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.

Reno, September 2012

I decided to come along with Doug on a conference he had in Reno, Nevada.  We flew in on Saturday,  September 8^th for 3 nights.  The conference was at the Grand Sierra Resort which is about 2 miles from the downtown strip.  It is a large resort which includes a bowling alley, a movie theatre, go karts, and a great pool area called “The Beach”. 

We arrived early morning so we decided to take a walk to the downtown strip.  The weather was beautiful and it was a nice walk however it was about 80 when we got there.  We went to Cal Neva for a late breakfast then walked around the area. Neither one of us had been for a few years and were  sad to see that the economy has taken its toll.  Fitzgerald’s has closed down as well as a lot of the smaller casinos and hotels.  The Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus are the main casino/hotels on the strip.

While we were downtown there was a motorcycle rally.  We were waiting to cross the street but were stopped by over 1000 bikers.  Later we found out they were participating in “Never Forget 9/11 Memorial Ride”.  They were passing through on their way to Sparks. 

Since it had warmed up we took a taxi back to the Grand Sierra to check in.  Our room was nice and once we checked in I made my way to the pool area.   They didn’t have any umbrellas and there was no shade unless you rented a cabana.  I was not able to stay too long in the sun.  Later I found that I could rent an umbrella at the beach store next to the pool entrance which I did the next day.

That evening we went to the hotel buffet for dinner with some of the other conference attendees.  Since Doug was busy with the conference on Sunday afternoon through Tuesday I spent my time reading, relaxing and just enjoying the down time.

We flew home on Tuesday afternoon, a little more rested and a little less money since we gambled a bit.  Quick trip, but it was fun.

Palm Springs, June 2012

We had never been to Palm Springs so when Doug had the opportunity to go for business I jumped at the chance to tag along.
We flew to Palm Springs on Saturday June 9^th, arriving at about 3pm.  Since we were not actually staying in Palm Springs we headed over to our hotel which was the Hampton Inn in Banning.  For the first night we were staying there.   The next two nights we would be staying at the Morongo Resort in Cabazon, where the conference was going to be.   Cabazon is about 17 miles from Palm Springs.

Once we got to our hotel, got checked in and settled we headed out to find something to eat.  I used my phone to find suggestions for local eateries and settled on Thai food.  The place was not memorable, even though rated high.  Maybe the small town was why.  The food was good when we finally got it.  The service turned out to be very slow.

Since Doug didn’t have a lot of time that was not conference time, we decided to do a little sightseeing.  We decided to go on the Aerial Tram.  Riding the gondola through Chino Canyon to the top of the ridge was a great experience with awesome views.  The gondola is designed to turn slowly as we climb the mountain to give 360 views to everyone on the ride up.  Once we reached the top there were several observation points, a lodge, restaurant etc.  We spent about an hour checking it all out before we headed back down.  The sun was setting while we were there so we got some beautiful sky pictures. 

After we left the tram we drove into Palm Springs.  The main street was very busy with tourists so we walked around a little then decided to head back to our hotel area to eat dinner.    It was nearly 10 pm when we stopped by Ruby’s for dinner.

Sunday morning we at breakfast at the hotel and took our time checking out. We couldn’t check in at the other resort until 3 anyway so there was no rush.  I went to the pool while Doug worked for a while.  Of course it was not heated!  What’s with that?  Although the weather was in the 80s early in the morning, it still would have been nice to have a pool that had a least some warm water.  There was a hot tub which helped.   Around 1pm or so we headed over to Cabazon to the Morongo Resort and Casino.

Doug had to check in for the conference around 3pm and get his booth ready for the early morning meetings so he went to do that while I checked out the pool.  The weather was extremely hot (110) and the pool did not have a lot of shade.  That evening we ate dinner at the buffet at the casino and played a little in the casino. (Lost, what’s new?)

In the morning Doug headed to his conference and I went over to the Cabazan Outlet stores which were less than a mile from the hotel.  It was too hot to walk so I drove over.  I spent some time checking out the stores, several designer stores, but I ended up empty handed when I left.  It’s a really nice mall and I wouldn’t mind going back sometime.

Once I got back to the casino I decided to go down to the pool area with my book.  I was able to find room in a shaded area for a few hours.  Around 5pm several other sponsors for the conference met down at the pool bar for drinks, before heading to dinner.  Although the weather was hot it got windy by the pool.   After a while we headed back into the hotel and ate dinner there again, rather than leaving.

Tuesday Doug went back to his meeting and I requested a late check out.  The pool opened at 8am so I went down and found some shade by the Lazy River and spent the rest of the morning enjoying that.   It was so relaxing both in the Lazy River, and just resting on a lounge chair and reading.  The shade was nice as again it was approaching 110.

I checked out around noon, got our things to the car and waited in the area for Doug to finish up.  We were planning to leave about 2pm to head to the airport.  We wanted to drive through Palm Springs since we hadn’t spent much time there originally.   We stopped in town and walked around for a little while before we had to leave.  There is a new statue of MarilynMonroe in her famous pose with her dress flying up. Of course Doug wanted his picture with her… J

Our trip was short and sweet.  Really didn’t get much time to enjoy the city.  I would like to come back in the early spring or fall when it’s not so hot to really enjoy it.

May 2012 - Sister's Trip - White Bear Lake, Minnesota to Door County, Wisconsin

Time for another Sister’s Trip. I can always fit that in my schedule! I miss my sisters and even though Carol lives in the area, even we have a hard time getting together, due to work schedules and other commitments. And with Ruth in Minnesota it’s a real treat when the three of us can get together.

To save a little money the three of us decided that Carol and I would fly to Minnesota to see Ruth. Then if we wanted to take a couple days we could go on a little road trip to spend some “sister” time. Once we came to that decision Carol and I got our plane tickets (using points this time). Ruth suggested we go to Door County, Wisconsin so she was tasked with finding a place to stay.

Carol and I met at the airport about 5:40 am on Wednesday, May 9th. Plenty of time to get checked in, get coffee and head to our gate for our 7:15 am flight. Soon we were on our way. It was an uneventful flight and gave us time to catch up on each other’s lives. Where does the time go? I don’t think I had seen Carol since the fall, which was the last time I had seen Ruth also.

Ruth picked us up about 12:30 pm and we headed over to visit Alyssa and their new baby, stopping first to get a bite to eat for lunch. Alyssa and Trent live in Woodbury, which is on the way to Ruth’s house from the airport. We got to meet Eli who is just about 3 months old. They are working hard to get him on a regular schedule but the little guy doesn’t want to sleep more than 20 minutes at a time. Alyssa is learning what it is like to be a new mommy. Eli is a cutie and doesn’t seem to be a fussy baby. We visited for a while, and then left to go to Ruth’s, planning with Alyssa to see her Saturday afternoon at Justin and Kristen’s house.

We got to Ruth’s house and got settled then started getting things ready for a taco dinner. Justin, Kristen and the boys Gavin (3) and Declan (1) came for dinner. It was do fun to watch Gavin come with his happy-go-lucky attitude. Declan was more cautious meeting new people but Gavin jumped right in there. He loves to pose for pictures and show us all the things he is learning. He talks clearly and loves to sing. We had a lot of fun playing with the kids, and catching up with Kristen and Justin.


After a good night’s sleep we got up early to head on our road trip. Stopped for coffee at Starbucks (where else?) then we were on our way. Door County was calling us! Door County is about 6 hours from White Bear Lake. We planned to spend our car time catching up on things and singing songs. We actually brought two hymnals and spent a good bit of time singing and reminiscing. Remember how Mom loved this song? Remember singing this with Nana? Wow, what memories. Our hubbies had teased us before we left when we told them the plan…. definitely did not want to be in the car with us during this trip!

Our drive took us into Green Bay, Wisconsin about lunch time. We used our phones to find a restaurant for lunch and settled on the Titletown Brewery which had good reviews. It was in an old Train Station and lived up to the reviews. We shared a couple different salads and some flatbread. Presentation was nice and both the food and the service were good. The parking lot had a Green Bay Packers statue. Since we were within a mile or two of Limbaugh Field we drove over there and took a few pictures.  Then we were back on the road again.

Door County is on a Peninsula on Lake Michigan. It is a spring and summer destination place with lots of little villages close together. There are cherry orchards throughout the county, and restaurants, boutiques, wineries, light houses and country stores. We were just ahead of the season so not everything was open yet, but on the flip side we also were not fighting the traffic to get onto the peninsula, which I understand can happen during high season.

We were staying in Ephraim which is about ½ way up the 26 mile peninsula on the west side, which is the Green Bay side. We had booked a cottage at the Lodgings at Pioneer Lane. Our place was a charming cottage that had 2 sides, one of which could be locked off from the other. We chose to use both sides so we had two bedrooms, each with a king bed on opposite sides of a living/kitchen area. My “punishment“ for my snoring was to have a room to myself. Somehow, I got the best of that deal!

We got our things settled then decided to explore the town. We spent some time looking at the computer first to find a place to eat dinner. As we drove around we saw that some things were not open for the season yet, but there still were plenty options. We drove down to Fish Creek which was one village over and ate dinner at the Wild Tomato, a wood fire pizza restaurant. There were quite a few people there but we were able to find a place to sit in the bar area without having to wait. They had more than just pizza so we each had burgers that were very good.

Afterward we stopped at Not Licked Yet, a great place for frozen custard. We each had a small cone. The setting was along Fish Creek and was like a park with a playground for the kids, and several chairs along the creek. After dinner and dessert we decided to turn in and rest up for the morning. We were all tired from our full day of driving and then full from dinner and dessert.

In the morning we got up and each of us wanted coffee so we headed to Julie’s Park Motel and Cafe in Fish Creek to get coffee and a bagel or something light before we started to explore the rest of the peninsula. Once we got to Julie’s we decided to stay and eat breakfast after all. We brought in a few maps and brochures and mapped out our plan for the day as we were eating breakfast. Breakfast was good, with great service so soon we were on our way.

We started out by going to Peninsula State Park which was between Ephraim and Fish Creek. We paid for an hour pass which gave us time to stop at a view of the view points and walk around. The Park is on the west side of the Peninsula and has great views of Green Bay and several small islands. The weather was beautiful and we enjoyed the natural beauty of the park. After we left the Park we looked around several of the little shops in the area then drove south to Egg Harbor and looked around some of the shops there before we drove over to Bailey’s Harbour which is on the other side of the Peninsula. Our understanding was there was a much photographed lighthouse that we wanted to see. After driving for quite a while down a 2 lane road we came to a dead end where you needed to walk out to even get a glimpse of the lighthouse. Since we wanted to explore more to the Peninsula we decided not to go out to it.

There really wasn’t much else to see there so we instead drove to the top of the peninsula to Northport where there is a ferry that goes over to Washington Island. The passage is commonly known as Death’s Door. If we had more time it would have been a fun trip with lots of things to check out on the Island. That will have to wait for another day.

On the road again we headed south to stop in Sister’s Bay for lunch. We found Sister Bay Bakery where we were able to buy boxed lunches, and then took them to Waterfront Park which is in the center of town along the bay. After lunch we stopped at a few of the shops. We also drove by Al Johnson’s restaurant which is a known for its grass roof with goats on it. Unfortunately, there were no goats as they were not quite open for the season.

We continued our exploring and stopped at the Stone’s Throw Winery for a few minutes, then went to Wood Orchard market and the Cherry Hut market. We each bought some dried cherries to bring home and I bought some a jar of Cherry Salsa. The peninsula is known for its cherry orchards and all of the trees had recently started blooming so there was an abundance of pink flowering trees. After a little more boutique shopping we got back to our place about 5pm.  We had dinner plans to go to a Fish Boil. Although Ruth and Carol had both been, it was a new experience for me. We had reservations for 7pm at the White Gull Inn in Fish Creek.

Fish Boils are a tradition in the area, and everyone agrees you must go to one at least once. It is similar to going to a Mexican Fiesta in Mexico, or a Hawaiian Luau. Everyone gathers around a bonfire that has a kettle of salted water boiling. Potatoes are added and at the right time thick chunks or fresh white fish steaks are added. As the temperature rises and salt is added, the oils from the fish rise to the top of the kettle. Then, kerosene is thrown on the fire, the kettle boils over and the kettle is removed from the fire. Then everyone moves into the restaurant and are served the potatoes and fish buffet style. On the table is bread and coleslaw. Staff is there to assist and show how to easily remove the tiny bones from the fish. For dessert we were served cherry pie with ice cream. We all enjoyed the experience, and the food was good.

Once we got back to our place we decided to watch the movie Love Actually. I had not seen it but they both recommended it and didn’t mind watching it again. I think all of us were falling asleep though by the time it was over. Long day, good company and good food had done us in.

In the morning we got packed and tried to get on the road by 9.00 or so. We stopped at the pier in Ephram to see the boardhouse with all the graffiti. We had heard that Good Eggs was a great place for breakfast so we stopped there on our way out of town. It is a small little place that only provides breakfast burritos – basically omelets wrapped in burrito. The tables are made out of surfboards and the atmosphere was light and fun. Breakfast was great.

Our drive to White Bear Lake took us a little longer than planned but we got to Ruth’s about 4:30. All of the family was getting together over at Justin and Kristen’s to celebrate Gavin’s 3rd birthday and Declan’s first. Since we were leaving the next day it was our opportunity to see Amy and Jimmy and the kids as well as Kristin and Justin and Alyssa and Trent and baby Eli.

The weather was beautiful and when we got to Kristen and Justin’s all the kids were there and playing outside. Kristen’s parents were there too to celebrate with the family. Jonah came running up to me and gave me a big hug. He reminded me about our trip to Colorado (see post) and how we went geocaching. He said he goes once in a while. Trent was there and asked what it was so we decided to use my phone to see what was around the area. We were able to find one within a mile of Kristen and Justin’s so we decided that we would take a walk after dinner and presents.

Kristen had arranged for a local restaurant to cater the food for the party so we had lasagna, french bread and a couple salads. Then she had a cake in the shape of a baseball for the boys, as well as ice cream. After that the kids gathered the presents together and Gavin opened both Declan’s and his own. Alyssa and Trent had gotten him a batman costume so that was a hit. He was so cute running around with that on. He is so personable. He has cute red hair and dimples and a twinkle in his eye. He talks very clear and evens sings in tune.

After the boys had opened their presents Carol and I took Larkin, Ryker and Jonah to find the geocache. They live in a newer development which has several little neighborhoods that have entrance signs. Our clue was “Behind the Glenn”. As we got closer to the area of the cache we saw the entrance sign that said “Glenn” so we headed for the back part of the sign. After a few minutes we were able to find it in a cleverly disguised container. There were a few little trinkets in the box that Jonah traded for some little things he brought. I signed the log then we headed back to the house.

After hugs goodbye, and promises to plan another reunion soon so we can get all the cousins together we headed back to Ruth’s house. Earl wanted to take us to a new Rooftop lounge that had opened up at the Best Western in downtown White Bear Lake. However, once we got there it was quite crowded so instead we went over to the Bear Town Café of which they are part owners. Ruth mentioned that she hadn’t even eaten over at Justin and Kristen’s so we ordered a few things to share as well as drinks.

The next day was Mother’s Day and Earl had set a beautiful table with flowers for us on the patio. It was sunny and warm and refreshing. He made waffles for us and served them with bacon and fruit. We invited him to join us which he was happy to do. Always the entertainer, he told us stories to keep us laughing. We spent a little time looking at pictures and just visiting before we had to go to the airport for our flight home.

When Carol and I checked in we noticed our seats were no longer together so we could not finish our trip together. We said goodbye once we got to Seatac and vowed to get together more often, and to start figuring out how to get together for a family reunion next year. Where should we go for our next Sister’s Trip? Tennessee? Branson? Sante Fe? Boston? We’ll have to start planning it soon.

February 2012, 2 Weeks in Paradise - Puerto Vallarta

This year we planned our annual trip Mexico to spend one week in “old town” Puerto Vallarta, and one week at our timeshare at the Puerto Vallarta Marina. This was the first time staying for the full 14 days in Puerto Vallarta . Our goal for this trip was to get rest and relaxation, read a few books, and just enjoy the beauty of the area that we both love so much.

We arrived in PV on Sunday February 5th.. After collecting our luggage we made our way to the Taxi stand and headed to Playa Los Arcos, which is right on the beach in the heart of old town Puerto Vallarta. We stayed the same place last year for several days and liked it enough to schedule this year before we left town.

The weather in PV was warm but threatening rain. Our first mission was to get settled in our room which was on the 3rd floor, with a balcony overlooking the pool area, and the entrance walkway overlooking the street. Our room had a king size bed, large TV, table and chairs, and a side chair. We didn’t have a fridge however we had ice available. There was a shower but no tub which was fine. We stayed in the same room last year and loved the location. I had forgotten how hard the mattress on the bed was. Next year we may have to see if we can get a room with a more comfortable mattress. Additionally, something to remember next year is that there are only a few 3 prong outlets in the room, and not very many 2 prong ones. Not near enough with the all the electronics these days. The front desk gave us one 3 prong extension but with both of our laptops, phones, Kindles, cameras, etc we needed to take turns charging things. Also, the proximity of the existing outlets made it difficult to use the outlet and the lamp by the side of the bed. So, note for next year: bring 3 prong adapters and a small extension cord. Additionally, although they don’t advertise WiFi in the room, only the lobby, it did work most of the time in the room (although a little slow).

After settling in I headed for the pool and Doug stayed in the room to work for awhile. The pool was warm and it felt good to swim. Something that is important to me and I look forward to on any vacation we take.

That evening we had dinner at Burro’s Bar which is on the beach. We have been there many times and the food is good. We were a little surprised at the prices this year. The peso value is down so merchants have raised prices to make up the difference. Our total meal was over 470 peso’s which was close to $35 in USD. Although not a lot, for a bar on the beach we thought it was a little high. We both had Mexican plates – nothing fancy.

That evening there was a beautiful sunset. There were clouds in the sky but no rain. In the morning we took a walk, got breakfast at our all time favorite place for breakfast, Fredy Tucan’s. They have great food and although they are busy they get you in, make time for you but they are quick on service.

As I mentioned, our goal this trip was the rest and relaxation. We have been there several times and although it is always fun to go back, we had no agenda, no real plans, etc. Instead I spent most of the days by the pool, reading and swimming. We ate at some of our favorite restaurants including Archie’s Wok, Joe Jack’s Fish Shack, Langostino’s. We decided against any of the traditional tours or Fiesta’s. By Friday the weather had turned to rain although it was still warm. We took a walk every morning then came back and spent the afternoons at the hotel. Back out for dinner in the evening. Another place that we talked about going was Andale’s which is a fun bar across from our hotel. We have always gone there at least once during our stay. Didn’t make it this time. The weather put a damper on our mood, and I was starting to get a sore throat and respiratory problem about Thursday so I was more than happy to just hang out at the hotel or by the pool.

Saturday morning it was raining quite hard. We walked over to Paradise Community Center where they were having a “Saturday Market”. It was quite crowded with everyone coming in to get out of the rain. We didn’t end up buying anything although they had fresh bakery items, handmade artifacts, etc. They also have a couple permanent restaurants in the center that are open every day. We left there and stopped for coffee at the Coffee Cup. The weather was miserable, and our moods were not much better! Once we got back to the hotel I decided to go to the beach and sit and read under one of the umbrellas. The waves were big and fun to watch. After about an hour the hotel staff came and took down the umbrellas because it started to become windy. Time to head in!

Sunday we got up and packed our things to move to the Mayan Palace at the Marina. Has it really been a week already?? Although it wasn’t raining it was overcast and muggy. Typically we get to our hotel, check in and have to wait several hours for a room. We usually take a trip over to Walmart to pick up things for snacks and breakfast. This time we decided to walk over to the Marina as we waited about an hour for our room.

The Marina was not real busy and as we noticed last year there were several places that are no longer open and have not been replaced. Of course there were the time share guys always willing to rope you in. We have learned to just keep walking. I wasn’t feeling well, and the weather was muggy so we just walked over, took our time then walked back to the hotel. On our way back we stopped for pizza at Taco’s and Beer/Pizza and Beer which is across from our hotel. Once back, our room was ready so we headed up to it. We were on the 3rd floor and had a room with a slight view of the ocean.

I decided to head to the pool and I noticed right away that no one was in it, even though the weather was warm. Last year the pool was not heated because there was a part that was on order. Sounded a little fishy then and now once again it was not heated. As I mentioned earlier, I look forward to swimming at nearly every place we go so it was very disappointing. There are two pools that are not connected so how could both of them be “broken”? We heard different stories through the week why they were not working. We included it in our review at the end of the week also. It did solve the issue that we have had in the past of not being able to find a seat by the pool. Either there were not as many people at the resort while we were there, or fewer people were choosing to go to the pool area. I never had a problem getting a place to sit any time I went to the pool.

Again our week was very laid back. Doug started having an issue with his computer which was quite stressful. We were able to find someone in the PV area that could speak English and was able to get it fixed. So 24 hours or so without Doug’s computer put a damper on his mood, but once he got it back it was working good and only cost about $70 US to fix.

We tried a new restaurant at the Marina called Las Mariachiles which was very good. They are the first restaurant when you enter the gate, next to Victor’s . And of course we went to Victor’s which is an all time favorite. It is a standing tradition and a busy place. Victor makes a point to greet everyone personally and there are always free tequila shots on the house. Victor will stop at your table and drink a shot with you. As we were waiting in line we watched him down at least 8 shots with different customers. How does he remain standing at the end of the night? It’s a fun place, the food is good and the location is good.

This year there was something new – the south gate to the Marina which is the one that we enter closes at 9pm which means leaving at the other end of the Marina and having to walk quite a bit further back to the hotel. A nice walk during the day but in the late evening when you’re tired, maybe full from dinner and had a few drinks, it’s a little too far. Apparently the reason they are closing the gate is the condo owners (one in particular) were complaining about the noise from the restaurants late into the evening. But 9pm, even on a weekday seems a little earlier. Even more so on Friday and Saturday nights.

Although we didn’t do any of the traditional tours we decided to go on a tour with a non-profit called Investours. Their basic concept is that they provide microfinance loans to small businesses in the greater PV area. Each business applies for the help and agrees to a repayment schedule. They are required to go through a finance class to give them some basic business information. It is a way to help people that are helping themselves. Investours is structured similar to KIVA,one of the original micro-financing non-profits. The “tour” cost about $50 US dollars for each of us and all the money goes to the businesses. The tour consisted of several of us visiting 3 businesses, having the opportunity to talk to the owners, listen to their plans and interact with them. Investours plans it so you will visit one person who is new to the process, another business that is being visited for the second time and a third business that is being visited for the third time. The money for the loan goes to the business that has had 3 visits. This gives the businesses exposure and an opportunity to share their story. We went to the town of Bucerias which is ½ hour north of PV. It is a small fishing village and although there are some resorts, it is a very economy poor area.

Our first stop was to see Dona who owns a little storefront shop that is situated with all the other little shops in town. She sells beautiful hand woven shirts that she buys from some family members that have a factory in another part of Mexico. Additionally, she sells painted pottery and other things that all the shops sell. She works at the store every day until about noon, then she takes the shirts and walks the beach and sells the shirts to tourists on the beach. Her niece runs the store while she is walking the beach. Our second stop was at a paper goods shop owned by Lupita. She makes piñatas and sells party supplies. She is a single mother who used to work as a waitress. When she had the opportunity to open the business she remodeled the front part of her house and opened it up as a storefront. This opportunity is giving her more time with her daughter as now she is working out of her home. Our 3rd and final stop was at the home of Javier, a fisherman. Javier fishes every night and makes ceviche in the morning and sells it every day. He has several regular customers, including restaurant owners. He is known in the area as the “Ceviche Man”. While he was sharing with us he brought out fresh shrimp and tuna Ceviche to try, as well as Lobster Bisque. We had a wonderful lunch and enjoyed hearing about his business. When he is not fishing he works construction, helping build houses.

After we arrived at the Marina, I did not go back to town until the last day. Usually we go downtown at least 3 times during that week. On Saturday morning we got up and rode the bus downtown to go to the street market in old town. There were lots of vendors selling everything from jewelry to pickles, scarves, bread, etc. After the market we went to Joe Jacks for lunch. We had great Fish and Chips. We love that place…. Great food and great service.

Sunday the 19th – time to go home. The time went too fast, as always. However, this time I felt rested and ready to go home. It was such a different trip without some of the traditional things that we usually do, but on the other hand it was restful. We will always enjoy PV – might be back next year too.

2011 -Las Vegas

On Friday, 10/29 we got up early and went to the airport to head to Vegas because Doug had a conference to attend. I wanted to go along for the rest and relaxation in the warm weather. We were both tired as we had gotten in the night before from a week on Maui where Kaycie and Brad had gotten married (see previous post).

We arrived in Vegas about 11:30am and made arrangements to get to our timeshare, the Hilton Grand Vacation Club at the Flamingo on the Strip. We always seem to be the last stop, no matter where we stay so we didn’t get there until almost 1pm. Fortunately, they allowed us to check in so once we got settled we headed over to the Flamingo to have lunch. We ate lunch at the Tropical Breeze Cafe. After lunch we walked around for a while, gambled (and lost!). It was hot outside (in the 70’s) and it was fun to walk around for a while. Later we went back to the room to rest then to Margaritaville for dinner. It is always a lot of fun with lots of entertainment, great music and food. Afterward we walked around and there were lots of people celebrating Halloween and wearing costumes. That was fun!

Sunday Doug needed to be over at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino to set up his table for the tradeshow portion of the conference he was attending. I decided to stay back at the condo and go to the pool. When I got to the pool it was so refreshing. There were about 10 people there with plenty of places to sit and read. I ordered a salad from the deli and spent a couple hours relaxing. Doug got back about 3pm and around 5:30 or so we rode the monorail back to the Tropicana. The registration and check-in started at 6pm so Doug needed to be at his table, and he invited me to go with him. It was a great opportunity to meet some of the people that he works with on a day to day basis. They were serving appetizers so we also got a bite to eat while we were there. At 7pm the registration was over and they had a cocktail social that I was not invited to. I had my Kindle with me so I just waited for Doug in the area by the meeting rooms.

Once he was done we headed down to the Strip and took a bus downtown to the Fremont Street Experience.There were a lot of people downtown, and even more in costumes than the night before. There was entertainment going on everywhere and lots of people just enjoying all the entertainment. We went to the Fremont Hotel and Casino for dinner at the Paradise Buffet. We stayed in the area until about 12:30am then took the last bus back to the Strip.

Monday Doug needed to be to the conference at 8:30am so he left long before I woke at 11am. Wow – it was nice to be able to sleep in. I can get used to this! I finally got up and went down to the pool. Once again it was so nice and refreshing. I had my Kindle and got some lunch again at the Deli so what more did I need? I stayed for about 3 hours then walked down to Harrah’s for a little while. The weather was beautiful and warm, but they were predicting that it was going to get cooler and windy in the next couple days. That evening we just went over to the Flamingo and ate dinner at The Burger Joint. Afterward we walked around some more. It was Halloween so there were still a lot of people dressed up. We got back to the condo by 11:30 or so.

Tuesday Doug once again got up early to go over to the Tropicana for the conference. I went down for my pool time - this is getting to be a habit! Around 3pm I walked over to the Fashion Show Mall. About 5:00pm or so Doug called and said that we had been invited to dinner by one of his vendors. We needed to meet a group of people at CraftSteak in the MGM at 6:30. I got ready to go then took the Monorail over to the MGM and went to meet Doug by the Lion Habitat. When I got there, there were two of the trainers in with the lions and several people watching. They seemed so gentle and were having fun with the trainers, playing with the balls and allowing the trainers to cuddle up to them. Doug finally met me and we walked over to the Bell Desk to ask them to hold his laptop bag for him while we were having dinner. We got to the restaurant a few minutes late so the others had already been seated. The waiter came over right away and got our drink orders and at the same time our host ordered several bottles of wine and appetizers. Although the dress was casual the place was elegant and the food was upper scale. Most things on the menu were ala carte and started in the $60’s for only the steak portion. He ordered oysters, scallops, beef tartare, and several other things to try.

When everyone had arrived (a total of 12 people) the waiter came back over and explained more about the menu. Besides the ala carte things there were several combination portions that included special cuts of beef, all the sides and appetizers along with the meal. The combinations ranged from $115 - $295 per person, depending on the quality of beef and whether it included “surf”. Our host decided that we all needed to experience the best cuts of meat, and we definitely would want “surf” so he ordered 12 of the $295 per person meals! Once the food started coming it included all kinds of sides, asparagus, potatoes, salads, oysters, shallots, mushrooms, risotto, etc, then lobster and several different cuts of beef. Some of it was so tender that you literally could cut it with your fork. After the main course they brought out several desserts including different flavors of gelato (prickly pear, mocha, to name a few), cheese cake, lemon pie, etc. It was by far the most expensive meal we have ever experienced. The host told us all it was $5700 after tip was included. For 12 people! He joked about raising Doug’s rates. Although it was a joke, I hope it doesn’t happen!

After dinner we headed back to our condo, stopping along the way to gamble a little which for me had been a total bust for most of the trip. Although Doug was doing better than me he wasn’t ahead. But we were having fun, and that’s what counted.

Wednesday Doug got up and went to the conference. It was my responsibility to check out and be ready in the afternoon for the shuttle to take us to the airport. I had forgotten to check what time check out was so when I awoke at 10:15 I looked at the information and realized that I had missed it! I should have been out at 10am!. I called and got a noon check out and started getting our things together. At noon I checked out and gave our things to the bell hop and headed out for lunch. I walked over to Serendipity 3 for lunch. I’ve been to the one in New York so I really wanted to try this one.I had a wonderful spinach salad, and I was able to resist the Frozen Hot Chocolate that is so good! By the time I got back to the timeshare I had about 30 minutes before Doug was due to show up from his conference. I just sat and read and relaxed until he showed up. He finally got there about 2:20 and our Shuttle got there at 2:30 so we went to the airport for our 4:30 flight.

Our flight stopped in Oakland but we didn’t need to change planes. We got to SeaTac about 10:30pm and when we went to get our bag it wasn’t there. We checked in with the Southwest Airlines office and after giving a description of our bag they discovered that it had inadvertently been pulled in Oakland. They assured us it would be there in the morning and gave us a $50 voucher toward future travel for our inconvenience. We took the shuttle over to where our car was parked and got home about 11:30pm. Fortunately I was off for the next few days so we were able to unwind after a whirlwind vacation in Maui and Vegas! Now we are done traveling until our annual Mexico trip in February. I’m already excited about it and can hardly wait! Retirement can’t come soon enough.