Everyone needs to have a do-nothing vacation at least once. Ours was over Christmas/New Year’s in Zihuatanejo, Mexico on the southern Pacific coast. “Zihua” is most famous here for its shout out in the movie Shawshank Redemption and once you get there, you will thank Andy Dufresne for the tip. Whereas most American visitors opt for the twin city of Ixtapa with its high-rise beach hotels and all-inclusives, we knew we were Zihua people. A fishing village pumped up by tourism, most of it domestic, this place is nestled between the Sierra Madre mountains and three beaches: Municipal, Madera, and La Ropa.
We wanted two different experiences during our time there so for the first part we stayed on Madera Beach at Bungalows La Madera www.bungalowslamadera.com. From our partially open-air apartment
high on a hill we were able to overlook the sea, the mountains, and the town below. We descended a staircase from the pool area to get down to the beach and town was an easy, safe 5-10 minute stroll away. Staying true to our do-nothing plan, we spent days by the small infinity pool overlooking the beach alternating between reading and napping. 
In the course of a week we were able to read four books and several magazines.
Breakfast was normally down the hill from our apartment at La Casa Café and lunches of guacamole, ice cold Tecates, and shellfish were eaten at the many beachfront spots beneath our pool. At night we would stroll into town, joining the other visitors and locals at the many excellent eateries there—our favorites being La Sirena Gorda and Restaurante Any.
After three days of nothing, we decided we should maybe do an excursion so we jumped on a boat at the city pier and ten minutes later we were on Las Gatas Beach. There we rented some beach chairs, ate, drank, read, and did………………..nothing. 
But it was an excursion to do nothing, so we felt less guilt.
The following day was New Year’s Eve. As we had done nothing for days, we figured we could have a late night out. Turns out this nothingness is exhausting and after a huge Italian dinner at La Vita ‘e Bella, we found ourselves heading back to the apartment by 11:30. From our terrace we were able to watch the midnight fireworks and also experience a different tradition. Zihuatanejo residents fire guns into the air at midnight on New Year’s Eve. That’s right—random sky bullets at 12 AM. Throughout the town, gunfire went on for a good 20 minutes at least—rifles, pistols, even machine guns. From our terrace high in a building, high on a hill, I became understandably nervous thinking of the aim of these “marksmen” after an evening of alcohol and we decided it was best to move within the concrete walls of our bedroom, falling asleep to a lullaby of ammunition rounds. Feliz Año Nuevo.
The next morning we were off to our final destination, the Hotel Cinco Sentidos www.hotelcincosentidos.com, tucked into a hillside overlooking Playa La Ropa. This intimate inn of five suites, each with a sea-view balcony with plunge pool is heaven on earth. 
We spent our time here doing even less than nothing—one day not even leaving our room/balcony until evening. With these views, we couldn’t pull ourselves away. But the dinner that night at Kau-Kan www.casakaukan.com of sting ray in black butter sauce and potato stuffed with lobster and shrimp in a garlic cream sauce was worth coming out, especially with great views from every table. 
We were so relaxed by the end of the trip. People tend to overschedule their lives and also their vacations. But for a real escape from the stresses of that life, everyone needs a little nothing in Zihuatanejo.
Trippin' with Señora 