Villa Paraiso, Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico

(V post)
Villa Paraiso Manzanillo, LaPunta, Pennisula de Santiago CP 28860  ManZanilla, Colima, Mexico.  Villa Paraiso translates to House of Paradise.

As you make your entrance into this 12,000 ft. sq. house built into the hillside you are transformed by Nestor the manager and his awesome house staff.

Fun, friendly, professional and very accommodate they really pamper you during your stay.  Though this picture was taken later outback, kitchen and dining room through those doors...we were initially greeted with a tray of Martgueritas, and fresh warm towels to wipe up after the trip from the airport. 

Lunch was served after the house tour concluded and everyone selected their bedrooms, in the Palapa where we virtually lived through out the week.  The bar is to your left, one pool to your right, another pool up and to your right, and another pool further up.

From the main hall way, on the same level as this upper pool, looking down to bar, Palapa and infinite pool.  The edge of this upper pool you see is a waterfall with anther pool just beneath it...the level where you see the orange chairs.

This eating space is on the same level as the orange chairs and one of the pools.

Though we had breakfast and dinner inside at the dining room table, with lunch in the Palapa daily.

Can you see why we lived in the Palapa?  Bar behind us, infinite pool to the left.

Standing just outside the Palapa, you see lounge chairs and lower level pool, the red dot above is the upper level pool; while off on the right you see 4 of the 6 bedrooms.  This is an open air house, though you can close you bedroom door at night and turn on room air, if you feel you need it. (if you click the picture you'll be able to see the red numbers and dot)

Each room was decorated differently.  This blue room on the lower level and had a seating area to the left before the door that lead outside.

Each room had it's on bathroom and outside shower.

To your left was a floor to ceiling custom cabinet with shelving and drawers, in addition to all the space behind the mirrors.

Standing outside the 2 bedroom on the upper level  bedrooms (#1 and; 2 in the other picture) you can see the infinity pool, hammock and bar area.  The space beneath are the other 2 bedrooms.

Even the stair cases were beautiful.  With the house being built into the side of the hill, there's lots of up and down, so you do get some exercises between drinks.  lol

One of the many views.  This is taken outside the upper level bedrooms.

If you're looking for an affordable group vacation, do yourself a favor and contact Nestor, the manager at nestormanzillo@yahoo.com or visit their facebook page. 
Be sure and let them know Sandy sent you.


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Isla Navidad, Mexico

As you cross the border between the states of Jallisco and Colima in the Western part of Mexico, you see a site that's rather unsettling.  Armed guards in bunkers with machine guns.  I took this picture out the van window as we were stopped and questions.  Thank goodness for our guide, Antonio who explained who we were, why we were there, and what we were planning to see and do once across the border.  We didn't leave countries here folks, we crossed a border between states; much like you would leaving Ohio and entering Indiana.  WOW...talk about culture shock.  There were guards on both sides of the street and a bunker right in the middle of the street with these armed military personnel.

Again, looking out the window you fet a feel for how crowded the very narrow streets are.  Parked cars everywhere, a tour bus coming through; as Antonio pulled our van over to let the larger tour bus through.

On of our stops on that days outing was a banana factory.  It's quite remote with dirt roads.  The bananas are partially covered with newspaper and plastic bags to protect them from sun and pets.

Look careful at the red blossom with small early bananas growing above it.

Our wonderful and very knowledgeable guide Antonio, explaining the process.

After the harvest the plants are chopped down and this is what the stalk looks like inside.  Look at all the spirals.  This process takes about a year and new plants will spring up from this stalk.

The factory is not mechanized.  The work is done by hand.  This is large open building with a roof.  The bananas make their way from stem to shelf to water soak.

The are picked, cleaned and packed by hand while green.  They float in the water and that has been treated with a chemical to keep them insect free during shipping.  If bananas are left on the plant to ripen they are full of water and don't taste good.  Though this looks like nasty work, it is apparently considered a good job, paying a good wage.  Young people come from other areas for this job and live in hostel type accommodations. 

We toured a beautiful old Church

with very detailed wooden carvings on the doors.

A beautiful ceiling with gorgeous art.

Located the peer and restaurant where we would later have a late lunch. 

Then it was time to climb aboard for trip from the mainland to Isla Navidad (Christmas Island).

That's the Wyndham Grand Resort that is quite plush and expensive....not where we were going.

We're dropped off here on the beach and Antonio arranges a time for the boat captain to return to collect us.  This is the part of the island where the locals hang out.  We were there while they were on holiday, as it The Day of Dead, even the children were out of school.

The cobblestone streets are very narrow with houses, shops and bars coming right to the edge of the street.  There were vendors everywhere selling trinkets with barefoot children reaching out for us...believing all Americans are rich.  The children did their parents bidding, it was quite sad and difficult to keep saying no.  Antonio though explained it was best that we keep moving or they would all descend upon us. 

Once bag on the mainland a fish was selected, Red Snapper that was large enough to feed everyone in the group(except me...I don't do fish).  I don't know what this weight; but he had truly just been caught so for those who love fresh fish......I understand it was fabulous.  It fed 7 adults.  I filled up fine on the side dishes.

After our late lunch we returned to, Villa Paraiso,  our villa in Manzanillo which was about a 45 minute drive.

It was an interesting day, and I'm glad we got to explore a bit; but it isn't a place I'd like to return to.

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