MANZANILLO, MEXICO

We arrived in Manzanillo, Mexico this morning.

A light lunch of noodles and soup, with a gin&tonic and rosé wine.

I show my pedometer because I awoke at 12:30 PM, walked to the buffet, and after going back and forth to pick up edibles, walked about three-fourths of a mile.

The temperature, according to one internet report was 88F. Checked AccuWeather, and it was 91F. Surely was closer to 91F.

Available were tours:

Cuyutlan Turtle Sanctuary 5.5 hours, $130/person.
Magic Pueblos Nogueras and Comala with Lunch 7 hours, $169/person (and lunch is free on board)
Plantation Mangroves Tunnels and Birds 5 hours $149/person

Further they left around 8AM or earlier. So no tours on this stop.

Anyone ever been to Manzanillo?

1600 miles south of San Diego and 2575 miles from the Panama Canal.
So named because of the abundant groves of native Manzanilla mangroves.

Again, conquistador Hernán Cortes was responsible for the founding, for he sent Gonzalo de Sandoval in 1522 to find a good shipbuilding site, and selected Manzanillo. In case you were wondering if Cortez did anything himself, he did overthrow the Aztec empire (1591-21) and won Mexico for the crown of Spain.

Supposedly, the SS Golden Gate with a huge cargo of gold sank in 1862 in nearby Play de Oro. People still search for gold on the beach here.
Was named Mexico's official port of entry in 1908. Is Mexico's busiest port.

Population of 160,000, but the metro area has 340,000.
Known as the sailfish capital of the world, but supports a variety of fishing. Sailfish around now to March, dorado/marlin in the winter and sierra, dogfish and tuna in the summer.
What to do in Manzanillo?

Is particularly known for viewing the green flash.

Amazingly enough, the eye of Patricia, the most powerful hurricane ever in the east Pacific, once at 200 MPH, crossed into Mexico just 55 miles north of Manzanillo at 165 MPH, and did not cause much damage. It was moving at 24 MPH, so the rainfall was not severe. There were no deaths.
Hurricane season ends in this region in November, and the end of November in the Caribbean.
Featured in the 1979 movie 10 with Bo Derek, Dudley Moore and Julie Andrews. Rotten Tomatoes scores of 65/56. Loved the film. About a mid-life crisis. Moore was a last minute replacement for George Segal. Earned a third of billion dollars in 2024 money.
Sat next to her (across the aisle) on a flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu. She was friendly, but next to her was her husband, John Derek, who was a grouch, and in fact, hostile. She is 5 feet 3 inches tall. Earned a Razzie for worst actress of the decade in 1990.

We left Manzanillo at 4PM. I celebrated with a tequila concoction and appetizers.

Saw some seals.

Tomorrow, Acapulco.

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