OLD ACAPULCO

Left so early even the night watchman was asleep! Slipped out and got the first bus from Zihua to Acapulco. Four-hour ride through miles of avacado trees, roadside plastic garbage, and the occasional military checkpoint. Acapulco another place totally unrecognizable since my last visit in ----- (oh!) 1981. The settlement started on a little peninsula but has sprawled and brawled well into the mainland. Sort of like the dog now wagging the tail?

We're a block from one of the many coves and bays, this one (Angosta) facing west to the sunset.  Did a walkabout even in the midday heat and passed yacht clubs, beaches, and barnloads of feral cats. But the real issue and headache for the locals is ACABUS. They're ripping up half of the super-busy main drag to put in designated city bus lanes. Shops lose business, private bus owners have no future, and traffic is a Mexican Nightmare.

Our $23 online hotel failed to mention this in the listing (we're in that green building behind the VW taxi). The room itself is very basic and has only one electric plug ---- I'm writing this blog in the bathroom where the sole outlet is, in danger of electrocuting us. (Electricians out there ---- no GFI!)

Old Acapulco has the old zocalo or original church/park/bandstand/playground. A nice change to see Mexicans enjoying their own turf ----- few gringos come to this side of Aca. Today a loud and brassy band played from day til dark. We left and they were still belting out Rock Around the Clock in Spanish. Can you spot the Mexican Bill Haley?? (Nope --- it's the girl!)