Mexico, I'm Back

I have been thinking quite a bit about 2025. I read a version of the following (I wish I had written it) and it nailed it. 

I am at a place in my life where I promise you
I am not dealing with anything I don't have to.
I'm leaving, I'm unfriending, i'm blocking
I'm removing myself or people from situations
That make me feel as though that I am not respected or valued
My peace of mind is a fucking priority.

With that said, let me take you to Zihuatanejo Mexico.

Nothing drops the stress from my neck and shoulders more than hearing  "Bienvenido a Mexico" cheerfully spoken over an airplane's sound system. As I mentioned in my last post, this was going to be a long travel day, and it did not disappoint. Train, Train, Shuttle, Plane, Plane and now my Combi to the hotel. I left on a 9PM EST Go Train from Niagara Falls on December 18th and I finally arrived in Zihuatanejo Mexico at 4:30 PM MST on December 19th. 

The Zihua airport is NOT the Cancun airport, thankfully. If you have ever flown into Cancun you know that it is usually a hot mess and it can be a massive stress zone if you allow it. Zihua is absolutely the anti - Cancun. First it is a small airport. There were only 3 planes on the ground including my WestJet from Calgary and one was already preparing for take off. Once landed we walked down a portable set of steps and then across the tarmac into the terminal. I always LOVE the walking the tramac experience. 

Here is a bit of a funny situation. The airport staff and WestJet opened both the front and back doors of the plane to unload some very excited passengers, which makes all the sense in the world as we were going to walk down the portable stairs and along the tarmac. I was in the middle of the plane, seat 18A, and just as I was headed to the back door I saw it close and was politely told that the remaining people need to use the front exit. OK, whatever, I am an hour away from drinking a cold beer facing the Pacific Ocean. This made me and the people around me  the last people off the plane, so we would also be the last in line for customs, DOH! We were the only plane unloading and so it was about a 15 - 20 minutes to get to customs.  I suddenly had "Cancun flashbacks" with its long antsy queues of very slow moving tourists.

One plane means one line that moved fast enough with four agents on duty. I was probably 20 minutes in line, but it did not seem that long. The Customs Agent was friendly, complimented my on using of Spanish but said English was fine and the 1 minute conversation was pleasant enough with the basic questions. He stamped my passport, gave me 180 days (which I honestly contemplated using instead of the two weeks I was going to be away) then happily asked me why "I am not getting my residency and staying in Mexico". Seriously, he was promoting his country as a residency for expats. As an aside, I always find that most of the international border security I have encountered around the world is not as intense as Canadian Border Security, but that is a post for another day. I will tell you the story of being pulled into secondary after coming back from Mexico and Colombia at the Hamilton Ontario Airport. I was sitting in a room with about 30 Mexicans, most of whom who could not speak English and I ended up acting as a translator for a few of them before I was released back into the world.

As I entered the arrivals hall I searched for a TelCel kiosk but to my tired eyes I was amazed that there were none, for any company.  OK, no worries I will get one in town. Out the door I went to the bright sunshine and warm air waiting to get harrassed for transportation. Nope, did not happen. There were about 10 white shirted drivers with name signs waiting for their people. The must have been at the luggage carousel because I only had a small carry on and was the third to last to get through customs. The parking lot had a scattering of vehicles, again this "aint no Cancun." My goal was across the parking lot and over to the street, which I read on enough Reddit posts to know that was where the Combi's were. Sure enough, my chariot was waiting for me, although it was pulling out as I entered the street and I had to give a yell and a wave, and one of the local shop owners caught the drivers attention and he stopped. I hopped aboard, said "buenas tardes" and took a seat. There were 4 others on aboard who smiled as the door slammed shut and we headed down the dusty road for the 30 minute ride into town.

As I have mentioned before, I like getting an airport pickup. It is nice to get off a plane, go through customs and are greeted with someone holding a placard with your name on it. It is never ever cheap, but it is fast, safe and easy. However, this is Mexico and I am very comfortable here. I did a quick scan online and found that most airport pickups were about $50. My Combi was 20 Pesos ($1.40) from the airport to the city centre. Sure, I would need to walk to my hotel but once I picked up a Sim card, that would be a breeze. Plus, I just saved $48.60 which I could certainly use for beer and tacos, as soon as possible.

I did have a quick chat with a nice looking lady who was curious about me being on the combi. When we were dropped off she took me to the nearest Telcel shop to buy a Sim card, smiled and said to have a great vacation, then turned and walked away. Just a person being kind. Man I love Mexico. I fired up good maps and my hotel was less than 5 minutes away (FU** you airport picked). I had been communicating with Celia on Booking (click to see my apartment) but we switched over to WhatsApp.

The entrance was certainly not pretty. It was a huge steel door for cars to enter and a steel man door for daily coming an going. Celia left the door open and into the courtyard I went. It was not beautiful but it was more than adequate. There were three levels of basic apartments that were a mixture of long term residents and short time tourists. Celia only took cash which was fine. I fully understood the whole "tired of paying banking/credit card fees" thing and promised to pay the next day. She showed me my room, gave me the keys (for the main door and my apartment door) and off I went. I dropped my bag and headed out. I was back in Mexico and excited to get a cold beer and a bit of a lay of the land.

The beachfront was an easy 10 minute walk. I found Zorro's and settled in pretty quickly. Beer was 35 pesos ($2.50C)  and it was 2 for 1 Happy Hour, I hate when that happens. My adrenaline was now in control and I knew I would hit the "Travel Day Wall" so I was not about to be silly my first day/night. There were quite a few expats who we easy enough to chat with, there was a football game on and it was a warm evening. That first beer did not stand a chance!

Zihuatanejo - Mexico

Zihuatanejo is always referred to as a small fishing village. Maybe in the time of Red and Andy but it is anything but that now. A seaside town of 125,000 people with it's twin sister city Ixtapa, pop. 30,000, it is a thriving destination town of resorts, hotels, restaurants and tourist activities. Sure, there is a thriving fishing community where you can purchase oysters covered in hot sauce and lime juice, ready to eat right on the beach, but this town has evolved and continues to grow. I wanted to explore it for myself, but for now let's just embrace Andy's mystic explanation of leaving the hell that is Shawshank for the perceived heaven that is Zihuatanejo

I have had a few extended trips planned out the last few years. One thing has lead to another and BOOM, here I sit still planning. I have not done anything since June when I went on the Alaskan Cruise with my sister and with winter approaching it was time to get out of town, even for a few weeks. I knew Mexico was going to be the destination, and Cancun/Merida was the obvious choice, but then it hit me. Pay the extra few $$ and hit the Pacific Coast and get to a place that is high on my "must visit list." Stand up and take a bow Zihuatanejo, I am coming your way.

I found a reasonable flight with WestJet with a stop over in Calgary. I did not put much thought into an booked it without taking into consideration the flight times and route. It was only after I was putting the details into my trip by booking a hotel room and deciding on how to get to the Toronto Airport for my 6AM flight that I realised my mistake. My flight took my to Calgary, which was 4.5 hours, a 2 hour layover then another 5.5 hours to Zihuatanejo. It does not seem too bad until you look at a map and notice how long this flight was. A direct flight from Toronto to Zihua is about 5 hours and with a bit of effort you could find a flight that was comparably priced. I get a big DOH! for that one.

To make up for my lazy stupidity I decided it was time to go "old school" when it was time to get to Pearson Airport in Toronto for my 6AM flight. The first option was to drive and then Park and Fly as it was the easiest, but as you all know, the easiest is always the most expensive. Honestly, I am exhausted of living in a society based on ease, comfort and convenience, then justifying paying for it. The price would have been $175 plus at least a half a tank of gas, so another $40, so $215. 

Next up, a shuttle service with Niagara Air Bus. Simple and quick pickup at my house and drop off at the airport, then the reverse when I get back. You are subject to their schedule which would have put me at the airport at midnight for my 6AM flight. Total cost $211.38 which included the early booking discount of about $10.

I thought about it for a minute and put together my third option. I quick scan of the Go Transit booking site showed an express train leaving Niagara Falls at around 9 PM and arriving Union Station in Toronto at 11:30, cost was $21. From Union I could take the Union Pearson Express for $12.50 which is a modern twenty minute train/shuttle service that I have used many times. It would put me at Pearson about midnight for $33.50. 

I could have put some serious effort into it and jumped on the TTC for $3 or whatever the one way fare is now taking the bay street line to the Bloor Line, then west on the Bloor line to Kipling station. There is an Airport Express bus from Kipling which I have also taken in the past when I lived in Toronto and before the Union/Pearson Shuttle Service existed, but I splurged. 

To recap:
Driving and Park and Fly - $215
Airport Shuttle Service - $211.38
Go Train and Union Pearson Express - $33.50

The choice was obvious and with a few unhealthy snacks, Spotify and fully charged Bluetooth earbuds my sister dropped my off at the sketchy and poorly lit Niagara Falls Train Station for my waiting chariot to Toronto.

Sure, I still arrived at Pearson six hours before my morning flight and needed to sit overnight waiting for security to open, but I had a good book, Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life, a hot coffee and the flowing adrenalin of heading to Mexico...yes via fu**ing Calgary, but Mexico still the same.