Well, that was exciting...

We're home again after a bridf trip to Puerto Vallarta.  Brief on purpose, i.e., planned in sdvance when we bought the return airfare.

Our flight got us there late enough that we hurriedly unpacked and trotted off to dinner.  Although they had laid on a grand buffet, we ordered from the menu and enjoyed our selections greatly.  The margaritas were also tasty and the best that we had at the resort the whole time.  They were all good, but these were excellent!

The next morning we enjoyed the breakfast buffet and then, after walking around the resort, made our way to the upper pool for relaxation and more margaritas.  Two pools (the upper spilling over into the lower pool), lots of comfy lounges, umbrellas, and greenery (which they decided to trim later that morning).  The trimming - aided by helpers with machetes and ropes - managed to dislodge a pretty big iguana (whose tail was longer than his body....).

There were also chairs spaced throughout the banks of loungers (the second day I opted for the chairs as it was simpler to get up out of them than the loungers) and a scattering of umbrellas.  Unfortunately there was also people scattered around the area and some of them were loud and really should have spent their time elsewhere...get the picture?  They must have been wealthy as they spent 5 months a year absent from Montana - but they were cheap and delighted in regaling everyone around them with their method for saving money.  Cheap b*****ds!

Later that day we met up with friends from San Miguel who had moved to PV at a restaurant [Victor's] which was nearby, tasty, and relatively cheap.  Catching up with friends is was it's all about, eh?

On Thursday morning was rose early, packed, and found a taxi to the airport.  As we checked in for a 9 am flight, the agent knew that the plane would be late enough to guarantee us a free breakfast, so we got the voucher automatically and headed off to Wings to redeem it.  Good breakfast and then we went through security to find the gate.  And we waited and waited for our flight to be called.  No luck!

Eventually it was called and we were shuttled off to a section for local flights and a specific gate number (and time).  But the time passed and we still hadn't been called.  Then we noticed that the destination stated on the monitor had changed and we went searching for the new gate.  About this time we started talking with a fellow who was from PV - waiting for the same plane - who was going to connect in BJX with a flight onward.  So we commiserated about plane service  for a while.

Eventually we learned that our flight would take off out of Gate 1, so we moved down there.  Then the word came (no announcements were ever made) that our flight would be from Gate 4.  So we lined up and proceeded to the gate.  However, once Michael's boarding pass was torn, the agent said 'No, this isn't the flight to BJX, it's going to Mexico City' and handed both parts of his boarding pass back to him.

Eventually Gate 4 was the correct gate for our flight to BJX (six hours later) and 45 minutes after we took off we landed, reclaimed our luggage, and found our shuttle the rest of the way home.  Interjet has a long way to go as far as notifying passengers where to find their planes!  (Or perhaps the airport does?)

And so today, we unpacked our suitcases (we think we'll try taking a small suitcase to Cabo, too), went to breakfast with friends, picked up the sofa covers we'd had cleaned while out of town, and now we just need to pick up the mail that is waiting for us.

Oh, and reply to some friends who are planing to visit in December....

Off to Puerto Vallarta...

...for a few days.  It will be nice to visit PV when it's not steaming hot for a change.  The humidity, combined with the heat, does do me in, a bit.  However, it's winter in San Miguel and while the sun is still hot, there's a chilly wind that blows.  Walking down our street, the sun is nice and hot - did we need to wear our long-sleeved shirts?  Then, when we turn the corner to walk into town, the blast of cold air tells us, yes, that was the thing to do!

So, PV is running mid-80s this week - a good time to spend a few days there.  Now if our airline wouldn't have changed our flight time from mid-afternoon to early evening it would have afforded us a bit more time in that fair city it's only an hour-long flight).  Guess there won't be any sun bathing time today by the time we get to the resort.

And there won't be any really tasty muffins such as we were served the last time we flew TAR airlines from Queretero first thing in the morning.  But we're flying out of León today much later in the day - pity!  [Wonder if we have checked in online yet? Guess I could try to do so and find out if it's already been done....or just wait for Michael to wake up and ask him if he took care of it!]

And I guess there are no great plans for our time in PV: lie on the beach, lie around the pool, eat/drink, walk into town (maybe), shop at Liverpool for new khakis (the Liverpool in Cabo San Lucas doesn't "do" clothing and the one in San Miguel - up the hill - is up the hill which requires using a bus that's usually a bit on the worn side of it's life.)

The dogs have been shipped off to Creature Comforts for nearly a week as of yesterday.  The house is quite quiet for a change.  They'll enjoy their time there - a large separate area for the two of them, two walks a day through the campo (yes, even Miyake enjoys it when she deigns to participate in a walk), sent along their usual foods so no surprises there.  And they'll be home on Friday (we return sometime on Thursday).

And now it's time for me to crawl back in bed for a couple more hours of sleep....

Cruising with Friends

The last time we cruised with this group, it was a larger group.  We missed some of those missing this time; others not so much.

This time our packing had to include our costumes for Hallowe'en!  The group included one Wendy, one Smee, one hungry crocodile (with tick-tocking clock) and a bunch of the lost boys dressed in disguise as animals.  I was the crocodile and Michael was a fox.  Although most of us didn't make it back to the Lounge for judging (didn't even check our telephone in the cabin until the next morning), our group came in second for Groups!  Bravo to all those who braved costumes for drinks and dinner!  But never again!

We've decided that we're done with Tortola after this trip.  Saw very little of it as we transferred to St John's for a tour of that island.  Which is beautiful!!!  And the Rockefeller property is now a private hotel - right on the ocean.  The property that was formerly a sugar plantation is great, too.  Had a really interesting guide on the tour, even if he was a little too much into healthcare and the use of natural plants.

WDW was ideal.  Our room at the Boardwalk was not the 'upper floor' that we had requested, but nicely furnished if a bit of a trek through corridors.  It was close to boat transportation to the backdoor of EPCOT, though - which we used a lot.  Got our commemorative tumblers, saw the new version of Soarin', used the various transportation options to visit Animal Kingdom/Lodge where we caught up with friends with whom we visited on last year's trip, the Party of the Senses (wonderful food and matching wines), all the little booths around 'the World', and even enjoyed the new ride in Norway - Frozen, of course.

The last morning found us waiting for our bus to the airport and thence onward to Mexico City and San Miguel de Allende.  Thank goodness AeroMexico still believes in feeding us - for free - on the nonstop trip home.

When we finally woke up, the next day found us unpacking, washing, and waiting for the doglets to come home - which they eventually did! Now it's a few weeks at home and then it's off to Puerto Vallarta for a few days after Thanksgiving.

Disney Voyage No. 20

Well, here it is, 11:35 pm and we're waiting to be picked up by the midnight shuttle that will take us to Mexico city airport for our 6 am flight to Florida! 

Yes, we're off on another trip - this time a one-week voyage with friends from faceBook on the Disney Fantasy followed by several days at Walt Disney World for the Food and Wine festival.  We're even going to make it to the last of the Party of the Senses gala (got seats this time, too, so we don't have to keep moseying around between food and wine stations).

We're staying at the Boardwalk Resort, so we can walk to EPCOT and into the Party of the Senses building.  During our time at WDW we'll also be dining with my former boss and her husband from California.  Why not meet up at WDW?!?  It's between Mexico and Southern California, no?

Life is good!

Meanwhile, Between Trips...

Well, we're back from our first vacation (not counting the trip to the Santa Fe Opera).  We've washed the clothes, unpacked, and begun gathering things for the next cruise!

The Opera was great, as usual.  The only problem was when we received a note on the cell phone in the middle of the last night that told us our flight had been cancelled.  Turns out a weather system in DFW had prevented flights going to ABQ, so there were no planes to load us onto for the return trip to DFW.  And the resort at which we were staying couldn't accommodate us for an extra night because they were booked up!

So we drove down to ABQ as originally planned, called the Hilton Place near the airport (with the assistance of Travelers' Aid) and got situated in a top-floor corner unit with huge TVs, et cetera.  The following morning we took their shuttle to the airport and flew home.

Our Panama Canal Cruise was great fun.  The kids stayed at the new 'ranch' and seemed to do well until it was time to come home, when they both got tangled in the brush in the campo....  Baths and brushing were called for upon their return.  But they were happy, rested, and had eaten well while there.

The flights were unexciting, other than the last minute cancellation we mentioned above.  Shopping in Santa Fe was fun (didn't buy much - turned down that chance of rejuvenation priced at $4000! for both of us), and ate at several of our favorite restaurants.  Used the free shuttle from the resort several times to trek out (and back) to said restaurants.  I had started some new meds and drank a little too much one night....

Didn't buy a timeshare that we were thinking of in Santa Fe!!!  Thank goodness - but it would haave been neat to talk about 'our place in Santa Fe'.

In all, a nice trip.  Managed to brunch and dine with our friends who live there.  Shopped at stores that aren't available in Mexico.  That sort of thing.

And now we're gearing up for a shorter cruise with time at WDW (the last one was 14 days on the ship plus time at Universal Studios [finally got to see Harry Potter Land] and Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT at WDW).  This cruise is only a week plus the park time.  Want me to show you my wand?

Stay tuned!

Balancing Travel and Household Needs

So, as we prepare for a Fall full of travel, things are going south around the house.

Travel Plans - We leave in early August for a week in Santa Fe for 4 operas (the fifth opera was one we're seen several times and it didn't seem to be necessary in our lives).  We've also opted for a prepared dinner each night rather than the buffet with knowledgeable talk about that night's opera.

Later in August trailing into mid-September we'll be on the Disney Wonder sailing through the Panama Canal from San Diego to Florida, followed by several days at Universal City for a Harry Potter fest - at long last.

Then in late October it's a cruise on the Disney Fantasy with friends from a previous cruise followed by time at Walt Disney World for Food and Wine.  We'll find out next Thursday whether we get the part of the F/W festival that we'd like to have.

Followed by several days in November in Puerto Vallarta at a resort that is new to us.

And in January 2017 we'll be off to Cabo for a family gathering of siblings in the last year before our ownership kicks in.

Then nothing til September when it's a flight to Vancouver for a cruise to Hawai'i then time at Disney's Aulani.

Phwew! 

PROBLEMS AROUND THE HOUSE - So, of course, things are breaking around the house!    The usual Pet B 'n' B we used during travel will be closed for the first trip in August, so we're checking out another spot next week.  Larger and more organized, we're not sure how the kids will take to it (or the place will take to our kids) but we'll find out next Friday when we all go for a visit.  Since we rather cater to their likes/dislikes for feeding, we're weaning them on to a new combination of foods that will have a greater chance of being followed at the new place. (And simplify life for us if they like it!)

Then the trusty coffee grinder decided it was tired and has to be coaxed into action.  We buy our coffee beans in good-sized bags at Costco and grind it each morning so it's fresh!  Reading about the Breville grinder we use, people are recommending regular cleaning.  Now, this is something that we've never done in the 6 years we've had it.  There was never any reason to do so.  We use a dark roast coffee bean and things have just been fine all this time.  Recently we tried a different bean - Rwandan - that is darker still and rather oily - read 'sticky'.  Though that may be the problem, it's really good coffee and I'd hate to abandon it.  And since we've pre-mixed the two beans for grinding, it may be a while before we can switch back to a single (non-Rwandan) bean.

I've tried to clean the innards of the grinder, but removing the burr grinding part seems to be problematic.  There is a newer Breville model that advertises 'easily removable burrs for cleaning', but it's rather pricey, so we're considering less expensive models...and in the meanwhile, we try to coax the present grinder into action.  The last time at Costco, we ground the bag of Rwandan coffee before we took it home, so there's always that to hold us.

And lastly (to date) we've noticed that our front-loading Bosch washer (which has had minor problems since we moved it to Mexico with us) has decided to fill with water - even though turned 'off' - between uses.  The first time (yesterday) it was only slightly filled; this morning it was half-full and went everywhere when Michael opened the door! So it will finally be time to replace it with a agitator-less tub model by Daewoo, I think.  And we can save a couple hundred pesos by opting for a silver or white model instead of the fire-engine red one! (Probably not worth the cost for a paint job - sigh!)

You'd think everything could just wait until next year before going 'boink'!  It will make affording all this and the travel a little more challenging, but we have non-refundable deposits everywhere so we'll be going....  At least we can turn off the water supply to the washer to prevent unwanted tub-filling until there's a sale on the washer!  Hope it's not while we're gone somewhere....

Oh, Boy, Rain!

What started out as a gentle rain has suddenly turned vicious!  That gentle sprinkle quickly worsened, the lightening and thunder turned into a constantly rolling thunder - even when the lightening wasn't obvious.  Thunder has been roiling and rolling for the last 10 - 15 minutes while the rain has intensified and lessened then intensified again, but not given up!

Luckily, Michael went up to the third floor and placed towels at the base of all the windows and doors.   Guess we should have had the windows in the cupola grouted when we had the chance!

And now Michael is reporting hail is coming down.

We did have a blackout a few minutes ago with the resulting bings, bangs, and ringing when the power turned back on.  Since the blackout affects the modem and router, anything connected to the system sounds off when the power is restored.

Luckily, we had prepared a tuna noodle casserole for dinner tonight, and we're taking advantage of the passing storm to let it cool off a bit!

Later

Well, the predicted rain has reached us!  What started out as a gentle rain - straight down, no wind - has become more forceful.  Of course, it arrived just as we were feeding the dogs their evening meal, so they were sort of freaked out!  Storms do that to them.

At least there's still no wind, so we don't have to charge up the stairway to the roof top to put towels around the windows and door.  I suppose we should be thankful for  small favors.

What started out as rolling thunder has become more strident thunder - crashing, even.  But the rain has remained the same - perhaps even lessening a bit.

Michael has moved the van out from under the balcony overhang so that there's a chance of it being completely washed by the rainfall.

Miyake is sleeping beneath Michael's work table; Fiyero has just moved over to my side - looking worried.  Somehow I don't think telling him that 'everything is okay' convinces him that that is so!

Hopefully it will stop raining before it is time to go to bed, or it may be futile to convince them to follow us upstairs....downstairs is safer.

Time for another drink!

Excitement?

Looking at another blogger's post - showing a picture of the shiner he received while playing rugby - I thought, Gee, what if we lived an exciting life?

Instead, I'm reporting that it rained last night!  Or even that just wait until we start traveling again (August) when things will be happening, though I may not remember to post about it until it's all a blur...and I sum it up in a few sentences.

In the meanwhile, I can report that according to the weather map on the BBC, we're to have rain 'sometime' today.

And we're walking into downtown to pick up a package containing a new crocodile hat, the first one having been mangled before we got it.  The hat is a necessity because we're (a group sailing together on the Disney Cruise Line) are going to dinner one night in costume as the Lost Boys from Peter Pan.  Now you may not remember a boy dressed as a crocodile, but there was a certain crocodile who lusted after the rest of Captain Hook after tasting his hand - and who swallowed a ticking clock.  I've got the clock to hang around my neck (its ticks nicely) while wearing my crocodile suit and needed the hat to finish off the costume.  The suit is a 'onesiee' style (think jammies).

Michael, on the other hand, is wearing a more traditional lost boys costume which involves a fox hat... Disney not allowing face-covering costumes on board ship.  His costume is of mascot quality, but we had to substitute the hat for the head piece (see above reason).

Michael has just announced that the shower is available, so that's all for now, folks!

Rain Update

[Guess we don't have the ability to save a partial post as a draft for further notations.  Day-before-yesterday's draft is gone!]

So I was talking about the fact that we've had rain - and thunder and lightning - for several recent nights.  Monday night was only a distant thunder and lightning show.  Last night, een though rain was predicted, was a big zero.  We're hoping that tonight's predicted rainfall comes through.  The rain at night is 1) while we're asleep, and 2) almost not noticeable, and 3) really cools things down.  Tho' the dogs are quite aware of it and either hide next to the bed or hop up on the bed and snuggle closely.

I see that rain is predicted most days for the next 14 days.  However, since we don't have an airport in town - so no 'official' weather reporting - it's mostly a guess-and-by-golly affair.  I suppose that some of that predicted rain is 'nearby' and that's what counts when your forecast site is from Britain!

We do have some local amateur weather stations that will tell you what happened, but must rely on the British site for forecasts.

In other news, I have a molar that's killing me!  If I poke around in my mouth with a finger to try and identify which tooth is the problem, it's sometimes difficult to locate the offending tooth.  It would be nice to say it's X tooth, ya know?  But try eating something and you'd think it was my entire mouth!  Guess I'll have to break down and visit a dentist tomorrow.  Figuring it will probably take a root canal to sort things out, I've done some research and there's a well-recommended one that is walkable from our house.  Guess I'll walk down there tomorrow morning to see what's what. 

(You may know that I hate going to the doctor.  That was what was so nice about belonging to Kaiser when we lived in Los Angeles.  Just walk in and someone will take care of you!) 

It would be nice if I could be seen tomorrow, but we'll see how that turns out.  The doctor splits his time between here and Celaya; not sure what his schedule is.  Luckily, Michael has a few Ketorolaco pills left from his implant work; I've taken one and things are feeling pretty good!  Of course, the Margarita may be helping that along....

Fans, Fans, Everywhere

Seems to be el hot-o time here in San Miguel.  The days may start off cool, but it quickly warms up and ourhouses remain hot through the evening.

So it's fans in the dining room, fans in the bedrooms, and a fan in the office.  Just moved the bedroom fan so it stirs   up the air without blowing directly on us - and I slept until 4 am this morning.  Otherwise I would be up several times during the night for more water....

Walks downtown are early in the morning - before things heat up - with return trips to our little fraccionamiento by bus. And if we don't exit the bus at the Mega stop, the bus will let us off at our cross-street!


In somewhat-related news (related because I'm still spending a lot of time going over our cruise plans for the next three years - did you hear that Disney came out with Summer 2017 today?).  Also Disney has seen fit to assign us a cabin for our Fantasy voyage in October.  This seems to be earlier than usual - the paid-in-full date isn't until 7/24/16 - but it's on their website - Cabin 6690 - so it must be right.   It's one of the cabins across the stern on Deck 6 with an extra deep verandah.  About as far astern on the ship as we can go without getting our feet wet!  It's notated as a 06B in this picture, but it's really a 05E.  And this is the Disney Dream, but it's identical to the Disney Fantasy.

Farewell, Tannat

Well, there will be no more cooking classes in La Lejona.  Last Friday morning was the last serving at our little restaurant down the street in La Lejona.

After an altercation with someone on the 'Improvements to La Lejona' committee, the person who had issues with Pedro (the husband of the restaurant duo) made a complaint to the authorities.  This resulted in an inspection, and - as the home owner didn't want to go through the steps to commercialize the building - the restaurant needed to close.

So we were told after our little group (only 6 were present last Friday) met that they were closing that day.

We're all terribly sad about it.  It wasn't exactly Mexican (the wife/cook was from Columbia) but the food was sooo tasty!

We made arrangements to meet at another location nearby this coming Friday - Bove, located in a commercial strip mall nearby - which won't be as wonderful (and reasonably priced) as Tannat, but will suffice until we find another place to gather.  And it may turn out to be fine.  There's a new restaurant in the strip mall location - Carlos' Beans  - that may be open for breakfast once they finally finish work on the location.  The problem is that breakfast - in Mexico - is not at 9:00 or 9:30, but closer to eleven or twelve.  So choices are limited since we are all expats who still want breakfast earlier!

Unfortunately, this arrangement was made - tastelessly - in the presence of the owner and his wife - but, oh, well.  It couldn't be helped.  Farewell, Tannat, it was great while it lasted.  Best wishes in your future endeavors.

Pizza in a Pan

There's a little restaurant, serving breakfast and lunch in a house nearby.   The couple had opened a restaurant on the border of Centro, but like many newer restaurants in town it had not remained viable.  So they converted the ground floor of their home in our fraccionamento to a restaurant and live on the second floor.

Some friends of ours - also residents of our area - had decided that they liked the food and wanted to help the in-house restaurant prosper, so rounded up some more people and set a once-weekly time for us to gather (Friday mornings at 9:30).

And it seems to be doing well.  The food is Uraguayan/Mexican - quite tasty, imaginative pairings, and native dishes woven into a changing menu.  We all always find something that we really like on the menu.  One member of our group lives across the street from the restaurant [Tannat] and visits more often than once a week, as do some of the others.

So a 'How to Make Pizza in a Pan' (no oven required) was set up and five of us signed up for the cooking class.  Although only four showed up for the class, we had a great time and there was more pizza to taste for the four of us!

We learned the proportions, techniques, and timing for making the dough, types of accoutrements for topping the pizzas, and of course we got to sample each one.

One member of the group brought a bottle of wine and Michael and I brought a bottle of anejo tequila (Hornitas Black Barrel).  Since the husband of the couple had been a bartender at one time, he turned out margaritas for the group about five times - or was it six?  Both the margaritas and pizzas were tasty and promptly polished off!

One of the group members took notes and will be emailing the directions for the dough and some of the topping combinations soon - I hope!  After several margaritas it may be tricky to recall some of those combinations.

Now to think of another subject for a cooking class...maybe desserts, or tarts, or flans....

A bit of rain

After a long wedding weekend in hot, humid Puerto Vallarta - lounging on the beach between appearances - we returned home to decent weather for March.  Cooler, non-humid weather.

Cold, wet, windy weather.  Winter weather.  Even rain with hail mixed into it last night.

Weather that the dogs dislike.  Weather (especially when there's thunder and lightning) that makes the dogs a bit crazed, huddling up on the bed and (for Fiyero) trying to lick the skin off of our face/neck/whatever he can reach  Miyake is satisfied shaking. No amount of comforting helps until the rain/thunder/ and especially hail lets up.

Reminds me of our first January in San Miguel when it rained for days, flooding parts of the lower town.  We were happy to be up on a hill at that point.  A pain to walk back up the hill every day upon returning home from downtown, but comforting when the creek overran its banks!

We remember walking through that part of town, looking for a new place to live when our agreement expired that wasn't up on top of a hill and comparing the potential houses' locations with the water level marks that were left on buildings.

Now to find some insulating strips to quiet the metal-framed doors and windows when the winds are blowing....

LATER -  It's raining again, but at least there's no wind this time.  Bedroom drapes are closed, perhaps we'll all get to sleep a bit earlier.

EVEN LATER - At 3 AM Miyake decided that she needed to go out  And it's stopped raining altogether!

Thursday -  Okay, this is weird.  It seems to be snowing.  A sort of slushy snow that puddles, but it's snow!  Third time in recent memory that it's happened here: 1978, 2009, and now this year  Out in the campo they received more snow/snow; we put up with the melty stuff.  And presently (1 PM) the skies are clear, the wind is gone, and the sun is out - but it's still chilly!

Puerto Vallarte Wedding

We seldom need an excuse to go to Puerto Vallarta.  This last weekend was no different. 

Well, we were invited to a wedding...as if we needed an excuse!

The long weekend was reason enough to drag our butts to the sandy beaches of PV.  Aside from the first day we managed to find our way to the beach each day.  There were the usual restaurants facing the beach and we tried out Mi Pueblito ( 3 times) and La Palapa and another (don't remember it's name) on the other days.  We also met up with the happy couple and friends at Apache (or The Blind Donkey) for dinner the last night in town.

The new beach spot was Sapphire Ocean Club.  Two hundred pesos each got us a lounger, umbrella, iced water, and fruity water for the day.  They also had a terrific restaurant which we used on two days.  There was a small suite hotel attached to it - which we'll probably not be able to afford on future trips, either.  Located between the old Green Chairs location (being re-done when La Palapa took over the locatoin) and the Blue Chairs of Blue Chairs fame.

The highlight, of course, was teh wedding, held in a wonderful smallish restaurant perched on a hillside that served wonderful food as well of three types of margaritas (watermelon, 'Green', and regular) as well as straight tequilla (almond flavored as well as a Reposado).  Lovely wedding service, great food and drink service, and wonderful food as well as friendly folks as fellow guests.

Beginning at 7:00 pm, we (and many guests) called it a night before the second part of the party started.

The menu was dated 2017 and it took a while for the guests around us to determine whether it was 2016 or 2017.  Guess we'd had too many margaritas by the time someone noticed the misprint.

Eventually we made our way to the airport and caught our return flight to Queretero on TAR airlines, where we had the same cabin attendant who recognized us from our earlier flight to PV. 

While we may upgrade ourselves a step or two on our next trip to PV, (not to the level of the Sapphire Ocean Club - it was several steps higher) our hotel was basic but well maintained with friendly staff and squeaky clean.

And the shuttle home used the cuota, not the libramentos that our tip to the airport used.  Guess there was a development in roads that were available as the result of a horrific accident on the day we returned from  Cabo that required some time to correct. 

CABO Report - and the usual travel news

We're happy to report that Cabo is still there - and improved.  As a result of the hurricane, the resort is being restored and some extra touches are happening, too!

Unfortunately, the huge french-door refrigerator is not popular with my brother and wife - they both can't look in the fridge at the same time.  Nor is the extended palapa roof over the terrace, nor the reworked pool and hot tub up there on the third floor.  We thought they were all super (especially the fridge which replaced a standard unit which was a bit on the small size).   But there you go!  Different strokes for different folks.

We did find a new (to us) restaurant - La Dolce: an Italian place that serves - among other things - a pizza topped with Gorganzola cheese, walnuts, porcini, and Parmesan cheese.  Yummy!  It was packed with people who give Americans a bad name, but the food was really good!

Next year we'll be back for weeks 2 and 3 with my brother and sister-in-law.  Hope Paula and Tim can make it, too.  They had returned to Northern California when the scheduling plans were settled.  Now we'll see if it gets switched around before then...there's a whole year for changes to take place.

A bit earlier than usual, but we'll need some time at home before we go off  on our February cruise to Ocho Rios and the southern Caribbean on a Carnival ship - gasp!  Yes, we're trying out other cruise lines besides Disney, but we're finding (from the photos on their websites) that Disney wins cabins hands down!  The most basic Disney cabin is equal to those on other lines that are at the top of each range.  But when other lines go places that Disney doesn't go, what choice have you?  And after 20 Disney cruises, there's not a lot left except the eastern Mediterranean!  One day...maybe!

In the meanwhile, we're planning the Carnival cruise to Ocho Rios in 2017 [who are we kidding; it's already planned, excursions chosen, and paid-in-full in another month, et cetera]; Disney cruises #19 & 20 (the Eastbound Panama Canal + Universal City (yeah!  Harry Potter-land at last) and then the Eastern Caribbean with Facebook friends +  Disney's Food and Wine festival in EPCOT.  Both are in 2016; okay, we went a little crazy there for a while.  Then it's Hawai'i in 2017on Carnival again from British Columbia to the islands where we disembark after visiting them on the ship and hope to spend some time at Disney's resort, Aulani (if we're lucky; otherwise a nearby resort).  Then there's a Princess land-and-sea cruise to Alaska in 2019 - a bit more expensive than usual, so we need the additional time to save up our pennies....

Do we do nothing but travel and cruise - only if we're lucky!

In other news, we returned home to find that the van's right front tire was flatter than a poorly made biscuit.  Figuring that we'd better replace at least 2 tires, it became all 4 tires when we looked more closely at the back set.  After six years of use, including our move to Mexico, a round trip to Kentucky, and 6 years of travel on cobblestones, they were a bit worse for wear.  And tire prices were quite reasonable, we thought; having some funds left over after Cabo was a good thing!  So we now have a new set of Bridgestones.  And if we can keep Fiyero from peeing on the tires, perhaps another 6 years?  The van is 10 years old this year; we hope to keep it going longer (we don't drive a lot)!

And we got our twice-yearly emission test done, too. The testing place was right next to the tire store so it seemed a natural. to simply drive out of one spot and into the next.

Off to Puerto Vallarta this weekend for our friend's Victor's wedding.  Just an extended weekend, but there's the wedding, some beach time and then back to the drudgery of living in San Miguel!

Cabo, Cabo San Lucas, Where all we do is sit on our....

Yes, we're off to Cabo San Lucas for two weeks where we will be sitting on our tukases a lot!  [Did you figure out the rhyme?]  Mostly on the beach under a palapa, being plied with drinks.  My brother, Chuck, and his wife, Jane, will be leaving for a week-long trip home (an international flight) tomorrow at 1:30 pm in Terminal Two;  we arrive (on a domestic flight) at 4:30 pm in Terminal One, so we miss each other.  Then after the weekend my sister and her husband arrive.  Then Chuck and Jane return the next Thursday.  Then Paula and Tim leave. And lastly, Michael and I leave on the next Thursday.  Where's that chart I prepared?

So eventually we'll all be together - for a few days at least - for our 'Boyer kids' reunion.  The best part is that we still like each other.

The reason for all this is that during the time that Chuck and Jane are at Club Cascadas, my birthday happens.  We're usually there over the birthday event and celebrate with a dinner out.  There was still a dinner out on my actual birthday this year - and at our favorite restaurant - but we were here in San Miguel de Allende, eating at La Sirena Gorda (The Fat Mermaid, home of really great ginger margaritas).  I hear those present in Cabo had a great time! [We did too!]

Next year we've got a cruise in the middle of February that goes to Firefly (Noel Coward's home in Jamaica), so we'll be back on schedule for the last week in January.  Better get my dibs in for our room now!

Have a magical day...now, get out!

Having just returned from a week at Walt Disney World the week before Christmas, I thought I'd jot a few things down.

It was a glorious week.  Michael had arranged a one-bedroom unit in The Paddock - a section of Sarasota Springs Resort - that was near the area we were in last year (The Springs).  Our 'home' faced a lake with a walkway across the lake.  Our balcony (which went unused, alas) faced the lake with fountains in it.  If we had been on the other side of the building, we would have had a view of the Reedy Creek Fire Department, one of whose EMTs, Jason, had saved my life several years ago while at WDW in the Old Key West Resort by attending to my miserable back and putting us in touch with a doctor who would come out to the resort and prescribe 'wondrous' meds!  I did manage to take a photo of the RCFD for old times sake....

But so much for fond memories.

I had intended this report to cover our day-by-day activities, but - ya know - time has passed and it's all a blur!

I do remember visiting Disney Springs a few times (we used the boats several times; nothing like alternative modes of transportation) including twice at Raglan Road.  Both times we showed up early and they courteously  accommodated us.  Great fun!

Disney Springs is quite large at present - and it continues to grow!  One needs the endurance of a track horse to make it from end-to-end.  We did it twice; that was enough!  I was drooping by the end of the circuit.  The pizza place at the old end (Wolfgang Puck's) was good, though a bit guess-and-by-golly as to how it worked.  We decided to skip The Earl of Sandwich on the first night based on the waiting line.

The Boathouse was great, as it had been before.  A little bit on the pricey side, but really good!  We love this place. 

We also met up with faceBook friends at Old Key West's Olivia's for dinner and a how-do-you-do.  Great fun and good food.

After a week, we were a bit spent and happily took our flight home - then the 4-hour drive home.