Game Day at Palapa Joe's

Palapa Joe's 

Jan 20

As planned, we spent the whole day at the sports bar, Papala Joe’s to watch the 49ers beat the Atlanta Falcons. This was a curious immersion into an “expatriate” culture that has existed for many years here in La Manzanilla. The locals dropped in to catch the game and grab a beer and share some community chat. It reminded me of the TV sitcom “Cheers”…everyone knows everyone and Willie the owner and bartender knows everything or has an opinion about it.  It was fun to watch the parade of people as they came and went.

Cafe Risa, best gourmet breakfast and lunch!

We had a “small town” moment when Peter, the welder walked in…someone asked him about his hat which is a specialty welder’s cap meant to be worn under a welding hood for protection, but he was wearing it just as an everyday hat.  This brought John into the conversation (mind you, this diversion only allowed on breaks in the game)…anyway, turns out Peter is from where we are from, Sonoma County, Occidental to be exact. Small world.  He’s an ornamental welder/blacksmith…well, well( so was John, a  welder/designer)…so we get to talking about our similar paths and how we both got here to La Manzanilla…us on a sailboat and Peter, who discovered this town over 20 years ago, just after the big 1995 earthquake that destroyed much of the town...visit this site for more information: http://www.usc.edu/dept/tsunamis/manzanillo/
….he’s bought property since and enjoys the yearly vacation commute with his now 30yr old daughter, Tridia… again, we talk of similar paths because we both have daughters.

The local hardware store, a Ferreteria

We absorb the local conversations….local things happened, like yesterday, a long time resident “passed away” during his turn as first baseman at the big softball game…a big brawl broke out over a gal at the bar last night during “open mic” night…stuff like that…blab la bla…so it goes...you should've been here long ago, when...bla bla bla...
Then another group drops by...a young Swedish film crew filming a "reality show" in the next town of Chamela...it's about several couples who live in a hotel and ?...I don't really know more than that, but we hope to check it out when we sail up to that bay in a few days!

Lidia's market

..."you can get anything you want"...at Lidia's

Well stocked shelves: fresh breads, eggs, liquor & hard goods

We're told this is the BEST tequila! Check out the cute shot glass!

While the game was playing ( since I’m not a die-hard fan like someone I know) I strolled the lovely town of La Manzanilla returning to my favorite store, Lidia’s for more groceries before we leave.  The streets were crowded with locals just getting out of Sunday Mass at the church on the plaza.

I take a walk on the beach and enjoy the local scene. Dogs, dogs and more dogs frolicking in the water,  locals fishing, kids playing…nice.

Sunday in town

Ahhh...pizza!

End of game, end of day…we have our long awaited pizza at Palapa Joe’s before we head back to the boat. And enjoy a calm night at anchor. Nice day.