Heading Home & Final Thoughts - CABO Day 8

We came to Cabo to relax. It's been a rough few years for us.  Not that we are complaining, because we have so many blessings and are constantly reminded of the good things in life.

But Cabo is truly an oasis. It doesn't feel much like Mexico, and that is intentional. Most everyone speaks a bit of English, and the entire focus is getting Americans to part with their dollars and have fun. But like most of Latin America, we found the vast majority of the people to be honest and friendly. In fact, most places take the time to explain the credit card receipt. We even watched a jeweler who was truly disappointed when he had to change the price of a piece (upward) because he wants is customers to leave happy.

But the whole place is designed to cater to Americans and provide fun. And there are plenty of Americans and lots of fun things to do!

We found solace, and of course with terrible news from home, we found more pain. How do you truly grasp and cope with the death of a two month old grandchild you've never even held?

I like it here. It doesn't really fit the bill for adventuresome travel, but it is definitely a place we will come back to. There is a slow pace, and a focus on filling an empty tank.  And that in itself is a great thing to find - and a blessing to be able to afford.

So on this New Years Eve, we are facing delayed flights, below zero temperatures at home, and grouchy Americans heading back to their lives. But we wear simple smiles, we are rejuvenated, and we will persevere- undaunted.

Finding Nemo - CABO day 5

We got up at 5:30 and walked to the Marina with the working folks. We arrived 10 min early, and check in was a breeze. We have a small boat and there will just be the two of us with the Captain, Jorge.

We head out of the harbor with about 200 other boats (no joke). And it feels like a race. The boat Captains all waive to one another and joke in Spanish. The lines are quickly put into the water with large squid looking lures. for the next two hours we head west at a steady pace.

The day is coo, and mostly cloudy. But it is still pleasant in shorts and short sleeves. About and hour in, Marci catches a nice Mahi (Dorado). It would be the only fish of the day, and most boats get to shore with no catch.

When we got to the destination (end of the world?) we stopped and switched to bait. we were about 300 yards form shore and were fishing for rooster. I guess these are not good eating, but they fight like mad. I hooked one (and yup, they are a handful) and lost him as he got to the boat. He was a small one at about 2 feet.

The rolling waves were tough on us and we both threw up over the side. I felt immediately better, but Marci has been a bit sick and was pretty green. We switched back to lure fishing for the two hours home.

Here are some pics from the day!

Getting live bait

Marci catches a Dorado (Mahi)

Trying to get to the bait

Un dia en la playa - CABO day 4

This vacation is all about re-charging.  That means plenty of sun, ceveza, and the gently sound of Pacific surf.  We will toss is some adventure, but not nearly what we typically do.

Today, we are heading to the beach! We've enjoyed the Solamar property so much, we're gonna go to their private beach.

For breakfast today, I went to get one of our favorite Mexican specialties (fresh fruit juice). I had pineapple and milk and Marci had pineapple, mango, guava and yogurt.  All for $6.

"liquid juice stand"

Fresh fruit to be juiced!

Ok, so we tried to go to the beach, but A WHOLE lot of it was washed away in the hurricane!  So we went to the Infinity Pool instead.  The nachos an beer cost more - but what the heck"

Sunset - pirate ship in Pacific

We stayed until sunset and walked back to our hotel.  We start fishing at 06:30, so short night!

Heartbreaking news from home - CABO day 6

Last night we got word that Kaiden, our first grandchild, died in his mother's arms at the hospital. He was born a very sick boy, and had endured a great deal of surgery and medical treatment in his short two-month life.  But it is a tragic end, and obviously Jolene and Chris are devastated.

We are going to stay in our room for most of the day.

We will watch the Broncos at a sports bar and go to dinner at Romeo and Juliette's.

Jolene and baby Kaiden

A very Cabo Christmas - CABO day 3

MERRY CHRISTMAS!



The locals (although we've yet to meet anyone actually 'from' here) celebrate Christmas on December 24.  So we are a bit behind.  But unlike most of Mexico, Cabo revolves around tourism - and not even a high holiday will stop that engine.

We did not realize that a recent hurricane  (Odile Sept '14 ) was so devastating. But it rocked the economy and people's confidence in the great weather.  As a result, the tourism trade is working overtime to get things right again. It makes for good deals but aggressive peddlers.

Today, we are going to enjoy a couples massage and then a dinner sunset cruise after lounging on the beach.  The gift of relaxation!

Spa

Spa entrance

Dinner cruise on the Cabo Rey

Marina

Unlimited drinks included!

Dining room  

Lobster 

Sunset at the Arch

STUNNING views at lands end - Cabo, Day 2

The word Cabo means "land end".  We went to the very tIp of the peninsula, to a place called Solmar. It is amazing!  Right on a private beach...

We spent most of the day here and some in the Marina,  puts our hotel to shame, but dang, what a gorgeous place!

We sat by the pool, made reservations for massages at the SPA (for Christmas) and ate and drank some more.  Hope you like the views!

Resort overlook

Infinity pool

Sunset - Pacific side

Cabo at night

Flying south - CABO DAY 1

Travel day.  Of course, filled with anticipation, but also chaos.

It is very cold and windy in Denver.  I-70 andI -76 are both closed due to weather.  A great time to fly south to the heat of the Baja and the Sea of Cortez!

This was the view over Central Colorado as we headed towards Phoenix to change planes.

Snowy Colorado Christmas

We had a twenty minute lay-over in Phoenix, and then an almost empty plane to Mexico.  Marci and I were able to move to the exit row and shared a ton of room and great service on our two hour flight to Cabo.

Our arrival at Cabo airport was mostly uneventful.  I say mostly because we were "randomly chosen" for Customs screening and were VERY surprised when the agent pulled an "adult oriented" game from our luggage and asked Marci about it. This was when we realized that I'd grabbed someone else's identical bag.  I had to run back and exchange it with another worried (then embarrassed) American couple.  Ughhh...

The trip from the airport to Cabo is pretty long.  It is about 45km, but very heavy traffic.  We paid $17 per person for a very new and very clean shuttle.  I highly recommend this option.  As it is Dec 23rd, there are many booths selling Christmas lights.

We arrived at our Hotel (The Seven Crown) and after struggling to locate our reservation, we checked in to a small, clean, and LOUD room for $55 night.  It is close to the Marina and very safe, so cool enough!

We walked two blocks, found a nice (but very American style) brew pub and had a great dinner. I had fresh octopus (Cabo is known for the huge variety of fresh fish).  Marci had a hamburger.  Of course we both had beer, tequilla, and sangrita.  Yumm!

Sometimes simple is JUST what the doctor ordered

(I will add pics when I get home - not enough data service here)

Many of the greats have written extensively of man's need to reconnect with nature.  To return to his primal past.  Replete with crisp morning's dawn, the breezy caress of the unexplored forrest, the crackle of the greatest gift to early man - camp fire.

And yet, in the year 2014 Anno Domeni, I hear clear music from my Bluetooth speaker.  I eat delicious chili con carne from a can.  I sip imported beer after braving a searing shot of Mexican Tequilla.

I am serene in the knowledge that my -20* rated sleeping bag will keep me warm tonight; that a large highway is a few hundred yards from "camp" and that I could be sipping a piping hot gourmet coffee in ten minutes should I "venture to town".

And yet...

The stars seem to captivate me as no television, no matter how many inches or resolution, has ever done.  The wispy clouds soothe me as they scatter from peak to peak.  The pine strewn carpet envelops me to a degree no air freshener would dare attempt.

I am at peace.

Which is why we pack crates, and bags, and cans of food to sit on a dirt floor, near a bubbly brook, where summer has yet to conquer winter's last snow.

I will lay quietly tonight - sans rain flap - and listen for a heavenly chorus as the stars report for duty and begin their nightly traverse across the summer sky.

Alas...goodnight 21st Century.

Heading Home (NOLA day #7)

Bob asked us to head out a bit early (he has another guest coming) we we left the Jazz cottage at 10:30.  We took one last trip to the French Quarter.  So nice....

We had lunch, grabbed a famous Muffuletta sandwich from the Central Gocery, then took in some live jazz.

After lunch we did a quick tour of the famous cemeterys.

Although we headed to the airport from here, we wanted to make sure you saw some other fampouns New Orleans views:

Garden District

The other garden district

Left over Mardi Gras

And now, back to Denver.

Until next time, we remain, UNDAUNTED!

L-A-Z-Y Days (NOLA days #5-6)

Aftyer pushing so hard at the stgart of the week, we dcided to take a couple of days to just DO NOTHING!

We had one pair of clean skivvy's between us (hers, but I won the coin toss!).  So off to the local lauyndry.

There is something kinda cool about visiting a beat up place like this.  The soap dispenser was made in the thirty's. very run down, but still worked!

While we waited, we grabbed a cup of Joe at the Fair Grinds Coffe Shop.  Yum!

After that, we read books, sat in the sun, and lounged for two days!  Nice....

Slithery, creepy, crawly things (NOLA day #4)

Woke up early.  And I mean before the inebriated frat boys had evacuated Bourbon Street.  The blurry hands on the clock read 4:30.  Now, this is explainable:

1. We are old
2. We went to bed at 8:30
3. We are old

But because we are old (so responsible), we got dressed and hurried to see what the French Quarter had to offer in the early morning hours (oh, and we saw that the Cafe dumonde is open 24 hours and no lines in the early morning!).

We arrived and walked up to see the early morning river view and were not disappointed!

Taking pictures woke us up, so we headed for the classic New Orleans Breakfast, Bignet's at the Cafe Dumond.

The wait staff are all Vietnamese.  And as you can see, Marci did like the tasty breakfast delights!

We were pretty tired (because we are old) and went back to the cottage for a nap.  We had a swamp tour booked for noon, so we slept from 8 until 10.

We tried to eat at Willie Maes' (a hole-in-the wall chicken place) the day before, but it was already closed for the day (they only open for lunch).  We arrived at 10:30.  Through they were having plumbing problems (all orders had to be take out - fine with us) we both ordered chicken and enjoyed the time in the "joint".

 This is a true "bucket list" experience.  DO NOT MISS this.  Best chicken in the south, and a true experience...

The swamp tour, no matter how cheesy you think it might be, is a MUST!  We had a fantastic time and saw so much we'd never see otherwise.  Do yourself a favor and book it if you are in New Orleans!

After this nice little adventure, we decided to go for a drive.  Of course, for us that usually means a hundred miles or so!  We drove to the very tip of Louisiana where the Mississippi dumps into the Gulf.  Pretty cool.

There is a large oil facility there, many ships, a whole LOTTA families (we suspect oil rig workers because of the MAJOR league helicopters) and even Fort Jackson (where the Union Navy won the first battle of New Orleans to take the city for the north in the early days of the Civil War).

We meandered back and headed to the Crazy Lobster for dinner.  I bought a Groupon a few weeks ago anticipating this feast.  It didn't disappoint!  We sat on the patio and listened to live music, watched ships go by, and savored fresh gulf shrimp and snow crab (imported of course).  Delic!

Now it is off to blog and bed.

PS  Our hearts go out to the people of Ft. Hood Texas.  This has to stop.