Monday, April 29, 2013, Las Vegas, NV

Since I had requested and got a late check out time of noon instead of 10 AM, our day didn't start in a rush.  Actually it was just like our other days here. We lingered over coffee checking our e-mail and Facebook accounts.

I went to the lobby and settled our bill at about 11 and then went back to our room to help Gerri finish up getting ready to travel.. At noon we sent our luggage to the lobby.  We went to the La Playa Restaurant at the Westin for lunch.  Gerri had fish tacos and I had a Cobb Salad.

Our shuttle to the airport was scheduled to pick us up at 1:20, we waited in the Lobby until then. The shuttle was actually a taxi.  Instead of taking the toll road from Jan Jose to the airport we went on the old road through town.  We hadn't been that way for several years,  There is now a Walmart and a City Club as you leave San Jose del Cabo going north toward the airport.

We were checked in for our flight and waiting at the gate by 2:30.  Boarding started at 3:40 and the flight was scheduled to take off at 4:22.  Because I was was taken to the gate by wheelchair we boarded with the business class passengers.  I have no idea why it's called business class instead of first class.  We were seated in the first row of coach class.  Immediately on boarding it was obvious that the head flight attendant was quite a comedian. He really seemed to enjoy his job.

Because of the pain in my left knee we have been requesting a wheelchair to take me from gate to gate.  This really paid off at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana.  We had to go through Immigration,  pick up our luggage, go through Customs and then take the baggage to the Air Tran counter for transfer to Las Vegas.  After that we had to go through the security routine.  This all went quicker because of the wheelchair.

While we were waiting by the gate we saw our flight attendants in the area and learned we had the same crew going to Las Vegas as we had from Cabo to John Wayne.  On boarding we realized we had the same seats as did a couple of ladies that had sat on the same row as we did from Cabo.  The flight attendant's personality immediately began to assert itself.  He informed us that the flight wasn't full so after everyone was aboard we could sit where we wanted.  There was space in business class so we joked, can we move up front.  His response was there would be a contest.


The flight attendant, Stanley, announced that if there were any active military on board they could move up to business class, there were none.  He then asked about retired military, again there were none.  Then he said the couple married the longest would be moved up.  He set the minimum as 25 years.  Gerri told him we had been married for 41 years.  No one with more years of marriage spoke up so we moved up to the wider seats with more leg room.

On arriving at McCarran we were picked up by a young man with a wheelchair.  During the trek from the ramp to baggage pick up we learned that we had worked with both his grandfather and father at LVMPD.  We both know his Grandparents, David and Eileen Freeman, and are acquainted with his father David Freeman.

When we arrived at John Wayne Airport, Gerri had called her brother Hollis and ask if he could pick us up and drive us home.  He was able to and met us in the pickup area.  We got home about 9:30 PM.

What a great trip.  Two weeks at the Hacienda Del Mar with Gerri's mother, Neva.  And then two weeks at the Club Regina.  It was tough to say good by to the surf and the Sea of Cortez.

Sunday, April 28, 2013, San Jose Del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico

The last bloom

Our last full day began like most of our days during the last few weeks. I caught up my e-mail and Facebook and then relaxed on the balcony while having my coffee and doing a Sudoku puzzle. I'm almost out of the ones I can solve. I didn't start a new novel, I read six this year. I had read two of them before, but couldn't remember how they ended. Gerri caught up e-mail and Facebook while having her coffee.

We made it to the Adult pool in time for Loteria. We started with only three players the first game. Another lady joined us for the second game which Gerri won. Another couple joined in the third and fourth fifth games, I won one and Gerri won the final game.

After Loteria we had the daily special, today it was a Margherita Pizza with hot wings.

We left the pool area earlier than usual. Gerri went back to our unit and I went to the Lobby to pick up our voucher for transportation to the airport. I also requested a later check out time since our flight tomorrow isn't until 4:22. We don't have to check out until noon. We may have time for another round of Loteria before leaving.

We had supper in our unit, finish up some left overs and throwing out some.

We were able to maintain internet connection and tuned into the service net cast from Oakey Blvd. Church of Christ.

Saturday, April 27, 2013, San Jose Del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Happy 30th Birthday Luis

Rinse and repeat. Our day started like most of the others here in Los Cabos. Coffee, internet and read on the balcony.

We went to the pool for Loteria. There was a lot of whale activity off shore and I tried to get some video. Today was our regular pool attendant, Alexi's day off. We found out it was Luis', the activity director, birthday. There were only three of us playing and we all won a game.

We stayed by the pool until about four. Gerri went back to the room and I went to the lobby to arrange transportation to the airport for our flight homeMonday.We had reservations for dinner at La Panga in downtown San Jose. We got a taxi at about six thirty. The Taxi was only able to take us within about 5 blocks of the restaurant. There was a big civic function going on. Police and military everywhere and the streets blocked in all directions for three blocks. There were grandstands set up and speeches going on from a stage. We also saw a military marching band.

The LA Panga Restaurant didn't look like much from the outside. Once going through the door it opened into a large courtyard with a second even larger one beyond that. The courtyards were nicely

On the Plaza, Jan Jose Del Cabo

landscaped. Our waiter told us the restaurant had been there for 165 years. We had a three course meal starting with tortilla soup. For an entree Gerri had Talapia filet over mashed potatoes and I had flank steak fajitas. Dessert was one of the best Flans we ever had.

Tortilla soup

Talapia

When we walked back to get a taxi to the resort, the speeches were still going on. A policeman flagged us a taxi and we were on the way. We shared the taxi with a couple from Los Angeles who were staying at the Pamillia. We never realized how far off the highway the Palmilla is. It was dark but it seemed like the grounds were very plush.

Fajitas

Flan at La Panga

Back at the Club Regina some computer time wrapped up the evening.

Friday, April 26, 2013, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico

As we are use to doing we had our coffee while catching up on e-mail and Facebook. Surprisingly I worked out two more Sudoku puzzles.

We went to the adult pool for Loteria. Pam and Steve were there. Once it was Loteria time another couple joined us. I won the first game. Steve won one. I tied the last game with Pam and she won the draw for tie breaking. We stayed at the adult pool the entire afternoon. Gerri ordered onion rings as an afternoon snack. This was Steve and Pam's last day and they made dinner plans in San Jose del Cabo.

Pinata at the children's party

As we left the pool we saw parts of a party being put on for the resort employees' children.  They were playing musical chairs and had a giant pinata.

We went back to our unit and relaxed before dinner. We were watching TV until the cable went off. Gerri fixed pasta and cheese with ham. Kind of like mac and cheese only using spaghetti.

Tonight's sunset lit up the sky briefly. The moon didn't rise until much later.

If you look real close you can see the arch

We played dominoes after dinner.  Gerri won two, I won one.  Pam and Steve stopped by when they got back from their dinner in San Jose.  Pam brought us the SD card from her camera. Last night at dinner Gerri's battery had died.  Most of the dinner and sunset pictures were on Pam's camera.  We chatted for awhile as I picked out the pictures from last night and copied them to my computer.  Even though they were taken yesterday, I'm including some of the pictures with this blog.

Sunset from the Mona Lisa Resaurant

Although we may see them briefly tomorrow before the leave, we said our goodbyes.  Their fligt leaves at two so they will be leaving for the airport a couple of hours before that.

In case you don't notice the sunset, they blow conch shells just before sunset

This soup was supposed to have beets in it, but it looked more like pea soup

Gerri' s couscous and eggplant appetizer 

Thursday, April 25, 2013, San Jose Del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico

I had my coffee on the balcony and worked a couple of Sudoku puzzles. I'm getting to the back part of the book and they are getting harder, I was surprised that I finished both.

Gerri and I went to the adult pool in time for Loteria. Luis talked one other person into playing. They only played four games. We each won one and the lady Luis had talked into playing won the last one.

After Loteria we went to another pool and met our friends Pam and Steve. Gerri and I had chips, salsa and guacamole to tide us over to supper.

At Sunset da Mona Lisa

We left the pools area earlier than usual because of our 6 o'clock dinner plans.

We met Pam and Steve in the lobby and Steve drove his rented car to the restaurant which was closer to Cabo San Lucas. The restaurant is named Sunset da Mona Lisa. Quite a place, it is built on a cliff over looking a popular surfing area. It is on several levels along the cliff and has a view of the arches which are directly

Our friends Pam and Steve from Vancouver, WA

across the bay. We watched many small boats going back and forth, but there was a haze that prevented a clear view of the arches. At sunset the view was spectacular. We could see the sun going down in the west and the full moon rising in the east. We didn't get as many pictures as we would have liked, the battery died in Gerri's camera and the spare was back at the Club Regina. Tomorrow I plan to get copies of the pictures Pam took.

As you might have guessed from the name of the restaurant there was an Italian flair to the menu. We all had sea bass fillets prepared in a couple of different ways.  After enjoying the company, the view and the meal we went back to the Club Regina and called it a night.

The full moon over the Sea of Cortez, from our balcony

Wednesday, April 24, 2013, San Jose Del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Gerri slept later this morning. I made coffee and caught up on my e-mail and Facebook.

That is a bird house in the center, no birds were home

We went to the Adult Pool in time to play Loteria. The activities staff puts on five games, there were five of us playing. Unlike the Hacienda Del Mar they don't allow players to win a second game until the fifth game. They also draw high card to decide ties. Gerri tied a game, lost the draw, and then won a game. Into the last game everyone had won but me, but I won the last game.

After awhile we went to the other pool area, we were assured there would be a regular BINGO game there. Only four of us played. From the start it got interesting. Alan, the activities guy, had never played BINGO. He had the cards and the tray to hold the balls with the numbers that have been called, but not the numbered balls or the hopper to draw the numbers out of. We explained the game and some of the various ways to Bingo, single line, picture frame, X, etc. We were using small rocks to mark the cards, so Alan threw one rock at a time on the tray and called the number that it landed on. Gerri won twice and Steve, Pam and I won one each. We had a lot of laughs, Alan also tried tossing wads of napkin into the holes in the tray. Maybe by Friday he will find the rest of the game pieces.

How do you like my Hat?

Our original plan for dinner was to go with Steve and Pam to one of their favorite restaurants, the Mona Lisa closer to Cabo. But Pam had called earlier for reservations and we couldn't get in tonight. We have reservations for tomorrow evening. We had supper in. Gerri made a one pot dish with sauteed onions, Tuna, wild rice and quinoa. Avocado on the side. Very good.

Surf outside our unit

We tuned into church tonight on the internet. Mark Reagan gave the invitation after a short lesson.

Tonight's domino results; Gerri two games to my one. I'm still ahead having won the previous two sets of three.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013, San Jose Del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico

El Cardon en flor al lado nuestra habitación

We relaxed a lot today. Gerri got up very early. Our morning routine is pretty much the same every day; I fix and serve coffee, we check out everything on the computer and I have coffee on the balcony while reading. I misplaced my Kindle and have been reading novels found at the towel stands at the resort. I'm pretty sure I have read a couple of them before.

The maid service here at Club Regina comes twice a day. In the morning or early afternoon they make up the room and then in the early evening a maid comes and turns down the beds and offers to get us ice if we want it. A couple of days ago the evening maid left throw rugs by the bed with the Raintree Vacation Club name and logo. We thought that was very nice. When we came back from the pool the next day the rugs were gone. We thought that was odd.

We didn't go to the pool until almost two. On the way we met a lady that comes around every day and asks if there are any problems with our room or anything else around the resort. Gerri told her about the rugs. Later she found Gerri and told her that the Blue membership level owners got the rugs. They were put in our room by mistake, we are only Platinum members. When we returned to our unit we had rugs. We jokingly told the story to Pam and Steve and found out they didn't get the turn down service, hadn't seen any rugs and also didn't have Terry robes provided in their unit. One of the things we have noticed about both of the resorts we stay at here in Los Cabos is the difficulty of getting washcloths, sometimes the maid leaves them and sometimes not. It is then difficult to describe what we want to housekeeping.

After making requests we have had paper towels and more bath towels delivered but seldom face cloths. Over they years this has become a standing joke or quirk of staying here. Pam and Steve have always got washcloths. I guess it all depends on your luck of the draw when maids are assigned to the different buildings.

We only stayed at poolside until about 3:30. Our evening plans we to have tacos at the Altura restaurant on property. Before going to dinner we visited with Curtis, Dana Brandon and Vanessa for about 40 minutes on Skype.

La luna creciente

At the Altura restaurant we had pork tacos, three for $65.00 MPN, about $6 US. There is a pool by the Altura and of course it overlooks the ocean. We saw the moon rise, it was high in the sky and almost full before the sun started to set. There were several local artisans that had their crafts on display. Gerri bought a small beaded sombrero and fish.  We met three people from Hershey, PA and visited with them. They thought it was funny that the maid left Hershey kisses on the bed every night.

La vista al Mar de Cortez de la Altura

We got back to our unit about 9 and guess what, Gerri was tired. Go figure she was awake at 3 AM. No dominoes tonight.

Pescado y sombrero