San Antonio, September 2013

When we arrived in San Antonio for Doug’s annual conference, we headed directly to our hotel, the  Marriott Riverwalk.  Once we checked in and got settled we decided to walk down to the River Walk, which was next to our hotel.   The River Walk was created in 1939 as part of the Roosevelt administration and the Work Progress Administration (WPA) in order to give public works jobs to unemployed people.  It is a beautiful endeavor, stretching several miles winding through downtown San Antonio.  There are restaurants and shops all along the River Walk, waterfalls, art statues, etc.  There are many areas where there is street access so in some cases it may be a short cut to where you are planning to go.  There are narrated boat tours and even water taxis that get you to the different spots along the river.

Since we didn't start our walk until around 2pm it was very hot as we walked along the river .  We decided to stop at Café Ole restaurant for guacamole and chips and drinks to cool off.  It was refreshing and fun to sit outdoors on the rivers edge.  Afterward we walked a little more but it was just too hot.

We decided to go back to hotel and I went down to the pool.  The pool was indoor/outdoor which was nice.  The water temperature was a little warm, but not uncomfortable.  There was a little area with shade outside so I sat there for a while then moved indoors.  Inside was a large atrium area with some ping pong tables as well as several lounge chairs.  It was a great space to relax, read and just enjoy some downtime.

That evening we went with Stefan (a colleague) to the CountyLine for dinner.  The County Line is a BBQ restaurant and Texas is known for their BBQs.  We had been given the name from the concierge and told it was great.  It had cooled down a little so it was  a pleasant walk down the River Walk to the restaurant.  Our meals were plentiful but none of us were impressed.  I had BBQ turkey which was good and I had never had before.  But for being solely a BBQ place we didn’t think it was anything special.  Maybe more for the ambiance of being on the River Walk.

On Tuesday Doug went to a business meeting so I walked over to the Alamo which was a few blocks from the hotel.  It was early enough that it wasn’t too hot.  On the way I walked through the Rivercenter Mall which was across from the hotel and the most direct route to the Alamo.  As I was walking through the mall I went into the Imax Theatre area and decided to buy a pass for the Hop on – Hop Off Trolley, which included one Imax movie and one boat ride on the River Walk.  I elected to see the 3D movie “Tornado Alley” and planned on coming back after my Alamo visit.

There is so much of our nation’s history at the Alamo.  I did an audio tour which gave me a lot of information about the battle that was held there.  Several of the existing buildings are still standing. I learned so much about the history and people who fought for our country there.

I headed back to the Imax theatre and watched my “free” movie, then stopped for a bite to eat before heading back to the hotel.  Once there I headed to the pool for some downtime while Doug was working.  The day before the pool had been warm but not uncomfortable.  Today the pool was actually hot and felt more like a hot tub than a pool. The hoses that bring water into the pool were actually pouring in hot water.  Since it was close to 100 outside I mostly stayed in the atrium area and only dipped in the pool a couple times for a short while.  It was weird that it was so hot but there wasn’t really anyone available to mention it to.

For dinner we once again went with Stefan, this time to Casa Rio, a Mexican restaurant on the River Walk.  Once again the ambiance was nice, but none of us were impressed with the food.  We all agreed that the River Walk restaurants for the most part were overpriced and more about the location.

Wednesday while Doug was at his conference I walked over to catch the Trolley for my “hop on- hop off” tour.  Our driver was very informative and fun to listen to as he told us about the different stops we passed along the way and a little history of the town.  Although I could have gotten off at any of the stops I stayed on until we reached the Mission SanJose.  This Mission was founded in 1797 and was one of many that were founded to secure Spain's claim to this land and to teach the native people Christianity and the Spanish way of life.

Back on the Trolley with a different driver, then next stop that I got off was the Market Square which was a historic area similar to all of the Mexican markets we go to with crafts, food etc. 

Once we were back at the beginning of our tour I headed back to the hotel, then down to the pool.  Once again the water was “hot”.  I actually found someone to mention it to but his response was that the pool is kept at 85 degrees.  It was more like 100 +.  I spent time in the atrium reading for a few hours before heading upstairs.

Wednesday evening for dinner we were invited to the Iron Cactus for dinner, sponsored by one of the vendors that Doug does business with.  We had a wonderful Mexican dinner and enjoyed our time with other colleagues.  Walking back late at night it was still quite warm.  We could have walked the River Walk but opted to walk along the streets, which was a nice walk.

Thursday while Doug was working I went down to the River Walk to take my “free” boat ride.  It was shortly before 10am so it wasn’t too warm.  Our guide was fun and he pointed out a lot of information about the River Walk, the history and many of the buildings that are along the way. 

After the boat ride I walked over to the Tower of theAmericas.  It looked very much like the Space Needle, even had an observation deck and a restaurant.  It was built for the 1968 Worlds Fair which was 6 years after the Space Needle was built for the 1962 Worlds Fair.  San Antonio is quite flat with a lot of industrial buildings so the view wasn’t spectacular but it still was fun to go to the top.  Included in the ticket was entry to Skies Over Texas: 4D Theater Ride on the main floor which was a fun experience.  As you are watching the movie it is as if you were riding over and through the town, river and skies above San Antonio.  The chairs rocked and moved at the appropriate time, and there were other special effects like “hissing” on your neck when we came upon a rattler and “spraying” when near the waves. 

I walked over to La Villita,  (little village) to look around.  It consists of several houses that have been converted to shops, etc.   It was a short walk from there to the hotel, then down to the pool for my afternoon downtime. 

That evening there was a conference event that I was invited to.  The “cowboy roundup”.  Several people came with cowboy or plaid shirts, boots, bandanas, etc.   It was held on the river on the back side of the hotel.  Catered food and several entertainment options.   There was a mechanical bull with a calf on a track in front.  The idea was to ride the bull the moved forward on the track with the calf, and try to lasso the calf at the same time.  They also had a “shoot out” where two people stood opposite each other and drew there pistols on signal.  A laser recorded the speed which identified the winner.   Tables were set up for Poker and Blackjack and a there was a Craps table too.  It was a fun event for everyone.

Friday morning was our first morning that we were free with no scheduled plans.  We had prearranged to pick up a car at the Marriott Rivercenter.   We got the car and drove north to the town of Johnson City.  We stopped for lunch at Ronnie’s BBQ. We were hoping for the really “dive” dining experience which this turned out to be.  Love the little “hole in the wall” places.  I had bbq turkey and I thought it was great. Doug reached for the hotter bbq sauce to put on his food and as he was squirting it out it sprayed all over his shirt!  Well, we were at the beginning of our journey so that was not going to work.  Fortunately they sold t-shirts advertising their place.  Doug mentioned to them that it was a great way to sell their t-shirts!

On the road again we went to the visitor center at Johnson City to arrange a tour of the LBJ Ranch.  There were several buildings right in town that were historic including LBJs childhood home, etc.

The LBJ Ranch was where President Johnson and Ladybird both lived, and even served as the “2^nd white house” during his presidency.  They both passed away there and after they did several acres were donated to the National Parks.  We were able to take an audio tour of the ranch, then at the end we came to their home.  Next to their home was a airplane hangar and the actual jet the LBJ flew in back and forth between his ranch and the White House.  Their house is included in the tour and was interesting to see.  The rooms were set up and decorated as they would have been as they lived there.  The first room was his “office” where many days were spent working when he was there instead of Washington.   The living room had 3 old style TVs lined up side by side.  LBJ was known for watching all 3 networks at the same time.  We saw the bedroom where he awoke to having a heart attack, called his security and collapsed and died on the floor next to the bed.  Ladybird’s closet had many of her clothes hanging neatly. 

Outside there was a giant oak tree on the banks of the river running below the house.  Many dignitaries were treated to his famous BBQs outside in the shade of the tree, and the banks of the river.

After leaving the ranch we drove to the German town of Fredricksburg, however shops were closing for the day so we just spent a few minutes exploring before we headed back to SA.

We turned the car in so as not to pay the fee for parking for the night, then took a walk to the Joe's Crab Shack for dinner.  Although this is a chain restaurant we have only been one other time several years ago.  This turned out to be one of the best meals of our trip.  It was still so warm out but a pleasant walk.

Saturday, our last day.  I was ready to stay indoors. Doug had not yet seen the Alamo or a few of the other parts of town.  He wanted to take pictures so we decided to do our own thing and meet at the hotel about 4pm for our trip to the airport and flight home.

I walked over to the mall, had a bite to eat then went to see a movie (Prisoners).  Back at the hotel we got a ride to the airport and left town.   Although I liked exploring a new place, learning the history of the area, it was just too hot to be comfortable.  I wouldn’t mind if we didn’t go there again, unless we can find a cooler time of year. 

Augusta to Franklin and Nashville, Traveling Sisters, Part 2, May 2013

Part 2 of the Traveling Sisters 2013 trip.  See previous post about Atlanta and Augusta.

Sunday morning we got up and had breakfast at the Augusta hotel before heading up to Nashville which was about a 6 hour drive.  Our plan was to stop in Chattanooga and have lunch because it was about ½ way.  The weather was threatening rain even though it was warm.  The previous few weeks there had been having rains and flooding in the Nashville area.  Our drive would take us over the Appalachians which we heard was a beautiful drive.

As we were approaching Chattanooga it started to rain heavily, and thunder.  We were hoping to be able to explore the city a little as well as have lunch.  No such luck. By the time we got into the city limits it was raining very hard.  We drove down by the Riverwalk which would have been fun on a nice day.  We settled on having lunch at the Blue Plate which appeared to be fun, modern place. The location was good, right next to the Aquarium near the Riverwalk.   The décor was nice and the menu had a lot to offer.  Maybe it was because we were there after 2pm or maybe due to the storm, but we were not impressed.  The fries were served at best warm and other food was not hot either.  Since we were the only ones there it made us wonder how long the food had been sitting.  We had the experience and if we ever get back that way which I hope to do, we will know to pick another location.

On the road again we climbed the Appalachians, all the way fighting the rain and thunder.  Unfortunately we were not able to do the site-seeing we had hoped to do.

Our next stop was to see Isaac who is living is Murfreesboro which is a small town outside of Nashville.  We were actually planning to stay in Franklin, which is another suburb town shortly beyond Murfreesboro.  We got to Ike’s after 5pm and visited for a while then made plans to meet up later at the house we were renting in Franklin. 

We got to the house that we had rented through VRBO.  It was a cute little 2 bedroom house with a front porch about 2 blocks from downtown Franklin.  The décor was great and it was comfortable and welcoming. 

Shortly after getting settled in Ike showed up with a few of his friends and we headed over to
J Alexanders for dinner.  It was an upscale restaurant /bar with excellent food.  After dinner we went back to the house and decided to turn in for the night and get an early start in the morning.

Monday morning we walked over to Merridees for breakfast and coffee then to the Visitors center to make a few plans for the week.  We purchased a 3 tickets each for tours of houses that played an integral role in Civil War history.  The staff member was very helpful and told us exactly how to get to the first place we should tour.  Because it was threatening rain we decided to go back to the house and get the car, even though the walk would be less than a mile or so.  We drove to the first place which was the Carter House.  The Battle of Franklin took place literally on the grounds of the Carter’s property and was one of the worst and bloodiest battles of the Civil War.  Circumstances leading up to the battle were mostly due to some strategic errors by the Confederate Generals. It was fascinating to hear all about it and stand on the grounds of such a historical place.  Many of the original buildings are still standing today.    Our next stop was the Lotz House which was turned into a make-shift hospital the evening of the battle, and again held a lot of history.  We decided to leave the last tour stop for another day.   As we left the Lotz house we stopped at the Bunganut Pig for lunch.  This was one of the places that was recommended.   The food was good and since the drizzling had stopped we sat outside in the garden area to eat.

Ike had asked his friend Danielle to gives us a list of “must sees” prior to our trip.  She had listed some favorite music spots, dining and other things to see and do.  Monday afternoon we got a call from Ike l that Danielle had discovered that there was a free concert in Nashville that evening in celebration of their new Convention Center.  Vince Gill, Sheryl Crow and others were singing.  We quickly made plans to have Ike and Danielle come to the house and we all headed to Nashville.

Arriving in downtown Nashville we first drove down Broadway.  When we got to Honky Tonk Row, Danielle told us to roll down the windows so we could hear the music.  It was so fun. Each little place had their own music coming out so we got a mixture of sounds as we drove those first few blocks.   We parked our car in one of the city garages and walked over to the Convention Center.  There was a stage and huge monitors set up and lots of people around.  We were able to go into the Convention Center and look around. It is a magnificent new venue with huge banquet rooms and ballrooms, ready to host events, tradeshows, etc.   Outside we stayed and watched Vince Gill and Sheryl Crow sing along with a few other singers, then headed back to town to get some dinner. 

We ate dinner at the Rockbottom Brewery on Broadway in the heart of Nashville.  We have RB restaurants at home but this had a little different menu.  I recommend the Bourbonzola Burger- it was great!    After dinner as we were walking back to the parking garage we walked down Printers Alley and found Ms. Kelli’sbar.  Some of the staff was outside the bar enticing people to come in and do Karaoke.   Danielle convinced Ike to do it so we all went in to watch.  They both are heavily involved in music both instrumentally and vocally so they did great as they sang “Endless Love”.  Next Danielle convinced Ruth to sing also… not quite as good but fun to watch.  We had a great night and had some ideas of things to see when we came back into town.

On Tuesday we stopped at Frothy Monkey for coffee then headed to Nashville to go on a scheduled walking tour.  Walkin’Nashville is owned by Bill DeMain, who was very informative as we went from place to place, telling us stories along the way.  We got the back history of country music, its singers and songwriters, as well local honky-tonks, merchants, music venues, etc.  We thoroughly enjoyed our tour and highly recommend it as a first stop if you are new to Nashville.  He even followed up with an email with links to many of the things that he talked about.

After our tour we ate lunch at the Merchant’s Café then headed for the Grand Ole’ Opry which we planned to tour next.  The Grand Ole Opry used to be in downtown Nashville where the Ryman Auditorium is today.  It was rebuilt and is now next to the Opryland Hotel.   We took a backstage tour of the theatre and got to see the dressing rooms for the singers, hear all about its history and walk out on to the stage.  In the middle of the stage is a circle that was taken from the original theatre and incorporated into the stage when they moved. 

After the tour we went to Opryland Hotel and Resort and Convention Center.  It was like going to one of the huge hotels in Vegas.  There were shops, restaurants, a river with boat rides all in a beautiful garden like setting.   Plan to spend some time if you go because there is a lot to see and do.  That evening it was back in Franklin we went to the Red Pony for dinner. 

On Wednesday morning we met up with Ike and went to the Loveless Café for breakfast.  In its day it was a motel and still has the old sign out front, which in itself is landmark.  Some of the former motel cottages have turned into little shops and galleries.  Come for an awesome breakfast but stay and look around.  A lot to see.  After we left the Loveless Café we went to the Factory at Franklin which is a collection of shops and restaurants in the renovated buildings that were at one time home to Dortch Stove Works and Master Chef.  That evening we met up again with Danielle and Ike and a few of their friends and went to McCreary’s Irish Pub for dinner in Franklin.   We had a full day and chose to head back to the house and turn in early.

Thursday morning we went back to Merridees for breakfast then went up to Carnton Plantation which was our third stop on the Battle of Franklin tour.  This building also was used as a hospital.  The tour included the cemetery which is next to the house.  So many confederate soldiers died during the battle that at the time they were buried where they fell.  A couple years later they were moved to the cemetery and buried in sections by their hometown State.  Each section had a tall marker with the State name and the number of dead.  There is a section for unknowns.  History tells us that Carrie McGavock took it upon herself to keep a create a logbook of each soldier that was buried so if ever their loved ones wanted to pay respect they would know where they were buried.  The book Widow of the South is a novel however it is loosely based on the historical facts about Carrie McGavock.

After our tour we came back into town and walked around the shops for a while then decided to drive to Murfreesboro to see the church where Ike works .  The drive was beautiful along country roads, winding our way. Several places had historical markers.  Ike works for the World Outreach Church in the music department.  He showed us his office and how he is responsible for coordinating the mixing and mashup of the music for various music programs. 

Thursday evening we went to Leiper’s Fork Village to Puckett’s Grocery andRestaurant.  Every Thursday is open mic and we were told that we could hear some great music and might even run into Wynonna Judd.  She had actually come in the week before and sang for the crowd.  We had their BBQ dinner and enjoyed the music.  Wynonna didn’t stop in but Ashley Judd did along with Wynonna’s daughter and Naomi’s husband.  Playing the piano for any one needed the piano back up was Wynonna’s piano player.  Several people sang including locals and others that heard it was a great place to get some recognition.  Johnny Keyser who was a runner up on American Idol was there and sang a few songs.  We had a fun evening, which was our last.

Friday – our time is nearly up.  We drove to Hillsboro Village, a local suburb to have breakfast at the Pancake Pantry.  They don’t take reservations and the line was out the door, around the corner and down the street.  Ike met us there and was in line when we got there.  We actually only waited about 45 minutes.  Our breakfast was great so we were glad to have waited for it.  From there Ruth had to leave and Ike took her to the airport. 

Carol and I did not leave until later so we went back to Nashville to the Country Music Hall of Fame.  This was a great place to end our sister’s trip.  The few days in Nashville gave us a new perspective on country music, the Civil War and the opportunity to spend time with family.  I must say this every time, but it’s true – I would love to come back to Nashville.   There is a lot to see and do and only have a few days gave us a little taste of it – so much more we could do/see if we only had the time!

Atlanta to Augusta - Traveling Sisters, Part 1, May, 2013

When we heard that our niece Hannah was getting married in Augusta on May 18^th Ruth, Carol and I decided it would make a great adventure for the “Traveling Sisters”.   We decided that taking a little road trip up to Nashville from Augusta would also be fun and give us an opportunity to see Ruth’s son Ike.   So, start the planning… here we come.

On Friday, May 17^th, Carol and I took the same flight from Seattle to Atlanta which arrived in Atlanta about 4pm.   Ruth had arrived from Minneapolis about an hour earlier so she met us at the baggage carousel shortly after we arrived.  We got our baggage then headed over to get our rental car.

We checked into the Hilton Garden Inn in Midtown about 5pm.  Our room was nice with 2 queen beds and free internet.  There was a pool but our time there was so short that I didn’t get the opportunity to use it.   After resting for a bit and getting acclimated to the new time zone, we got ready for dinner.  Carol had found a place that had great reviews.   Wisteria is located in the Highland Drive area near Inman Park.  It was a nice ride about 10 minutes or so from our hotel. 

Wisteria has a great menu with lots of choices.  I ordered the Georgia Mountain Trout and would recommend it.  All of us enjoyed our meal and felt like it definitely lived up to its reviews.  Dessert was the “small bites” special with Banana Pudding, Bread Pudding and Caramel and Sea Salt Smores.  After dinner we went back to the hotel.  All of us had gotten up early for our flights and planned to get up early Saturday morning.

Saturday we got up early and went to CNN Headquarters for a VIP Studio Tour.  It’s amazing to see how much goes into producing the news, from the live feeds, the correspondents in the field, the editing, etc.  We were able to watch a few live newscasts and tour the actual studios.   It gave us a better understanding of the process that goes into producing our news broadcasts.
Afterward we wanted to get on the road to Augusta to have time to check into our hotel and unwind before the wedding.  Before we left the area we stopped to get a bite to eat at Victory Sandwich Bar which was a funky little place in the same area as Wisteria.  It had great reviews and a menu with unusual but healthy sandwiches and salads, as well as a full bar.
  
We checked into our hotel, the Hampton Inn about 4pm, rested a bit then got ready to go to the church which was a few miles away.  When we arrived at the church we were ushered up to a pew that had been assigned to family.  Jon, Joyce and boys and their families were already seated so we had a few minutes to talk with them.  

The wedding was beautiful – Hannah was so pretty.  She had 7 attendants as well as the groomsmen.  Nolan (4) was the ring bearer and Maddie (5) was the flower girl.   They both did a great job.   After the ceremony when the minister pronounced them man and wife Hannah raised her arm in a big cheer and they rushed down the aisle, dancing along the way.  As the attendants went down the aisle they too danced which put a special touch to it. 

The reception was at the Barn Pavilion at the Riverwood Plantation which is a great set up for banquets/ weddings, etc.  Decorations were simple yet elegant and the food was an assortment of different things including meatballs, potatoes, salads, breads, fruit and desserts.    Jonathan and Hannah did the traditional cutting of the cake then feeding each other.  Although Jonathan was sweet and delicately fed Hannah a piece of cake, she smashed hers in Jonathans face.  That gave him the OK to play a little and I think she ended up with cake on her nose.  J  They danced and encouraged their friends to dance.   Everyone was having a great time. 

When we left we went over to Jon’s house to visit with him and Joyce for a while before going back to our hotel.   It was so good to see family that we don’t have an opportunity to see very much.  We all went away agreeing that we need to get a family reunion scheduled soon.  Hopefully someone will be able to take that on!

Read the next posting for the rest of the story of the Traveling Sisters

Puerto Vallarta February 2013

Once again we find ourselves in Puerto Vallarta.   Love it and even though we think about trying a new Mexico location (Cancun??) we end up coming back here.

We arrived on Sunday, Feb 10^th and made our way via taxi to Playa Los Arcos in Old Town P.V.  This was our third time staying there and we love the location, the ambience, pool etc.  It’s older, could use some updating but it’s clean, the staff is wonderful and the price is right.

Of course I headed directly for the pool- something I had been looking forward to for a long time.  Having recently had surgery on my elbow I was a little apprehensive about overusing it but it wasn’t a problem. I don’t have full range of motion yet so I just relaxed and didn’t do too much. 

Later we headed for the Burro’s Bar which is right on the beach and close by.  The food is good although a little overpriced.  The peso/dollar exchange was about 12% in our favor so that helped.

We didn’t plan anything specific for the week so each day included breakfast or at least coffee and rolls, then pool time, then figuring out where to have dinner.  Since we seem to get stuck in the “what do you want to do”, “I don’t know, what do YOU want to do” cycle, I made a rule that we could not say that during our whole trip.  We agreed to state what we would like to do and invite each other to partake.  Or if we had a few options of likes we mentioned that too.  It helped cut out a lot of wasted time, hurt feelings, etc.  Why didn’t we do this sooner??  I am going to encourage it to be a rule going forward.

Monday there was a Mardi Gras celebration at Los Muertos Pier just south of our hotel.  This is a beautiful new pier that was completed since we were here last year. Everyone was encouraged to dress up, wear masks, etc.  Although we didn’t do that we were able to go onto the pier and watch others which turned out to be a fun experience.  People can be wild and creative with their costumes. 

On Tuesday for lunch we tried the little taco stand directly across from the internet café on the corner.   The tacos were great and it was fun to talk to the owner about the economy and business in general in PV.  It seemed to us that things were finally making a turn around.  The last couple years we had seen a lot of things that were closed or no longer in business, and far less tourists. 

Tuesday night we met up with Kimberly and Mike Altman for dinner.  Kim is a life coach and works out of their home in Puerto Vallarta.  They have lived now in PV year round for 2 ½ years and have gotten plugged in with other US and Canadian citizens that now live there (ExPats).  We ate dinner at Coco Tropical which is an Italian restaurant on the beach near our hotel.  The food was good and it was fun to talk to Kim and Mike about living in PV.  It is something we have talked about doing, if only for a couple months during the winter.   We have a few years to decide, but it is tempting.

During the day on Wednesday we took a bus and went up to the Hotel Zone to look at the Fiesta Americana, which at the time we thought was an option for a trade with our Mayan timeshare. We were thinking possibly exchanging time next year or staying longer.  When we got there we spoke with the concierge and he was helpful and encouraged us to look around.  We walked out to the pool area and looked around the hotel.  It was big, friendly, and clean and the pool area was inviting.  We had been having trouble with the internet at La Playa Los Arcos so Doug asked about that and was told that it was free and worked good.

That evening we went to Paradise Community Center to a concert called “in Love?”   The singers were Time to Play which was a group of folk singers that formed a folk type band in retirement.  Some of them were living full time in PV and some part time.    PCC is a non-profit which benefits the poor communities of Mexico.  They raise money through social events, Saturday Markets, etc.   They also have a few food stands so we went early and ate dinner.  Doug had fish and chips and I had chicken and potatoes.  Both meals were good, and the folk music was fun with a lot of songs that we grew up with.

In the morning we had a thought to look up the FiestaAmericana to see what the rates were for last minute rooms.  Normal rates for Studio King were $150 but they were $119 online.  We decided to move up there for the next 3 nights before we moved to the Marina to our timeshare at the Mayan Palace.  We checked with the front desk and let them know that due to the internet issues we would like to check out early.  They reluctantly agreed and didn’t charge us extra for checking out early.  We went to breakfast at Café de Olla, then around  1:00 pm we got a taxi and headed for the Fiesta Americana.  We checked in and had to wait for an hour or so for our room.  Once we got it we had a beautiful ocean view room on the 8^th floor.  The pool was calling so I headed down to enjoy the afternoon relaxing.  Dinner that evening was at the hotel restaurant L’isola which is Italian and the only one of the three restaurants that were open.  We hadn’t had time to explore the area and didn’t feel like heading downtown to eat. 

I spent the next few days catching up on reading, pool time and anything I could do to relax. Doug went for a walk a few times, worked on business things and came down to the pool in the afternoons.  On Friday we had breakfast at Chula Vista, another one of the hotel restaurants, then that evening we went back to town and had the all you can eat special and Joe Jack's Fish Shack, one of our favorite places.

On Saturday we walked north to Starbucks , then back to the hotel for swimming and down time.  That evening we decided to try a new restaurant on the Malecon called LaCerveceria Union.  The food was good, and the atmosphere was nice.  It is in the same location where the Hard Rock Café used to be, however it is remodeled and now has open sides. 

Sunday was our move to the Mayan Palace at the Marina.  Check out at FA was noon.  On our way out we stopped to talk with the concierge Jorge who had been so helpful when we first came to look at the hotel.  We had actually seen and chatted with him each day.  When he realized we were leaving and heading to the Mayan Palace he requested the hotel shuttle driver to take us.  That was a pleasant surprise and great service!

When we checked in at the Mayan we were told that our room (on the 2^nd floor) would not be ready for a couple hours. That gave us time to walk over to the Marina for a bite to eat.  After, we rode the bus to Walmart to pick up a few supplies for the week.

Once we checked in I headed to the pool. They have a great pool, actually 2 of them, with umbrellas for shade.  The furniture is getting old and could be replaced but the grounds are beautiful and the staff is wonderful.  The pools have not been heated for the last few years which has been frustrating but with the warm weather it wasn’t as bad as I anticipated. My understanding is that there is some warm water circulating so not completely cold.

That evening we headed back to the Marina and went to the D’s Rock and Roll Diner which we had been to before.  The food is Ok, not great, but it’s fun for something other than the traditional Mexican food.

My week at the Mayan consisted of coffee or breakfast at the Marina, back to the Mayan for pool time, break for lunch in the room, back to the pool for the afternoon.  Doug spent time working, walking and even headed back to town a couple times.  In the evening we went to the Marina for dinner most nights. Monday we went to Buenos Aires for dinner.  That was our first time and have to say that they portions were good and the ambiance is nice.  It’s a little more expensive than some of the other places but we enjoyed it.

 Wednesday we took a bus and went to Suyulita.  We have been several times and enjoy it.  It is a small surfing community in Nayarit north of Punta Mita.  We had lunch at Captain Pablo's  while we people watched.  After we got back to the hotel I spent some time by the pool, then we had dinner over at Tacos and Beer across from the hotel.  Thursday we had dinner at Los Mariachiles at the Marina.

On Friday went to the Marina to Vallarta Adventures and went on the Sierra Madre South tour.  On an earlier trip we had taken the Sierra Madre tour and had a great time. The guides are fun and informative and get the group really engaged in the adventure.   We left about 9 am and headed south to the town of El Tuita.  On the way we stopped at the  Puerto Vallarta Botanical Gardens.  Once we got to El Tuita we toured their town hall, stopped at a little market, then went to a tortilla making factory, and a cheese factory.  At each place we tasted the food.  The shop owner gave us a bag of what looked like cheese puffs. Our guide added fresh lime and seasoning.  We see these bags for sale on the Malecon – after tasting we’ll be sure to buy next time.   We tried the tortilla with pic sauce and guacamole.

Next we stopped at a  Hacienda el Divisadero raicilla distillery.  As we walked in we gave our guide our lunch request (chicken for me and beef for Doug) then headed to a little tour on the process of making raicilla.  Raicilla is made from the blue agave plant using the same process as making tequila.  By Mexican law all "tequila" is made in the state of Jalisco.  Others that use that process have to call their spirits "raicilla".  Of course we were offered a shot (tiny taste for me).  Afterward we were led to the dining area for a lunch of fajitas, beans, rice and salad.  Drinks included.  Lunch was great and it was a fun experience.  We headed from there to a little cemetery but we didn’t get out of the dune buggy for that.  I wish we had as I would have loved to go through it.  We could see that they had some beautiful headstones.  From there we stopped at a huge rock that had petroglyphs, then on to one more distillery and more shots of raicilla.  Once again, little sips was all I could take.

The distillery was our last stop. As we go out there I noticed that I no longer had my camera.  I had taken pictures at the rock and the this stop was 10-15 minutes after so I could not figure out where it had gone.  I had it in my pocket and the trip was very bumpy.  We were riding in the back on side benches  and I noticed that between the seat and the back of the seat there was an opening to the street below.  After searching everywhere on the dune buggy we determined it was gone.  Fortunately Doug had brought our good camera and this was just my little point and shoot but I had taken pictures for 12 days up until then.  We left our name and number at the office once we returned but I don’t expect to hear back.

Saturday, our last full day in PV.  Things are coming to an end.  We went down to old town and walked around the Saturday Market, (mostly expats selling to expats) then went to Joe Jacks one more time for lunch.  We were able to sit on the rooftop terrace and enjoy the weather and the view.  I could stay here forever!    But of course things are coming to an end.  Later we went back to the hotel  for the last pool time, then dinner over at Victor's at the Marina.  Of course Victor was there, sharing shots of tequila with everyone.  We got lost in the time and forgot that the gate to the marina closed at 9:30 so when we were ready to head back at 10:30 we had to walk ½ down the marina to the far exit.  The weather was still warm, but after a few drinks and full stomach it was the last thing that I wanted to do.

Sunday we checked out, left our bags and went over to the Marina for a leisurely last breakfast at Las Palomas.  Once again we have to leave… This time with no mishaps other than losing the camera, and burned lips.  Can’t wait to come back!

San Diego, October 2012

The annual MSPA conference was in San Diego this year.  We both love San Diego and decided to add a few days so we could visit with friends while we were there.

We flew into San Diego on Tuesday, October 16^th.  We were staying at the Westin in the Gaslamp area which is in the heart of everything.  We had an early flight so we knew we would not be able to check in so instead we rented a car at the airport and decided to do a little sightseeing before we went to the hotel.  

We drove to the Hillcrest area and went to Baja Betty’s for an early lunch.  Baja Betty’s is a client of Doug’s with an authentic Mexican flair and a fun, upbeat atmosphere.   The food was great and the staff were having fun with the customers (and each other) and it made for a fun adventure.

Later we parked our car at Horton Plaza which is next door to the hotel, then went to check in.  We got checked in and Doug wanted to work a little, so I went to check out the pool area. 

The Westin has a nice outdoor pool on the second level of the hotel.  It is secluded from the outside, and there are some shaded areas which is always nice.  They have a hot-tub also just indoors next to the pool.  The pool was heated and though we had nice weather it was really nice to swim in a heated pool.  Some places just rely on the weather which never seems to heat up the pool enough.

That evening we went to Phil’s BBQ for dinner which was another client of Doug’s.  Known for their great barbeque, there is always a line to get in.  They were efficient and in no time we were in and sitting at a table.  The food was ready quickly, large portions and friendly, upbeat staff that are always on the go.  Afterward we met with the general manager to discuss the account for a few minutes.  They have several locations and they are all doing well.

We turned the car in at a local location near the hotel rather than keep it at the hotel.  I wasn’t planning to use it while Doug was working anyway and we had things planned in the evenings.

On Wednesday Doug was busy all day and I spent my time relaxing, reading, swimming and otherwise doing the things I like to do to relax.  That evening we took a walk and had dinner at Maria’s Mexican Cocina, a local Mexican Restaurant with several other people from the conference.  Doug’s favorite cuisine - and I enjoyed it also.

Thursday was just for me..lots of relaxing while Doug was at his conference.  That evening they had an event that I was invited to also.  We went to a local establishment called The Shout House which had "dueling pianos".  The event was planned so we were a private party.  We sat right up front.  There was banquet style food, plenty of drinks and then of course the "dueling pianos".  Patrons were encouraged to turn in names of songs and the piano players played them together, and also had friendly competition over who played best.  After a while they split our group into teams and played a game of "name that tune".  They played a few notes and everyone wrote the name of the songs.  It was a lots of laughs and a good time.  Later, they again were taking song choices and people were throwing money to the piano players "not" to play a request.   Somewhere along the line Doug requested Brittney Spears (what was that about??)  then actually got up and started dancing!  Of course someone had to quickly throw up a tip to get him to stop, then someone else to get him to continue!  It was hilarious and it was fun to see him relaxed and having a good time.

Friday was Doug's last day for the conference so I checked out of the hotel and waited in the area for him to get done.  We had pre-arranged to have a rental car delivered to us so once he was done we rented the car and drove to Imperial Beach.   Doug had grown up in the area and still had friends living nearby.  We rented a room at the Sand Castle Inn across from the beach.  It wasn't fancy, no pool, but it was fine for the few days we were staying.  We had Thai food for dinner and the local restaurant.

During the day Saturday we took a drive and went up to La Jolla and went to the Cave Store.  When you walk in it looks like a tiny little store with souvenirs, shells, agates, etc.  However, there is a set of stairs that go down several feet to an underground cave.  The view is awesome as you look out onto the Pacific from inside the cave.  The water comes crashing in right near where you are standing.  It was fun to see and feels like a hidden treasure.  You wouldn’t know from the outside of the store that it was any more than a little store, not unlike all the other tourist stores.

That evening we met up with Doug’s friends Bart and Glen and Ian and his wife who were visiting with their daughter from England.   The guys had all gone to high school together.  We met at Ye Olde Plank Inn which is bar/restaurant right near the beach.  The guys had fun reminiscing and I enjoyed talking to and hearing about her life in England.

We flew home Sunday.  Back to the old grind, until next time.