Something is underway in the downtown centre park. I'd always thought it looked it pretty good but it's getting a facelift. Half of it has been blocked off by a big white screen for a while.
Just a quick peek behind the scenes.
The job is scheduled to finish in late November, well before Christmas.
The amphitheater at Santa Cruz is undergoing some repairs. Notice anything missing? All of those white cloth sails have been taken down. They look great but the years of sun, salt and seasonal tropical storms have taken their toll. It's going to be great to see this spot all spruced aagain before Christmas.
A week later, it's looking better already with a fresh paint job.
The upcoming pedestrian arcade looks ready to go. The only thing missing are the expected shops, galleries and restaurants.
There's even a sweet new bus stop ready to drop people off at the downtown entrance. Check out the ecologically friendly night lamp posts. This will be up and running in no time.
Inspired by Homemadegameguru, the man responsible for the video below and tons of other creative ways to recycle cardboard, I've started making my own standup cardboard cutouts and I've been prolific. Fortunately, for a teacher who already has an office crammed with essential teaching materials, some of these have already found homes in the offices of colleagues who have generously taken over the Comic Zone in my absence.
Homemadegameguru shows you how to make incredibly fun cardboard toys and I want to try more of them out some day. I just decided on the cutouts because they seemed so accessible to a beginner with glue, carboard and a utility knife.
This is the first batch. Wonder Woman was the only image printed specifically for the purpose. Black and white WW was a complete printer accident but doesn't she look groovy? The rest were an attempt to use up some of the small scraps left behind and the overflow of some of those essential teaching materials that are just too god to throw away.
Some of these will be door prizes for Cinemapocalipsis on Tuesday nights when I return to the work world in February next year.
There's the Black Widow in fighting pose on the beach and a small army of Phantom Strangers, a personal favorite from my childhood.
Even making the images on the computer has been a little tricky. Homemadegameguru uses Photoshop which I neither have or know how to use. I've been using Microsoft Publisher. The Hulk is from a PDF of six different pages.
There is no cardboard standup cutout action figure stronger or bigger than the Hulk. So far.
Avid cyclists should consider renting themselves some wheels while on vacation here. There is more to be seen in our beautiful resort than the pristine beaches.
Having learned of this trail through a tourist map, this great trail has been on my to-do list for months. The number one cause for delay was I didn't want to go alone. Sure, it looks more like a representational map and the actual trail might not be as long as the map shows but that is still a long stretch of lonely wilderness to be stranded in if you suffered an accident or attack by wildlife.
Take a look at the map. The trailhead begins at the end of the residential area near Santa Cruz and extends way past UMAR Huatulco. From downtown to UMAR is about 15 - 20 minutes, depending on the rider so this looked to be a satisfying little adventure. But what maps can't show you is the condition of the trail and the jungle reclaims itself very quickly around here without regular maintenance.
Not too many people I know have bicycles. Fortunately for me, Romeo was available and keen on taking the trip. We agreed to be on the road before dawn and I convinced myself that I would be ready so early that I'd be knocking on his door and hustling him along but It was the other way around. The alarm had been ringing for an hour before I opened my eyes and Romeo showed up, ready to go, while I was still trying to remember everything I needed to bring and slugging down at least one cup of coffee. Another advantage besides the safety factor of having a buddy along is that other people can help push you out the door a little faster.
The sky was just starting to turn light when we arrived at the trailhead.
Below is Romeo with his super deluxe camera.
What a revelation! That trail is so well-maintained. Either park maintenance is constantly on the move or they'd just finished cleaning it the night before.
This shaded shelter is about 10 minutes in. The sign provides a guide to the flora and fauna you may or may not see.
Look at that the trail! You could easily drive a car through there if you were allowed. It's certainly more than adequate for cyclists. We were psychologically prepared for rough terrain, maybe even crossing a river and this is what we got.
By the time you see this building for park rangers, the end of the trail is just around the bend. I had broken a pedal about 2 kilometers back.
There it is. The highway is just beyond those trees.
One last look back at the highway entrance. Most people driving by would never see this gate.
Heading home down the smooth highway, straightened and widened all the way to the airport.
It didn't seem to take us long but it turns out the map was surprisingly accurate. We made it back to town around 9 AM.
Update: January 2, 2017 Recently friends and I took the same trail but took a left fork to Playa Cacaluta.
Update January 1st, 2033. Posted a youtube video startimg from the highway end of the trail to Cacaluta.
It has been a few years since I last visited Playa Organo. It's a lovely beach but they all are and others don't require a hike through the woods or hiring a boat. That is going to change soon.
Cruising around on the new scooter, I learned that the whole area, including the scenic route from Playa Entrega all the way to the trailhead at Playa Cacaluta has had an incredible upgrade.
There is a concrete bicycle trail at a safe distance from the auto route, sometimes with guard rails to keep 2 wheelers protected on tight turns. Bus stops are in place. Soon these more distant beaches will be only an affordable bus ride away.
This will mean fewer days like this most recent visit where there was virtually no one there. Some people may not care for that but the truth is the beaches are for everyone and populated beaches are automatically safer than deserted ones.
