Going Home

We were up at the crack of dawn.  My Cousin and her guy were leaving on a shuttle at 6:45 a.m. The good part is that we managed to get some really good pics with the Sunrise.  There was a particularly bright star under the moon, and it was a must have pic. 

After saying our goodbyes, I knew I was never going back to sleep, so I began the task of breaking down the Condo. While I was doing this, I received a call from Lupita.  She brought us tamales!!  (Shhh....this is against the rules due to Covid, but Covid be damned...I’m not missing out on the best tamales I’ve ever sampled!) I hurry down to get them and when I went to tip her, she held me close and said “No, this is from my heart”. Yeah, I’m tearing up just writing this. 

Breaking down the condo:

1. Empty all trash cans
2. Throw out all refrigerator items
3. Strip down all beds
4. Collect all towels, wash cloths, linens and place in pile
5. Put all dirty dishes in dishwasher and run
6. Make sure all hair dryers are back in their bags
7. Throw out all soap bars
8. Look for loose trash and throw out
9. Check all plugs (Apple connectors)
10. Take all recyclables and trash to trash cans 
11. And last but most certainly not least...leave a tip for my housekeeping staff.

I break down the Condo for a number of reasons:

1. Especially in Cabo, the housekeeping staff are not paid enough and it makes their job easier.
2. It helps to ensure the next guest gets into the room on time.
3. It’s my home away from home, so I treat it that way.
4. I don’t pay housekeeping fees (part of my member package), so this helps out.
5. It builds my reputation. Believe it or not, I have a very good reputation (especially with Coral Baja, Villa Vera Puerto Mio) and it goes a long way to ensuring that I’m treated well and I stay in the best Condos. 

This trip, they took excellent care of me, and I appreciate it! They have come to be my second family.

The Golden Rule goes far in Mexico. Her people are generous and warm. Her scenery varies, her tequila is exquisite, the food unforgettable, the weather stunning...but it’s mostly her people. I just can’t stop coming back!  Now...if I could just get a grip on Spanish...

Quads!

 Today was about doing all the pre-prep before leaving the condo tomorrow.  We planned an ATV excursion for the evening, so it was important too pre-pack so we’re not doing it in the morning. Check out is at 10, which I feel is a little early, but they didn’t ask the owners, so...

After getting that stuff out of the way, we got ready and headed down for our ride.  Come to find out, we were headed for a little town called Migrino, sandwiched between Cabo San Lucas and Todos Santos. Needless to say, the ride was a little long, but the scenery was phenomenal.

Once we arrived, we went through the whole “upsale” routine, i.e. do we want to upgrade our quads? Have a Private tour? Insurance? Yeah, these things add up fast...even if you are careful. When we signed, we were unaware of the Land usage fee that was quite expensive, on top of what we paid for the excursion.  Just be prepared.  Once again, we had to lock up our gear and phones...NO PICTURES!      The last time I did an ATV tour, that wasn’t an issue, and we had tons of pictures, but now...they’ve figured out how to hold you hostage. Note to self...may have to invest in those camera glasses.

We strapped on our helmets, tightened our bandanas and hopped on our ATVs.  As luck would have it, my niece and I ended up on the lead right behind the Tour Guide. She was ahead of me, and we headed off.  It was pretty smooth sailing, and my niece held her own, but it was her first time on a Quad, and she was taking it a little slow...which is absolutely normal, but without the confidence, she didn’t feel comfortable on her own.  The Guide stopped to take an assessment of our line of people, and he talked to her and told her that she could ride behind him.  He let me know that we couldn’t get our money back, which was fine, and asked me to switch machines with hers, as it was better.  Someone would come along later and get the spare Quad.

Off we went, with me being directly behind the Guide....and I LOVED that position.  I could let loose and have some serious fun. We rode the quads along the ocean, and then into the desert.  Most of the terrain was fairly easy, but he took us on one squirrelly part and over the hill.  Because of the terrain, you couldn’t go slow through this part.  It required the muscle of the machine and you had to power through it.  Unfortunately, someone with less experience flipped her Quad over.  I didn’t know what was going on and was told to follow him, so I did.  We turned back and helped the girl right her machine.  The rest of the line had stayed in line. So when the Guide turned around, I followed, but ended up getting cut off.  No worries. 

However, I ended up with a couple of less confident women in front of me and that made for some slow areas.  As a girl that likes a little speed and a challenge, well....let’s just say, when we ended up on the beach again, there as an opportunity to pass them, and I took it. We paused at a rock grouping along the ocean, and took a break.  It was also an opportunity for the photographer to take posed pictures, so that’s what we did.  The rest of the ride was in the dark with our lights on, which I really liked because it reminds me of the Night Rider video game, which I was a really good at.

My niece loved being behind the guide because he was going fast, and she could enjoy the ride, scenery, etc. So she got the best of both worlds and she was happy...which is the whole point, right?

After a nice dinner, we ended our day knowing it was the final one, and soon, we’d be headed home.

One More Time in San Jose del Cabo

 The morning started out pretty uneventful.  My niece and I were going to do some painting downstairs with the activity guy, but the booth was closed.  The sky let some rain loose, and the patio was wet, but nothing to serious...only enough to cause humidity, and for the first time in two weeks, I had to use the AC in the Condo.

We headed down and my cousin met us with a taxi ride, which dropped us off at mid-town.  For the first time this trip, I had problems getting funds out of the bank ATM.  Seems my bank kicked in the protection protocols, and I had to call to get them to correct it.  Ah well. No worries.  We did some shopping and headed to the restaurant we frequented last Wednesday.  

It didn’t disappoint. I got sashimi, and for $8, it was more than generous. The one thing I have a pet peeve about it having to figure out everyone’s bill.  So just a note to you travelers, download the iCurrency app, which helps you convert your dollars to whatever currency you need, and download Tip Check.  What I like about Tip Check is it allows you to divide the bill into however many people, add a tip at whatever percentage you choose, you can add the tax, etc. I use this app all of the time, and it’s easy to use the Mexican pesos in it.

San Jose del Cabo has a Art Walk every Thursday night from 5 to 9 p.m. We headed off to the walk, with a promise to come back and watch the Mexican dancers at the restaurant. My goodness, there’s some talented work.  I wanted to take pictures, but I didn’t want to be disrespectful or make it look like I was stealing their work.  Even my niece appreciated the cool art work.

We stood in line and got fresh Churros and potato chips.  Yep, they deep fry em on the spot and serve them up hot.  It was so good.  We also did some more shopping, but my niece hasn’t found the hoodie she wants.  If there’s a way to get one before we go, we will.

We went back and watched the dancers.  I should have taken pictures there as well, but I didn’t.  It was fun to watch and enjoy and you can tell they were having fun as well.  We called it a night after that and Uber’d home.  Unfortunately, my niece, after using the hot tub, slipped on the stairs and bruised herself.  Fortunately, that is all that happened. Tomorrow, we pack up early so we can do our evening ATV activity and not worry about Saturday Morning....Checkout is at 10 a.m.  Ugh!

Lazy Day

Finally captured a sunrise.  Not through lack of trying, but the winds on the rooftop deck made it rough.

Today was a lazy day.  I had to explain the concept to my niece that you can’t just go, go, go and not take time to relax. It makes the vacation stressful. So that’s what we did.

My Angel on the Beach

We played on the beach, we played on our computers, we relaxed, hit the jacuzzi, made a salad and tostada, etc. I’m really trying to teach her that vacationing shouldn’t be all about the money.  Cut costs by using the kitchen in the condo, making some of your meals, etc.  I attend a presentation at the beginning of the trip so I can get discounts on any excursions so I’m not paying full price.  

Someday, she and her brother will be in charge of the timeshare, and they need to know how to use it...make it work for them.  One day, I know she’ll get it...but first, she has to recognize the value of money, why its important, and how to treat it.  Hell, I’m still learning, so....

Ziplining with Costa Azul Ziplines

 So we all settled on an excursion of  ziplining.  This was good because my niece wanted to hike...and hike we did. It actually wasn’t far from our resort, but they drove us to some desert canyons. The walls were incredible scenery.  We all had our tennies on, ready to do this. 

When we get out of the van, we go through orientation, where they give us keys to lock everything up. They do not allow any photography because they want you to buy their pictures.  While I would’ve loved a few pics of my niece, I had already done that route the last time, and paid big money for dolphin pics. They really price gouge you, and I am on limited funds right now.

We geared up and put our hair in these blue caps, then on went our protective helmets.  We picked up our trolleys and headed up the hill. I believe the first and second ziplines were 150 feet high and 1500 feet in length to get us acclimated to using the line. We went these twice and it was a blast.  Then we headed across a suspension bridge (not my first, but fun) and went that was around 300 feet high and 4,000 feet long.  What a rush.  My niece wanted me to go first a couple of times, but after that, she handled it like a champ. 

After that we did the rappel. My niece had a hard time with this one. She got all the way to the ledge, but couldn’t make the step over.  The first step is the hardest and requires complete trust of the equipment and the people helping you.  She beat herself up for not doing it, but I was proud that she got as far as she did.

Plus, she did all of the ziplining, so she conquered most of her fears.  She’s only 18.  She’s got plenty of time to do it, if she wants. 

After the final zipline race (Beanie won by a hair), we headed down and got something to eat and drink. The Damiana Factory tour wasn’t really a tour, but more of a tasting.  I would’ve loved to have heard what makes Damiana different from tequila (other than the Damiana plant that we all sampled). Is the preparation the same? Who knows.  

We headed back to our resort for a swim in the pool and more relaxation.  That evening, we watched fireworks from two different resorts. That was fun.

Cabo San Lucas

Today, we went into Cabo San Lucas.  We got on the bus and it was only $2, which let us off at the Para Parisio which is the huge mall undergoing construction.  We walked to Medano beach to visit the Office and Mango Deck.  We ended up at the Deck and got a table on the beach...a little too close to the barrier it would seem, because we fought off every vendor that came to sell stuff.

My niece got suckered by the iguana guy, not realizing that if you do a selfie with him, you’re required to tip him.  Lesson learned. We ordered some food and watched the games.  If you’ve been to the Mango Deck, you know it’s all about the games.  We did the “guess the theme song” and didn’t do too bad, but this table of guys beat us.  I have to admit, part of the time, the vendors on the beach distracted me.  Ah well.

We got my niece to go up and do the beer cup flip contest.  However, she was pared with a ringer.  This girl knew how to down beer and flip the cup. My niece was eating dust, but I was so proud of her or going out of her comfort zone and doing it.

After we left the deck, we went into the office to check things out and gaze at all of the tequila bottles.  The had this great tree with glass hearts on it.  I’d love to see it at night.  The plan was to head to Cabo Wabo, but half way there, half of our party decided to duck out and head back to the Condo. The niece and I soldiered onward. We hit some shops to look for hoodies, and hit a bank so she could change out her American dollars for Mexican pesos.

Then...it was Cabo Wabo time. She picked up a cool shirt and I picked up a face mask. We both drank overpriced beverages for the honor of hanging out in Sammy’s bar. We exited and walked around the town shopping at the little stores. 

My niece found a cute bathing suit coverup, and then we decided to head home. We caught the bus back and then had dinner at Sardina Cantina. It was a good day.

We did take time out to remember it was D Day, and when we got back to the condo found out we lost Chuck Yeager. I know the younger generation doesn’t understand the implications of Pearl Harbor and WWII but I hope the message never gets lost.

Day Fade

 This is what my niece calls day drinking.  I went down early to determine the cost of activities and then the niece and I procured a palapa on the beach.  We proceeded to relax, surf our appliances and headed to the beach to play in the waves.

I was feeling a little “off” this morning and really didn’t want to head into town or anything, so this was the way to go.

However, my niece really wanted to do the 2x1 happy hour drinks, and at 18, she’s legal, so I indulged her.  We got into the pool and saddled up to the swim up bar.  We had Miami Vices, Bahama Momma’s, Mojitos and some kind of monkey drink.  Honestly though, I kept a close watch and made sure she wasn’t on the other side of drunk.  

Some older guy came up to her and asked, “Are you old enough to drink?” To which my niece replied...”In this Country I am”.  I laughed, and was proud of her comeback.  That doesn’t mean I didn’t watch her like a hawk.  Toward the end of the evening, she says “Auntie, you didn’t drink that much.” That’s because I’m the wingman, and if I’m gonna allow you to drink, I need to have my wits about me so nothing happens to you. 

We went up to the Condo and got ready for dinner.  We decided on Guacamaya’s, which we had frequented the last time we were here.  She had a potato with arracherra, and I had this cheesy concoction with mexican sausage, peppers, onions, etc that you put in a tortilla and enjoy. It was a nice, laid back evening and we had fun. 

Upon our return, I helped reset an iPad while she talked with friends on her phone on the rooftop patio. She got a little loud, and I had to remind her that if I can hear her shenanigans, so can the neighbors, so she toned it down. 

Tomorrow, we go into Cabo!

My Angel Arrives

 My Angel arrived today.  I was so excited.  I started the morning off with reheated Chilequiles and coffee. I did some sunbathing on the roof, and relaxed.  While I was up there, I saw the Southwest flight go right over and knew that my Angel was on the flight...even though it was 15 minutes early.  Next thing I knew, I got the text that she had landed.

I went downstairs to ensure that the shuttle driver was there waiting for her.  I told the shuttle driver when I arrived that he can’t be late (like he was for me by 45 minutes) pickling her up. I reminded him last night that he needed to be there. Nope.  I was livid.  She was there waiting by herself for 15 minutes.  If the driver wouldve been there at the arranged tine, my Beanie wouldn’t have had to wait. And believe me, it wasn’t about the waiting...It was about my beautiful 18 year old blond haired, blue eyed niece in a foreign country, vulnerable. Nothing is happening to my Angel on my watch. Ok...settle down sparky!  Deep breath.

She arrived and we got her settled in and went down for some 2x1 happy hour drinks and ended up getting dinner as well since it was past 5.  Beanie and I ended up in the Jacuzzi and in bed watching a scary movie by 7:30.  What a bunch of party animals we are!!

Friday

 So we got up to a leisurely morning.  My BFF had packed and was ready to go. We went downstairs and had Bloody Maria’s and some breakfast. Then proceeded to chitchat for the next couple of hours until it was tine for my friend to go.

After that, I did house cleaning.  I did a load of laundry, a load of dishes and wiped down the kitchen.  With Covid, housekeeping doesn’t come in every week to clean things.  They only come for specific things, like bringing new sheets. You have to maintain the condo, and wash the towels. Not unlike home, which is totally doable. 

Afterward, my cousin came back and told me we were meeting a family for dinner at 7.  Sounds like fun, and indeed it was. They’re from the Seattle area and know exactly what’s going on there.  Funny how the media wants you to believe it’s all peaceful protesting...until you speak with someone there, and they tell you the down and dirty stuff.

Their daughter and her friend are so special. Bright, articulate young women that will go far and succeed in life.  We had a hell of a time just talking and enjoying the evening...so much so, that we shut the place down.  

After heading back, I needed to warm my bones in the jacuzzi because tts so dang cool in the evenings. Right now, it’s 59 degrees. Tomorrow’s expected high is 78, but the low tomorrow evening is 57.  Yeah...cold.

My BFF’s Last Day

 So today was the last full day for my BFF and we had booked a sunset cruise in Cabo San Lucas.  The plan was to spend the day tooling around town, shopping, drinking, etc and to leave the Condo around 9:30 a.m.  Needless to say, I felt like I was herding cats and we didn’t end up leaving the condo till around 11:30...ugh!  

It was so funny watching my guests try and cross the highway to get to the bus stop.  I have the feeling that jaywalking is not their forte...but I digress.

The bus was right there, and away we went.  It was an easy trip. We had the back half of the bus to ourselves.  It’s always fun to watch the landscape and totally get into your surroundings. We exited the bus at the main shopping area, which is being overhauled, and went in.  More shopping ensued, and then it was a search for the local Starbucks.  I broke my habit some time ago, and although I still drink coffee, I roast my own beans and now Starbucks tastes sub-par.  However, it was the tea that my group was interested in, so...

Once Starbucks was obtained, we did some outside vendor shopping and then headed to Cabo Wabo. The waboritas there are excellent, but quite pricey, so I only had one (still have to same money for the arrival of the niece).  It was there, that we got word of Dictator Newsom’s new edicts.

 The posts started flying between me and my Security crew and ranting ensued as well. It’s moments like this that make me happy that I’m here and not in California at the moment.  It will make going back easier to bear, but until I move from California...well, sometimes there’s just not enough tequila.

We headed to the pier after that to get to the boat slip. And we arrived a little early so we got a cold beverage at Senor Frogs (yes, they moved their location).  I met this little slip of a girl and we started dancing.  She imitated every move I did and we laughed and had a hell of a time.  I gave her and her sister some pesos and we boarded our catamaran. 

This was a totally awesome cruise. We got free drinks and appetizers, and while that might not sound like much, they loaded our plates with all kinds of cheeses, meats, fruit, hummus, crackers, etc. We circled around the point and sailed past Lover’s Beach, the Arch, Sea Lion rock, and then it was Divorce Beach, and the pacific side of the point.  

We watched the sun go down, and then the whales started breaching.  It was great.  Ran into the owner of the Dive Shop that was located in Rocklin for a number of years.  We had a hell of a singsong talking about diving adventures, etc.  

We also ran into 2 couples from Roseville.  One of the chicks was a definite “mean girl”, getting drunk, swearing in front of kids, etc.  But that didn’t damper our fun or our view. 

As the evening wore on, we ended up going back round the point and right past Jerry Jones’s Yacht, the 357 foot “Bravo Eugina” worth 250 Million Bucks...yeah.  The Roseville Couples started yelling out “The Cowboys Suck”....but it was quite impressive.  The comm stack on that thing was incredible. You have to wonder what it costs to maintain that thing.  No clue!

Anywho, we made it back to land and to our shuttle to bring us back home.  In the shuttle, we met three chicks from Texas, and we had so much fun talking politics and how everyone escaping California is heading to Texas.  “Don’t California My Texas” is real!  We totally could’ve partied with these ladies all night.

Once we got back, we ended up in the jacuzzi to end the day, and then had a smidge of vanilla ice cream with chocolate tequila liquor to cap the night off.

 

Busy Day

 So I was up really early this morning (5 am...4 am SacTime) and I ended up catching up on some news and podcasts.  I needed to be downstairs at 8 am to talk about arranging a dinner tour. I tell ya, I hate pushy timeshare salespeople, even if they’re from my own resort. They basically wanted to blackmail my guests into a presentation and wouldn’t give me the cost of my discounted tickets.  Dizzy don’t play. Getting thru all that crap took the morning. However, we had a nice breakfast and got our game plan in place for the day.  I also got to touch bases with my work Girlie, E.  Amazingly, Microsoft teams worked, and I was able to show her the resort and the beach. How fun was that?

We got two Ubers and went into San Jose. First, we stopped off at my favorite tequila place and sampled some cinnamon, chocolate, vanilla and orange tequilas.

 They were quite delish. We also combined the chocolate, vanilla and coffee tequila and made for quite a tasty little shot. Needless to say, someone walked away with a chocolate tequila...yum. After doing a number of shopping stops, we headed to the bank.  Yeah, we learned that they won’t exchange our dollars for pesos without a passport book.  NO, they don’t take passport cards, and I had one of those.  Lesson learned.

After a bit more shopping, I got thirsty and needed a cold beer. We stopped at this hidden rooftop restaurant because my beloved Shooters was closed. This place was awesome. We shared some nachos, drank some beers and had a hell of a singsong. 

It started to grow dark and I really wanted to see the old down square with all the lights lit up.  Yes, they had decorated for Christmas. But, I got waylaid by a guy that wanted to give me free mezcal and a silver charm.  Who am I to refuse free gifts?  While I was doing that, the others went into another shop for more trinkets.  My BFF took a header, but turned out ok.

We headed off to the square and it was filled with locals enjoying the lights and fun. There were young people on the stage practicing their dance for a future show.  Not sure when it’s going to be, but it would be fun to watch. 

After that, and a bit more shopping, we headed back for a dip in the jacuzzi and relaxation. Tomorrow is going to be a full day in Cabo San Lucas, and Dizzy needs her beauty sleep...just sayin!

Really???

 So today, I was expecting my cousin and her guy.  I expected it to be a pretty calm day, i.e. check into work, etc. But no...That’s not the case.  So I’m on the iPad, and I get the message that someone is ringing the doorbell.  I answer it and it’s someone from the fencing company....

Yeah, the same company that scheduled the fence for the day I was to depart to MX, the company that cancelled the work on the 17th and was supposed to call and reschedule, but never did. I was not a happy camper.  After some back and forth on the ring camera, I called the owner and asked what the hell was going on?  He said that the crew is out to do the fence and I said...I’m not there. I’m out of the Country, which was the whole point of having them come out before the 19th. UGH!

He said not to worry, that I don’t have to pay until I return, but I said that was the least of my worries.  I’m having something major done to the property, and I want to be there. After some back and forth, we agreed that he could proceed, but I was/am pissed.  My niece is at the house alone.  I don’t want strangers there. 

Needless to say, I spend the entire afternoon of my vacation running interference, checking the cameras, etc. I think it needs to cost them.  

Cousin arrived and they were famished, so we headed to Sardina Cantina for a late lunch/early dinner. We also did some shopping on the beach and then came up to the room.  

I wonder if I can find some ice cream....

Grocery Shopping

 We took it easy today and did some stuff around the Condo and decided to go shopping for some groceries.  Grocery shopping is a love/hate thing for me.  I’m not really a shopper, but I do love to cook..ok, and eat.  So running around a grocery store is always weird.

However, running around a Mexican Grocery store is always fun because there’s always exciting finds.  I love their refried beans in a pouch.  There’s so many different kinds, but they always taste good when heated.  I picked up some with elote (corn) cuz I know my niece would want to try it.  I tried it first, and it was a good.  

The meat counter is always a challenge.  Some meat look really fresh, and some doesn’t. They leave their chicken out, and the skin gets dried, so you always wonder. We did end up getting some chicken breasts that I marinaded in mango, lime, garlic, jalapeños, olive oil, etc. Actually turned out great.  We had a salad, some beans, chicken, etc. All was good.

We did the usual hot tub and a shot of the Cava de Oro, then watched one of the greatest Zombie movies...called Train to Busan.  If you haven’t seen it, watch it.

Pool Time

 So today, my BFF and I decided to hang at Coral Baja today.  We had a leisurely brunch at the onsite restaurant, then got a palapa on the beach and vegged out for a couple of hours.  We then headed to the surf.

I played like a little girl....running back and forth, trying to get ahead of the waves.  One wave came crashing in and leveled my BFF...had to help her up. We were laughing so hard. We must’ve frolicked for a while, but it was so much fun!  

After, we headed to the pool for happy hour.  You know me, I’m not in the pool for long, and I end up meeting all kinds of people.  I took a pic of a girls back tatt cuz my BFF was too chicken too ask.  That started up a convo.  Met two couples from San Diego...and they were Conservative...woohoo!  We had a hell of a singsong, comparing notes and lives.  

We had fun watching a wedding from the pool...the MOH didn’t look happy to be there. She had this kind of frozen look on her face, and she was wearing a teal colored dress...which, if you’ve watched “The Wedding Planner” you know is the kiss of death.  It was so much fun!

Then we hit the hot tub and chitchatted with a bunch of peeps there.  They guys were all talking football, and the chick next to me wondered why, since they were outnumbered by women.  I chimed...”Let’s talk Hemsworth” and she was all for it.  We commenced in talking Chris and Liam and about the 3rd Hemsworth brother we know nothing about.  The guys got defensive, so I told them that ogling Hemsworth’s was all well and good, but if I can’t hand Chris Hemsworth a buck knife, and set him loose in the forest to bring home dinner, then he’s nothing but eye candy and not worth his salt as a man.  Then we started talking “guns” and it was all over.

My BFF and I headed back to the crib, and I cooked up some tortillas, and beans with garlic, onions, chorizo and cheese, and we had some dinner burritos.  I got some killer pics of the moon rising over the water.  We sipped some tequila and enjoyed the view and called it a night...although I still might go watch the surf in the moonlight.  

Back to Downtown San Jose

 So my BFF attended a presentation in the morning.  I swear, I got two calls from the front desk.  The first time, they couldn’t even say her name. And although she attended, they didn’t give her all the gifts she was promised because her husband wasn’t here.  Couldn’t they have told her that in the beginning?  That didn’t make me happy, so I’m going to have to talk to the front desk about it.

We decided to go downtown and sightsee. I called an Uber and waited.  The Uber didn’t show up to the front of the Condo, but I could see from the app that it was close.  I sent a message that we were at the Coral Baja, but the driver ended up canceling the trip saying that we didn’t show.  Uh, yeah, we were waiting for you.  Come to find out that they charged me for that, so I had to go online and dispute it.  In the end, we made it there.

I took my BFF to the bank and we shopped.  We saw some really cool artwork made of tree bark. And, of course, Tequila tasting.  I tried 4 different kinds of my favorite Addictivo and they were all good.  

We also had some Extra Anejo Cava de Oro, which my BFF bought two bottles of.  One for us to enjoy, and one for home.  I bought some shot glasses to go with. 

We saw some beautiful jewelry, and “F*ck Covid” purses that we had a good laugh over.  What a hoot! I tried on this really cool square ring that was really comfortable to wear.  It doesn’t look like it would, but I really liked it.  I snapped a picture and took his card.  He had some really unusual pieces that were worth looking at.  Just in case you’re interested, I’m including a pic.

After that, we headed home and got some dinner at the Sardina Cantina.  I got a seafood Cobb salad, and she got the Mexican combo plate.  Afterward, we headed home to sip some fine tequila and soak in the hot tub.  Yeah, I’m a pretty lucky bitch.

Awaiting Company

 So today, my BFF from Jr. High joined me.  However, her journey was fraught with difficulty. I get a text message asking for the link to the shuttle company because she needs to change her pickup time...huh?  Well, it turns out that she showed up to the Airport with only her passport card.  However, in order to fly into Mexico, you have to have our passport BOOK! Damn the bad luck.

She had to drive back home, get the book and wait for the next flight out and hope that she could get a connecting flight on standby to Cabo, or she’d have to wait until the next day.  All said and done, she didn’t get in until 11 p.m.

In the meantime, I waited and make sure the Condo was ready for company.  When I realized she wouldn’t be in for dinner, I decided to head across the street to The District.  They have an eclectic menu that is an Asian fusion. The place used to be an Appleby’s back in the day, but it was much too nice a location and building for such mediocre food.  The building has these huge open bay windows that lets the air flow through.  And it was such a nice breezy evening that made it perfect.  Since this meal was free, I went all out.  

I started with a handcrafted margarita made with passion fruit and a rim salted with celery and pepper.  It was good.  For an appetizer, I went with a hand roll, which was ok...mostly rice with a little bit of fish and wrapped with a soy wrap.  I figured, what the hell....and went with Ramen for my main course, and it was delicious with just the right amount of chili oil. I had another margarita with jalapeño that was also great.  Then they brought out their version of key lime pie, but I was too full to eat it, so I took it home.

I stopped at the store to pick up some more eggs, flour tortillas, etc.  I gotta say, flour tortillas in Mexico is my downfall. In the States, the tortillas are always too thick and spongey. In Mexico, they’re thin and light.  When you crisp them in the pan, they have a delicate crunch that reminds you of phyllo dough.  It’s the best!

After my BFF arrived, we got her settled and into the hot tub.  After the day she had, she needed it.  The evening was windy and I opened up the windows and doors and let the cool air flow through the Condo all night.  And thus ended another day in Paradise.

Happy Thanksgiving

    Yeah, I’ll give you that 2020 sucked, not because of Covid, per se...but the politicizing of it, with the power mad Governors trying to exert their control over the “little” people.  

But some great things came about to be thankful for.  

1. My niece came to live with me, and we’ve been having fun figuring out our ability to co-exist together.

2. Lots of great challenges at work.

3. I still have a job, when so many have lost theirs. It’s horrible that people are suffering with the shutdown of the economy,.

4. Came out of the other side of Covid just fine. 

5. I lost my battle with the City and lost property...but, that necessitated putting the rest of the fence around the property (4Gs later), as soon as they reschedule the date.

6. Got a great deal on clearance outdoor furniture.

You get the idea.  It’s easy to find all the crappy things about the year, but being thankful is about finding the joy on the other side of misery. I’m in Cabo...need I say more?

Their idea of a Thanksgiving dinner left something to be desired, and for $33 usd, it just wasn’t worth it.  I had tortilla soup and a beer.  And I’m quite happy with that. There’s live music that I’m enjoying from the roof, and it’s been a relaxing day.  

If you’re reading this, Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families.  I hope you were able to celebrate without your neighbors turning you in and trying to make you feel guilty about being “selfish” to have family over.  Screw them.  You are free to make your own decisions, and I respect that.  I hope it was a great day for you and I’m thankful to have you in my life.  Go enjoy your day!   

Foot Journey Through San Jose

 

So I had some fun tooling around downtown San Jose.  I dipped into a few shops, and I hit Tequila Town for some major tasting!  I must’ve sipped about 12 different bottles and my server was quite knowledgeable.  Thank God I brought water with me, but I also purchased a beer to go with..

After leaving that place, I walked around some galleries and checked out the art.  It’s amazing the beautiful colors that surround you.  I would’ve loved to have brought home the fish, but it was quite pricey. 

I knew I needed some food in my belly after the Tequila, so I hit a restaurant that had an upper terrace with a view to the town.  Unfortunately, the terrace was closed off, but I did get street seating. I ordered a Victoria beer and watched the police and the National Guard deliver someone to their door.  Not sure how important they were, or how much cash they had on themselves, but it was like watching royalty being delivered.  Too Funny.  I ordered  couple of tacos and chitchatted with a couple from Roseville CA.  You come all this way, and run into locals escaping California.  Love it.

I did some more window shopping and watched this cute little boy dancing in the square.  I think that’s what I love about old town.  It’s the family vibe you get.

I visited many courtyards, and would love to recreate that at home if possible.  There’s just a cool vibe about relaxing in a courtyard with the sound of water fountains and a cold beverage, right?  I found another one that had two for 1 margaritas, so I settled in and just relaxed.  I ended up leaving with the bartender’s card and personal phone number...like that’s ever gonna happen!!  Long distance relationships don’t work budddy!

!

Pulpy/chi Harold taco

Part of the Art Walk

My Love of Courtyards

I just loved the Christmas decor

Little boy having fun

Can’t pass up the huge skull

Another Courtyard

The Catholic Church in middle of Old Town

Two for 1 Margaritas

Appetizer on the house!

Tequila tasting at it’s finest

Another shot of the Margarita place

 I tried 12 different tequilas