosity.
Later in the day we happened upon a hotel sign on the highway that looked promising. Hotel Gambusino in La Mira, Jalisco was a true gem. Built on a cliff overlooking the ocean it was definitely a 4-star establishment...and for $58. It only has 9 rooms and we were the only guests. Our king-sized bed looked out through sliding glass doors to the sea. Dinner at their restaurant was a little high but we have been so spoiled with our meal prices in the interior that we need to cut the coastal retaurants some slack. A narrow bridge led from the hotel out to a palapa built on a rocky outcropping where Pat and I watched the waves roll in and sipped our Coronas.
Monday morning we continued our drive south with Zihuatanejo being our loose goal. We happened upon a topes ( large speed bump) where a group of Mexicans were holding signs and had a rope pulled across the road, forcing us to stop. Turns out they were asking for donations for their school. We gladly obliged and then bought some sweet bread (pan dulce) from a little boy for 5 pesos.
Our drive would take us by Trocones where a year and a half ago we took my 2 intelligent and beautiful nieces from Montana for vacation. We decided to stop and check out hotels. We settled on Hotel Troncones where Dave welcomed us. We liked him immediately and he was originally from Washington state.
Before choosing Hotel Troncones we drove down the dirt road strip of hotels of this rustic beach community cking other hotel prices and all were empty. We were told that "this was the slowest slow season ever" by one hotel owner. All dropped their prices for us but Hotel Troncones just felt right. For any of you out there wanting to hang out by a beach please come to Troncones, there are plenty of rooms, the price is right and this is a beautiful beach. The hotels we liked are: Los Suenos http://www.lossuenostroncones.com/, Casa Blanca http://www.casablanca-troncones.net/ and of course Hotel Troncones http://www.hoteltroncones.com/index.
Dave told us about several fatal shark attacks that have happened close. One was pretty close to our hotel and the guy bled to death. The wave sets coming in are heavy also so if the pscado grandes don' get you the beach break will.Well it's my time for the hammock now so I'll close so I can wake up Pat. Hasta Luego.
