Manzanilla, Mexico

It's two days since we were in Mexico and the temperature has dropped dramatically. We will be in LA tomorrow.

This morning we were eating breakfast when the officer of the watch announced that there was a pod of dolphins ahead. Most diners rushed to the windows to have a look. We'd just settled down again when a whale was spotted. Again we rushed and there it was, right next to the starboard side. Good stuff.

Back to Manzanilla. It is an attractive, quite large town. Its main claim to fame is that it's the largest container port in Mexico. The area is hilly and the coastline has long black beaches on which the locals were happily at play.

It looked reasonably prosperous and we commented on this to our man as we passed the piles of containers at the port. He said that most people can find work on the docks if they want it. They can earn about $80.

"Per day?" one of us asked. We were all thinking that that wasn't much for a day's work.

"No, for a week," he replied.

The ship had tied up that morning at the new cruise ship dock which extended a long distance out in the water from the town. It was hot again and not a particularly pleasant walk but things had improved once we left the dock.

There were eight of us and we had found a driver to take us around. After passing the container port we visited an iguana sanctuary. The iguanas were big and brown with orange heads. They all seemed to be heat affected as they were all draped in trees, asleep.

I like the bright green iguanas we've seen in other places better.

We left the iguanas to their dreams and headed off uphill to have a better look at the town. The view was worth the climb and we could see for miles. The beaches looked inviting in spite of the dark sand. We'd come dressed for swimming so we asked to be taken to a beach for a swim.

Off we went. We passed several beaches but our driver had a different one in mind. We had no preference and were happy to go wherever we were taken.

The beaches were fairly narrow and were edged with a long line of roofed restaurants which all had rows of umbrellas in front. They were crammed side by side and right on the sand. Inside it was shady and the space was filled with plastic tables and chairs. The water almost lapped at the feet of the tables.

All the restaurants, as far as you could see, were crammed full of Mexican families.

At the water's edge were bicycle wheeled vehicles which were totally covered with already inflated water toys in the shape of whales, rings, dolphins, turtles, and many, many more varieties. I'm not sure if they were for sale or if they could be hired for the day. Many parents had bought or hired blow up pools. They had filled them with water for their little ones to sit in while the parents ate and drank at the tables.

The water was warm and pleasant. We swam out a bit to get away from the Mexicans who were mainly crowding near the water's edge. After 20 minutes or so of cooling down and feeling ready for a drink, we waded ashore through the milling crowds of Mexican holiday makers.

It didn't take long for a waiter to appear so we ordered our drinks and they quickly arrived accompanied by a plate of corn chips and dips. I'd ordered a Marguerita. The glass it arrived in was almost as big as a bucket but I didn't complain.

We spent a couple of hours there, swimming, eating and drinking. It was great fun.

I couldn't resist it, though, when a man came along loaded up with huge brightly painted jugs, platters and bowls for sale. I bought a large platter and Alan, believe it or not, bought a matching bowl. They are gorgeous and much nicer than the bowls we bought in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

We'd passed a Walmart store on the way to the beach and a couple of our party wanted to go in on the way back so sadly, it was time to leave.

The store was awful. It was sparsely stocked and what was there was unattractive. Vincenzo bought some beer and Elaine some needed medication but that was all we bought between us.

We set off back to the dock and the long and hot walk back to the ship. The system has been badly thought out as there is a road that goes all the way out to the ship and a huge car park more than halfway along. Until last week, our driver told us, vehicles were allowed to drive out there. I hope the powers that be revise their decision since they are trying to attract cruise lines to the city, hence the building of the new dock. If the town is not more easily accessible, people won't go there and spend their money, which is what it's all about.

All in all, though, it was a super and relaxing day.