The Little Town that Could

We live on Vancouver Island in the summers. A few years ago, the logging industry, fishing industry and mining industry all collapsed and many small towns were left with no employment options. The small mining/logging town of Chemainus reinvented itself as a tourist destination with walls of murals, tourist boutiques and a lively theatre scene. Zihuatanejo reminds me of Chemainus, the "little town that could".

Last year was devastating for this small Mexican town. We were in the midst of a global recession, a violent drug war fought at times locally - too close for many of our comfort levels and enough publicized by a US travel alert about the area; and finally, when things couldn't get worse, H1N1 occurred here first. Needless to say, much of the town suffered and many locals endured financial hardships as their livelihood is tied to our spending habits.

This year, something wonderful is happening here. The new mayor, El Presidente Alexandro Bravo has somehow secured funds to engage each community in a major rebuilding campaign. Everywhere we go signs are hung on lampstandards and bridges with the slogan "No detiene su marcha, vamos juntos" ....or "don't stop your progress, together let's go!". The list of projects that we have been most impressed by are:
1. Major repainting campaign of all the previously yellow/red painted infrastructure which was heavily damaged by graffiti.
2. El Centro is being beautified by a series of scultpures, terrazo tile overhangs and signage and new benches/plantings.
3. A special day "Dia del Migrante" to honor and thank all of us who move here, make purchases and contribute to the livelihood of the community. The evening ceremony was spectacular with our favorite Jimi Mamou as the closing act...Jimi has indeed contributed his talents to this town.
4. The first annual cross Zihuatanejo Bay swim (our daughter Amy, finished second in the female category and won 3,000 pesos).
5. A huge rock concert in the cancha....can't really describe the volume or the sound, but imagine your worst case scenario for ear drum damage and multiply that by 3.
6. A vibrant "Domingos Culturales" program where every Sunday night, locals and tourists meet in the town's basketball court/square La cancha to sample regional food and watch and hear international, national, regional and local arts groups perform.
7. Neighborhood Posadas (but you'll have to wait to read about our neighborhoods recent Saturday night street party!!).

All of these projects and events make me feel proud to call this little town home, and give me hope that somehow these good works will convince others like me to visit, spend some money and get to know and love this area as much as we do. Of course, there is a tiny little voice within that questions where this money is coming from....and the reality maybe that the drug cartels now control Zihua..and will fund it and keep us all safe as long as we don't get in their way. The municipal, state and federal police presence is larger than ever this year...and the fighting is gone! Gracias a dios!