Ixtapa + Updates

Hi everyone! It's been nearly two(!) years since my last blog post, which is way too long. Unfortunately, I've gone local, and I've gotten so used to the things I used to find so exciting. Still, there's never a boring day in Mexico City. In the last two years I've made some new friends, kept some old ones, let go of some that weren't good for me, loved and lost, and moved six times. I can now add that I've lived in the Colonias (neighborhoods) of the city called Coyoacan, Azcapotzalco, Del Valle, Santa Cruz Atoyac, and now I'm in my first apartment by myself in Tabacalera. More to come on my cute little 1-bedroom soon!

Just recently, I visited my second Mexican beach, Ixtapa. For an idea of location, it's in the same state as Acapulco (Guerrero), and about a four and a half hour drive up the coast. I flew out of Mexico City on Thursday last week, and I met up with my mom and Brian in the Zihuatanejo airport to start our vacation! We stayed at the Pacifica Resort, about a 20 minute drive from the airport. And, guys. Ten out of ten. I cannot recommend this place enough. Aside from a painfully long check-in process, it was heaven. Since I was only there for three days, I couldn't bring myself to leave the resort, except for an hour massage on the beach. They had everything you could ever want: excellent food, numerous swimming pools, a beach with the softest sand you can imagine, mostly gentle waves (with some big enough for boogie boarding), comfortable rooms, friendly staff, resident geckos, and iguanas + crocodiles that are partially penned in! Without further ado, here are some pictures of the short but sweet trip.

My lovely mama and myself, getting ready to enjoy dinner at El Faro.

My lovely mama, probably standing over some crocodiles!

Mediocre view from one of the pools. Ha!

Now, a few steps away from the pool, you could get to see some local fauna. The resident crocodiles were partially penned in, so at least they couldn’t swim out to the ocean and the beach, but they were still able to get up onto the golf course. The iguanas and birds probably could leave whenever they want, but they didn’t dare miss their daily feeding time at 3 o’clock! It was a bit eerie to see all the crocodiles gather up in the water as they were waiting for the leftover chicken and fish scraps from the kitchen.

Showing off

Standing a little closer to the croc-infested waters than I would have!

Getting ready for lunch time.

This is his hungry face.

Chowing down on some fish scraps. Yum?

Feeding time for the crocs was quite interesting to see! The iguanas got fed some lettuce as well. The birds cleaned up what the crocodiles missed.

The rest of my time I spent mostly on the beach, hanging out with my mama and Brian, and eating a diet consisting solely of chilaquiles and seafood.

Beach sunsets are my favorite.

My mom, being goofy! There was a man making some really cool sand sculptures,
and we thought it would be funny for my mom to pretend like she was modeling for it.

The finished product -- definitely not my mama!

Bittersweet, the view of the volcanoes as I was flying back into Mexico City. 

The time flew by there, and I wish I had stayed for longer! Hopefully next year it will happen again (right mom?)! Here's to 2016 being the year of a lot of beaches, sunshine, and happiness.