We’ve been gearing up for hosting our first visitors since setting off in the RV eight months ago.
Lori and I have met lots of visitors at airports in various parts of the world over the years, but this one was logistically trickier than we had anticipated.
The closest airport is 90 minutes away, and the flight arrived in the late afternoon. Lori’s parents’ hotel room was booked starting the same night as their arrival, so we wanted to avoid an overnight stay near the airport if possible.
Our Mexico-USA RV Journey 2024-25
We knew a regular taxi wouldn’t fit us all, so I stayed behind with the boys and Lori made the trip to the airport to meet her parents.
All went smoothly until the return taxi ride. Driving back on the curvy roads in the dark, the taxi blew a tire. They had to change taxis and were delayed getting back. Luckily, the delay meant they missed a torrential downpour that swept through the area (no rain forecasted, but that’s not unusual in the tropics at the tail end of rainy season).
Grammy and Grammy got in after the boys were fast asleep, so first thing in the morning they were adamant about making the short trip across the parking lot to say hi.
We picked Zipolite in part due to the unique situation at Rancho Los Mangos. The place is both an RV Park and an all-suite hotel. You could easily throw a football from their room and hit our RV, which made things very convenient for the week. They had their own place, but could mosey on over to the RV whenever they wanted.
Another reason why we liked the idea of hosting them in Zipo was that the town was easy (by Mexican standards) to get around in by foot. It’s flat and relatively compact.
Best of all, it’s a five-minute walk from the RV Park to the center of town, and just a bit farther to the beach.
So what did Grammy and Grampy make of the clothing optional beach vibe? It didn’t seem to phase them too much. Jokes aside (of which there were a few), it is something you get used to after a while. I think it also helped matters that it wasn’t the entire town strolling around in the buff, but occasional passersby on the beach.
It’s not a lifestyle that I think any of us are going to adopt any time soon (though I can only speak for Lori and myself). But it’s refreshing to be in a place where people are so body-confident, regardless of body type, age, or other factors. In that respect, I think it was a worthwhile experience for the boys, and we tried our best to present it in that sort of light without negativity.
Regardless, Lori’s parents were pretty good sports about it all as usual.
Grammy’s been working hard at her DuoLingo, and was even able to translate menus for Grampy on this visit.
We made sundowners at sunset on the beach a weeklong tradition. We’d be crazy not to here.
After sunset, dinner on the beach with a prime table at Xhuba.
On Day #3, it was time to hop aboard the back of a pickup truck and make the short trip to San Agustinillo. Sure, we could have taken a taxi, but colectivos in Zipo are so much more fun! Yeah, we don’t exactly go easy on the poor souls.
We did get Lori’s dad a nice seat upfront with the driver. I wouldn’t make my father-in-law who recently had a double knee replacement have to climb up into the back of a Mexican camioneta. He was very happy with his perch.
We were blown away during our first visit to San Agustinillo last week, which offered perfect weather and ideal swimming conditions. The weather this time around wasn’t as ideal, but the sea state was calm enough for all to enjoy.
We enjoyed La Picaña so much the first time around, we decided to take the Grands there as well. Did not disappoint the second time.
In the morning, it was brunch at Le Castalet, followed by a short walk, chill time, pool time, and an evening walk around town.
Grammy won! I won’t tell you which, though.
On our last night in Zipolite, Lori’s parents were kind enough to take over the nightshift with our snoozing boys while we escaped for dinner in town. DonDe Franco has great Italian food and equally good people watching from the upper level.
Tomorrow, we [begrudgingly] bid adios to Zipolite after three wonderful weeks and hit the road with Grammy and Grampy for a fun second week in a new destination for all of us.
