Ah, The cruising life

Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico

We knew it had to happen sometime, and finally it is here - the idyllic cruising life.

Here in Manzanillo, we have found what many cruisers aspire to.  Anchored just a few feet off the beach at a high-class resort, living the good life.

The Las Hadas Resort and Marina charges us 200 pesos a day to use their dinghy dock and resort facilities.  This includes the use of the pool, complete with towel cards (just like the regular guests who pay 3000 pesos and up) plus 15% off of all food and drinks.  Of course, being a high-class resort, the food and drinks are already very expensive by Mexican standards, but it's the thought that counts.  Actually, we have been walking a short distance to a restaurant next door which has much more reasonable prices, and a great view of the anchorage.

Breakfast at the Paradise restaurant, with Sine Timore in the background

The sharp readers amongst you will have picked up the fact that the Brisas Las Hadas Golf Resort and Marina, Manzanillo's most exclusive hotel, is the site where Bo Derek made here claim to fame in the movie "10".  Of course, the place has probably changed a bit since then.

For whatever reason, this resort, and the ones around it, do not seem to be very busy, echoing a theme that we have seen throughout our time in Mexico this year.  The combination of the bad economy in the USA and the bad publicity Mexico has been getting, seem to have taken their toll.  And right now,  there are only 7 boats in the anchorage.  It is nice to have lots of room, but it gets a bit lonely at times.

Waiting for the bus to Walmat

We spent two days just lying around the pool and having a mini-break vacation, and one day touring a bit of Manzanillo by bus, mostly to pick up some fresh produce for the next leg of our journey.

From here on south, the well-protected anchorages are few and far between, so we have to be prepared to make much longer hops along the coast.  Our next hop, starting tomorrow, will be a 200 mile cruise to Zihuatanejo.  This is another of those awkward distances for us.  We cannot possibly do it in one day, but to do it in two days and arrive during daylight means we either have to leave at night, or travel very, very slowly.  Since we are also entering the section of coast with much lighter winds expected, we will probably have to motor much or all of the distance.  Of course if our past experience with weather forecasts is any indication, we could just as easily be sailing in brisk winds and high seas the whole way as well.  Regardless, we will try and top up our fuel here at the marina before we leave, just in case.