Monday February 27, 2012

We were up early enough to be ready and checked out at 9:30. It's always sad to be leaving Cabo. Although my Blogs don't convey lot of excitement, we really enjoyed ourselves in this beautiful place. We are really blessed to have the means and faculties to enjoy so much of God's wonderful creation.

We had breakfast at Tomatoes overlooking the ocean with quite a bit of whale activity.

Our shuttle to the airport was at 11:20. I had talked to one of the bell men who moved us a couple of weeks ago. He had been a policeman in Tiajuana. He told me that they were shot at every day and they endured a lot of temptation from drug cartels, some succumbed, all for $2900 Mexican Pesos every two weeks. That is about $500 USD per month. As a bell man he makes $250 to $450 USD a week.

We went through airport security pretty quickly and boarded our flight at about 1:30. Smooth flight to San Diego.

Gerri's sister Montyne picked us up at the airport. It was raining when we landed and rained heavily on the way to Escondido, which also included some hail. It took over an hour to get to the Lawrence Welk Resort. Gerri's mom Neva is there this week. Gerri will stay and drive home with her mom on Sunday. I plan to drive home on Thursday, March 1. Montyne will be with them and her husband John will be there on Friday.

On the way from San Diego to Escondido I called my mother to wish her a happy birthday, 91^st. She stayed with Curt and Dana while we were on this trip. They are taking her to the Olive Garden and having cake for her birthday.

We had soup and cornbread for supper plus fresh strawberries and angel food cake, a great meal for a cold rainy day.

Frank & Gerri

Tim & Beth

Tuesday February 21, 2012

Gerri's back got worse and we called a doctor.  After examining her he gave her a shot and instructions to rest and take a hot bath in the evening.  He also left a prescription in case some pain lingered on.

I went to the pool in time for Loteria.  To get in the shade I had to sit at one of the tables by the activity center.  No straining to hear the calls from there.  I was pretty near a winner, the lady next to me won a game.

Gerri finished of the tuna salad I had made for supper last night.  I went to the owner's welcome party and had Tacos al Pastor. Later I microwaved some popcorn we had brought from home.

View from our room

There is a bell in the belfry....Gerri had to tell me!

Wednesday February 22, 2012

Gerri still had some pain this morning so I had the front desk call in the prescription and had it delivered.

Gerri did go to the pool.  It has gotten more crowded this week, lounges were scarce.  No winners at Loteria.  We split a Taco Salad for lunch.

For supper we had ham and eggs.  As with most nights we finished up the day with reading and computer time.  We are still getting time, but my computer can only pickup the network if I sit on the bed.  It won't come in at the breakfast bar or in the living room.

Sunset

Thursday February 23, 2012

Our time is winding down. Only four more days.  We may vary our routine by going to the pool area, reading and then playing Loteria.  No winners.

The wind was blowing, so Gerri went back to our room,  I stayed at the pool and read until about 5.

I made tuna salad again and we had that for supper.

Los Arcos

Friday February 24, 2012

Another ditto day, including no winners at Loteria.

Tonight was our last supper in the room.  We fried a ham steak and had couscous with pico de gallo.  We have done well with our shopping.  Everything has been used except the coffee and bottled water.  We will take the coffee home with us.

Toes to Ocean

Saturday February 25, 2012

Ditto pool area and Loteria.  I did place a call to Bob Rodreick in Kettle Falls, WA to wish him a happy birthday.  He was busy clearing 7” of snow off his drive way before the nights freeze.

Since our time in Mexico is winding down we decided try a new restaurant, well new to us.  We took the hotel shuttle downtown and ate dinner at La Dolce.  Italian food, very good and reasonably priced.

We took a taxi back to the Hacienda Del Mar.

After some reading and computer time we called it a night.

BIG YACHT

Sunday February 26, 2012

Our last day in Mexico, tomorrow it will be pack and travel, maybe time for breakfast at Tomato's.

At the pool area, I won one game of Loteria and was one picture short on two other games.

We had a late lunch at the pool and finished off the leftovers back in the room later.

Gerri started some of the packing, I had already arranged  for the shuttle to the airport in the morning at 11:20.

We filled out our evaluation of our stay with special mention of Eduardo, our pool attendant, who was  especially attentive to our comfort and needs.

Eduardo

Wednesday February 15, 2012

Pool area, ditto, but without Neva.  No winners at Loteria.

It was sunny today but cooled off early.  We had supper in the room and filled out the evening with TV, computer and reading.

Thursday February 16, 2012

Today is the day our friends come in from Phoenix.  We met Beth and Tim on our cruise last fall to Sydney. 

I picked up the car at 10am and at about 11am we left for the airport'  Of course the flight was delayed.

We had lunch at the Tropicana in San Jose and visited some shops.  Beth and Gerri made some jewelry purchases.  After that we drove over to the Marina to look around.  They have a swim with the dolphins attraction there and we watched them for quite awhile.

Back at the Hacienda Del Mar we got Tim and Beth settled in and then had a fabulous dinner at Pitahayas.

Friday February 17, 2011

Pool time with Beth and Tim.  Tim was the big winner at  Loteria.

Beth and Tim are going to visit us in Las Vegas in March and we found out they will be at a timeshare in Oceanside the same time we are at a RV park there in July.

Dinner was at Villa Serena, this time I stuck with the tried and true lobster tail.

Saturday February 18, 2012

We started the day early.  We booked a whale watching tour and had to be at the marina in Cabo at 8:30 AM.  It was a great day on the water.  We saw a few whales but they weren't as active as when we went last year.  The tour included breakfast, which was very good.

After the tour and some shopping downtown, we came back to the Hacienda Del Mar, in time for Loteria.  No winners.

I should backup and mention that the property is hosting the G20 this next week and security is very tight.  Armed soldiers everywhere.  They choke down the traffic to one lane on the highway and look under all the cars with mirrors when they enter the property.  There is also temporary fencing all around the complex with metal detecting gate that aren't activated yet.

After Loteria I drove back up to San Jose and found a cache that I didn't find last week.  Another cacher gave me a hint.  That makes two caches this trip, with a couple downtown left to find on our cruise in April.

We went back downtown for supper at the Shrimp Factory.  A good shrimp dinner in a fun place.

Sunday February 19, 2012

A lazy day.  Pool time and Loteria.

It is Beth and Tim's last day, they fly back to Phoenix tomorrow.  Of course we will see them again next month in Las Vegas along with our friends Bob and Nina from the Bay Area.

No winners at Loteria.

We had dinner at Girasoles and played one game of Quidler before bedtime, Tim won.

Tomorrow is moving day for us and Beth and Tim fly home in the early afternoon.

Monday February 20, 2012

Another week to go.

We were up early thinking our room would be ready, I had been told last night we would be in a new unit that no one had stayed in before.  I found out different and we weren't in this week's unit until about noon.

We had breakfast at Tomato's Restaurant.

Tim and Beth left at about 1:30.  A bitter sweet goodbye, we will see them in Las Vegas in a couple of weeks.

Gerri had hurt her back while packing, but she stayed in the pool area until after Loteria.  Neither of us won a game.

Gerri went to the room shortly after Loteria, I stayed at the pool till about 5 PM.

With Gerri's instructions I made tuna salad sandwiches for supper.  We are still getting computer time without logging onto the Sheraton site.  After some TV time it was bedtime.

Thursday February 9, 2012

Plans to go downtown today were scuttled by the lack of a suitable car to rent. I did reserve one for Friday.

Most of the day was spent around the pool watching for whales and watching the local birds I did win one game of Loteria.

We talked to an artist who was painting in watercolors,

and Beverly from Iowa.

Since out trip downtown was canceled and we had eaten all the food in the room, we opted for dinner at Girasoles de la Hacienda. Evelyn went to supper with us. We all had the Pork Pazole with a lot of trimmings on the side. We went to dinner at at 7 and sent a lot of time over dinner and with conservation. It was late when we got back to our room. No Quidler tonight and to bed early.

Evelyn moves to another timeshare downtown tomorrow. We will take her there once we pick up the car.

Friday February 10, 2012

Ditto, pool. Very warm today. I won on game of Loteria. A group of young people were playing basketball in the pool.

Close attention had to be paid to follow the Loteria game. They were having a lot of fun, very polite, maybe military. I won one game.

We picked up a rental car at 3 and took Evelyn to her next timeshare, Casa Dorado downtown.

After some shopping we at supper at Panchos and shopped again

A stop at Costco rounded out our day in town. We were pretty tired when we got back to the Hacienda Del Mar.

We played a game of Quidler before computer time. Neva won. We have each won two games.

Saturday February 11, 2012

While we still had the car I drove up to San Jose hoping to get four. I found one at Zipper's restaurant. The next two were nearly two miles up a dry wash on a dirt road. I decided not to go there in the rented car. The other was at the marina in San Jose, but I didn't find it. It was the first time I had been to the marina in San Jose, very nice.

Back at the pool I won one game of Loteria.

Loteria card

Back at the room I won the nightly game of Quidler.

Sunday February 12, 2012

Another glorious day in Cabo. Blue sky and not a cloud in sight until ate afternoon and they were way out over the sea.

No winners today at Loteria.

I won at Quidler again. We now stand me 4, Gerri and Neva at two each.

Monday February 13, 2012

Moving day! We go to a two bedroom unit today. It is Neva's last full day. Her Shuttle leaves the hotel at 11:20 in the morning

Everything was moved to the new room by 2:15. Gerri and Neva had already gone to the pool area. None of us won at Loteria.

We decided on dinner at Villa Serena, so I made reservations for 7 PM. I also arraigned for a rental car on Thursday to pick up Beth and Tim at the airport

Security may be tightening up on Thursday. The bellman who moved us told me that the Sheraton was hosting the G-20 nations.

We took a taxi to Villa Serena. For supper Gerri and I ordered t-bone steaks and Neva ordered the coconut shrimp. Out t-bones were to tough to cut so we sent them back. Gerri changed to the coconut shrimp and still being daring, I opted to try the filet. With those changes we had a very good meal and in a beautiful setting. They have enlarged the pool and added a deck on the other side and a palapa with more seating.

At Pancho's

In this building my router doesn't work so we can only go on line for 30 minutes a day with one computer. At the other room we both could get on at the same ½ hour. Thus a lot of these daily blogs will be posted at the same time, probably after we get to Escondido.

Back at our room, Neva won at Quidler. The tally is now; Gerri two, Neva 3 and me 4 games won.

Neva spent some time with final packing and before we knew it it was midnight.

Tuesday February 14, 2012

Today Neva departs the hotel at 11:20, so she was busy this morning making sure everything was in order for her trip home. We will meet her in Escondido on the 27^th. Gerri plans to stay there at the Lawrence Welk Resort and drive home with Neva on March 4^th. I will probably go home on the 1^st or 2^nd after we have dinner with cousins Bill and Arlene at Norte's.

Gerri graciously consented to be my Valentine, and I hers.

Gerri went to the pool before her mom left and I went there at about noon. Gerri won one game of Loteria.

Tonight was the welcome party for owners and guest. It was back to wings and ribs. But they seem better this year. WE talked to a couple from Long Island that just bought, Scott and Margaret.

Back at the unit we watched some TV and checked e-mail.

Sunday February 5, 2012

It wasn't as cloudy this morning when we got up. Gerri went to the pool area at 9:30. Neva and I stayed to drink more of our coffee. Gerri has made arrangements with a pool attendant, Eduardo, to hold us 3 lounges in her favorite area.

It was sunny until late in the afternoon. We saw quite a bit of whale activity, not real close in but we saw water spouts, breaching, fluke slapping and the whales rolling along the service.

We had lunch from the Nido de Tortuga Restaurant. We split a taco salad and fish tacos. The fish tacos were very good.

No winners again at Loteria. Gerri and Neva went back to the room about 3:30. I stayed until I was the last one by the pool.

We had breakfast for supper, eggs and bacon, in the room.

Gerri won at Quidler. Some computer and TV time and the day was done.

Monday February 6, 2012

Since the pool area lounging is an every day thing, I may just start writing ditto. Ditto with more sun.

Every year the staff wants owners to attend an update, this year the update was offered at lunch. We choose today. Yada, yada, yada, new resorts planned at Chileno Bay and in La Paz, old news from last year. They have new units under construction and current buyers can choose a fixed week in a fixed unit.

Tuesday February 7, 2012

Ditto by pool, very sunny. No winners at Loteria.

We ate a late lunch by the pool, fish tacos, salsa and chips.

I went to the owners welcome party. In years past they only had wings and ribs, tonight they had tacos al pastor, dips and chips, and a variety of tamales.

Gerri and Neva walked on the beach at moon rise. Neva got some great pictures of the moon rising and a great shot of the sunset.

I won tonight's Quidler game.

Another great day in Los Cabos.

Wednesday February 8, 2012

Black out this morning with a stiff breeze. Gerri went down to the pool area to check it out. She came back quickly and said it was cold and windy with some sprinkles. The pool cushions were all stacked and the attendant pointed out a storm coming in from the north west.

Gerri and Neva went to the pool and I followed about a half an hour later. When I left the unit there was a light drizzle . Down by the pool Gerri and Neva had three umbrellas arranged to keep the rain off. They had split a hamburger and fries.

Evelyn, whom we had met a couple of days ago,came by and managed to stay dry while she had lunch. The rain was starting to drip in where the umbrellas overlapped and got heavier, so Gerri and Neva went back to room. I stayed and visited until the rain got heavier and the slacked off.

No Loteria today.

The weather pretty much canceled our plans to go downtown to shop and eat.

I took a walk around the resort before supper.

We ate the last of the food we had laid in, we have to shop tomorrow.

Gerri won at Quidler.

Sunday February 5, 2012

It wasn't as cloudy this morning when we got up. Gerri went to the pool area at 9:30. Neva and I stayed behind to drink more of our coffee. Gerri has made arrangements with a pool attendant, Eduardo, to hold us 3 lounges in her favorite area.

It was sunny until late in the afternoon. We saw quite a bit of whale activity, not real close in but we saw water spouts, breaching, fluke slapping and the whales rolling along the service.

We had lunch from the Nido de Tortugas Resruarant. We split a taco salad and fish tacos. The fish tacos were very good.

No winners again at Loteria. Gerri and Neva went back to the room about 3:30. I stayed until I was the last one by the pool.

We had breakfast for supper, eggs and bacon, in the room.

Gerri won at Quidler. Some computer and tV time and the day was done.

Friday February 3, 2011

Rant time! When I started the Blog for this trip I found out that Blog Spot no longer supports the use of Internet Explorer. I am forced to use Google Chrome to access Blog Spot. I never liked Google Chrome and like it less that I am forced to use it. Blog Spot has also changed the way it is navigated, it is much harder now. When we get home with unlimited internet I will be looking for a new place to host this Blog. Rant off!

It was overcast this morning. Gerri and Neva went to poolside at about 9:30. I stayed at the room and finished my coffee before loading up snacks and refreshments to take to the pool. Most of the day was bright gray and   warm. After I got to the pool at around 11:30 we got lounges at the south end off the pool area, a nice mixture of full sun, partial sun and complete shade.

I went to the store to get some salsa to go with supper. I had to make three trips waiting for the delivery of fresh salsa.

Loteria was a bust for us, no winners in our group. After Loteria the next activity was water volleyball. None of us played but we were close to the entertainment.

Neva and Gerri went back to the unit at about 4:30, stayed awhile longer. The wind was starting up when I left the pool area, but had stopped by the time we finished supper.

When Gerri logged on tonight I wasn't able to get on. The internet access has been different every night this week, I have been able to collect my e-mail and post the Blog from my computer once she logged on. Last night her log on was rejected but the e-mail came in and I was able to stay on long after she used her 30 minutes.

Thursday February 2, 2012

I had thought about going geocaching before I had to turn in the rental car at 10:30AM. But I got up a little before 8:30 and changed my mind in favor of having my coffee. I took care of some paper work at the contract office and then met Gerri and Neva at the pool. All the lounges had towels or books on them so we sat around another pool and read until awhile before Loteria. I found lounges near the activity center. It appears a lot of people go down to the pool area early and reserve lounges. There are signs against that so we may have to resort to having the pool attendants remove possessions form obviously unused lounges. Loteria was uneventful, none of us won.

We stayed at the pool talking to the couple in the unit next to us until time to go back to the unit to prepare supper. Gerri made couscous with onions and other vegetables. We had some of the leftover chicken with it to round out the meal. We had cantaloupe and cookies for desert.

Reading and some TV took care of the rest of the evening..

View from our villa

Sunday January 29, 2012

We dropped Glenna off at Curtis and Dana's last night. This year Gerri's mother is traveling with us but only saying in Cabo for two weeks. We left Las Vegas at about 9:10 AM, en route to San Diego. The plan is to spend Sunday night with John and Montyne on their boat and depart for our four weeks in Cabo San Lucas Monday morning.

Traffic on I-15 wasn't heavy. I finally got one of Neva's world, OK family famous, tuna for traveling sandwiches. Carrots, celery on the side followed by both red and green grapes.

We arrived in San Diego in the afternoon. After we got our overnight things on the boat, we cruised up the bay and docked at Anthony's Seafood Grotto. There was a large sailboat already there and John had to back in along side the dock, quite a maneuver. By the time we finished supper it was dark. The cruise back to Coronado Cays took about 1 ½ hours. The night skyline of downtown San Diego is quite a sight. The only times I cruised at night was on Lake Mead and never gave a thought how hard the buoys and channel markers are to see with all the light from shore behind them. On Lake Mead the only lights are the buoys and channel markers, so they stand out and are easy to spot.

Monday January 30, 2012

We were up early, had coffee and Montyne dropped us off at the airport a little after 8 AM, our flight was at 10:30. What a difference it is flying out of San Diego compared with Las Vegas or Los Angeles. We were checked in, through security and at our gate in about half an hour.

The flight to Los Cabos was smooth and we arrived about 20 minutes early. By the time we got the shuttle to the Hacienda Del Mar and into our room it was 4PM.

We decided to have the Italian Buffet at Tomato's Restaurant. Then back to our room, 715 ground floor, to rest up to start our four weeks in earnest tomorrow.

We only get 30 minutes of free internet per day and the only option is a daily fee of about $13. That's down from last year but I think that is because of the more favorable exchange rate.

Tuesday January 31, 2102

We slept late, of course the time difference made up some of the lateness. We are now on Mountain Standard again.

Gerri got us lounges by the pool and we went and sat there until Loteria time at 2 PM. We moved to a table and sat with a couple from Buford, SC. I won two of four games. Loteria is a Mexican form of Bingo.

We lounged around the pool until time for the owner's welcome party. We had snacks there. Unfortunately when we were leaving, Neva fell. Paramedics came with the resort doctor and took her off to the hospital for overnight observation. Gerri went with her in the ambulance. It was a late night for her. Neva seemed to be OK nothing broken.

Wednesday February 1, 2012

We rented a car to go to town and pick up Neva from the hospital at 11AM. After we picked her up she seemed no worse for wear. After dropping her off at the Hacienda del Mar. Gerri and I went back to Cabo to do some shopping at Costco and WalMart.

After unloading the groceries I talked with our next door neighbors for a while. A nice couple from the Toronto area.

We ate supper in, rotisserie chicken from Costco with raw vegetables and some cheese.

Another night of rest and start our relaxation again tomorrow.`