Relaxing at the Beach

Transition to San Patricio, or Melaque, on the Pacific Coast of Jalisco

On my last night in San Miguel de Allende my friend, Robin, and I checked off another rooftop restaurant – this one called Zumo Rooftop Restaurant. SMA has a long list of rooftop restaurants, as the night sky is filled with beautiful views and this was no exception – and great food!

Since my flight left at 6:15 am, I stayed in a hotel close to the airport which made my travel over a leisurely two days. The first day I took a taxi to the bus station, the UneBus to the Guanajuato Airport (Leon, Silao, Bajío), and another taxi to the hotel. The next day I took the hotel shuttle to the airport, flew to Mexico City, flew to Manzanillo, then took a taxi to my Air BnB in San Patricio. I lucked out with the cab driver as turned out to be a bit of a tour guide. He offered to take me through Cihuatlán where we stopped so I could check out their beautiful white church (Parroquia La Santa Cruz).

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La Casa de María

I was fortunate to get into my apartment earlier than check in time. This place has all the requirements for this stay: air conditioning (in the bedroom), Wifi (though any WiFi in this area is weak and inconsistent), a pool, a shaded area with access to The Beach, and this place did not disappoint! It is a small complex of only seven units, is less than two years old, and right next to downtown. This town is historically a fishing village and has about 7,500 residents (2010). The population swells during the winter months as expats from Canada and the US invade for about three months. They usually stay between one and three months and come back year after year.

Weather: I struggle with heat, so I have struggled with how to enjoy this location. The lows run from 68 to 73 (from about midnight to 7:30 am), the highs run from 80 to 85. Doesn’t sound too bad, right? Well, the humidity is about as high as the temperatures and I don’t last more than an hour at a time. That said, when I do put the AC on, I only set it to between 70 and 75. The best is: in the shade, cold drink in hand, noticeable breeze, view of the beach, wet from a swim.

COVID protocol here seems lax and less consistent than San Miguel de Allende – it could be because most everything is outside, or . . . There is no enforcement of masks, no temperature taking, no hand sanitizer dispensing, or shoe disinfecting. My neighbor, who is flying home tomorrow went to get her COVID test to qualify to fly home. She was negative, but her experience left her shaking. What would she have done if she had tested positive? There was a rude man in line in front of her, without a mask, who tested positive and was mad at the world. I feel quite safe – may not be logical, but it is how I feel. I generally stay outdoors (more than six feet from others) or in my unit. I’m not using cloth masks anymore and mask up in crowds and indoors. I brought tests, but not sure if they will detect Omicron.

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BEACH

It took me awhile let go of the busyness in my mind, accept that “lazy” is not bad here and now, that being alone is ok, find a nurturing routine, and enjoy the intensity of the warm sun. When I did, the extraordinary beauty of this place found me. I have more photos of the sunrises and sunsets because I tend to retreat to the shaded areas to read during the hottest time of the day. I am not interested in buying things and there are no beautiful buildings, museums, or ruins to see. I’m not interested in day trips, live performance of old rock music, or in seeking out fancy restaurants. I feel lulled by the sound of the waves, nourished by gazing at the sunrises and sunsets, sustained by the endless hours of reading, and refreshed by dips into water. Observing the pelicans flying and diving into the water causes me to smile, observing families playing together tiggers fond memories.

Morning Impressions

• I wake up to sounds of roosters, birds and donkey’s!
• On sunrise walks I see fishing – mostly recreational fishing (dad’s with kids).
• Swimmers, primarily expats, are in the water early, swimming parallel to shore for their safety.
• Vendors start setting up their umbrellas, tables and chairs on the beach for rental income

Day Reflections

• Local musicians (and a few expats) wander into cafes and restaurants playing a short while for tips.
• Large families (mainly Mexicans) haul their coolers and congregate around rented beach umbrellas – laughing, singing, eating, playing soccer, playing music, playing in the waves.
• Critter holes and trails tell of the past night’s activity.

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Other Interesting Stuff

• I was surprised, and delighted, to see this Christmas tree set up in a school yard, knowing that isn’t as easy to do in the US.
• I am stunned by the beautiful flowers here and I have chosen a few photos of them to share
• Food & Drink could be a longer topic, but I’ll give you the short version here. I have only gone out for one meal, as I enjoy eating from the tremendous array of fresh fruits and veggies available here. However, I love going out for coffee in the morning. One of my favorite places, La Taza Negra, makes great smoothies as well. One thing I love, is that their ice cubes are made out of coffee! The next three shots are of one of my favorite restaurants, called El Dorado. I walk up from the beach with my sandy feet and sit at linen covered table with a view of the sunset. The last time I was there a group of expats were dancing, and teaching, latin dances. They do this every Wednesday evening – what fun!
• The last two shots don’t illustrate a concept as well as I had hoped. I usually stay close to home along the beach where the town has accommodated the influx of tourist needs with knick-knack shops, burger & pizza joints, and the like. One day I wandered just a couple blocks off the tourist track and found a vibrant local commercial area which seemed to cater more to the local population. My favorite was a 4 foot by 4 foot grill filled with chicken in a pungent and delicious smelling sauce.