Saturday, September 07, 2019

Bienvenido Mexico! Part 1

Last month we ventured out with Bob and Sue to an all-inclusive resort at Hilta Playa del Carmen (formerly owned by Real Club) – it was an adventure from day one being that I booked our hotel near the wrong airport! I had forgotten there were two in Houston as I had bought our airfare 7 months ago, and luckily we found out before we tried checking into the wrong one!

It is kind of funny now but in the moment we were there it was no way you wanted to start your vacation. So a long taxi ride to the CORRECT airport later and we were all safe and sound waiting to board our plane. All’s well that ends well, right?

When we arrived to Cancun we met up with Bob and Sue and were greeted by our transportation driver. He immediately gave us cold towels to cool off (even though we hadn’t been out of the building for more than a minute) and took our luggage and helped us in the vehicle. There he offered cold water (in a glass bottle), Mexican candies, and cold beer.

The drive to our hotel was hardly relaxing as I think the driver was attempting to make it be. I say this because there were palm trees everywhere, signs in Spanish, and street signs that had warnings of puma cat crossings! I only wish I had a picture of it all, especially the street sign that had my maiden name on it, “Carrillo” – I wish I could remember what it was.

When we arrived to the hotel we were greeted by the staff there who again gave us cold wet towels – again we were not hot from our luxury transportation, so naturally I was confused what all the hubbub was about. They offered to get us a drink (anything we wanted) right off the bat. I, feeling overwhelmed, did not think of anything I wanted. Sue looked at me like I was strange not to take them up on their offer. Again, I was just taking it all in where she on the other hand already experienced this.

In this same moment we approached the hotel, I noticed it smelled of cinnamon, and later I found out they had a scent machine in the entrance. I am just glad it was one of my favorite scents or I may not have been so fond of it or remember it as a good memory. 

The entrance was grand – like the scene of the palace in Aladdin. It had marble everywhere; on the floor and in large pillars. Next you notice a large lobby very open and sort of like a ballroom…I liked how Charlie put it when he pulled me over to see it and said, “I went to the lobby looking to see if they have an aquarium, and I found one!” He, pointed to the ocean, we then chuckled as it was rather amusing to both of us.

We checked in and went to our room and right away plopped on the bed to relieve ourselves from being confined by the traveling woes. There was a bottle of champagne on the table, cold beverages in the fridge, and our room had an ocean view.

After refreshing ourselves and unpacking, Bob took us on a tour of the resort so we were familiarized with where we would be living in the next week. We stopped for a drink or two at one of the many bars (we were not used to not having to pay when we were done) and then headed back to our rooms to get ready for dinner. 

We ate at an outdoor ocean side restaurant called Pelicano's - the experience that night for me was much more indulgent than the food. Perhaps I chose the wrong dish, but either way it was such a new experience I just soaked it all in. Oh and they had cats who lived nearby that would come out for dinner scraps. Truth be told that the sign said not to feed them but you know everyone did. 

After dinner we headed to the main lobby where they have entertainment each night. That night it was karaoke night and if you know my husband he was the first one out there - with a lot of coaxing and cheering from me of course. There were a lot of Mexican songs and I this is when I began to start to realize how much we were the minority of white Americans the longer we stayed. 

More to come...here are pictures that tell the story.

View inside of main lobby - this is not a window!

View from our balcony

Fountain below our room
 
Hot tub in room and balcony

King sized!

Kitty at Pelicano's Restaurant

Karaoke King

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Going to Utah

Summer has been long and hot. I am actually getting tired of the sun believe it or not. BUT it is also the season of making new memories with traveling and spending time with loved ones.

Savannah and I visited my family in Utah for a family reunion. I don't remember the last time I was with all my siblings at once. Jake, Sasha, and Patti came too. I haven't seen them in a year since we moved from Wisconsin. We went to my granddaughter Harmony's birthday party and it took her awhile before she realized I was related to her as a form of grandma. She really had a lot of fun getting to know Auntie Savannah though.

My mom took us to Chubby's where they had pastrami burgers and beer battered fries (surprising since this is Utah) and you guessed it, FRY SAUCE. Oh how I missed this! It was a fun little place and they had it decorated cute. It was fun to visit with her and go shopping together.

My sister Tina and her husband Kipp hosted the reunion at a cabin in Big Cottonwood Canyon. I loved the smells and the familiar summer air that the mountains bring. Sights of snow caps on the top still trickling with water as they melt. Creeks with glass clear water that had small fish swimming in them were in just about every corner of the landscape.

The mountains were such a sight for sore eyes. The last time I visited Utah I didn't at all feel homesick to return, but this past year I have been feeling it. I think it is more to be near my family than anything. That and just to go on a Sunday drive up the mountains or through Park City. I really miss re-experiencing some of my childhood. Perhaps my feelings of homesickness is that in Texas there really isn't any where you can drive to for sightseeing in an afternoon on a Sunday like you can in Wisconsin and Utah.

During the day we visited and had a BBQ - we reminisced about Dad and our memories. Got to know the younger generations better and see how they've grown. And we got A LOT lot of group pictures - some candid, some not. There were 30+ people at once so you can imagine how that went...like herding kittens! After others that had traveled left for the night we played a Telestrations game (similar to pictionary and telephone but mixed together) and Apples to Apples and laughed so hard we were turning red.

It was like old times being with Jennifer - after all we shared a bedroom together for several years growing up. She had rented a cabin nearby and we sat by the fire then watched The Others. Being with her and her family was nice, I don't get to see them nearly enough.

I spent extra time with my sister, Monica, just hanging out and being with each other. We had fun playing in the water with her granddaughter and visited Logan where we ate at the 1914 Bluebird Restaurant that had an old fashioned soda called Ironport. We went in an antique store and saw a lot of things from our childhood like the Sears Wish Book catalog we'd spend hours as kids wishing about Christmas. (Does this mean we are officially old?) Then we went to the movies to see The Lion King. We had planned to get ice cream at Aggies Ice Cream on the Utah State University campus but we were already so full that day from lunch that when we ordered what we thought was a regular sized ice cream cone you can imagine our eyes when we found out our "regular" sized cone was so humongous! We were soooo stuffed!

My brothers haven't changed much other than a little less hair (he he). They are still funny and I love their personalities. Marty, who is just a couple years older than me, I haven't seen for at least 10 years. I really like it when we are all together. It brings back a lot from my childhood with feelings of completeness. I only wish Charlie could have came too. 

Until next time. I really could have spent another week there and if I had maybe I'd not come back LOL! Here are some of my favorite photos...

Harmony Love

Piggy backs!

Me and Jennifer
 
Top Left to Right: John, Marty, Monica, Matt, Tina
Bottom Left to Right: Me, Mom, Jennifer

Group photo

See this water! 
 
Ha ha! this one is hilarious! Monica is the only one that got it right!

Love the tall trees. And the sky. And the jet stream. And the moon. And the blue. And the green. One tree looks like it has aged. Kind of like a family photo, right? 

Rocky landscapes fill your eyes with wonder, don't they?

Outside of the Bluebird Cafe "since 1914" the sign says

Inside the Bluebird Cafe where they had the soda fountains.
  
Me, Savannah, and Monica being super silly!

Thursday, June 13, 2019

Life in Texas Continues...

Well half the year is past already. We've been here a year come next week. I don't have much to say other than I enjoying my job (minus lack of parking space), Savannah has finished her Freshman year with outstanding grades and Staar testing scores, and Charlie changed jobs (this still under construction...to be continued). Having some family time here and there has been good too - especially when there are more the merrier. Growing up with a household of 7 kids, I thoroughly enjoy it.

Texas doesn't feel like home yet though. Will it ever? I felt so at home in WI so why is this so different? I am still trying to find the beauty in living here - there is a lot of traffic and people which equals a lot of rubbish and pavement. What I like most here is the amount of sunshine. My being NEEDS sunshine. Always has. I don't like big cities yet here I am. But in the beauty I do find I try to relish in it. Here are some memories of the year so far.

Savannah turned 15. I know. Already? 

At the diner, waiting on breakfast with the "Grands"

We took a tour on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad  as something new to try. I don't believe we will do it again however. We sat in the train a good while waiting for other trains who had priority above the tourist train. Kind of felt like the usual 5:00 traffic. It took us a lot longer to get into Fort Worth than it should have, but it was an adventure for all of us. 

Me - sitting on a bull at the Fort Worth Stockyards. Unfortunately we came to the stockyards by way of the aforementioned train so we missed the daily schedule of the cattle drive. We stopped for a cold brew at the Cattlemen's Steakhouse where Charlie and I had "calf fries" (I won't tell you what these are) - and the atmosphere reminded me of what a saloon would be like. It was a lot of fun but I want to go back and spend more time so I can see the armadillo races and visit all the shops. Note to self - next time we bring our own transportation. 

We found out that Garfield has hyperthyroidism. He has to take medication twice a day forever. He is feeling better now.

We re-stained our deck. Look how pretty it is when the rain comes. 

Savannah all ready for the 9th Grade Banquet Dance - isn't she lovely?