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La Unión de Isidoro Montes de Oca

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    • LadyandtrampMajahua, Guerrero, Mexico
      Jour 31

      Playa de la Saladita

      31 janvier 2022, Mexique ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

      As the crow flies, the beach at Saladita is not that far from the Majahua beach but for us to go there by car, it was a 1/2 hour drive over the mountain, through the town of Lagunillas and its Monday fruit and vegetable market and then down a winding road through mango and palm orchards to the ocean.

      Ever since we started hearing about Troncones, we knew that the area was full of off-the-beaten-track surfing beaches for people of all abilities. People come here from all over to boogie board, to short board and long board. Not that I know very much about surfing and waves, but it is fun to watch surfers catch a ride.

      The two beaches in this area that are known for their long rides are La Saladita and The Ranch.

      We decided to drive to the nearest one, La Saladita, to see what it was like. What we found was a long, picturesque beach dotted with oceanfront cabanas and little shack-like restaurants. The ocean was full of young people doing their best to stay up on their longboards for as long as possible. Very entertaining!

      We found a good, shady spot to have a limonada and watch all the activity. We were also rewarded with a sighting of whales splashing around in the distance.      En savoir plus

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    • LadyandtrampMajahua, Guerrero, Mexico
      Jour 38

      Jungle Animals

      7 février 2022, Mexique ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

      We live in a jungle. So what’s the difference between a jungle and a forest?

      “A forest has many tall trees and can usually be traveled through by humans. The word 'jungle' is usually used to describe a tangled or overgrown mass of vegetation over a large area of land. A jungle usually has a tropical or humid climate and many plants on the ground between trees and larger plants.” The people who live here always bring their machetes with them if they are planning on taking shortcuts. They bushwhack their way through the vegetation.

      The jungle on the lot was partially cleared in the construction of the house. Palm trees, cacti and some tropical flowering plants have been planted around the house to provide shade and some colour. A lovely breeze from the ocean is able to come through the remaining trees.

      The native animals that live in the jungle include iguanas and other lizards, snakes, squirrels, raccoons and coyotes. We read that a few of the animals that live here are endangered as their habitat is threatened by development. i.e. turtles, eagles and iguanas. We have seen all of the above animals except for the raccoons.

      Everyone should know that the tropics are a place where insects abound as well as scorpions and spiders that are arachnids and in a different class from the ordinary collection of flying insects and ants. In the past 5 weeks, we have battled and won with termites, encountered a tsunami of ants, evicted spiders of every colour and size, watched walking sticks and praying mantises do their thing, removed wasp nests, checked our shoes and clothing for small scorpions and sprayed ourselves against mosquitoes. Haha. It reminds us of our time in the Amazon, living with nature. Love it.

      But there are also other jungle creatures here - the jungle goats, the jungle cattle, the jungle horses and of course the jungle dogs - that just appear when we least expect them to.

      Yesterday as I was reading my book beside the pool, a dreaded jungle goat herd snuck into the yard and came up to drink water from the pool. Where there is a will, there is a way. Chris told me to turn my head and look. There they were, not 10’ away, and I hadn’t even heard them. Well, maybe I didn’t hear them, but they certainly heard me, and scampered away with their tails in the air.

      Every day is a new day and living in this lovely house in the jungle has been fun.      En savoir plus

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    • LadyandtrampMajahua, Guerrero, Mexico
      Jour 40

      The Dusty Back Streets of Troncones

      9 février 2022, Mexique ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

      From what we gather, Troncones was founded in the 1970s as a farming community. In the late 1970s they became an ‘Ejido’. An Ejido is a form of community-owned land governed by a local committee. By the 1980s, people were hearing about an ‘off the beaten path’ surf spot north of Zihuatanejo and word started to spread. In the early 1990s a change in Mexico’s laws allowed the privatization of Ejido lands and the residents of Troncones began to divide up beach front lots, many of which they sold to outside parties, other Mexicans and foreigners.

      The new arrivals that had purchased the beach front land and built homes there, took an interest in the welfare of the community and helped with many improvements such as school renovations, a library, scholarship funding, a municipal water system, spay and neuter clinics for local pets and more. Everyone worked together to come up with common goals, even one that included respecting the natural environment.

      The year, as in much of Mexico’s southern Pacific area, can be divided into two parts, the “dry” season and the “wet” season. The dry season starts about November 1st and runs till May 1st. It doesn’t rain during this time, the days are warm (30C) and the nights are cool (15C). Perfect weather for two Canadians trying to escape -25C weather, snow and winds.

      We have been told that the wet season, usually has a higher humidity, slightly warmer temperatures and frequent showers, though the rain is usually at night or in the late afternoon and only lasts for an hour or two. During this time, the surrounding mountains turn a lush tropical green and wildflowers are abundant.

      But we are here during the dry season and even in 6 weeks time, the stream on the road that we had to cross to get to the house has dried up and the leaves on many trees have turned brown and fallen down. There are less flowers.

      On the main street in Troncones that is parallel to the beach, you can see lots of gringos walking or biking around. There are several low hotels or guest houses, restaurants, yoga studios, surf schools, tour operators and little shops. During our time here, we have pretty well stuck to the main road for anything that we needed.

      But today, we decided to drive around and take a few photos of the dusty back streets to see how the village people live and to see some of the building that is going on away from the main drag. You’ll notice the red volcanic dirt on the roads and big volcanic rocks on the properties.      En savoir plus

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    • LadyandtrampMajahua, Guerrero, Mexico
      Jour 84

      Mexican Goats

      25 mars 2022, Mexique ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

      The goats. The goats. The goats. Where do I start talking about our visits from the goats?

      We have been here for three months and the one constant and daily issue that we have had has been trying to deal with several herds of goats that enter the property to eat the plants that our landlord planted before we came. I must say that for a period of time we felt that we were winning the battle to protect the garden from the goats. But ultimately the goats have won.

      The other day, we came home from a 1 hour trip into Troncones, saw goat prints all around the house and then saw that all the plants that we watered and cared for every day, had been eaten! The goats even had the nerve to go onto the veranda and eat the house plants. It was a big disappointment.

      Neighbours own the goats, but for years before the house was built, cows and then goats were allowed to roam the jungle and that property for food and possibly water. The owners would open their pens and let them roam. No damage to anyones property. But now someone owns the property that the goats always foraged in. There is a new house with landscaping and a swimming pool - easy food and water.

      We went for a drive to see where the goats lived and felt a little sorry for them. They were jammed in what looked like a chicken coop. Hardly any room to move. We understood how they would love their freedom roaming around, munching the freshly watered green plants at this house.

      The owner of the house has realized, after daily goat reports, that he needs to put up a fence around his big property. But not any fence. It has to be a goat proof fence. It is going to cost a lot but it has to be done. In the meantime, a lovely man and his wife, were hired to fix a barbed wire fence that was in bad shape around the perimeter of the property, and to look out for goats so we could have a little freedom in order to get ready to go home.

      So what have we learned about naughty goats?

      Spanish colonists brought Spanish goats, also known as brush or scrub goats, to the Caribbean and Mexican shores during the 1500s. In time, these hardy goats adapted to the local landscapes and conditions as they browsed free range. Note free range…

      Goats were a good choice of animal for settlers as they provided milk, meat, hair, and hides. They were also used to clear brush. Some of the goats though became feral. Due to tough outdoor living, these goats became totally suited to the hot and unforgiving climates where they lived.

      The good thing for goat owners is that these goats required little medical attention and they are parasite-resistant. They also tolerate harsh climatic conditions and can survive on low-quality pastures, like the jungle vegetation here. We have seen goats stand tall on their hind legs and reach for a green leaf on a tree. That’s the way that they broken several new trees that were planted around the house. Goat owners don’t have to spend very much on pricey feeds!

      Some owners even claim they never have to trim their goats’ hooves. For this reason, the Spanish goat breed is very inexpensive to groom and to maintain. For poor people, there are a lot of pluses to owning goats, but …      En savoir plus

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    • LadyandtrampMajahua, Guerrero, Mexico
      Jour 41

      Seen on the Majahua Beach

      10 février 2022, Mexique ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

      The Majahua beach is so lovely in the cool mornings. A few locals are fishing with either rods or nets. A few gringos are out walking and a few brave souls are kayaking or trying to surf. The occasional motorcycle passes by as people are heading to work. We may have seen 10 people during our 1 1/2 hour walk.En savoir plus

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    • LadyandtrampMajahua, Guerrero, Mexico
      Jour 65

      600 Bicyclists!

      6 mars 2022, Mexique ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

      We heard about a bicycle rally that was going to start and finish at the Troncones fairgrounds. 600 bicyclists were registered to be in this race. Many participants came from all over Mexico as well as local people from Zihua, Lazaro Cardenas and Troncones. The race was going to take them through Majahua so we walked to town to watch.

      The advertisement said that the race would start at 7:30 a.m. but being on Mexican time, we weren’t sure when they would be coming through town. Organizing 600 people would be a challenge, for sure, but amazingly, cyclists started to come through Majahua shortly before 9 a.m.

      We ordered a coffee at a restaurant in town that had a great view of the ocean and was next to the road and waited in the shade. We followed that up with a delicious breakfast.

      We met a family of about 10 people who had flown in from Tijuana to cheer on a father and his 14 year old son. They were in the 35 km race. The 50 km race was considerably more difficult and went in a different direction. Both races included going up and over a mountain in the heat.

      We wondered how the racers would negotiate a dirt road full of chickens, horses, sleepy dogs and kids but they took it all in stride.

      The family that we met made shakers out of plastic coke bottles filled with stones and as the cyclists passed they all got rousing support from all of us, cheering them on. It was fun.

      Chris wanted to enter with his Speed River Bicycle water bottle, but he wasn’t sure if he or his bike would make it!      En savoir plus

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    • LadyandtrampMajahua, Guerrero, Mexico
      Jour 87

      The Process of Returning to Canada

      28 mars 2022, Mexique ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

      We got the following message -

      “Starting April 1, 2022, pre-entry tests will no longer be required for fully vaccinated travellers entering Canada by land, air or water.

      Until then, (we return on March 29), follow the pre-entry test requirements.

      Proof of a professionally administered or observed negative antigen test taken outside of Canada no more than 1 day before your scheduled flight or entry to Canada by land or water. The one day window does not depend on the time of day the test was taken or the time of your flight or entry. For example, if your flight is scheduled to leave or you enter by land any time on Friday, you could provide proof of a negative result from an antigen test taken any time on Thursday, or on Friday

      It must be administered or observed by a pharmacy, laboratory, healthcare entity or telehealth service. (The Troncones pharmacy will do it for 800 pesos or $50 Cdn each).
      The test must be authorized for sale or distribution in Canada or in the jurisdiction in which it was obtained.

      The test must be performed outside of Canada.

      Doesn’t make sense to pay for and take the test two days before it is formally over. Just give us the paper!

      But, on Monday morning we went to the Troncones pharmacy where the pharmacist immediately did the tests and in no time we got the results. We were both negative. We paid the 1600 pesos, got the certificates and left. Easy peasy.

      She told us that during the whole month of March, she never got a positive test result.      En savoir plus

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    • LadyandtrampMajahua, Guerrero, Mexico
      Jour 45

      Boca de Lagunillas on Valentine’s Day

      14 février 2022, Mexique ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

      In Mexico, Valentine's Day is also celebrated on February 14 but is officially titled El Día del Amor y la Amistad (The Day of Love and Friendship). That means that if you want to celebrate like a Mexican, you shouldn't focus all your attention on your beloved, but rather on your friends and family too.

      We celebrated today by taking a little road trip while Sara, our house keeper, cleaned our house.

      Once again, we took the interesting dirt road over the mountain and to the market town of Lagunillas. On Mondays, they hold a tianguis, (a traditional open air market/bazaar), on the main road where people can buy fresh fruit and vegetables as well as useful dollar store items. Today, they were also selling lacy red underwear, flowers, chocolate and candy. It is Valentine’s Day. Chris bought me some ‘romantic’ candy. Haha.

      Our plan was to continue on to the tiny village of Boca de Lagunillas, that we have seen across the river on our birding walks. People who live in that town and work in Troncones either have to take a long way by road or they can quickly ford the river by walking through it, or driving through it in their trucks, motorcycles or they can wade through the river on their horses. By crossing the river, the drive to Troncones is considerably shorter than the drive over the mountain. Bridges have been built but during the rainy season, they always get washed away when the river doubles or triples in size.

      The market was halfway to Boca on the long road so we just found the turnoff and followed the winding paved road to the village. That whole area on the other side of the mountain is all agricultural land. We passed orchards full of mango trees, banana trees and coconut palms. Then there were fields with corn and plants we didn’t recognize, as well as cattle, horses, pigs and chickens.

      Boca de Lagunillas is very small village but has a great big new cancha (multipurpose court) with a roof. Canchas are used for basketball games or as a gathering place for town meetings or concerts or community parties. They people who,live here are lucky because they have a paved road. But still, they don’t have wifi, cellular service, a high school or a grocery store. We didn’t see a church but there probably was one. Maybe the cancha is used…

      We went through the town and continued on the paved road, which turned into a dirt road, that led us to the beach where a few Slovakian families were surfing.

      Returning to Boca, we paid attention to the landscape. There were several huge trees with very big canopies. These shade trees are called parota trees and the wood is used for making live edge furniture. In the too branches of one of these big trees, we spotted an awesome Crested Caracara bird. When you look at the flag of Mexico, you will see a large bird that looks like an eagle holding a snake. This bird really is a Caracara.

      We parked the car in the village and walked down to the river where we had earlier seen people fording it. A big surprise! In the past two weeks, a backhoe had gone down into the river and scraped the stones in the river to form a small dam and more importantly a road. Now this will only last until the rainy season and then it will be washed away but for now there is a road and some deeper water for washing or providing water for the animals. A young man explained things to us.

      Two young girls were walking home from school with their Valentine goodie bags and they were happy to talk to us too. It was fun talking to kids who weren’t afraid to talk to strangers.

      Our landlord had told us about the best place in the area to get a tasty hamburger or wings - Nonos. We had to go back to the market town and found it easily. Unfortunately, the restaurant wasn’t open as the owner was food shopping in Zihuatanejo. That means that we will have to go back there another day. No problems. Check out the restaurant’s sign in the photos. Haha.

      We hadn’t had a hamburger for the whole time that we were here so we went to Troncones to a place that we knew served burgers. Wow! They were so big that we could barely open our mouths wide enough to eat them! Not sure if they are as good as Nonos are supposed to be but they were delicious.

      We headed home to a clean house, a sunny afternoon and a dip in the pool.

      It was a loving day all around. A happy Valentines Day except for …. another visit from the persistent herd of goats!      En savoir plus

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    • LadyandtrampMajahua, Guerrero, Mexico
      Jour 52

      Pantla, Guerrero

      21 février 2022, Mexique ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

      We have been reading about the huge snowstorm in Wellington County where all the roads have been closed and driving is dangerous. Neighbours sent photos of the snow drifts and the blowing wind. Here we have the opposite. It has been scorching! In fact, a heat advisory has been issued. Thank heavens our evening are cool. It starts to become hot by 9 a.m. and it get hotter and hotter as the day progresses.

      Because of the heat, a few creatures have come to visit us again - scorpions, spiders and crabs. This creepy crawly brigade although small, keeps us on our toes, literally. Haha.

      Since the goats have eaten most the flowers and greenery, they are now more interested in the water in the pool. All the creeks have dried up and who knows where they are finding water. We feel somewhat sorry for them now. We have seen the chicken coop that the herd is living in, when they are not roaming the jungle. Not the best place to hang out, especially in this heat. We are just worried that when we are not at the house, a baby goat may fall into the pool and drown. Not a pleasant thought. Maybe we can find and fill a tub of water for them to drink out of, away from the house? Oh, the goats…

      This morning, while the house keeper and handyman couple worked around the house, we decided to drive in our air-conditioned car, to a market town just north of Zihuatanejo, called Pantla. We needed to fill up the propane tank that services our stove and that’s where we had to get it done.

      Chris happened to see a guy watering a Volkswagen garden with a hose in Troncones, and asked him if he would fill up our window washer water container, which he did with a smile. Funny.

      We don’t know anything about Pantla and an internet search doesn’t provide us with much info either. About 4,000 people live there and it appears to be a market town. I’m saying this because some shops weren’t open yet when we drove through it. It is a dusty and very Mexican town with no gringos that we could see. But it did seem to be bustling with activity, including a Fed Ex truck. A few sleepy dogs on the street and the kids were in school. An interesting place, but hot!

      We drove back north and went to our favourite tianguis town, Lagunillas,, where the fruit and vegetable vendors were making some good sales. Limes are still very expensive but they are available. We filled our bag up with apples, grapefruits, tangerines, grapes, jicama, potatoes, tomatoes, bananas, a cabbage, carrots and other goodies. We wore our masks and kept our distance but in 33C it sure gets hot under the mask.

      We decided to go home by taking a shortcut and driving across the riverbed in Boca de Lagunillas. That was fun. The water has really gone down and it getting a little skunky. Too bad as it was a clear and clean river a month ago. It was a pleasant and cool drive home under the big palm trees.

      We wash all of our fruits and vegetables using purifying drops, Microdyn, added to a sinkful of water. Most of the veggies are dusty so this way they are cleaned and disinfected before going in the fridge.

      Sara and her husband, Jaime, did a great cleaning job, inside and out. They even cleaned the big woven carpet in the living area. I guess that they beat it, hosed it down and put it in the sun to dry. Whatever they did, it is clean now.

      Our landlord and his family went to the States today from Patzcuaro. They will be there until mid April and we will be long gone. It is too bad that because of covid we weren’t able to see them this year. They are a special couple and we would have enjoyed seeing their kids.      En savoir plus

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    • LadyandtrampMajahua, Guerrero, Mexico
      Jour 48

      My Fall from Grace

      17 février 2022, Mexique ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

      I can’t believe it happened. I fell into the pool. Chris didn’t push me. But he saw me fall in. Omg.

      Now you have to understand that it was 9:30 at night and dark outside. The full moon was on its way but not here yet. It was also quite hot and Chris decided to go for a dip to cool off before going to bed.

      The pool area has lights but he didn’t bother turning them on. He just turned on the blue underwater lights in the pool and jumped in.

      It was hot but I figured that if I just went to the steps, I could cool off by sitting on the edge and putting my feet in the water. But with underwater lights on, I had trouble judging where the edge was and did a face plant or belly flop right into the pool. It was not graceful. I had all my clothes on as well as my slippers.

      Of course, Chris asked if I was okay as I surfaced sputtering water. I was. It then became a great source of amusement for him as he had a " front row seat." Ha ha. It’s not every day that one falls into a pool but it did cool me off.

      P.S. Thank heavens there wasn’t a camera to capture the moment.      En savoir plus

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    Vous pouvez également connaitre ce lieu sous les noms suivants:

    La Unión de Isidoro Montes de Oca, La Union de Isidoro Montes de Oca

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