Opinion

A beautiful day on the beach at Agua Blanca

A day off to enjoy the tidal pools, good food, cold beer and a nice mezcal

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By Armando González

Mexico News Daily | Thursday, July 16, 2015

My wife and a couple of friends recently twisted my arm and convinced me to take a day off to enjoy the natural wonders at hand on the Oaxaca coast.

So, car fully packed, we set on our way early in the morning to my favorite place, Agua Blanca. Having checked the tide report beforehand, we knew we had to get there before 10:00am to be able to enjoy the natural tidal pools along the beach in that beautiful spot.

The drive there was comfortable, we saw little traffic and the day was partly cloudy, which significantly reduced the heat. We found a tranquil and practically empty beach, the palapas ready and waiting for beachgoers.

We walked the beach and enjoyed the refreshing waters of the natural pools and the backdrop of big waves.

We then visited our favorite palapa restaurant, which offers a home-like menu of fresh fish and shrimp prepared in different styles and assorted seafood cocktails. Their beer is always very cold, and they also have a flavorful mezcalito.

We spent the time in tranquil contemplation of the sea and its waves which, as they crash upon the rocks at Agua Blanca, offer an ever-changing vista.

The place has grown little as the years have gone by, and despite the presence of a few buildings it remains a secluded beach. The dirt road has been improved and, finally, sign indicating the detour from the main Puerto Escondido-Huatulco highway has been installed. There’s no way to get lost now.

As work on that highway progresses, more four-lane sections are being opened, though the transition between two and four lanes is often sudden.  Those of us who drive the road frequently know you have to be alert, but it could be dangerous to the unaware tourist, as the necessary signage hasn’t been installed.

After a meal of huachinango, or red snapper, in garlic, some guacamole and a couple of beers (and a caballito of mezcal), we returned to Puerto.

Once home after a calm drive back, we were greeted with the news of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s prison break. One news outlet interviewed an author who had published an interesting book in 2005 that detailed El Chapo’s talent in building wide, illuminated and reinforced tunnels below the Mexico-U.S. border, used by his drug cartel to smuggle drugs into our veino del norte.

The question here is, did penitentiary authorities really dismiss that as a possibility, given El Chapo’s fame, history and inexhaustible resources?

Here’s to his prompt re-arrest. The last time it took them over 13 years, so good luck. They’re going to need it.

Armando González is a journalist and broadcaster who lives in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca. 

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