Tim Robbins knew what he was talking about in Shawshank Redemption--Zihua is a magical paradise. I have so many good memories from this place.
--Riding horses on the beach. We were taken in a beater car to a ranch quite a ways from our resort, chilled in some hammocks, and then rode the beasts on the beach. Our guide was probably 10 years old. We were the only two people on the trip and the boy willingly took lots of pictures for us. (I think it might have been Darren's first time on a horse. If not, he hadn't ridden them too many times in the past, but he did fantastic.)
--Going to the Italian restaurant for the most spectacular fettacini alfredo of my life (who would have guessed it would be in Mexico?), Darren always getting soup, me getting hiccups every night, and our friendly waiter wanting me suck on a stick with a tequila soaked cloth. He was so confused why I would not do it.
--Deciding to "branch out" from our Italian restaurant at my request. I LOVED the restaurant but I have an ever burning desire for change and exploration even with food. It was a bad mistake. The food was horrible and they gave us slices of Bimbo bread to eat. Seriously, people?
--Getting super competitive with Darren playing slapjack and ping-pong
--My entire family parasailing for the first time (but not at once)
--Wonderful snorkeling
--Sea kayaking underneath a catamaran
--Enjoying the tea, croissants, and newspaper set out on our front porch every morning
--Playing in the ocean waves and reading books on the beach with my family
--Chatting in Spanish with a street vendor for 30-45 minutes about Mexican history (I note this because these conversations are one thing I most enjoy while traveling)
--Taking walks at night, seeing wildish crocodiles, watching the stars while lying on the sand, and spending our final night swimming and dancing in the ocean to songs ("California knows how to party!") coming from wedding receptions on the beach (It was here that we saw people roasting s'mores at their reception. We thought it was the coolest idea ever and later implemented it at our own wedding reception.)
--Waiting FOREVER for a bite, but finally catching my first sail fish. I wanted the boat captain and first mate to throw it back, but they said it was already dying and that they would feed the meat to orphans...sure. I was quite upset.
