Back to business as usual
Except for dozens of trees down and most of our roads getting impassably trashed, La Manzanilla came through Hurricane Jova relatively unscathed compared to other places on the Costalegre. Once power was restored and clean up was underway, the biggest discussion point became not how we weathered the storm, but when the Manzanillo airport would open.
Between our message board and tomzap, the board serving Melaque and Barra de Navidad, well over 100 queries and responses, many of them erroneous, were posted. “Can we fly into ZLO on October 22?” Phone calls to Alaska’s headquarters in Seattle were fruitless; they didn’t have a clue. Not until the day before did Alaska Airline execs confirm that their regularly scheduled flight would arrive and depart on Saturday.
The stability and safety of the airport entrance road was in question. Although I didn’t see it mentioned in any news reports, at least one-third of that road closest to Highway 200 had to have been submerged. A week after the storm, water still raged on both sides of and under what was left of the pavement. On October 20, Alaska sent a delegation of nabobs and engineers down for a personal look-see, and declared the road safe for their arriving passengers to reach their final destinations.
This is the time of year when winter residents start packing Alaska and Continental flights into ZLO for their return to our magnificent coast. Seems early this year to me, but I’m becoming more and more reluctant to give up my summer tranquility. Nonetheless, old friends and familiar faces are showing up again, and I’m glad to see them.
If the people are here, let the restaurants reopen and the live music, parties, and entertainment begin. Palapa Joe’s, Quinta Valentina, Jesus Maria y Jose, Cato’s, Mi Casita, Fiesta Mexicana, Guacamole and Jolanda’s are open now, although the last two sustained some damage from the storm. Pino, whose restaurant Figaro also was damaged, expects to open the end of November, and Cafe de Flores early in December. Restaurant Lopez at the laundromat and Mayahuel, just down the entrance road, appear to be opening soon.
Zumba and pilates
Fitness afficianados, at least those who are up and moving by 9, can work out five mornings a week in La Manzanilla. June Nery offers her popular Zumba workouts on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Ejido Hall on Maria Asuncion. Karen Taylor, of Bending Tree Yoga and Fitness Center on Playa Blanca, leads Yoga Pilates under her recently replaced rooftop palapa on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Cost per session is by donation only; something in the 50 to 75-peso range is appreciated.
Warren Hardy Spanish
Rick Gehweiler, formerly of Mexico Property Resources Realty, has announced the first of this year’s Warren Hardy-technique Spanish classes. Level II instruction will begin November 28. Cost for the two and a half-week course, held Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., is 230 dollars, plus around 60 for materials.
“Level II,” says Rick, “is perfect for people who have a pretty good handle on speaking Spanish, but lose it on the past tense and objective case.” According to him, using past tense accounts for about 40% of our Spanish conversations.
Rick also is considering another Level 1 Spanish class, depending on demand. For more information on Warren Hardy Spanish classes in La Manzanilla, please email Rick at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..