Innovative People

One of the many things I have noticed as I travel throughout Mexico; is the way people here make do with what they have and/or turn it into a product that they can use or sell. We in the USA would just throw it away, buy a new one, making more landfill and add to our problems with pollution. 

One idea is to turn old car tires into decorations, like these I have pictured here. As I was driving down Mx200 just outside of Ixtapa toward Zihuatanejo, I saw these lining the yard of a family in the town of Barrio-Viejo. They can do custom orders or you can buy what they have. They get the tires for free and sell these cute ducks, chickens, or other items for 100 to 250 pesos each. Cute idea, don’t you think.

Another tire idea is to use them as planters as I have also pictured here. These would work especially well in any colder or slug infested area like the Pacific Northwest. The tires will keep the roots warmer for earlier plantings and longer growing seasons. With the added bonus being that slugs and snails will not craw over or on the tires keeping them off your plants without the need for slug bait or other pesticides. Tires are the reason that you never find slugs’ crawling on your car.

Wherever you have coconut trees you get the added benefit of the use of their frons. They are used as long lasting roofing material to build palapas (pictured here) you will find these throughout the world. These fronses are also used as brooms. These brooms last longer than the ones I have bought in the states. The best part is they are natural, biodegradable and nonpolluting.

Plastic bottles and chicken wire can be used as window art. What do you think of this one? 

What can you do with those wine bottles you have left over from the holidays, birthdays or any special occasion? Rather than putting them out in your next trash pickup, here are some ideas; use them to build a bookcase, cut them in half put a candle in it, turn them into a set of personalized glasses you can give someone for their next birthday or as a Christmas present (they don’t have to match). You can melt them down and use them as wall art as you see here.

How about that pop-top pull tap from your favorite drink? Here is an idea, run a ribbon through several and make a bracelet or belt; very cleaver, very unique and makes a great gift too. 

For those of you that are really interject or have a large area to add a piece of art to, try reusing some metal or wood or a combination, use your imagination you could be surprised what happens. What do you think of this one?

Do you have any ideas for turning that item that you just through away into something else or at least can it be recycled? I’m open to your feedback and ideas.

Cooking Tips

As I sit here on the beach in Ixtapa, under the shade of a coconut tree and listen to the sounds of the waves, watching the sun dancing across the water; I have been thinking it is time to get you cough up on some more cooking tips that I have learned over the last few months. 

Chicken feet make the best chicken broth. Use your crock-pot put in your feet (the chickens not yours that is) add water and crock it for a day or more, remove the feet, add your favorite spices, onion,  garlic, bell pepper, chilies, est. save it in the refrigerator then soup it up as you see fit.

Use coconut oil in place of your butter when you make garlic bread. It gives great flavor and it is better for you too. I chop up a lot of garlic, place it in a jar add coconut oil and refrigerate until I want to add garlic to something. I also add red onion to my garlic and coconut oil mixture, try some extra spices too. All will work out well and stores for a long time due to the coconut oil. Enjoy!

Coconut oil is better than olive oil when cooking and frying, you might try using it when you make up your favorite salad dressing too. Let me know what you think and add your results. 

You can use coconut oil in your hair as a conditioner; it works great.

I have been drinking hibiscus tea lately, it is very popular here. As a bonus you can use it as a fabric dye or add it to your paint to turn it red. So many things you can do with this beautiful flower.

Road Trip from Puerto Vallarta to Ixtapa

I left San Pancho on the 1st of December drove through Puerto Vallarta; I found it not to car tourist friendly. The big hotels were right on the beach blocking the view from the road. The road was windy and full of potholes and speed bumps. The more expensive the homes and hotels the more in need of repair the road seem to be. I continued on MX 200 down to San Patricio Melaque where I found a RV Park to stay the night for 160 peso with Wi Fi and electricity.

On the 2nd I drove to Manzanillo and camped on the beach. This is a family friendly beach where you can wad out 100 yds or so before getting more than waist deep. While I was wading in the waves I spotted a ray surfing the waves it looked to be about 2 feet across. It was so cool; no I’m sorry to say I did not get a photo of it. The only way to see the rays is when the sun hits the wave just right so you can see through the waves. You just have to be in the right place at the right time, I got lucky.

On the 3rd I drove up the mountain to Colima and then on to see the two volcano there at Colima. It was hazy so I could not get a clear photo. I returned to the cost still heading south, as it was getting on to about 4pm I needed to find a place for the night. This road was windy and cliffy so access to the beach was hard to find. I unexpectedly found an RV Camping Park on the beach in Zapote De Tizupan for 50 peso no Wi Fi or electricity though.

On the 4th I arrived at Playa Azul (Blue Beach) there is a RV Park connected to the Hotel Playa Azul it is costing me 250 peso per night with Wi Fi, electricity, and a pool. This pool has bar stool in it so you don’t have to get out while setting at the bar having a drink. This too is a family friendly beach. My grandchildren would love them both.

On the 5^th I have found a great place to stay in Ixtapa for the next few weeks in  a RV park on the beach and has a pool but it’s full of kids here for summer camp. Not far way is coral beach and it has a restaurant right to the waters edge. This beach was properly named due to its coral reefs and it has an abundant of fish the fact the restaurant feeds the fish probably has something to do with it. My grandchildren would have loved this beach. They probably would never have gotten out of the water, even Austin he still doesn’t like having his face in the water, yet! I’m sure that he would have forgotten that fact and would have gotten caught up in the moment.

I saw a ray about three feet across swimming just under me down about 15 feet or so, that’s why the photo is not clearer. He was black with white pokey dots. It was so cool. I love swimming with the fishes.

San Pancho (San Francisco), Mexico

San Pancho's History

In the early stages of San Pancho’s development, the story goes that the town evolved out of a hacienda and later communal ejidal territory into a humble fishing village still named after the patron saint San Francisco. For decades, the handful of families that made up the town fished for their subsistence, and raised livestock and local fruit crops.

During his term, President Echeverría adopted San Pancho as the site for his particular vision of a “third world” “self-sufficient” model town. As a result of his special interest, funds were poured into the humble village that at the time did not even have electricity. . Nonetheless, an infrastructure was constructed. Roads were laid and proper housing was built for the small population of fishermen and farmers. Not to mention schools, a fishing museum, industrial factory, and modern fully-equipped hospital were all constructed and inaugurated by the president as part of his dream of turning San Pancho into a “university of theThird World”.

While the factory that processed local fruits went on to provide jobs for the community well on into the 1980s, the rest of Echeverría’s vision for San Pancho was brought to an abrupt halt with the end of his presidential term and the miserable state of the Mexican economy at his term’s end. Consequently, the ventures the President had proposed failed, and San Pancho drifted back into a drowsy tranquility. The fishing museum that had once housed perhaps the largest palapa in Mexico and was graced with elegant fountains that shortly fell into disrepair. Once the fruit processing plants closed down, and the “university” building went vacant without any students or professors to fill it, the overgrown tropical vegetation reclaimed the new developments and San Pancho went back to its sleepy existence. The town’s inhabitants went back to fishing and growing fruit, and with San Pancho still hard to reach, little changed.

Yet with the cobblestone streets, schools, and fully-functioning hospital, San Pancho still remained clearly unique and desirable, in recent years has received the interest of an increased amount of tourists especially as a 2nd-home destination.

History of San Pancho was supplied by San Pancho Life, the most up-to-date and informative website for the residential community and visitors to San Francisco (San Pancho) Nayarit Mexico. Please explore the entire website to learn more, and check back for regular updates. www.sanpancholife.com.

This is of course the political correct version of San Pancho’s history. Other stories include the presidents’ interest in this town was really due to his most favorite hooker, which lived here. You can always research it for yourself. You will probably find some other juicy stories. Be sure to let me know whatever you find out.

I found that this little town has everything you could want in a vacation spot or second home sight. With ATM’s, Wi-Fi, hospital, pharmacies, bus service, taxies, easy walking and driving streets, friendly people both locals and tourists, polo fields, a great long beach, fishing, surfing, horseback riding, snorkeling and turtles (Grupo Ecológico de la Costa Verde, A.C. www.project-tortuga.org)just to name a few. It is a favorite destination for weddings. There have been five that I know about in the last two weeks.

Humpback whales have started showing up off our coast. Not close enough for me to get a good photograph, yet. A crocodile and two babies live in the towns’ river. The adult likes to make an appearance in the early afternoon on the beach for a little bit of sunbathing.

It’s safe to walk alone at night throughout town so it is easy to enjoy all aspect of what this little town has to offer. Big city life is just a few kilometers away in Puerto Vallarta. If you need a Wal-Mart, Home Depot, McDonalds or Burger King fix that too is not far away.

San Pancho has an excellent selection of restaurants from the quick tacos, hot dogs, hamburgers to a sit-down place with cloth napkins; prices ranging from 12-300 peso per meal. There is something for every budget and taste. San Pancho has three restaurants/bars on the beach they’re all excellent places to eat, drink and watch the most beautiful sunsets ever. Live music can be found frequently throughout town preforming at various restaurants adding to an evening’s enjoyment. Café Arte www.decodeus.com, El Pollo Polo cel 322-182-3110, The Blue Pig, Café Paraiso (on Facebook).  

The same is true for places to stay, I’m renting a room for 1500 peso or $120 USD a month (it is very basic and close to the beach) all the way up to the very luxurious places with pools and Wi-Fi and housekeepers; again something for every budget. You can check out these local realtors for more specific information: Rancho Riviera Realty www.riveralifestylesw.com, Lloyd’s www.lloydpuertavallarta.com or michelanpancho@gmail.com.

The best taller mecanico (auto mechanic) in the area is Abel Sanchez galaxyfi@ymail.com in San Ignacio, about 10km away. I had my clutch done there and they did a great job.

I will have been here for two months when I leave at the end of this one. It is a very comfortable place to live. It feels like home when you first step into town. Leaving will be hard, but I have to do it. I will be taking many new friends with me when I do. I still have many places to visit and experiences to have on this trip I have planned…