86 - THE BLOG CONTINUES...

The response I got to last week's question about whether  I should continue writing this blog surprised and thrilled me!  Nineteen of you actually wrote your support, for which I say a heartfelt "Thank you!"   Only a couple of my replies appear in the comments section last week, although I responded to every one,  I have been sailing on a pleasure cloud of comments ever since!  Thank you everyone!

Without my social secretary (my iphone calendar) I would be floundering.   Every day is busy, and I find I even forget what the day is without looking at the date on my phone! What a delightful position to be in, but I almost feel guilty about the fun I am having when there is so much angst in the world.  

It's difficult to explain, but living in Manzanillo, I feel like I'm in a cocoon, protected from everything, everywhere, that could be upsettling. Perhaps it's being surrounded by beautiful plants, flowers, trees.  Sunshine and warmth every day, The sound of the surf.  Walking the beach. Daily interaction with friends. living in Paradise.  

Almost like the tide, there is a coming and going of friends every week.  Some heading back up north for whatever reason, others arriving to escape the snow and cold for a while.  Always a reason for me to enjoy company for a meal, a drink, or a swim, a walk or a game. This flow keeps life entertaining and ever changing.  It is never boring.

I don't know the name of the photographer who took this beautiful picture of Bahia de Santiago, the bay where I live (on the right of the photo), the lagoon and the Sierra Madre del Sur mountain range behind.  

Looking at this photo, is it any wonder that people who come for the first time fall in love with the area and return often.  

Yesterday I had lunch with two old friends at a restaurant that overlooks this scene.  We had to agree how lucky we are to call this our winter home.

Manzanillo actually consists of two crescent shaped beaches, each about 4 miles long.  The bay closer to downtown is called Bahia de Manzanillo.  The two bays are separated by the Santiago Peninsula.  

Interestingly, Cortes visited the bay twice to protect his galleons from Portuguese pirates.  Over the next 300 years, the Pacific Coast's history is filled with accounts of pirates from Portugal, England, France and even Spain assaulting, looting and burning ships for their rich cargos.

Manzanillo today is known as the Sailfish Capital of the World and an annual fishing competition is held here. 

Don caught one almost ten feet long that he had stuffed and mounted.  (Don't worry, the meat was not wasted - it was removed and consumed by the fishing boat crew and their friends).

Another busy week ahead, so I best publish this episode and get some sleep - I'm going to need it!