Filed under: Around Mexico,Frugal Travelers,Mexico-Travel,Puerto Escondido,Shock & Dismay
We had just watched many baby turtles being release just before sunset on Zicatela Beach. I was on the scene taking photos of surfers. But the fun was just beginning.
A strong earthquake struck Oaxaca, Mexico at 6:47 our local time this evening, registering with a 5.7 magnitude, according to the USGS.
Release Turtles Zicatela Beach
There Off!
There Were Large Buckets of Tiny Turtles Set Free to the Sea
We headed over to Trattoria Vasco Escondido – an Italian Restaurant across the boulevard from the turtle release. We had just ordered their home made French fries when there was a BOOM like a huge wave had hit on the beach. After this the floor started rolling and the building was shaking.
Anita and I ran into the street. There were a lot of other people doing the same thing. Everyone looking to everyone else for reassurance and smiles with a bit of trepidation attached.
Zicatela Beach Just After the Earthquake
It was reported that the center of the quake was 35 miles north of Puerto Angel. This is east of us and of course north – but we were in the vicinity.
We are fine and have not heard any damage reports. Our shampoo fell of the shelf and a couple things were tipped over – nothing else – the pool and the ocean still had plenty of water in them.
Stay Tuned!
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Wow that was something! Never been in an earthquake before!
You could really feel the ground rippling..underneath you…ran out the the condo on casa del mar…my friends next door man from California and His wife from Mexico City both had experianced earthquakes before….said better sleep with you shoes on!
John, you are in Mexico’s ‘earthquake’ country, just like California. Most Mexican Quakes come from the ocean shelves of Oaxaca and Guerrero states…. from where you are, to North of Acapulco.
Comment by Ignacio 02.09.10 @ 1:03 pmJohn, Last time I was near Puerto Escondido, well, in Salina Cruz in a tall hotel, the earth started shaking at 3 am, and my wife (now ex) started screaming and I, in an effort to calm her, shouted into her face, “It’s OK, it’s OK!”. And she, thinking I was panicking (which was the truth), slapped me on the cheek. Then we finally said, let’s stand under this arch.” It passed on, but the wine rack in the roof-top restaurant had fallen over and wine was spilling down the stairwell. Talk about exciting! It was a 6.75 quake and was in 1987, I think.
There is a philosopher who says that earthquakes are especially terrifying because they take away a VERY basic given: a place to stand while things happen to you.
How did you and Anita feel after the quake?
Comment by Anonymous 02.09.10 @ 7:38 pmIgnacio – Thanks for the reassurance! 
Anonymous – We have been in several earthquakes over the years – that written they are never ‘old-hat’.
We were a little nervous after but didn’t sleep with our shoes on.
Comment by John Calypso 02.10.10 @ 12:51 pmJan 8th 2010 we watched the baby turtles being releaed in the ocean after a beautyful sunset. After the last little turtle made it finally to the ocean, there was a rumbling and the earth undulated beneath my feet, stopped a second and then continued for about 23 seconds. It was a great experience to absorb the power of nature. First the magnificent sunset, then the release of the baby turtles, who’s instinct made them head straight for the ocean, and then mother nature made us experience on our bare feet the earthquake which was harmless this time. Let nature be your teacher, respect the earth and it’s fellow creatures. Lottie
Comment by lorlotte jarvis 02.23.10 @ 8:50 amLeave a comment
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