December in Zihua – art, music, ruins, saints, statues, food and fireworks!

The Virgin of Guadalupe

Even though we’re in our standard just-before-Christmas lull and in general tourism is on the low side, there has been movement and many fun happenings in town lately, and over the next while there is a lot more planned, so here’s a quick run-down of the parts that I know of – both updates on what’s just passed as well as some heads up for upcoming events over the holidays. If anyone has any extra info to elaborate on these, please add it here! And of course, have a GREAT holiday season and happiest and healthiest 2009!

1. On December 5th Che Mangiamo Restaurant in Ixtapa celebrated their FIRST YEAR anniversary.  We waffled a bit on going because there’d be so many other things happening in our lives that we were flagging in the energy department a bit, but we rallied, put on some suitable duds and made it over there and very happily so, because we had a very fun time. Eric and Roberto were there with their live music, spelled off by the greatly entertaining, Diego de Cossio,  purportedly one of Mexico’s first “rockeros”. The place was overflowing with the friends and wellwishers of Miguel and Felice, and we ate some of the BEST Paella ever!
2. Our Lady of Guadalupe was out in full force this year with processions all over town leading each business or area’s image of the Virgin to the churches for blessing and for the vigil and masses in her honor, culminating on the 12th, which is officially her day. The churches were surrounded by great food stands and picture backdrops, the children and many adults were dressed in embroidered and colorful finery as mock Juan Diegos and Marias. There were special typical dance and music presentations downtown on Cuauhtemoc street that were a joy to watch.
3. Zih Galeria in Zihuatanejo hosted an impressive showing of Guadalupana art that, TAKE NOTE, will be on display all the way through January 10th, so even if you weren’t at the opening, you can still enjoy all of these pieces until then. The gallery is located on Juan N. Alvarez street near Garrobo’s Restaurant, and is open from 10am to 2 pm and 4 pm to 8 pm.
4. Remember, the Christmas POSADAS take place from December 16th through 24th. See http://www.zihua-ixtapa.com/community/index.php/topic,2.0.html for more information
5. Don’t forget the ZIHUA FOOD CRAWL coming up tomorrow, Tuesday December 16th – Tickets $200 at Sanka. Each ticket will allow you access to a total of nine varied and quality establishments, all within easy walking distance in downtown Zihuatanejo, for samplings of tapas and appetizers – graze your way through town, meet others as they do the crawl,  and help support the Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival coming up in March (see http://www.zihuafest.info)
6. For those who are wondering, Casa Bahia is open for the season and still serving wonderful food with one of the best bay views available. Since it’s over in El Almacen and not on a normal walking route for downtown, one can tend to forget it’s there, so make a point of putting it on your dining list when you’re in town. Enjoy their fabulous appetizers (fried squid, tuna and spinach rolls, stuffed zucchini and corn and spinach crepes!!!) and a full range of salads, soups, pastas and main dishes.
7. There’s been a lot of talk about the Soledad de Maciel, or La Chole, archaeological site lately. An enormous ball court has been discovered there, apparently, said to be the LARGEST yet found. That means it rivals and surpasses that enormous court at Chichen Itza! It has taken a long while for the Insitututo Nacional the Antropologia e Historia (INAH) to focus on and give support to this site near Petatlan, but now that they have begun to study it in greater detail, there is a lot of heightened interest and talk of it being a much more extensive and important site than was previously thought. According to recent reports, we can expect to see an influx of development funds and research here that should be of intense interest for both the tourism and cultural elements of the community and region.
8. We hear that a glass-bottomed boat with a capacity for 80 passengers will soon be put into operation in Zihuatanejo Bay, allowing passengers a view of the large statue of El Rey de Reyes (King of Kings) which was sunk into the waters of the bay as a tourist attraction. The statue is bronze and measures about 6 meters tall. This was supposed to be done long ago when the statue was originally placed, but final permits for the passenger launch haven’t yet been forthcoming. We’ll see if they really are now.
9. COMING UP: A big BAILE at Las Salinas on Friday December 19th, when El Coyote y su banda Tierra Santa, El Juez and Pillo y su Rafaga Norteña come into town and put on a Mexican music extravaganza…. we should be able to hear that one all over town! Tickets cost $150 pesos at the gate.


Typical Dances for the eve of Ntra. Sra. de Guadalupe on December 11th, downtown

10. Other music in Zihua: If you read our stuff here you should already know by now that Eric and Roberto play over the Che Mangiamo at Marina Ixtapa every Saturday; every Thursday night we have Scotty and Jason with occasional sit-in guests over at Memo’s El Campanario just across from Coconuts in downtown Zihua; and now we have our dear Josie Kuhn playing at Real de Palma Restaurant on Playa La Ropa, also every Saturday night from 8 – 10 p.m. She’ll also be entertaining there for Real de Palma’s Christmas Eve dinner, so make your reservations. Real de Palma is near the far end of the road to La Ropa, right across from the Arch and police module leading to the parking area at the end of the beach. The “Fab Two”, Steve and Ralph are usually found at Paccolo’s in downtown Zihua, and Sunset bar on Playa Municipal also offers the live sounds as well as sports on their several TV screens. Bandido’s, next to the downtown Church in Zihua, is the standard for tropical and salsa music, usually starting at about 10:30 or 11 p.m.
11. And  for the NEW YEAR, the municipality has announced that there will be an IMPRESSIVE 20 minute pyrotechnics show to hail in 2009 on Zihuatanejo Bay and in Ixtapa. There will be fireworks along La Ropa, La Madera, Playa Principal and El Palmar starting at 11:50 p.m. on December 31st, and at least one part or another should be able to seen from any point of either Zihuatanejo or Ixtapa.