Zaandam Mexican adventure, Manzanillo, Mexico...

I was up before sunrise for sail into Manzanillo…The warm hues of the rising sun cast a magical glow over the town. Cathy and I got off the ship first thing and headed for the Malecon. Along this stretch of harbor front, there is a Zodiac Walk with a sculpture for each month's signs as well as a huge sailfish standing proudly over the Malecon.  There is a nice parklike setting with benches placed under shade trees…we took full advantage of the benches. Next, we walked to the Guadeloupe Cathedral of Manzanillo. Being Sunday, mass was in progress, so we did not visit the interior of the cathedral today. Our next focus was finding the vibrant murals of Manzanillo. We passed the historic center square called Liberty Garden with its kiosk brought from Belgium in 1891. We went to the back streets to capture the wall murals, and I climbed up a well-worn set of stairs for some photos. These colorful artworks not only beautify public spaces but also capture everyday life and serve as a testament to the cultural pride. Our next stop was the Cinco de Mayo Mercado a bustling marketplace that showcases a vibrant array of local produce, meat, crafts, and traditional Mexican cuisine…Sunday is definitely shopping day in Manzanillo as the market was a hub of activity, much busier than our last visit. We lucked out today and were able to get a couple of kilos of Habanero Chilies for the staff. Once back to the ship we spent the rest of the day relaxing in the sun. This was my first time off the ship touring since Cabo San Lucas and it did take some effort on my part. I paid a heavy toll in pain. Thought I would do better but oh well…. We now have two days at sea to rest my leg before arriving back in San Diego.