Thursday Morning...

We finally found someone that we've gotten to know, Jerry from Chicago! Nicest guy. He's retired from Exxon Mobile. Said he was getting out while the gettig was good and going to enjoy his retirement before he ended up dead.... Said by 75 he wanted LOTS of stories to tell. This trip he's down here with 3 lovely ladies. One lost her husband 5 months ago, she's here with her sister and her best friend.... I think Jerry's their chapperone.... Nice guy! We really enjoy talking with him. Anyway... back to why we brought up Jerry! First person to take a picture of the two of us together! Itsn't the greatest, but its a picture. If you look to the left, theres part of a cruise ship that docked this morning. Later on in the day, right were that ship is, 3 whales were making a specticle of themselves in the water... Not just coming up for air, like we'd seen before, these guys were TOTALLY showing off for the boats. Jumping up out of the water, hitting their tails at the surface and making some HUGE waves. Was such a great thing to see.

Travis...doing what we do best here, NOTHING!
He got burned...again! Poor guy. I even rubbed 70 spf sunscreen on him. At this point I think a flashlight will give him a sunburn!

The "ENTERTAINMENT CREW" guys. Im not sure what the gold/silver glitter was for.... They didn't do anything but walk around like that, itching...... To each their own I guess....

Wednesday--- Already!?

We've decided this morning that the newer groups of travelers to the resort are RUDE! We set our alarm, got up early and walked to the pool to claim our spots.... Well, not we, Travis. Then he hopped back in bed for another 30 minutes of sleep. We got up and had breakfast went up to the room to change and headed down to the pool...SOMEONE MOVED OUR CHAIRS AND STOLE 1 of our towels. THE NERVE! Trav politely said, Um, excuse me, these were our chairs. Anyone see what happened to our other towel? The lady sitting next to our chairs (With 2 towles, mind you.... you're only given 1 per person) said... Sorry no... I didn't see anyone. WHAT EVER! We reclaimed our chairs and enjoyed our day in the sunshine. Travis got sunburned...again. I'm applying SPF 45 to him every 2 hours, but its not helping. I on the other hand, haven't put on sunscreen in 2 days and have very brown shoulders!

We went upstairs around 3 to shower and change for the evening. On our bed were two of the most beautiful swans made from TOWELS!! Gorgeous. Our house keeper, Anna Rosa keeps our room picked up and clean and makes sure we have LOTS of towels. Today we have 6, not including the ones the swans took! She takes very good care of us....we still have yet to run into her. She's in an out in a jiffy and we havent' yet gotten to meet her and thank her for the terrific care she takes of us.

Not much happening today..... We decided yesterday we think 5 days is plenty. We might actually be ready to come home once the day is here to do it. I think we're both very relaxed and now ready to get back to real life.... But, we still have 2 more days and we're in no hurry to change flights sooner.... So we're must not be THAT ready yet.

Tuesday...Todos Santos... Shrimp Chilli Rellenos

The only reason we came back to Cabo.... Doesn't that look tasty? The most wonderful dish on the face of the planet. I got the urge to try a chili relleno back home when going out to dinner with Mom and Gary one evening...GROSS. Nothing compares to this dish....and guess what... He gave me the recipe.... Kinda. I know whats in it... guessing the ammounts is up to me. Senior Miguel did tell me if I email him he'll send the actual recipe. Email is already written.....

The walls of Tequilla Sunrise are filled with signatures, "parts of our souls" that will beforever left at that restaurant.... Not a bare place left.
Senior Miguel and our favorite waiter.... Still the best service at any restaurant we've found. Its just too bad it takes 5 hours on a plane and then an hour and fifteen minute car ride to go there! If your ever in Cabo, this is still the place to go.... You wont regret it.



See, our names are still there!! On the right about 1/2 way down this picture!!

We woke up at 6 to get showered and ready for our trip. Had a light breakfast and waited in the lobby for our shuttle. They were late picking us up, but got here and we were on our way. We didn't realize it until this morning, but we booked this tour with a different company than last time. We got to Todos Santos and got to tour an old college for teachers. In it now is a museum and a community center for the locals. We got to see a small traditional house, made from the local vegitation. You'd be amazed, not 1 nail in the whole place. Beds are made out of wood frames with cow hide woven accrossed it. Our tour guide said "Mexican Orthopedic Bed". Amazing that people live that way compared to the luxury we have in the states. Makes you really appreciate what you have at home...and a little guilty for having the opportunity to go on vacation, when others don't even have running water.

After the college, we were taken to a small restaurant, where lunch was included in our tour.... We, along with 2 other couples on our tour bus politely declined, as we had other ideas for lunch. We were here, if we had to spend more on lunch somewhere else, how could we say no to Senior Miguel and the WORLDS best margaritas. Yes... I got the recipe for this too..... Dad, we'll hook you up!!

We had lunch then wandered in and out of some of the shops. Mostly the same tourist junk as last time. I did buy myself an apron from Tequilla Sunrise and asked Senior Miguel to sign it. He did so very graciously. One of the other couples told Travis... "Thats a damn good idea!" and promptly went over and got his own apron for Senior Miguel to sign.

I'll have to say, this time was just as good as last time....and he's still one of my favorite people on earth! Lunch and a few minutes talking with him was worth the crazy van ride down.

We got home about 3:30....Spent a few minutes in the pool to cool off and continued our new custom of Siesta's. Travis got some reading done for school. We showered, changed, went up to the lobby to post this and now its 8:30....We're going to find some dinner!

Having a wonderful time..... 3 full days and a few hours on Saturday left.....

P.S..... The best part of this trip... Not 1 person has asked us about a time share!!

Talk to you tomorrow!!!

Monday Day.....

Getting Tan, huh? Im working really hard at this.... its a full time job. How does anyone ACTUALLY have time to work a real job?? Im still committed to the idea Im not coming home.



So, yesterDAY was filled with a lot of nothing. After having breakfast and updating our blog, we spent the day at the pool. Travis did manage to find the activities rep and booked us a couple of outings. We were booked for a dinner cruise around the peninsula that night. We got to see the Arch, Lovers Beach, Divorce Beach...the VERY smelly seals. And, we happened upon 3 whales. We didn't get close enough to get a very good look at them, but saw them just the same...and that's an experience worth bragging about.




We were seated on our cruise next to a very nice couple from Mexico City. After an awkward 15 minutes or so, as we do not speak spanish...they speak a minute amount of English, we learned that they have 2 boys, 1 daughter. They are all grown and have 3 grandchildren between them somehow..... And have 2 dogs that are now dead..... But VERY nice people. Although the language barrier was challenging to say the least, we enjoyed their company and were fortunate to know them. We did forget to ask their names...

After a lovely dinner of fish and shrimp, they did a cabaret show with some cheesey singing and then did some Argentinian/Mexican traditional dances that were fabulous. It was a night to remember for sure! Reminded us of our "honey moon" trip on Lake Coeur D'Alene. Only much warmer!

Monday....Morning

Good Morning!
After my last post, my husband decided he'd try a different approach to morning time.... This morning I woke up to him lovingly gazing into my eyes as he said "Good Morning my beautiful princess....Yes, you're still on your Mexican dream vacation..... Im hungry...." Consolation prze.... I still don't have to cook! I love this place. And, yes again, Im not allowed to carry my plate, move a chair or pick up my napkin until its on my lap... OHHH the life..... We woke up a little early this morning. We figured out yesterday that ALL the good spots at the pool are taken by 7 am.... So Travis set an alarm so we could get up on time and go claim our place on Board Walk (that is the good piece of property in Monopoly...right? Its got to be at least 10 years since I've played that.... and speaking of 10 years, I feel old saying that. For me to be old enough that something could have actually happened 10 years ago..... SCARY!) Anyway....back to vacation..... (sorry, I get a little side tracked..)

So, we got our primo spots. The spot right next to the pool where the sun won't ever be shaded by a tree until it goes down. Speaking of going down....Its kinda cold here.. Its gorgeous ALL day long, but as soon as the sun start thinking of going down, the pool water cools off, everyone kinda high-tails it out of the pool area and it gets cold. The worst part is, the pool water is cooling off and you can feel it, but you know as soon as you step out of the water its gonna be REALLY cold when the cooling air hits your wet skin.... (though not anything near what it is in the Great Northwest... but compared to the sunny 90 during the day....COLD!)

So today will be filled with.... What I hope to be a lot of nothing, but I think Travis had his fill of nothing yesterday. He's ITCHING to go do something. I think that finding something to eat at times is too much work.. You gotta actually get up...find a restaurant that is open..... SOO much work. We plan on re-visiting Todos Santos and having margaritas and shrimp chilli-relenos at Tequilla Sunrise. We're hoping our names are still written on the wall, but I've got a sneaky suspision that guy might re-paint every year..... He's got to use that "leaving a piece of your soul" line on just about everyone and as of September last year the only bare spots were on the ceiling. Also heard that the dinner cruises are fun, you get to see the Sea Lions, but aparently you SMELL them long before you see them.

Travis was contemplating scuba diving, but in our one quest of yesterday, walking 100 yards to the ocean he decided the water just might be too cold. I'm a little glad at that. I wanted him to go and have a good time, but I also didn't want him to leave me for 5 hours on 2 days..... Maybe next time we come down we'll bring friends/family...someone to entertain me so he can go off scuba diving.

Well, its now 8am and we're off to slather up with Sunscreen (I got a little confident in my base tan and I got burned yesterday, so today Im actually gonna wear some and....reapply throughout the day!) change into swimming suits and try again at this relaxation stuff. We'll be pros by weeks end.

Speakng of weeks end, I reazlized yesterday Im minus two days to my trip and started having a small panic attack at the thought of actually leaving. So far we've had a terrific time and Im not ready for it to be only 5 days left.... We'll post again tonight... photos and stories of our day. Wish you all were here!

Sunday....So little to do, SOO MUCH TIME TO DO IT!

We, well Travis, woke up this morning about 7 am. (In Seattle/Spokane that's 6 your time.) And of course he wakes me up.... (IM ON VACATION PEOPLE!!!). The first words out of his mouth are not, Good morning my beautiful Princess....welcome to your Mexican dream vacation... but they are.... "Manda... You ready to wake up? Im hungry..." Typical. My consolation prize is that I at least do not have to cook.... I drag myself out of bed, try to tidy my hair a bit and head down for breakfast...

What I neglected to tell you in the post of Saturday... Is here at the Riu Palace Resort... Im a princess. Most everyone knows that I am a self proclaimed one....and after 10 years of "together" Travis has finally given into this.... (Its taken a LOT of work to get him to give in....). But, as I was saying.... Princess... Im not even allowed to carry my own plate from the buffet line to our table. I get like 3 steps from serving my plate and somone is running to grab it from me and carry it to the table. Its not that heavy... I really don't eat THAT Much..... They pull out my chair, push it in and even put my napkin on my lap. Its been 1 day.... Im getting used to this. I figure that Travis will only have to pay out about 80-100K for me to move in full time. Seems reasonable doesn't it? I'd let him visit on weekends. One thing is for sure.... Im not coming home...... (At least Im going to be in denial about this until Saturday around noon when we have to check out or be thrown out....)

So, today has been a lot of nothing. A lot of sitting, a LOT of sunshine. We spent most of the morning sitting at the pool, sitting in the pool....and of course we've adopted the Mexican tradition of the siesta!

Cute when he sleeps, huh?

Its almost 5, we're off to find a snack and have some more pool time. It closes at 7. Tomorrow we'll actually look into doing something ,but for today..... Nothing has been a LOT of fun.

Love to all...

ON OUR WAY!

Yes, this is the view from our room....... Sorry.

Saturday morning we woke up bright and early.... Alarm was actually set this time! Woke up at 6:30 to begin our day and get to the airport by 8:30. Jenn made us a wonderful breakfast, we showered, changed...said goodbye to the puppies, who quite frankly LOVE their Auntie Jenn and could care less that we were leaving. She has the good treats......

Arrived at the airport, dropped off our checked bags and headed through screening. They just happened to open a new line as we got to the lines, so we were first! No problems... Our flight left just a little late, as one of our flight attendants needed/wanted off... (Is that a bad sign?). Slight delay and we were off. Seattle to Cabo is a 4 hour flight. Mostly uneventful, NO Movie.... about every twenty minutes, poor Travis gets my never ending question.... "How much longer?". He put up with it like a champ... I think mostly because he didn't have to sit next to me, as our seat arrangements were changed by Alaska Airlines...we didn't complain though... Row 6. Extra legroom....

We landed in Cabo with a big bump.... Quite possbly the worst landing I've ever experienced, but who cares....we can see palm trees, so we know its about to get better. I braced myself for the opening of the doors. I prayed that we wouldn't have the same wall of heat and humidity greet us as our last trip.... It was perfect. A warm 90ish degrees and about 30% humidity. Couldn't have asked for more perfect weather. We got through customs fine and waded through the hall of time share sales reps like Pros..... Eyes ahead, don't make eye contact... Keep walking.

We found our Grayline shuttle easily and we were headed out. Anyone want to invest in Nascar with us? We found a driver! That guy was nuts, but we felt oddly safe.... didn't even buckle our seat belts.... Were there any????

We arrived at our resort and the bellman must be able to read my mind... the first thing he did was grab us both a margarita. (That or I looked like hell...what do you think?) I'll have to tell you, Im not much of a drinker or a tequilla fan, but that was the BEST margarita I've ever had. Lime Heaven!! We checked in, found dinner (more on that next post) and went to bed. We both had terrible headaches and we were exhausted.