Road Babe Dispatch From Zihuatenejo Mexico

The town of Zihuatenejo, lovingly called Zihua by many residents, is often overshadowed by the opulence of Ixtapa. If Disneyland is what you’re looking for, then Ixtapa is your place. Every square inch is covered in fancy condos, where well-dressed people lick gold flake popsicles and wave their hands at waiters from cushioned beach chairs. Ixtapa was created by the Mexican tourism board, like Cancun, to bring in the dough - and that it does.

Zihuatenejo, on the other hand, is my kind of paradise. Although primarily a fishing village, it’s grown quite a bit since Morgan Freeman dreamed of escaping there in The Shawshank Redemption. Still, many of the beaches have retained a small village feel.

I stayed in Playa la Ropa (clothing beach). Despite such a strange name, I never got a clear answer as to why it's called this. The only thing locals seem to agree on is that a boat sank near the spot and a lot of clothes washed up. My favorite of the tales is that the clothes were all fine Chinese silks.

Playa la Ropa is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Zihua. I had the pleasure of sharing a house that was once rented by The Rolling Stones. A five minute walk, with piña colada in hand, landed us on a nearly-deserted beach, eating camarones a la diabla (shrimp done the devil's way) and licking the spicy sauce off our fingers. Zihuatenejo, with its abundance of budding flowers and sweaty heat, is just my speed.

Mittie Babette Roger is from Louisiana but lives in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. She received an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Naropa University and authored the book It's Better to Visit the Shaman Without Questions to Ask. She travels the world volunteering to help disadvantaged children and promoting Blue Iguana Tequila to empower serious drinkers.