Manzanillo Travel Guides

For its small size, conciseness, and little price tag, this book gives a basic comprehensive guide to the areas mentioned. Even if you ahve been here awhile, it points out some lesser known places and can give you new ideas for new restarants to try. It is especially useful in Guadalajara.

Follow Joseph Rosendo through the Happy Coast's highlights from Comala to Tamarindo. He gives a portion of the attention to the locals and that is great to see in a tourist video.

A good and (relatively) up to date map for your navigation neccessities.

Living In Manzanillo and Mexico

A retiring couple builds their dream house in Sayulita. They offer lots of insights on what it is like to make the transition. Although their are a lot of grumbles about the building process, it is well tempered with glowing praise for their neighbors' culture. You see them really adapting and accepting what is around them rather then fighting it.

How to Retire Abroad--in Mexico, France, Italy, Spain, Costa Rica, Panama, and Other Sunny, Foreign Places (And the Secret to Making It Happen Without Stress)

The same author as Gringo in Paradise offers a sort of "how to" for retirement abroad. It faces the gritty details of moving, finances, home sickness, culture shock, and more. Each section has commentary by expats on their respective countries. This is a very real book on becoming an expat.

A couple wrote this book about the evolution of a vague idea to move someday, to actually settling in Mexico. It has plenty of informative answers to typical question. Although, it is a little Guanajauto centric, it still is useful. The authors seem to come across rather opinionated, but that is to be expected with expat perspective books.

Colorful from the cover of the book to the end. You won't find dry experiences here. This book really hones in on Mexican culture, and bathes in it's uniqueness. This immersion is a great experience that will color your perspective of Mexico in ways you never knew before. It promises plenty of chuckles as well.

Learn/Speak Spanish

For those of us that have a basic structure of Spanish down, this book is handy. Verbs are usually what one struggles with at this point. Any verb you need should be here.

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The atmosphere was friendly and laid back (as if the atmosphere in Manzanillo could be anything different...). Local amateurs and pros were mingling together and laughing and enjoying a shared love of the beach. The live jam sessions were great from the local bands, and the surf conditions were ideal!

This year, it was a national contest with skimboard teams from around Mexico were expected to show up. The tournament was a rousing success with participants turning out from Cabo San Lucas, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco, Melaque, and Manzanillo.

The contest consisted of 3 categories:  Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. So there was a category for everybody. Unfortunately there's no category for tall lanky pale white gringo... otherwise I so would have entered!

Sunday night at Sr. Jalapeños at  was the awards ceremony along with premier showings of a new skimboarding video projected on a big screen along with live music and a DJ. Here is a link to the webpage with the information http://www.x3m.com.mx/?p=3036.

Full results in the 3 categories were:

PRO

1. CASINGS
2. CHICKEN
3. TULE

INTERMEDIATE

1. CHOPA
2. SECO
3. GUAYABO

BEGINNERS

1. CASTRITAS
2. RIN RIN
3. JALIPA

Congrats to all the winners and participants! You are all winners in our book! For those of you who didn't make it or who didn't participate, you can bet there will be another contest next year, so hop on those skimboards and start shredding the waves! Feel free to contact us for recommendations for the inevitable chiropractor visits you will be needing to reset your tailbone and back!

Here's a great video of the event:

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Flocks of white pelicans have arrived on the laguna de las garzas on their annual migration south.
Now is a good time to go out and see them as many will move further south in the next few weeks.

Photo Submitted By: Howard Platt

If you enjoy our site, Stumble us!

Submit your photos of Manzanillo Mexico! You could be famous!

We review all the submitted pictures each week and post the best for our Photo Friday feature.

ManzanilloBlog@gmail.com

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Best Manzanillo Day Trips

Now is your turn to share: Where is your favorite day trip or adventure from Manzanillo? Where is the best place to go to "get away from it all" after enjoying fun in the sun here in Manzanillo? Don't see it on the list? Select other and be sure to let us know what it is in the comments!

Here is some information on these day trips:

El Salto Waterfalls - Just 45 minutes North of Manzanillo is a 100 foot tall waterfall called El Salto. During the rainy season it is a sight to see. You can have a picnic there, and even play in a water park that is fed by the river. Locally ran tourist company at Exploring Manzanillo offers packages. http://crazywolf78.webs.com/

La Manzanilla - From the La Manzanilla site http://www.lamanzanilla.com: "A small village of around1000 inhabitants. La Manzanilla has a long, curving, gently sloping beach with gentle surf extending for about a mile. Good swimming, diving. Numerous palapa restaurants line the beach. he quaint, sleepy fishing village of La Manzanilla, Mexico is tucked away in the southeastern corner of the pristine and yet to be discovered Bay of Tenacatita! "

Barra de Navidad - Barra de Navidad is a beautiful little town to the North of Manzanillo. 30 minutes out, and a world away, if you thought our fair city was laid back, you are in for a shocker! Enjoy local restaurants, beautiful calm beaches, local markets, and spend the day hanging in a hammock watching the waves roll in. Did you know that this lovely town is actually closer to Manzanillo Airport then Manzanillo itself? http://www.tomzap.com/barra.html offers a wealth of information on exciting activities there.

Colima Archaeological Site - The El Chanal & La Campana sites feature items that go back as far as 600 AD. It is Colima's largest known prehispanic settelment. Exploring Manzanillo offers packages for a trip there. Also this site provides lots of history on the subject: http://colima.zonamagica.org/index.html. If you go there don't for get to stop into Comala and buy some ponche!

Colima Volcano - Colima's own volcano! Within driving distance from the city of Colima stands the famous twin peaked volcano of Colima. Fire and Ice, one peak is very active, while the other can sometimes be seen to have snow on top of it! This is a live volcano, and there are some adventurous tour operators that will take you as close as possible. One of these intrepid and brave individuals can be found here: http://colimavolcano.blogspot.com

Cuyutlan Sea Salt Harvesting - Remember this post we did a while ago? Cuyutlan Sea Salt Factories
This is world famous sea salt. See it up close and personal! Have your senses a-salted. Even the most well seasoned traveler can add some spice to their life in Cuyutlan... none of that was punny...=

Tecoman / Pasquales Surfing - Some of the best, most intense surfing in Mexico. Yearly competitions that are often visited by professional surfers like Andy and Bruce Irons. Home of the famous Green Wave. The surf here is not for the faint of heart or the beginner surfers... but it's amazing to watch! http://www.colimamagic.com/colimamagic/id7.html Not for newbies!

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"The mission of U.A.M. is to take in unwanted and lost animals, provide shelter and care, find secure and loving homes, provide advice, support and guidance for pet owners and increase the public's awareness of its responsibility towards animals in society.

Silvia implores you to look through your medicine cabinet for medications you no longer need, such as antibiotics Doxicilina (Doxycycline), ciprofloxacino (Ciprofloxacin), vitamins of any kind; and animal medications: Jabon scabizan (soap for mange and skin parasites), Bromitol Plus, or other anti-inflammatory medicines such as naproxeno (Naproxen), Pranacut, RP Mexicef tabs (200 mg), RP Mexoxipets tabs (2.5 mg), Meloxicam (7.5 mg).

Other items much needed are collars, leads, leashes, leather chews, squeaky toys, harnesses, balls, balls on ropes, puppy and kitty milk, rag toys, grooming aids, clean sheets, blankets and towels, dog and cat beds, surgical masks and gloves, ear drops for infection (such as Synalar-O in Mexico), bleach, hydrogen peroxide, Borax (perborato de sodio in Mexico, or sodium perboate--NOT boric acid), copy paper, trash bags, and household disinfectant.

If you are coming down from the U.S. and Canada, bring something with you. Try to get your local vets to donate meds (out of date, doctors free samples), sutures, surgical drapes, masks, shampoo or soap for skin parasites, or any other items to cut down on the organization's costs. Most street dogs are in terrible condition, but once treated with the proper medications, a hairless, mangy dog will grow a new, shiny coat in just a few months, with immediate improvement in just a week or more. Most street animals suffer from some type of anemia, so products, such as multiple dog vitamins are on the "Wish list."

For more information visit Go Manzanillo's page on Silvia Beas' Manzanillo Animal Shelter

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Tener is a Spanish verb meaning "to have." We already know that we can use tener to show possession:

Tengo una cama en mi cuarto - I have a bed in my bedroom

¿Cuántos carros tienes? - How many cars do you have?

We can also use Tener to show obligation, to say that someone has to do something. What you will want to remember about using Tener this way is to always follow the verb with que:

Tengo que lavar el perro hoy - I have to wash the dog today

A: ¿Qué vas a hacer hoy? - What are you going to do today?
B: Nada. Tengo que trabajar - Nothing. I have to work.

Notice that the que is not the interrogative and does not have an accent.

Infinitive Spanish Verbs

The infinitive is a verb tense that is not conjugated. In English our infinitives are: to work, to see, to ride, ect.. In Spanish, infinitives have three endings –ar / -er / -ir. The verb that follows que is always in the infinitive.

Francisco tiene que estudiar - Francisco has to study

So when using the verb Tener in Spanish, you can use it to indicate possession or obligation.

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Here are some links to help you if you are looking to adopt a dog or cat, or have rescued one like us that needs a new home:

• Manzanillo Pet Adoptions
• PATA Manzanillo
• FRIENDS Of MPA
• ARA Manzanillo

Is anybody looking for a very friendly puppy? A new cuddly best friend? A floppy eared clumsy little ball of energy?

We recently picked up a puppy and it is up for adoption. Her name is Moshi and it is 3 months old. The mother is a golden retriever. We rescued it and have been taking care of it for a few weeks now. She has all her shots and vaccinations and is in good health.

She needs a new home, so if you know of anybody who is interested please let us know! She even has her own page on the Manzanillo Pet Adoption website here. Have you ever seen something so adorable? Let us know if you would like a new addition to your family. Send us an email at: manzanilloblog@gmail.com

Adopt A Moshi!

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La Boquita, where Mexicans enjoy the lagoon to the fullest.
The umbrellas and chairs extend well into the area covered in water at high
tide, even though it may only be a few inches deep.
Keeps the toes cool while you nibble the snacks or sip a cool one.

And if you wander out a little further and lie down you can be covered in
water.
What a great way to spend a warm weekend!

Photo Submitted By: Howard Platt

If you enjoy our site, Stumble us! If you are interested click this link to learn how to take travel photos

Submit your photos of Manzanillo Mexico! You could be famous!

We review all the submitted pictures each week and post the best for our Photo Friday feature.

ManzanilloBlog@gmail.com

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In the beginning, when trying to communicate, it is a good idea to keep your Spanish very simple.   So, in terms of structure and word order, keep it as close to English as possible.  I often think of this as speaking English with Spanish words but it is a normal part of progressing in the language.   However, you need to be aware of some fundamental differences between Spanish and English.  If you make a mistake here it may not necessarily be incorrect Spanish but you could be conveying something entirely different than intended.

To Be Or Not To Be

English:  TO BE + ADJECTIVE

SPANISH:  TENER + NOUN
I’m hungry - Tengo hambre (I have hunger)
I’m thirsty - Tengo sed (I have thirst)
You’re right - Tienes razón (You have reason)
I’m scared - Tengo miedo (I have fear)
I’m hot - Tengo calor (I have heat)
She’s lucky - Ella tiene suerte (She has luck)
Be careful - Ten cuidado (Have care)

If you want to ask someone if he or she is hungry in Spanish you need to conjugate the verb and raise the inflection.  Remember there are no auxillary verbs in the present tense:
Are you hungry? - ¿Tienes hambre?

AGE

To refer to someone’s age in Spanish we use tener ______ años.

He is 25 years old - Tiene 25 años

In Spanish you don’t usually drop años.

My son is 5 - Mi hijo tiene 5 años

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Being a vegetarian here is like a being a Hindu at a 4th of July barbecue in America. What are we to eat? Gone are the prepackaged delights of Morning Star and Boca. Suddenly we are forced to cook for ourselves and we stick out at restaurants like a sore (green) thumb! "You don't eat meat? Then try the chicken!" is the most common response in most places... However, there is an upside to this:

Finding Vegetarian Choices in the Grocery Store

Eating a vegetarian diet here really isn't too hard. It just takes some planning and lots of cooking. I make a lot of things from scratch that I formerly used to buy prepackaged, such as veggies burgers, falafel, mushroom steaks, and tofu dishes.

Although i have come to miss the convenience of premade items, I am amazed how much better they taste freshly made. It's alot easier on the buget as well. One nice thing about Mexico is that the vegetables are cheap! I mean really cheap. I can load up on fresh produce here, that would have been too extravegent for my budget in the States.

Usually all 3 major grocery stores have Mitsuki Firm Tofu. This week Walmart even has super firm tofu (the first time i have noticed it here). Commercial carries a Mexican brand of tofu as well, and they are both inexpensive. Texturized soy protein is also usually in most of the stores, but for sure, in Commercial.

Commercial also carries soya chorizo that I would highly reccomend. It is delicious. Vegetarian staples like nuts, cheese, legumes, beans and other dairy products also abound. There is a surprising amount of Asian food products here that can make for some tasty dishes with the right recipes.

Eating Out

This is where it gets a little trickier. As you may have noticed the main feature in almost all Mexican restaurants in our area is meat, and lots of it. Many times we frequent these places with our carnivore friends. The company may be good but the menu choices are usually narrowed down to a few ingredients: beans, rice, cheese. Thankfully I pretty much never get sick of those.  Sometimes you may even get lucky and find chile rellenos (cheese stuffed poblano peppers) or cheese enchiladas on the menu.

When i want something different I go for the ethnic restaurants here. We have Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Greek, and French. The ravioli at Portofino, artichoke crepes at La Petit Napoleon, Miso soup at Yaki Tori, or a falafel at Delicia are among my favorite treats. Healthy Express inside Soriana even has scrumptious veggie burgers and a salad bar. Above the Gold's Gym a Salad Bar place is opening up also. Know of any other tasty dishes around town? Drop them in the comments.

Recipes

• Herbivoracious is a great site, and most of the recipes are adaptable to what we have here. For example the Mujadara is to die for.
• Eating Well site has awesome vegetarian recipes. Try the vegetarian tamales
• And of course we can't forget Foodgawker. Not all the recipes are vegetarian but the ones that are, are pretty much all awesome.

Have any good recipes? Send them in. Any questions? Let us know.

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