They came, we saw, we played, we did...in "the little town that could"

On Vancouver Island, our summer home, there is a little town called Chemainus that, several years ago, reinvented it's former identity as a logging and shipping terminus into a small tourist oriented destination of theatres and shops.  It's been nicknamed "The Little Town that Could" which pays homage to the guts and determination of the locals who, when faced with the imminent demise of their home due to changes in the forest based economy, re-branded themselves into just what tourists want.  

This last month in Zihua reminded me of just that.  Locals, who have endured the effects of the ongoing drug cartel violence, mafia type extortions leading to business closures, cessation of cruiseship visits, a shrinking Mexican peso, declining numbers of tourists, poorly managed infrastructure projects that have resulted in major access problems all rallyed, put on their "game faces" and threw a month-long party that has left all of us, locals, ex-pats and all my friends who came to visit, smiling with the good memories of all they saw and did.    

We have had a lot of visitors who came for the month of March.  First, 2 friends from Victoria, Irena and Rosie arrived for Guitarfest.  They were joined the next day by Jane and Joe and Stan and Marianne who came for the sun, the fun and guitarfest.  Then when Marianne and Stan left, Dawn and Yves arrived for a little taste of everything.  So when we get to play "host and hostess" to this many friends here we did our best to squeeze in the experiences, sights, sounds, places and foods that makes this place so special....

In no particular order of importance, here's what's been going on this past few weeks.  

Guitarfest 2012

Santa Prisca for Pozole - and a chance for Irena to sing with Juanito

The Mercado for fresh fish and all things local
A dog walk/run to raise funds for the local SPCA

The Cooking School at Patio Mexica where Monica taught Dawn and Jane how to prepare mole

Troncones

El Refugio de Potosi

Chula Vida on Playa Blanca

A private concert with Juanito Zihua at La Ceiba - the perfect Mexican evening!

 Yoga on the waterfront

Los Gatos Beach for snorkelling and pampering massages

  

Carnavale

Gourmet dinners shared with friends at home and in restaurants

and to top it off today was the start of the Food and Wine Festival in Zihuatanejo!   But all good things must come to an end...and the countdown to leaving Mexico and returning to our Canadian home is beginning.

But first we have a little kitchen renovation to do on our small apartment at La Ceiba Suites.  I'm excited to see what can be done on a small budget by the Mexican workmen who have worked with Raul to build our homes.  Handmade, handbuilt and handcrafted to be unique...and just the way I like it! And having the extra 2 weeks here before we head home allows us to squeeze in one more trip to Uruapan for the Tianguis Artesanal Fair held each Easter - it's been called "the largest craft fair in Latin America"...who knows, but it is also one more example of the guts and determination of talented people who have chosen to strut their stuff in the midst of a tough time here in Mexico!