Strange Happenings

I can't really classify this as a "Bad Thing" on our road to Mexico retirement, it's just rather amusing and confusing.  That term pertains to a lot of life in Mexico, at least to outsiders - Amusing and Confusing!

Our beach is on the Pacific Ocean and a straight shot to New Guinea.  If you travel south just a few miles, the shoreline curves in and forms a small bay or large lagoon known as Tenacatita Bay.  Warm water, soft sand and a protected shallow area for swimming makes for a near perfect destination. The lagoon is surrounded by small outdoor cafes and a couple small locally owned hotels.  This is a popular vacation spot for local Mexican middle-class families.  There are very few gringo tourists here.

A few months ago a local bully known as (I am not making this up, I swear) Villalobos, convinced the local police that he actually owned all of the land around the lagoon.  He convinced (read that; probably paid off) the police to evict all of the local people living there, he ran them off the property, removed all of their hotel guests, and it was rumored he had dismantled the restaurants and shops on the beach. He claimed he had legally purchased the land from the widow of the owner over 30 years prior.  Much of the land around the bay is owned by the Ejido, or native cooperative.  Unfortunately for him, he got a little over-reaching and had the police remove some landowners who were outside of the Ejido area and were legal deed holders to the property they were forced out of.

Needless to say, it all went to court and as of last month, everyone had returned to their rightful place on the lagoon and the businesses were re-building (putting up new palm frond palapas and setting out plastic chairs).  Contrary to rumors spreading through the nearby villages that everything had been leveled, most of what was there when everyone left was still there when they returned.

It appears this gentleman, a throwback to the Mexico of 30 years ago, has tried this tactic before and lost his claim that time as well.  Hopefully, this will shed the light of justice on this beleaguered community and get this bozo out of their hair for good.  We shall see.  He really wants their land so he can build a mega-resort.

Our beach area was not in jeopardy, but it was sad to see the best Coconut Shrimp and Pina Colada shop in town closed up!  For now, all is back to normal.  We are planning a quick trip down in February to see for ourselves.