So the date was set and we made our way back to Kentucky for a final service. It was a whirlwind of activity as the whole family was involved. My brother's house was the center of activity and my sister, neice and her daughter, Michael and I were housed there. The neice and daughter slept on the living room couhes, Paula was in the guest room, and Michael and I were in the basement - but we all fit in nicely. The day of the service we all had our assignments, too. Paula, Michael, and I collected the various food orders that had been placed. Ruth and another niece were delegated to speak at the service, and the local church's minister led the service.
It was also time to reacquaint each other with the other family members, so out to dinner we went each night. A wide variety of food - including a Mexican restaurant that was a bit disappointing - but the family didn't seem to realize it.
We also had a chance to visit with some Southern California exiles with whom we hadn't visited in years!
Then it was time to make our way back to Central Mexico again. There's nothing like flying First Class ....
However, we'll be visiting again in August for the total solar eclipse! This time we'll be sleeping in beds, as my niece has pointed out to her kids that Grampi is in his 80s and Uncle Marc is in his 70s, so they'll both need beds on which to sleep! Bless her!!!
LATER -
And we're now committed to the trip as we have purchased our airline tickets! We can actually fly from a more local airport (only an hour away) from San Miguel. So we'll be traipsing over western Kentucky (and maybe Tennessee) following the sun - or shade. Now to book a car for the Midwest and shuttle rides here in Mexico...both a pay-for-it-when-you-book-it so we have until August to do so.
And further bad news on the puppy front (not our dogs, but my sister's and brother-in-law's): Elphaba is now under doggie hospice care. Luckily, this organization of her last days has lessened some of the angst that has affected the sister and her husband recently.
Friday, April 21, 2017
Saturday, April 8, 2017
Two Weeks North of Puerto Vallarta
So we recently returned from two overlapping weeks at two different resorts in what is generally known at Nuevo Vallarte. North of the marina district in Puerto Vallarta, it's composed of newer resorts, some quite large.
Our first resort was part of the Vidarte Group and quite spiffy. A bit on the spartan side (one picture and one mirror in both the living room and the bedroom (no rugs), it was still quite nice. Good food, good drinks, and fine service around the huge pool. Service could have been better in the restaurant, but the bars were great!
Our second resort was the Vallarta Gardens in Las Cruz - it was psectacular! It's a private residence club so things are quite nice and units are owned by individuals as part of a fractional-ownership scheme. Large rooms, 'real' furniture (not couches that double as beds), interesting lights, and decor. We were placed in The Hamptons, in a one-bedroom again. But it was different. 'Real' furniture, real kitchen appliances, a huge bedroom, a bathroom with a spiffy shower as well as low-level lighting for nighttime use, wide hallways, two balconies, et cetera, et cetera. Oh, yes, and upholstered walls. Quite the unit.
One drawback was that the in-house restaurant was only open from 8AM to 6PM,so no real dinner hour. We found that we could manage on a late breakfast and a late lunch quite nicely. The food was well-prepared and tasty; service was attentive.
Of course there was a sales presentation, but it gave us a chance to see what the other homes looked like. All quite nice - though our Hampton unit was our favorite, I think. About five pools plus the beach which had a breakwater to lessen the effect of the waves from Banderas Bay.
Now to figure out how to return sooner that every 4th year.
We're home for about a week and then off to Kentucky for our sister-in-law's services. Family are being put up in various homes. I think their plan for us includes two different homes - and maybe a third. For a couple that plans things far in advance, this is anathema - we can tell you where we'll be a year-and-a-half from now, where we'll be dining, and what excursions we'll be enjoying that far in advance. There's even a cruise in the Mediterranean in 2019 on which we've been booked, so you can tell what the free-spirited room assignments are to us. I suppose it's good training or something.... Flexible is the word!
Our first resort was part of the Vidarte Group and quite spiffy. A bit on the spartan side (one picture and one mirror in both the living room and the bedroom (no rugs), it was still quite nice. Good food, good drinks, and fine service around the huge pool. Service could have been better in the restaurant, but the bars were great!
Our second resort was the Vallarta Gardens in Las Cruz - it was psectacular! It's a private residence club so things are quite nice and units are owned by individuals as part of a fractional-ownership scheme. Large rooms, 'real' furniture (not couches that double as beds), interesting lights, and decor. We were placed in The Hamptons, in a one-bedroom again. But it was different. 'Real' furniture, real kitchen appliances, a huge bedroom, a bathroom with a spiffy shower as well as low-level lighting for nighttime use, wide hallways, two balconies, et cetera, et cetera. Oh, yes, and upholstered walls. Quite the unit.
One drawback was that the in-house restaurant was only open from 8AM to 6PM,so no real dinner hour. We found that we could manage on a late breakfast and a late lunch quite nicely. The food was well-prepared and tasty; service was attentive.
Of course there was a sales presentation, but it gave us a chance to see what the other homes looked like. All quite nice - though our Hampton unit was our favorite, I think. About five pools plus the beach which had a breakwater to lessen the effect of the waves from Banderas Bay.
Now to figure out how to return sooner that every 4th year.
We're home for about a week and then off to Kentucky for our sister-in-law's services. Family are being put up in various homes. I think their plan for us includes two different homes - and maybe a third. For a couple that plans things far in advance, this is anathema - we can tell you where we'll be a year-and-a-half from now, where we'll be dining, and what excursions we'll be enjoying that far in advance. There's even a cruise in the Mediterranean in 2019 on which we've been booked, so you can tell what the free-spirited room assignments are to us. I suppose it's good training or something.... Flexible is the word!
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