Zipolite

To me, Zipolite makes me think of a zippo lighter, which is cool. I woke up around 9:30 yesterday, to go on a journey away from Puerto Escondido, down the coast of Oaxaca, Mexico. About an hour and a half south of Puerto Escondido, is a place called Mazunte where some of the travelers I have met were planning to go for the weekend. The night before, we went dancing, and ignoring a few offers for coke and weed, it's a great time, just dancing to the music with a bunch of other people doing the same. I had been to a club in Hawaii before, but this was more enjoyable to me, just mostly because of the music, as well as it being partially outside. Anyway, the friends ended up inviting me to Zipolite for the day, and it sounded like a good time so I agreed to it.

Back to 9:30, I hop on a colectivo on my corner down to the German girl's house, and from there we hop on a large Mercedes bus. This bus ride took about an hour, and I got to see some of the greenery down the coast line, as well as a few other small towns on the way. At a town called San Antonio, we hop off of the bus and pay only 55 pesos, or just under $3, and then wait for a colectivo to take us down the road toward Zipolite. We stopped in a town called Mazunte, which had a good vibe, and vary narrow roads, with cars, bikes and people butting in whenever they were able. I was told there was no ATM that worked in this town which was very unsettling, because I had been planning to stop at an ATM and withdraw money, and had very few pesos with me. In fact, the German had to spot me 100 pesos, saving me on the bus, because I had had even fewer pesos than I thought. Thankfully, I was misinformed, and there was a functioning ATM in Mazunte, and I pulled out money for the rest of the journey.

After grabbing food for very cheap, we met a friend of the German, and we took another colectivo from Mazunte to Zipolite. This colectivo was quite full, and I stood on the back, with my head peaking around the side of the truck like a dog with its head out of the window. We winded through back roads, and I had to hold tight whenever we were going uphill. Arriving in Zipolite, we found the airbnb for the German, and then we set out for the beach. I took off my flip flops to have my feet in the sand, but instantly put them back on because the sand was blaring hot. This was around the heat of the day, and I made sure to throw on some sunscreen as well. I split up with everyone and walked to the far end of the beach, with plans to meet them later. I realized as I was walking that this was indeed a nude beach, and there were a whole lot of old guys, bearing all. This was my first time at a fully nude beach, and it kind of caught me off guard.

Arriving at the end of the beach, next to the rocky point adjoined the last of the sand, there were a few beachside restaurants which had shaded seats, facing the ocean. I decided to grab a Mexican Coca-Cola, and take one of these shaded areas. The lady running this restaurant was very friendly, with some nice music playing, as she moved around, making smoothies for other customers. Sitting down in one of the shaded seats, overlooking the waves on the beach that was not too crowded, an occasional white butt interrupting the view, was very peaceful, and I sat for a while. Then, I rejoined everyone, and we all laid down on some lawn chairs, and ordered food and I had another Coke, but mostly drank tons of water. I drank a little over 3.5 liters throughout the day, which is just about one gallon of water. One of the German guys who is staying in the same apartments as me, arrived, and the four of us spent most of the day here, just relaxing, watching the ocean and listening to some quiet music.

Eventually, I decided to give it a shot. I ditched the shorts, once the sun was a little lower in the sky, and I would not have to worry about getting burnt in undesirable areas. I walked out into the water, embracing a bit of the uncomfort, and went out for a swim in the ocean. This was somewhat of a weird experience, and I don't think it will be something that I do often, but it was kind of a fun experience, and I am glad I at least tried it. It does feel very free, even if it is a little uncomfortable. The water especially feels very nice, without any restrictions, and I would encourage those who get the chance, to give it a shot, and see what it is like for them.

We watched another beautiful sunset, and continued to appreciate the beach, swimming for a while longer, and then returning to the chairs, and saying our goodbyes to the day light. The restaurant actually ended up having a small bungalow-cottage-type room for only 500 pesos, so I had made the decision to stay the night in Zipolite. I ended up departing from everyone and walking the length of the beach, which was maybe around a kilometer or so, and then I walked back toward my place, down the roads of the town, observing the night life, with some clubs and bars starting up, as well as many vendors along the streets, selling various stones, leather work, and other trinkets. Some of the vendors actually did have pretty awesome, unique art, but many of them also seemed to have very similar products from one stand to the next, as if they all bought them somewhere for very cheap and then mark them up here on the streets.

Walking down the street, I happened to run back into the Germans, and we ended up staying a while longer, and finding some food to eat, and then walking the streets together. There were some funny comments made at times by the German guy, noting how many tattoos and piercings some of the people in this small, hippy town had, on their bodies and especially their faces. After some more walking, we grabbed some small little frozen ice creams from a small store, and then said our goodbyes. Returning to my room by the beach, I took a shower outside, and then laid down and struggled to fall asleep. This room did not have any fan of any sort, and while I did have my window open, there was no airflow, so it was very warm in this small room, especially since I did manage to get just a little red from being in the sun all day, despite my efforts to keep out of the direct light during the peak hours. Thankfully, I was able to drift off, and once I did, I was out for the night.

In the morning, I reunited with everyone for breakfast, and then set out back for Puerto Escondido, and took the same way I came, back into town. This time, however I was able to take only one colectivo, all the way to the highway in San Antonio, where I then looked for a bus to Puerto Escondido. I did not see one, but then spotted a sprinter van, which I knew went to Puerto Escondido, so I flagged it down, and we were on the road. This drive was uneventful, and I started to drift off to take a small nap, with plans of waking up to my alarm, to make sure I did not go past my place.

Instead, I awoke before Puerto Escondido, to our van coming to a stop on the freeway. Blocking the road, was the National Guard, and they were stopping each and every car. I watch one of the officers come up to the driver, and they are talking, with smiles flowing, and it seems to be a pretty friendly conversation, although I cannot hear them from the back of the van. The driver than steps out with the guard, and they walk toward the back of the bus and right up to the window I am next to. The driver than asks me as well as the man behind me, "Son Mexicanos?" I find this a little funny just because I do not look so Mexican, but I didn't find it funny in the moment. We both explain that we are not, and the guard asks for our identification. I tell him I do not have my ID, as I thought that I left it in Puerto, but I start to check my wallet on the off chance I didn't leave it. The guard asks me step outside of the van, and then I find my ID sitting there in my wallet. He checks it, and then nods, checks the other guy, and then nods us on. The driver hops back in the van, and we get on with our drive. I do not know what would have happened otherwise, but I think I will be making sure to keep my ID on me at all times.

Now being back at my apartment, I unpacked and fed myself, making sure to use some of the avocados I had before they went bad, and showered, winding down from the short trip. I don't know how often I will go out on little adventures like that, but it was a good experience overall. It is much less stressful, staying near my place that I have rented more long term, and in an area, which I have come to know and enjoy. There are good beaches here, lots of cheap, tasty food, and lots of people to meet and places to have good times. Also, while I do enjoy hanging out with all of these other travelers, I am enjoying being on my own, and going wherever sounds nice to me at the moment, not having anyone else's agenda restricting mine. Thank you for reading. Time for me to hit the beach, and swim before today is over. :)