Un Dia Mas

It´s the last day in Acapulco. We have been really taking it easy: hanging out at the pool, drinking beers and chatting with the staff here at the hotel. This morning we had an adventure: We started for breakfast at 100% Natural, a pretty good and even healthy chain restaurant. They are all over Acapulco and other large cities. I think there are at least 5 of them here. The one we went to was on the way to the old part of town on a pier sticking out into the water. We left there and walked to Sanborns which is the original Mexican department store. It is quite fancy, has a decent cafe and very clean bathrooms. They also have a cash machine which is why we ended up there. Coming out of the Sanborns we headed to the artisan market. A little man with very little neck heard us talking about it and started showing us where to go. He was walking with us and trying to talk to us about doing a tour or something. We have been warned about the Mayan Palace which we now call the Hell Palace because of the awful timeshare presentations they rope people into. Anyway, as we were walking we tried to ditch him by stepping into a clothing store. We wandered around for at least 5 minutes and came out. As soon as we were outside we realized that he was onto our game and was waiting for us. At another point he told us to go to the right and we went straight instead thinking again we had lost him. After a few blocks, there he was again!! When we finally made it to the market Caroline told some shop keepers (there are a few for every stall) that little man was making us feel uncomfortable. They got rid of him for us. The artisan market is filled with junk for the most part: t-shirts, hats, blankets, shot glasses, some ceramic odds and ends, and other things they are trying to sell for more than double what it is worth. Caroline was looking for a couple of things. I was pretty much shopped out, but of course found something I wasn´t looking for (which is a gift, so I can´t say what it is). Then I started thinking about the baskets I had seen in SMA at a store with crafts from all over Mexico. They are made with a metal frame and plastic cords. In SMA they were incredibly expensive. I figured if I could find out where they actually make them I would be able to buy them for much less. The guys in the market seemed to think I could find them at the central market.
We hopped in a taxi and made our way to the central market. It is HUGE and quite smelly. You can find almost everything and anything there... except those baskets I was looking for. But, it was really fascinating. There are stalls with veggies, with herbs and chilies, with candles, with piñatas, plastic grocery bags, flowers, decorations of all types, fabric, animal food, plastic of all types, kitchen wares, canned goods, etc. And then there are the really smelly parts with fish, chicken, and meat. They hang the chickens spread out by their feet. We avoided these areas because Caroline is quite squeemish. But honestly, I am not really fond of seeing the giant bloody animals or the fish guts. That and the smell is so foul it really could make you puke which would be really rude. After we had had enough of that, and we were all (Caroline, Cory - we call him Curry - and myself) dripping with sweat, we climbed in another taxi and headed for the hotel.
There seems to be a lot of action here today. Most of the guests are here hanging out, playing in the pool and on the ocean. We got some beers and headed for the pool. Caroline and I had a great time playing with the neighbors grandkids who are all about showing us how they can do back flips, front flips, handstands, and various other underwater feats. I also tried to teach them how to squirt water through their hands. They are super sweet kids. At one point we were all splashing with our feet and their grandmother told them to stop, but we had started it! Getting the kids in trouble..
Tonight we are going to celebrate with a nice meal at the nearby restaurant. We went there last night with Evy and had a great time. They have the best fresh veggies and potatoes and terrific fish as well. We went early for 2 for 1 drinks and rolled out of there completely stuffed because we had eaten a giant lunch I prepared in the mid afternoon. I made delicious guacamole, salsa, chips, and beans. We had corn quesadillas today, but didn´t eat nearly as much as yesterday. So, last night my belly was literally hurting from eating all together too much. But I so love the food here. I am really going to hit the WW when I get home. That and the gym.
Although I am looking forward to seeing my little Ruby and Pearl and Rascal, I will be really sad to leave here. We have made some great friends and I feel like there is a great community here at the condo/hotel. It is a community of other tourists/travelers and the staff who have treated us so well. We will leave with many fond memories.