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TUESDAY 5/29, 2018

WELL, I WASN’T EVEN GONNA WRITE TONIGHT BECAUSE AS OF ABOUT 8:00 PM IT WAS PRETTY MUCH A PLAIN VANILLA DAY, BUT SINCE 8:00 I JUST CAN’T CONTAIN MYSELF.  ANYWAY LET’S JUST START AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY. YEAH, WE GOT UP, I SLEPT LATE, ROX GOT UP FIRST, I WAS STILL TIRED, WE GOT OUT OF THE HOTEL ABOUT 10:30-ISH…………SEE HOW VANILLA THIS DAY WAS STARTING OUT.  

WE DROVE TO THE BIG MARKET, THINKING THAT WE WERE GOING TO SEE A “BIG” MARKET.  COMPARED TO THE MARKETS IN MEXICO THIS ONE COULD HAVE FIT IN ONE ISLE OF THE MEXICO MARKETS.  I GUESS BIG IS A RELATIVE TERM.  OTHER THAN THE SIZE THE OTHER VERY NOTICEABLE ATTRIBUTE ABOUT THIS MARKET IS THAT IT WAS PRISTINELY CLEAN COMPARED TO THE BIGGER MEXICO MARKETS.  YOU COULD ALMOST EAT OF F OF THE FLOORS HERE, NOT TO SAY WE HAVEN’T SEEN SOME MEXICANS EATING OFF OF THE FLOORS IN THE MEXICO MARKETS.

BESIDES ALL THE FOOD STUFFS – VEGETABLES, MEAT, CHEESE, BAKED GOODS THERE WAS ROW AFTER ROW AFTER ROW OF POTTED FLOWERS OF EVERY TYPE, COLOR AND SPECIES KNOWN TO MAN ON THE PLANET TODAY, NOT TO MENTION ALL OF THE OTHER NON FLOWERING PLANTS.  IF YOU HAD 5 ACRES AND PLANTED ONE SEED OF EACH OF ALL OF THESE VARIETIES OF PLANTS AND FLOWERS YOU WOULD RUN OUT OF DIRT BEFORE YOU RAN OUT OF SEEDS.

WE WALKED A COUPLE OF BLOCKS FROM THE MARKET AND HAD LUNCH. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR WHAT I WOULD CALL A “PARISIAN’S PEASANT MEAL”, KINDA LIKE THE “PLOWMAN’S” LUNCH IN ENGLAND, WITH A PLATTER OF MEATS, CHEESES AND BREAD.  SO BY ACCIDENT WE FOUND A PLACE THAT SERVES SLICED MEAT, CHEESES AND BREAD ON A PIECE OF BLACK SLATE (THAT WAS NEAT) AND ROX HAD A MAC AND CHEESE AND SHE ALSO HAD SOME OF MINE TO TASTE EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE BLUE CHEESE. SHE ALSO HAD SOME KIND OF NON ALCOHOLIC DRINK THAT WAS MADE FROM NATURAL STUFF AND WAS, AS THE WAITRESS SAID, “SUPPOSED TO MAKE HER FEEL WONDERFUL” THE WORD WONDERFUL WAS SPOKEN AS SHE HAD ONE HAND WAVING FREE OVER HER HEAD!

WE WALKED BACK TO THE MARKET TO GET SOMETHING SWEET (YOU KNOW THAT NO MEAL NOW IS COMPLETE UNLESS WE HAVE SOMETHING SWEET AFTERWARDS).  WE GOT OUR CAR FROM THE PARKING GARAGE AND OFF WE WENT TO QUEBEC CITY.

OH, JUST LET ME SAY ONE THING ABOUT PARKING HERE IN CANADA – “NONEXISTENT.”   NOW LET ME ELABORATE A LITTLE.  EVERY PLACE YOU GO IN THIS COUNTRY SOMEONE IS CHARGING YOU FOR PARKING.  IT’S AS IF HAVING A CAR IS A SURPRISE TO EVERYONE THAT YOU SHOULD DRIVE IT AND EVEN MORE OF A SURPRISE THAT YOU WOULD BRING IT WITH YOU AND EXPECT OT LEAVE IT OUTSIDE WHILE YOU CONDUCTED WHATEVER BUSINESS YOU HAD TO CONDUCT THAT DIDN’T INVOLVE HAVING YOUR CAR ON YOUR LAP THE WHOLE TIME LIKE A LAP-DOG OR IN THIS CASE A LAP-CAR.  I GUESS THEY FIGURE THAT THE THOUSANDS OF CARS THAT ARE DRIVING ON THE ROAD ALONG SIDE OF THOSE PEOPLE ALL DAY LONG ARE NOT OWNED BY ANYONE AND ARE JUST ON LOAN TO THE PEOPLE ON THE EARTH FROM SOME OTHER PLANET THAT JUST BEAMS THEM UP WHEN THEY ARE NOT CONGESTING THE ROADWAYS……………..ENOUGH SAID!!!!

SO WE DROVE TO QUEBEC CITY PARTIALLY ON THE FREEWAY AND PARTIALLY ON THE RIVER FRONT ROAD.  WE ARE STILL DRIVING ALONG THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER SINCE IT EXTENDS FROM LAKE ONTARIO ALL THE WAY TO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.  I TOLD ROX I WAS FASCINATED WITH THE SIZE AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER AND WAS GLAD TO GET TO SEE IT BEFORE I DIED.  SHE INQUIRED IF I WAS READY NOT TO DIE…………..I WONDER WHAT SHE MEANT BY THAT???

WE PULLED IN THE HOTEL ABOUT 6:30 PM AND PUT OUR STUFF IN THE ROOM, ROX CHECKED A FEW PLACES TO GO AND WE WERE LEAVING THE PARKING LOT BEFORE 7:30 HEADED FOR THE OLD WALLED IN PART OF THE CITY.  I WAS ANXIOUS TO SEE WHAT IT WAS BUT WORDS WILL NOT DO JUSTICE TO THE MAJESTY OF THIS PLACE.  IT WAS SETTLED IN 1603 AND OF COURSE AT THAT TIME IS WAS A FORTRESS BUILT ON THE SEA COAST IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE INHABITANTS FROM ENEMY FORCES.  LUCKILY THE GATES TO THE CITY WERE ALL OPEN TONIGHT AND IT LOOKED LIKE ALL FRIENDLY FACES COMING AND GOING.

IF YOU REMEMBER MY EPISTLE ON THE URGENCY OF YOUR COMING TO NIAGARA FALLS TO SEE IT, THIS IS THE SECOND PLACE THAT SHOULD BE ON YOUR BUCKET LIST TO SEE, NOT JUST BEFORE YOU DIE BUT RIGHT AWAY.  WELL, I GUESS YOU CAN WAIT TILL IT’S CONVENIENT FOR YOU SINCE IT’S BEEN HERE FOR 500 YEARS AND LOOKS PRETTY FIRMLY PLANTED  AND DOESN’T APPEAR TO BE GOING ANYWHERE……………BUT MAN, IS IT BEAUTIFUL.

THE STREETS ARE NARROW AND CURVING JUST LIKE THEY WERE WHEN THEY WERE BUILT IN THE 17TH, 18TH AND 19TH CENTURIES WHEN THEY WERE BEING BUILT.  THE BUILDING ARE FOR THE MOST PART ALL FOUR TO FIVE STORIES HIGH AND SEEM TO TOWER OVER THESE NARROW CURVING STREETS JUST LIKE THEY DO IN PICTURES OF EUROPEAN CITIES THAT YOU’VE SEEN.  THE BUILDING NOW HOUSE COUNTLESS, STORES, RESTAURANTS, BARS, OFFICES AND BOUTIQUES. THERE ARE ALSO SOME GOVERNMENT BUILDING AND SOME EXPENSIVE HOTELS.  IT LOOKS LIKE THE TOP 2-3 STORIES ARE RESERVED FOR DWELLINGS.

WE WANTED TO LOOK AROUND AS MUCH AS WE COULD BEFORE IT GOT DARK AND HAVE DINNER AFTER THE SUN WENT DOWN SINCE IT LOOKED LIKE THE NIGHT LIFE WAS JUST BEGINNING HERE.  AFTER READING A NUMBER OF MENUS IN FRONT OF RESTAURANTS WE PICKED ONE CALLED THE “CAFÉ DE PARIS.”  I LIKED THAT NAME.  WE WENT INSIDE OF THIS BUILDING THAT WAS BUILT IN 1862 MADE OUT OF; CUT GRANITE STONE BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, NOW WEATHER DA DORK GRAY FROM YEARS OF POLLUTION. WE WERE SEATED AT A TABLE FOR TWO BY THE FIREPLACE WITH ONLY ONE TABLE SEPARATING US FROM THE LARGE WINDOW THAT WAS OPEN TO THE STREET BELOW.  

WE HAD NO MORE THAT HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE MENU FOR A FEW MINUTES WHEN THE PEOPLE OCCUPYING THAT WINDOW TABLE FINISHED AND LEFT. THIS REALLY NICE MAN ASKED IF WE WANTED TO MOVE TO THE WINDOW TABLE AND I THANKED HIM AND SAID THAT WOULD BE VERY NICE AND WE’D APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. (TURNED OUT THAT THIS GUY WITH AND OPEN SHIRT A BASEBALL CAP AND JEANS IS THE OWNER).  HE SET THE TABLE AND WE SAT DOWN BUT NOT BEFORE I HAD TO TELL HIM WHICH SIDE OF THE WINDOW ROX WOULD SIT ON AND WHICH SIDE OF THE WINDOW I WOULD SIT ON. I DECIDED, HE CONFIRMED MY CHOICES AND WE SAT DOWN.  HE IS A SUPER FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL GUY.  BY NOW WE WERE TRYING TO ORDER WINE AND THE WAITER, THE OWNER AND HIS PARTNER WERE ALL HOVERING AT THE TABLE TO HELP US.  QUITE A GROUP FOR TWO OLD FOLKS FROM S.P.I.

THERE WAS A FRENCH WINE WITH AN NAME THAT LOOKED LIKE MUSCATO, SO INQUIRED IF IT WAS THE SWEET MUSCAT GRAPE AND HE SAID IT WASN’T BUT PROCEEDED TO BRING ROX A GLASS OF MUSCAT WINE THAT WASN’T EVEN ON THE MENU, MUCH LESS SERVED BY THE GLASS.  HE WAS STANDING BY ME LOOKING A ROX AND I HEARD HIM SAY SOMETHING ABOUT A KISS, ROX LAUGHED AND SHE SAID, “HE WANTS YOU TO KISS ME HERE BY THE WINDOW,” SO I DID AND THEN I SAID “OH, I THOUGHT HE SAID HE WANTED A KISS,” LAUGHER ERUPTED AND HE BENT DOWN AND KISSED ME ON THE FOREHEAD……LAUGHTER CONTINUED.

WE FINALLY ORDERED OUR MEALS; ROX HAD BAKED SEAFOOD WHICH CONSISTED OF SHRIMP, MUSSELS AND LOBSTER IN A CHEESY, CRISPY TOPPED CREAM SAUCE. I HAD THE MEDALLIONS OF DUCK.  SHE STARTED OFF WITH PASTRY WRAPPED MUSHROOMS AND I HAD A BOWL OF BROCCOLI SOUP.  THEY BROUGHT OUT THE APPETIZERS QUICKLY AND I ASKED THE WAITER IF HE COULD PUT SOME TIME BETWEEN COURSES, HE SUGGESTED 20 MINUTES AND I SAID THAT SOUNDS GOOD.

WE HAD ANOTHER GLASS OF WINE EACH AND WHILE WE WERE WAITING THE OWNER CAME OVER AGAIN AND TOOK A PICTURE OF THE COUPLE NEXT TO US WITH THEIR PHONE FOR THEM AND THEN MOTIONED FOR OUR PHONE SO HE COULD TAKE A PICTURE OF US KISSING IN FRONT OF THE WINDOW.  WE POSED, HE SHOT, IT WAS A KEEPER; SO I MADE HIM SIT DOWN NEXT TO ROX AND I TOOK A PICTURE OF THE TWO OF THEM…….NO KISSING!

WE ARE ALL HAVING SOME KIND OF FUN BY THIS POINT.  SHORTLY THEREAFTER WE GOT OUR ENTREES AND THEY WERE REALLY GOOD.  ROX HAD A PIECE OF MAPLE SYRUP PIE (KINDA LIKE BUTTERMILK PIE BUT WITH MAPLE SYRUP) WITH A CUP OF HOT TEA AND I HAD A CHOCOLATE MOUSE CAKE WITH A DOUBLE ESPRESSO. AS WE WERE FINISHING UP DESSERT WHEN HE BROUGHT OVER TWO AFTER DINNER LIQUORS TO TOP OFF A GREAT MEAL AND A SUPER EVENING.

WE WALKED A LITTLE MORE AROUND THE TOWN AFTER THAT BIG MEAL AND THEN HEADED BACK TO THE HOTEL ABOUT MIDNIGHT.  WE CAN’T WAIT TO GET BACK TO THE WALLED CITY TOMORROW FOR MORE SHOPPING, EATING AND WALKING AROUND, WE’RE EVEN PLANNING TO GET UP EARLY FOR THAT………………WE’LL SEE IF THAT REALLY HAPPENS.   THIS PLACE WAS WORTH THE WHOLE TRIP, WE COULD EASILY SPEND 2-3 DAYS JUST EXPLORING THIS WALLED CITY AREA…………..HELL, WE MIGHT JUST DO THAT AND DELAY AND RESCHEDULE OUR FLIGHT ON THURSDAY!

[garymancuso-blog1]

MONDAY 5/28/18

SO I GOT UP TO PEE AT 7:30 (THE PEEING PART IS NOT IMPORTANT, IN FACT THAT MAY BE T.M.I., BUT THE 7:30 PART IS KEY) I DECIDED THERE WAS NO REASON TO GET UP NOW.   I FIGURED I’D GO BACK TO SLEEP FOR AN HOUR. WELL 2 HOURS LATER I’M DRAGGING MY ASS OUT OF BED AND ONLY BECAUSE BREAKFAST IS OVER @ 10 AND I WAS HUNGRY. I DON’T KNOW WHAT I’M GONNA DO WHEN I GET HOME, ‘CAUSE I JUST WANT TO SLEEP ALL THE TIME.   SEEMS THE MORE SLEEP I GET THE TIREDER I AM.  THIS IS THE SECOND DAY THAT ROX GOT UP BEFORE ME.

ANYWAY WE GOT ON THE ROAD TO MONTREAL ABOUT 10:30-ISH.  WE TOOK THE FREEWAY TODAY ‘CAUSE WE WANTED TO GET THERE SOONER.  IT WAS A REAL EASY DRIVE OF ABOUT 2.5 HRS.  RIGHT AFTER WE CROSSED OVER INTO QUEBEC WE STOPPED AT AN INFORMATION CENTER. THESE PEOPLE AT THESE CENTERS ARE SO HELPFUL AND FRIENDLY THAT WE ALMOST DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE THIS KINDLY OLD, GRANDMA TYPE LADY THAT IS GOING TO PLANT HER GARDEN THIS WEEKEND.  YEAH, SOMETIMES YOUR GET MORE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED BUT SHE WAS SO NICE.

THE FIRST PLACE WE STOPPED WAS HIGH ON A HILL THAT OVERLOOKS THE WHOLE AREA AND WE COULD SEE THE ENTIRE ISLAND OF MONTREAL.  YEAH, WE DIDN’T KNOW THAT EITHER BEFORE THIS MORNING BUT MONTREAL IS AN ISLAND!!!  THEN WE WENT TO THE OLD TOWN SECTION TO START OUR 7 HOURS OF WALKING.  BEFORE WE EVEN GOT OUT OF THE CAR ROX BOOKED THE HOTEL FOR TONIGHT.  OH, AND BY THE WAY THIS IS ANOTHER REAL WINNER OF A ROOM.  WE ARE BOTH IMPRESSED WITH IT.  IF ANYBODY READING THIS IS PLANNING ON GOING OUT OF TOWN AND NEEDS A HOTEL ROOM I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU TALK TO ROX AND SHE’LL GET YOU A GUARANTEED GEM……….FOR A SMALL FEE, OF COURSE

AS SOON AS WE CROSSED OVER INTO QUEBEC EVERYTHING IS IN FRENCH ONLY.   THAT’S ONE OF THE STIPULATIONS WHEN THEY JOINED CANADA THEY GOT TO KEEP FRENCH AS THEIR PRIMARY LANGUAGE AND THEY DON’T HAVE TO MESS WITH ENGLISH IF THEY DON’T WANT TO.  THE HI WAY SIGNS THAT WE NEED ARE USUALLY ROAD NUMBERS SO WE HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. THE RESTAURANTS IN THE TOURIST AREA HAVE MENUS IN FRENCH AND ENGLISH BUT, WHEN WE GET OUT OF THE TOURIST AREAS EVERYTHING IS IN FRENCH.

EVEN EMPLOYING MY AMAZING LANGUAGE PROWESS I CAN ONLY GUESS ON ABOUT 2% OF THE SIGNS THAT I READ………….GET ME BACK TO MEXICO!   EVER SINCE THE USA HAD STARTED USING SIGNS WITH THOSE SILLY PICTURES TO ILLUSTRATE WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO SAY I THOUGHT THEY WERE COMPLETELY USELESS AND UNNECESSARY.  WELL SINCE I GOT INTO QUEBEC I’M BECOMING A BELIEVER IN THE NEED FOR THESE SILLY PICTURES.

ANYWAY WE START WALKING AND THERE ARE 3 STREETS THAT ARE COMPLETELY WALKING STREETS WITH NO CARS ALLOWED.  WE GET TO THE FIRST ONE WHICH IS ONLY ABOUT 10 MINUTES FROM WHERE WE PARKED. IT IS REALLY CUTE.  IT IS AN OLD STREET WITH WHAT LOOKS LIKE THE ORIGINAL COBBLE STONES FROM THE 1600’S.  THERE ARE INTERESTING SHOPS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET ALONG WITH RESTAURANTS AND BARS THAT ALL HAVE AN OUTDOOR PATIO AREA EXTENDING OUT INTO THE STREET.  

AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES OR SO WE STOP TO SPLIT A CREPE. WE DECIDED THAT TODAY WAS GOING TO BE CREPE DAY SINCE WE’RE IN A FRENCH COUNTRY.   THE FIRST ONE WE TRIED WAS NOT AS LIGHT  AS I HAD HOPED FOR BUT IT WAS STILL GOOD.   OFF WE WENT WALKING THIS STREET AND ANOTHER STREET WHICH IS WIDER THAT HAS SOME ART ON IT.  AFTER  ABOUT AN HOUR WE DECIDE TO STOP FOR OUR SECOND CREPE OF THE DAY.  ALONG WITH THIS CREPE, WHICH WAS LIGHTER AND TENDERER THAN THE FIRST, WE SHARED A CUP OF BAKED FRENCH ONION SOUP.  BOTH THE SOUP AND THE CREPE WERE GOOD.  

MORE WALKING THIS TIME TO THE SECOND OF THE WALKING STREETS WHICH IS ABOUT 25 MINUTES AWAY.  THIS ONE IS MUCH WIDER AND DOESN’T HAVE THE QUAINT TOURISTY FLAVOR TO IT AND LOOKS MORE LIKE THE LOCALS USE THIS ONE.  THERE ARE ALSO SOME MUSEUMS IN THIS AREA.  

RIGHT OFF THIS STREET IS AN ENTRANCE TO THE “MONTREAL UNDERGROUND.”  THERE ARE 20 MILES OF MALLS, RESTAURANTS, OFFICES ETC. ETC. ETC. THAT COMPRISE THIS UNDERGROUND NETWORK.  IN THE WINTER THERE ARE OVER 500,000 PEOPLE A DAY WHO USE THIS UNDERGROUND AREA.

NEXT WE GO TO THE THIRD WALKING STREET AND IT IS A LITTLE SEEDIER THAN THE LAST ONE AND IS ABOUT TWICE AS LONG AS THE OTHERS.  THIS ONE IS DEFINITELY USED BY THE LOCALS.  I DON’T THINK THERE WERE VERY MANY TOURISTS HERE.

BY NOW IT’S ALMOST 8:00 PM AND WE START HEADING BACK TO THE FIRST WALKING STREET.  THERE WAS A PARK REA NEAR THE FIRST WALKING STREET AND WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN THEY SHOW A FILM OUTSIDE AND USE THESE TWO 25 AND 30 STORY BUILDINGS AS THE MOVIE SCREENS AND IT LASTS FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND IS A BRIEF HISTORY OF MONTREAL.  ROX WANTED TO SEE IT SO AFTER A GLASS OF WINE AND A BEER (WE WEREN’T READY FOR THAT NEXT CREPE YET) WE WENT OVER TO THE PARK, SAT ON A WALL AND WATCHED THE MOVIE.

BY THIS TIME IT WAS ALMOST 10:00 PM SO WE WENT BACK TO GET OUR CAR TO GO TO THE HOTEL.  WE GOT HERE TO THE HOTEL SHORTLY AFTER 10 TO REST THE SAME TIRED AND HURTING FEET AND LEGS THAT WE EXPERIENCED YESTERDAY.  SEEMS LIKE OUR WALKING LIMIT, ON CONCRETE AND PAVEMENT, IS 5-6 HOURS AFTER THAT WE’RE NOT WORTH SHOOTING.

[garymancuso-blog1]

SUNDAY 5/28/18

 OH, I FORGOT TO TELL YOU A GOOD STORY ABOUT LAST NIGHT’S DESSERT STOP.  WE WANTED TO STOP TO GET DESSERT, NOT BECAUSE WE WERE HUNGRY OR THAT WE NEEDED IT, BUT JUST ‘CAUSE IT’S VACATION AND YOU REMEMBER THAT YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT ON VACATION.  ANYWAY, AFTER WALKING MANY BLOCKS WITH NOT SIGN OF A BAKERY THAT WAS OPEN (WE DID FIND TWO THAT WERE CLOSED).  WE FINALLY CAME UPON THIS LITTLE RESTAURANT THAT WAS STILL OPEN AND WENT INSIDE AND ASKED IF THEY HAD DESSERTS. THE GUY SAID THAT THEY HAVE GREAT DESSERTS AND WENT AND GOT US A MENU.  HE SUGGESTED A FEW AND WE QUICKLY DECIDED THAT WE COULD SATISFY OUR DESSERT NEED HERE AND SAT DOWN.

AFTER BEING IN A COUNTRY THAT HAS NO IDEA WHAT ICED TEA IS, NOR ANY INTEREST IN TRYING NOR LEARNING THE INTRICACIES HOW HOT TEA INTERFACES WITH ICE CUBES IN A GLASS, WE HAD ALMOST GIVEN UP ON ASKING, BUT ROX, GAVE IT A SHOT, AND ASKED ONE MORE TIME.  WELL, AS ALWAYS WHEN SHE ASKS ABOUT ICED TEA THEY SAY YES THEY HAVE IT BUT UPON FURTHER QUESTIONING WE FIND OUT THAT THEY DON’T BREW TEA, IN FACT ITS NOT EVEN INSTANT TEA, ITS SOME KIND OF SWILL THAT COMES OUT OF A BOTTLE  AND PROBABLY HAS NO ACTUAL TEA IN IT.

ALAS!!! THIS WAITRESS, AS NICE AND CARING AS SHE CAN BE, SUGGESTS THAT SHE COULD MAKE SOME HOT TEA AND POUR IT IN A GLASS OVER ICE.  THE CLOUDS PART, WARM FINGERS OF SUNSHINE CARESS THE EARTH, HEAVENLY MUSIC SWELLS AND THE ANGELS SING, ROXANE’S EYES ARE GLAZED ALMOST WITH TEARS OF THANKSGIVING.  SHE SAYS YES, THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT I WANT,  AS THE WAITRESS STARTS TO LEAVE SHE ASKS IF ‘ORANGE PEKOE’ IS OK, AT THIS POINT SHE COULD HAVE ASKED IF ‘CAT SHIT AND HONEY’ WAS OK AND ROX WOULD HAVE SAID YES.

A FEW MINUTES LATER SHE COMES BACK WITH A GLASS OF CRYSTALLINE DARK AMBER LIQUID OVER A FULL GLASS OF ICE CUBES.  ROXANE ALMOST REACTED LIKE MEG RYAN DID IN THE RESTAURANT SCENE IN THE MOVIE WITH BILLY CRYSTAL, “WHEN HARRY MET SALLY.”  ANYWAY WE GET OUR DESSERT AND I GET A DOUBLE ESPRESSO.

WHEN WE FINISH ROX GOES AND TALKS TO THE MANAGER TO COMPLEMENT AND SING THE PRAISES OF OUR WAITRESS.  SHORTLY THERE AFTER THE WAITRESS COMES OVER TO THE TABLE TO THANK ROX FOR THE KIND WORDS AND WE GIVE HER THE EPISTLE HOW RARE IT IS TO FIND AN EMPLOYEE TO CARE AND TO CARE ENOUGH TO TRY TO MAKE THING HAPPEN RATHER THAN JUST HIDING BEHIND HOW THINGS CAN’T BE DONE.  IT’S LATE, THE WAITRESS, IS TIRED AND FULL OF CAFFEINE AND A TEAR COMES TO HER EYE.

WHEN SHE FINALLY BRINGS THE CHECK SHE TELLS US THAT THE TEA AND THE COFFEE ARE ON THE HOUSE SO WE GIVE HER A $50.00 TIP.  SHE’S HAPPY, WE’RE HAPPY THE ANGELS ARE HAPPY; IT’S A HAPPY FRIGGIN’ SITUATION.

OK, ENOUGH ABOUT LAST NIGHT.  WE GOT UP AND GOT GOING AROUND 9-ISH AND GOT OUT THE DOOR ABOUT 10:30-ISH.  FIRST THING ROX DID WAS BOOK ANOTHER NIGHT ON HOTEL.COM SO THAT WE CHALK UP ANOTHER NIGHT WITH THEM TOWARDS OUR 10 BOOKINGS SO THAT WE WILL GET ONE FREE.  I THEN WENT DOWN TO THE DESK, TOLD THE GIRL WE WOULD LIKE TO STAY ANOTHER NIGHT AND THAT WE BOOKED ON HOTELS.COM AND COULD WE KEEP THE SAME ROOM.  THAT WAS TOO EASY, SHE SAID SURE.  

WE THEN WENT TO THE SATELLITE LOT WHERE WE LEFT THE CAR LAST NIGHT AND BROUGHT IT OVER TO THE HOTEL AND PARKED IT IN THE BASEMENT.  THEY REIMBURSED ME FOR THE $20 FOR LAST NIGHTS PARKING SO NOW WE HAVE SOME CANADIAN DOLLARS TO SPEND.

WE WALKED DOWN TO THE MARKET / CENTER OF TOWN AREA AND SHOPPED A SHORT TIME AND DECIDED TO GO TO THE PARLIAMENT BUILDING TO CHECK ON TOUR TIMES FOR THE CANADIAN PARLIAMENT.  WE DECIDED ON 2:00 WHICH LEFT US ENOUGH TIME TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT, DO A LITTLE SHOPPING AND GET BACK IN TIME FOR THE TOUR.

ANOTHER LIGHT LUNCH, WE SPLIT A CUP OF CLAM CHOWDER AND A BASKET OF FISH AND CHIPS WITH SWEET POTATO FRIES……….ROX DIDN’T EVEN TRY FOR ICED TEA SHE HAD TO SETTLE FOR A DIET PEPSI…………THEY DON’T HAVE COKE PRODUCTS. UGGH, SHE SAYS.

HELL, WE’VE NEVER EVEN BEEN TO THE WHITE HOUSE OR CAPITOL BUILDING IN THE USA, EXCEPT TO WAVE AS WE DROVE BY, BUT HERE WE ARE TOURING THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.  WELL, OF COURSE THE CANADIAN TOURS ARE FREE AND THE USA CHARGES FOR ALL THAT SHIT.

BEFORE THE TOUR WE HAD TO GO THRU 2 SECURITY AREAS, ONE WAS TO TOOK AT AND INTO BAGS AND THE OTHER WAS THE X-RAY LIKE AT AIRPORTS. ROX WENT THRU FIRST AND SET IT OFF SO SHE HAD TO BE WANDED.  IT SEEMS THAT EVERY TIME THE WAND GOT NEAR HER KNEE IT WENT OFF AND THE SECURITY GUY COULDN’T FIGURE IT OUT ‘CAUSE HE DID IT ABOUT 6 TIME FIRST IN FRONT AND THEN IN BACK.  HE CALLED OVER SOMEONE ELSE AND ROX TOLD THEM ABOUT HER PARTIAL KNEE REPLACEMENT AND THAT THE NEW PARTS WERE MADE OF TITANIUM.  THEY BOTH LOOKED AT HER AND THEN AT EACH OTHER LIKE SHE WAS SPEAKING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE.  THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF A PARTIAL KNEE REPLACEMENT.  AFTER THEY BOTH FELT HER KNEE FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS THEY DECIDED TO LET HER GO.  

THE TOUR WAS PRETTY GOOD BUT FOR ME IS WAS A LITTLE TOO LONG.  BY THE END OF THE HOUR PLUS TIME WE SPENT I WAS DONE WITH GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.  WE DID LEARN SOME INTERESTING STUFF BUT MOST OF WHAT I LEARNED ROXANE READ TO ME SITTING ON THE WALL OUT FRONT WHILE WE WAS WAITING FOR THE TOUR TO START.

IN A NUTSHELL, CANADA WAS UNDER BRITISH RULE FOR ALL OF THE 19TH CENTURY AND PART OF THE 20TH CENTURY.  THEY STARTED GETTING THEIR INDEPENDENCE LITTLE BY LITTLE AFTER WW1 AND FINALLY IN 1982 THEY WERE COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT AND ABLE TO MAKE THEIR OWN LAWS.  THE QUEEN STILL IS A FIGUREHEAD AND SYMBOLICALLY NODS (YES SHE LITERALLY NODS HER HEAD TO APPROVE A LAW, SHE DOESN’T SAY ANYTHING, JUST NODS HER HEAD) HER APPROVAL TO THE LAWS THAT ARE ENACTED.  BECAUSE OF HER ADVANCED AGE SHE HASN’T BEEN HERE IN ABOUT 5-7 YEARS.  IN HER PLACE THE GOVERNOR GENERAL DOES THE NODDING.

WE THEN WENT BACK TO THE CENTRAL AREA AND WALKED AROUND S’MORE.  WHILE WE WERE EATING THE RESTAURANT, UNBEKNOWNST TO US THEY HAD A PARTY OF 75 CHINESE TOURISTS FROM COUPLE OF TOUR BUSSES PARKED NEARBY.  BEFORE WE COULD ORDER THE WAITRESS WAS KIND ENOUGH TO TELL US THAT UNLESS WE WANTED SOMETHING FRIED WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT 20-30 MINUTES BECAUSE OF THE CHINESE CLUSTER FUCK BOTTLE NECK.  WE DIDN’T MIND ‘CAUSE WE GOT WHAT WE WANTED ANYWAY.

FACT: CANADA IS COVERED WITH TULIPS.  THEY ARE EVERYWHERE WE HAVE BEEN STARTING RIGHT AT THE BORDER IN NIAGARA.  COME TO FIND OUT THE REASON THE COUNTRY IS OVERRUN WITH TULIPS IS THAT DURING WW2 THE PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA WAS THE ONLY RULER WHO OFFERED THE KING OF HOLLAND AND HIS FAMILY ASYLUM HERE IN CANADA.  TO SHOW THEIR APPRECIATION WHEN THEY GOT BACK TO HOLLAND THEY BEGAN SHIPPING OVER TULIP BULBS AND TO THIS DAY THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF TULIP BULBS ARRIVE EACH YEAR. THIS IS NOT A BAD THING BECAUSE THE TULIPS IN ALL THE VARIOUS VARIETIES LOOK BEAUTIFUL EVERYWHERE.

YOU KNOW THAT FRENCH IS A LANGUAGE WIDELY SPOKEN IN CANADA. SO WHILE WE ARE WALKING DOWN THE STREET HERE I THINK IT IS REALLY NEAT TO HEAR CONVERSATIONS BEING CARRIED ON IN FRENCH.  TO ME IT’S QUITE A PLEASANT LANGUAGE TO HEAR SPOKEN.

ANOTHER TIDBIT.  ALL ALONG THE ROADS WE HAVE TRAVELED, EVEN IN NEW YORK, THERE ARE TONS OF WINERIES.  IF THERE HAS BEEN ONE THERE HAVE BEEN 10,000. IT SEEMS THAT AT THE GREAT MAJORITY OF THEM THEY ARE TOUTING, SELLING, MAKING SOME VARIETY OF WINE CALLED “ICEWINE”.  WE FIND OUT FROM ASKING ABOUT IT THAT IT IS AN EXTREMELY SWEET TASTING WINE.  

 THERE ARE NOT ONLY BOTTLES AVAILABLE, BUT CANDY IN MADE IN “ICEWINE” FLAVOR ALONG WITH MANY OTHER THINGS LIKE CRACKERS, SODA ETC. ETC. ETC.  SO, WITH ALL THIS HUBBUB ABOUT “ICEWINE” WE FIGURE WE WOULD LIKE TO TRY A GLASS TO SEE WHAT IT IS LIKE.  WE START GOING FROM BAR TO BAR ASKING IF THEY SERVE  “ICEWINE” AND THEY LOOK AT US LIKE WE JUST STEPPED OFF A SPACESHIP FROM ANOTHER PLANET.  AFTER WE GET THE “DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS’ LOOK FROM THESE PEOPLE WE FIND OUT THAT THEY DON’T HAVE A CLUE WHAT “ICEWINE” IS NOR HAVE THEY EVER HEARD OF IT……….GO FIGURE!!!!

SO NEEDLES TO SAY WE HAVE STILL NOT TASTED A GLASS OF “ICEWINE” BUT WE DID BUY SOME “ICEWINE” CANDY.  I GUESS THAT WILL HAVE TO SUFFICE FOR THE TIME BEING.

WE WALK TILL WE CAN’T WALK ANY LONGER.  WE HAVE DECIDED TO JUST HAVE SOME APPETIZERS AT SOME DIFFERENT PLACES TONIGHT RATHER THAN SIT DOWN AND HAVE A DINNER – SOMETHING WE USED TO DO BUT HAVEN’T DONE I A LONG WHILE.    SO WE STOP AT A BAR AND GET AN OUTSIDE TABLE AND I ORDER A PINT OF SOME LOCAL BEER AND ROX HAS A DIET PEPSI.  WE SPLIT SOME APPETIZER CALLED “PIMENTO PUB DIP.”  ROX THOUGHT IS WAS OK BUT I DIDN’T LIKE IT.  

WE WALKED HOME AND FINALLY RESTED OUR TIRED FEET AND LEGS.  WE DIDN’T USED TO HAVE TIRED FEET AND LEGS BUT AT THIS AGE THIS IS NOW WHAT WE HAVE.  NOT TO WORRY, AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS (KINDA LIKE RECHARGING A CELL PHONE) WE ARE GOOD TO GO AGAIN.  SO AT 11:30 WE DECIDE TO GO GET OUR SECOND APPETIZER OF THE EVENING..

WE JUST WALKED ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUR HOTEL AND THE BAR WAS HAVING ½ PRICE WINGS FROM 10-MIDNIGHT……LUCKY US THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED.  WE HAD 2 ORDERS OF WINGS AND COUPLE OF PEPSI’S AND THEN LOOKED DOWN THE STREET AND A LITTLE BAKERY RUN BY AN OLDER ORIENTAL COUPLE HAD THEIR DOOR OPEN.  I STUCK MY HEAD INSIDE AND ASKED IF THEY WERE OPEN AND SHE SAID, “NO PROBLEM”.  WE’RE PRETTY SURE THEY WEREN’T OPEN BUT THEY SERVED US WITH A SMILE ANYWAY…………NICE FOLKS.

[garymancuso-blog1]

SATURDAY 5/26/18

MAN, I JUST COULDN’T GET OUT OF BED THIS MORNING AND WHEN I DID IT WAS 9:30 AND I ALREADY NEEDED A SHOT OF 5-HOUR ENERGY JUST TO GET MY EYES OPEN. ROX SAID THAT SHE GOT UP AROUND 9:00. WE GOT ON THE ROAD ABOUT 10:30-ISH HEADED FOR PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY, WHICH IS REFERRED TO UP HERE AS P.E.C.  THE COUNTY ENCOMPASSES AN AREA OF LAND THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE MAINLAND BY ONE SMALL PIECE OF LAND, FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES IT IS AN ISLAND IN A BAY IN LAKE ONTARIO.  

HERE’S ARE FEW THINGS, TODAY WE HAVE FOUND SOME UNIQUE NAMES OF ROADS, LIKE ‘CARRYING POINT ROAD, OR TWELVE-O-CLOCK POINT ROAD, OR HORSE THIEF ROAD AND OF COURSE ‘TUMBLE DOWN ROAD.  ONE FUNNY SIGN FOR TODAY………THIS GOES OUT TO ALL YOUR ANIMAL LOVERS OUT THERE. “THERE IS ROOM FOR ALL OF GOD’S CREATURES………..RIGHT NEXT TO THE MASHED POTATOES.”

THE HAPPENING PLACE IS THE VILLAGE (YES, IT’S A VILLAGE AND NOT A CITY OR A TOWN, BUT I DON’T KNOW THE DISTINCTION) OF WELLINGTON, POPULATION 1,700.  IT IS COMPRISED OF ONE MAIN STREET WITH, SHOPS, HOUSES, STORES, RESTAURANTS AND OFFICES ALL INTERSPERSED AND ALL RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER – OBVIOUSLY NO ZONING IN VILLAGES.  WE WERE TOLD OF A RESTAURANT HERE BY LAST NIGHT’S WAITRESS (THIS IS HER SECOND JOB) SO WE WENT THERE FOR BREAKFAST……….IT WAS A LITTLE AFTER 11:00 AM.

IT IS CALLED BLAKE DEVONSHIRE AND IT IS LOCATED ON LAKE ONTARIO.  WE SAT ON THE BACK PATIO OVERLOOKING THE LAKE.  PLEASANT SURROUNDINGS AND PLEASANTLY COOL ENOUGH TO WHERE THEY SUPPLY LIGHT BLANKETS FOR THE PATRONS LIKE ROXANE.  IT WAS TRENDY FOR A VILLAGE BUT A LITTLE MORE DOWN-TO-EARTH THAN YESTERDAY’S TRENDY LUNCH RESTAURANT.  ROX HAD EGGS BENEDICT BUT IN PLACE OF THE HAM SHE HAD A SLICE OF PORTABELLA MUSHROOM, QUITE UNIQUE AND QUITE GOOD SHE REPORTED.

IT WAS WARM, IN THE 70”S WITH A COOL BREEZE OFF THE LAKE AND A LITTLE OVERCAST, BUT STILL GOOD WEATHER.  WE WALKED UP AND DOWN THE STREET STOPPING, SHOPPING AND BUYING STUFF FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS PLUS THE HOUR WE SPENT AT BREAKFAST.  SO A LITTLE AFTER 2:00 WE WERE ON OUT WAY TO A PLACE CALLED 1000 ISLANDS.  THIS PLACE REALLY INTRIGUED ME SO WE JUST HAD TO GO.

1000 ISLANDS IS LOCATED IN THE NECK OF THE OF THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER AND WAS FORMED AT THE END OF THE LAST ICE AGE, YOU KNOW THE SAME TIME THE GREAT LAKES WERE FORMED.  IT IS A TO OF WHAT REMAINS OF A MOUNTAIN RANGE FROM THE END OF THE ICE AGE. FURTHER GEOGRAPHIC TRIVIA – THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER DRAINS LAKE ONTARIO, THE LAST OF THE LAKES IN THE GREAT LAKES CHAIN. I WON’T WASTE YOUR TIME NAMING THE OTHER LAKES, I’M SURE Y’ALL KNOW THAT.

THERE ARE ISLANDS OF ALL SIZES BUT FOR THE MOST PART THEY RANGE FROM SMALL TO TINY AND THE GREAT MAJORITY ARE DEVELOPED AND INHABITED.  THEY ARE DEVELOPED TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE IS A HOUSE ON THEM.  THERE WAS ONE SO SMALL THAT THE HOUSE WAS ABOUT 500 S.F. AND THE WHOLE ISLAND WAS ABOUT 650 S.F.  

ONE OF THE LARGEST ISLANDS HAS A CASTLE BUILT ON IT.  IT WAS OWNED BY GEORGE BOLDT, HE’S THE MAN WHO BUILT AND OWNED THE WALDORF ASTORIA HOTEL IN NEW YORK CITY.  THE BACK STORY IS WHEN IT WAS ALMOST COMPLETED HIS WIFE DIED AND HE WAS SO BROKEN HEARTED, BECAUSE HE WAS BUILDING IT FOR HER, THAT HE SAID, “FUCK IT” AND JUST WALKED AWAY FROM IT AND LEFT IT UNCOMPLETED. THE CITY TOOK IT OVER, COMPLETED IT AND NOW CHARGES AND ARM AND LEG TO TOUR THE PLACE…………..NEEDLESS TO SAY OUR LIVES ARE COMPLETE WITH ALL THE PREVIOUS MANSIONS THAT WE HAVE TOURED AND VISITED IN THE PAST.

COME TO FIND OUT THAT MOST OF THESE ISLANDS, BEING ON THE BORDER OF CANADA AND THE USA, ARE THE PROPERTY OF NEW YORK.  THERE IS AN OBSERVATION TOWER BUILT ON ONE OF THE ISLANDS THAT WE VISITED FROM THE CANADA SIDE AND WERE TOLD WE COULD GO TO THE TOWER, BUT DIDN’T HAVE TO GO INTO THE UNITED STATES…………..AS IF IT WERE A DIRTY PLACE, AND WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD WANT TO DO THAT.  WE TOOK THE ELEVATOR TO THE TOP AND THEN CLIMBED 3 FLIGHTS OF STAIRS TO THE OPEN AIR DECK ON THE TOP.  HERE ARE SOME INTERESTING TIDBITS THAT WE COLLECTED THERE.  LOOKING NORTH OVER THE HORIZON IT IS ONLY 2562 MILES TO THE NORTH POLE.  LOOKING EAST IT IS ONLY 625 MILES TO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN WHERE THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER EMPTIES OUT.  SOMETIMES I JUST CAN’T HELP MYSELF WHEN IT COMES TO TRIVIA.

OK, BY KNOW THERE ARE PROBABLY 2 QUESTIONS THAT ARE GNAWING AT YOU.  ARE THERE REALLY 1000 ISLANDS AND DO THEY HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH SALAD DRESSING?   NO, THERE ARE ONLY 997 TRUE ISLANDS. (I TOLD THE GUY I WANTED MY MONEY BACK FROM THE TOWER RIDE BECAUSE I PAID FOR 1000 ISLANDS AND ONLY GOT 997.  SECOND, YES, THIS IS WHERE 1000 ISLAND DRESSING WAS CREATED.

IT WAS CREATED BY GEORGE BOLDT (YOU REMEMBER THE UNFINISHED CASTLE).  ONE DAY THEY HAD RUN OUT OF SOME INGREDIENTS NECESSARY TO MAKE THE SALAD DRESSING THAT GEORGE LIKED AND THE CHEF CAME UP WITH THIS CONCOCTION.  GEORGE LIKED IT SO MUCH HE NAME IT 1000 ISLAND DRESSING AND BEGAN SERVING IT AT THE WALDORF ASTORIA AND THE CHEF WHO CREATED IT WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE WALDORF ASTORIA AND BECAME FAMOUS THERE……………….AND THEY ALL LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER……….THAT IS EXCEPT FOR GEORGE’S WIFE………………..

WE DROVE A LITTLE FURTHER ALONG THE LAKE FRONT AND CAME TO THE HAMLET OF ROCKPORT.  IT IS REALLY SMALL, JUST ONE LITTLE SIDE ROAD.  IN TEXAS WE HAVE DRIVEWAYS LONGER THAN THIS.  OTHER THAN A MARINA, A GENERAL STORE AND A BOAT REPAIR SHOP THERE WERE JUST A FEW HOUSES.  I WOULD GUESS THE POPULATION OF AROUND 14.  WE STOPPED IN THE GENERAL STORE AND THEN TRAVELED FURTHER TO THE FREEWAY AND WERE HEADED FOR OTTAWA, ABOUT AND HOUR AND A HALF NORTH.  MORE TRIVIA, OTTAWA IS THE CAPITOL OF CANADA; YOU KNOW THAT’S WHERE JUSTIN TRUDEAU LIVES.  WHO IS JUSTIN TRUDEAU………I’M NOT EVEN GOING TO DIGNIFY THAT WITH AN ANSWER.

ROXANE REALLY HIT IT OUT OF THE PARK WITH TONIGHT’S HOTEL SELECTION.  ON OUR WAY TO OTTAWA SHE WAS BUSIER THAT A CAT COVERIN’ UP SHIT, WITH MAPS, DIAGRAMS, CHARTS FLYING FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK SEAT AND BACK AGAIN, ALL THE WHILE HER LITTLE HAND HELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE WAS HUMMING AND FLASHING.  WE WERE EXPECTING ROOMS TO BE A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE HERE SO SHE BOOKED A ROOM AND THE “BUSINESS INN”.  WHEN WE GOT HERE AND OPENED THE DOOR TO OUR ROOM WE WENT INSIDE AND JUST KEPT WALKING AND WALKING, WE FIRST PASSED THE KITCHEN AND THEN THE SMALL DINING TABLE, IN ONE CORNER WAS THE BATHROOM AND IN YET ANOTHER ROOM WAS THE DESK, COMPLETE WITH A COMPUTER AND PRINTER, AND FINALLY THE KING SIZE BED, 60” FLAT SCREEN TV, A LIVING ROOM AREA WITH A COUCH, CHAIR AND COFFEE TABLE AND A 7’DRESSER ACROSS FROM THE BED.  HELL, THIS IS A SMALL APARTMENT FOR THE PRICE OF A HOTEL ROOM…………WE’RE IMPRESSED.

I HAD TO GO MOVE THE CAR TO A REMOTE PARKING LOCATION BECAUSE ALL IN HOUSE PARKING WAS TAKEN.  THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM SINCE THIS HOTEL IS LOCATED RIGHT DOWNTOWN AND WE CAN WALK TO EVERYPLACE THAT WE WANT TO GO AND WE WON’T HAVE TO USE THE CAR FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.  THE ONLY SMALL INCONVENIENCE, NOT THE FAULT OF THE HOTEL, IS THAT THERE IS A WEEKEND LONG MARATHON RUN GOING ON AND I HAD TO WAIT ABOUT 25 MINUTES BEFORE ALL THE RUNNERS CLEARED AND THE COPS OPENED UP THE STREETS AGAIN BEFORE I COULD MOVE THE CAR.

OTTAWA IS SUCH A REALLY NEAT, EXCITING, FUN AND CLEAN CITY (996,000 PEOPLE) THAT WE COULDN’T WAIT TO GET OUT AND WALK AROUND.  WE FELT THIS ATTRACTION THE MINUTE WE GOT HERE SO WE’VE ALREADY DECIDED TO STAY ANOTHER DAY HERE.

WE WALKED TO WHAT MIGHT BE CALLED THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT (THIS IS WHERE THE BYWARD MARKET IS LOCATED, THAT WE’LL BE VISITING TOMORROW FOR SURE).  THERE ARE SO MANY RESTAURANTS THAT YOU ALMOST CAN’T COUNT THEM ALL AND IF YOU MULTIPLY THAT NUMBER BY 10 THAT IS HOW MANY BARS AND CLUBS THERE ARE AND IF YOU DIVIDE THAT NUMBER BY 3 THAT IS HOW MANY RESTAURANT / BARS THERE ARE…………ANYWAY WHEN YOU GET FINISHED WITH THE MATH IT’S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TRY TO DECIDE ON A PLACE TO EAT.

WE ATE A JOEY RIDIEU’S.  THIS RESTAURANT WAS HAS HIP AS YESTERDAY’S WAS TRENDY AND THE FOOD WAS EXCELLENT, AS A MATTER-OF-FACT THE FOOD ON THIS WHOLE TRIP SO FAR HAS REALLY BEEN OVER THE TOP WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE PLATE OF NACHOS WE HAD A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO…………BUT THAT WAS OUR OWN DAMN FAULT.

THE FARTHER EAST WE GO THE MORE FRENCH IS SPOKEN AND MOST ROAD SIGNS ARE IN ENGLISH AND FRENCH.  TODAY I SAW THE FIRST ROAD THAT ONLY IN FRENCH, LUCKILY IT WASN’T ONE THAT PERTAINED TO ME…………….AT LEAST I DON’T THINK IT WAS!!!

OTTAWA IS SUCH A GROOVY CITY, AGAIN, IF CASSIE AND LEXIE ARE READING THIS BLOG WE’RE SORRY THAT WE NEVER TOOK Y’ALL HERE, Y’ALL WOULD HAVE LOVED IT………….CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE US.  WELL I GUESS Y’ALL CAN NOW VISIT IT ON YOUR OWN AND WE HIGHLY SUGGEST THAT YOU DO IT AND DO IT SOON.

[garymancuso-blog1]

FRIDAY 5/25/18

I GOT UP FIRST, A LITTLE AFTER 7:00.  CLEANED UP AND WENT DOWN TO THE LOBBY AND READ THE PAPER. JUST A LOCAL PAPER WITH LOCAL NEWS, DIDN’T MEAN ANYTHING TO ME, BUT IT WAS A TREAT TO TURN THE PAGES AND READ A NEWSPAPER………….I KNOW THAT’S NOT VERY 21ST CENTURY BUT I STILL LIKE IT. WENT UP ABOUT 10 TILL NINE AND GOT ROXANE UP.  WE GOT OUT THE DOOR A LITTLE AFTER 10:00.

TODAY WE START OUR DRIVE TO TORONTO.  WE TAKE THE FREE WAY AND GET THERE IN ABOUT 30 MINUTES WITH A LITTLE BIT OF TRAFFIC.  TORONTO IS A CITY (2.6 MILLION PEOPLE) ON THE NORTH SHORE OF LAKE ONTARIO.  WE PARK ($25 FOR THE WHOLE DAY) BY THE WATERFRONT AND BEGIN OUR 6 HR. WALK THRU THE CITY.

WE WENT FIRST TO THE OLD (THE ORIGINAL 10 BLOCKS) SECTION. WHEN TORONTO WAS FOUNDED IT WAS CALLED YORK.  THEN WE WENT TO THE CITY CENTER AND SAW THE NEW CITY OFFICE BUILDING (ULTRA MODERN, LOTS OF GLASS AND STEEL) RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE OLD CITY OFFICE BUILDING (FROM 1889, MADE OF BROWN CUT STONE) QUITE AN INTERESTING CONTRAST.

BY THE WAY THE WEATHER WAS BEAUTIFUL AGAIN TODAY, NOT A CLOUD IN THE SKY, AROUND 80 DEGREES WITH 55% HUMIDITY.  I HOPE OUR LUCK HOLDS OUT FOR THE REST OF THE TIME ‘CAUSE I BROUGHT MOSTLY SHORTS.

ROXANE AND SIRI FOUND US A PLACE TO EAT ABOUT A HALF A MILE AWAY AND WE (ROX, SIRI AND I) WALKED TO IT.  WHAT A SURPRISE, ROX FOUND US ANOTHER GEM AND THIS ONE IS A TRENDY RESTAURANT TO BOOT.  HOW DID WE KNOW IT WAS A TRENDY RESTAURANT WELL THE FIRST CLUE WAS THAT IT WAS IN A TRENDY OLD BUILDING AND THE DOOR WAY WAS A 20’ CIRCLE OF GLASS IMBEDDED IN THIS OLD BRICK BUILDING.

YOU KNOW IT’S GOING TO BE A TRENDY RESTAURANT WHEN THE FIRST QUESTION THE HOSTESS ASKS YOU IS IF WE HAD RESERVATIONS.  WE SAY NO AND SHE ASKS IF WE WOULD LIKE TO BE SEATED AND A COMMUNAL TABLE WITH TRENDY PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY TO OUR LEFT AND RIGHT, OR WOULD WE LIKE TO WAIT FOR A PRIVATE TABLE.  WELL NO WORRIES WE COULD STAND BY THE TRENDY RAISED TABLES AND THE TRENDY BEARDED BARTENDER, SPEAKING IN TRENDY LOW TONES ASKED IF WE WANTED TRENDY DRINK WHILE WE WAITED FOR OUR TRENDY TABLE.   IT’S ALSO A DEAD GIVE AWAY THAT IT WILL BE A TRENDY RESTAURANT WHEN THE WHOLE INSIDE IS ONLY 25’ WIDE.  WE ARE SEATED IN A FEW MINUTES IN A TRENDY BACK ROOM THAT OVERLOOKS THE TRENDY KITCHEN FROM A WOODEN BAR WHERE CURIOUS TRENDY PEOPLE COULD BE SEATED SO THAT THEY MIGHT BE AS ONE WITH THE KITCHEN HELP.

WE AGAIN KNEW IT WAS A TRENDY RESTAURANT WHEN WE WERE SEATED AND THE TABLES TO OUR LEFT AND TO OUR RIGHT WERE ONLY 10” – 12” APART, BARELY ENOUGH ROOM FOR THE TRENDY LITTLE WAITRESSES ADORNED WITH STRATEGICALLY PLACED TRENDY TATTOOS TO SLIDE IN BETWEEN SO THAT THEIR TRENDY LITTLE ASSES WERE AT EYE LEVEL TO THE TABLE BEHIND THEM.  THE TRENDINESS WAS NOT TO BE QUESTIONED WITH ITEMS LIKE RABBIT AND PORK PATE APPETIZERS.

OH, AND LIKE ALL TRENDY RESTAURANTS, IT WAS SO LOUD FROM ALL OF THE TRENDY CONVERSATIONS GOING ON THAT YOU  COULDN’T HEAR THE WAITRESS WHEN SHE SPOKE IN A LOW AND BREATHY TRENDY VOICE TO DELIVER THE INFORMATION ON THE TRENDY SPECIALS OF THE DAY.  OH, AND IN CASE THERE WAS ANY DOUBT ABOUT THE TRENDINESS OF THIS RESTAURANT, LET THERE BE NO DOUBT WHEN THE LAST QUESTION THE WAITRESS ASKS WHEN SHE TAKES YOUR ORDER IS, “DO YOU HAVE ANY FOOD ALLERGIES?”

AND JUST A WORD ABOUT THE TRENDY KITCHEN, LIKE ALL TRENDY KITCHENS IT WAS CERTAINLY STAFFED WITH TRENDY CHEFS BECAUSE UNLIKE SUBWAY OR MCDONALDS WHERE EVERYONE IN THE PLACE HAS TO WEAR HAIR NETS AND THOSE FUNKY PLASTIC GLOVES WHERE EVERYTHING SLIPS OUT OF YOUR HANDS AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE GUMBY HANDS; THIS TRENDY KITCHEN STAFF HAD NO HAIRNETS AND COULD READILY PICK UP THE FOOD WITH THEIR HANDS AND PLACE IT ON THE PLATES ARRANGING IN A TRENDY FASHION.

NOW, DON’T GET ME WRONG, THE RESTAURANT WAS VERY NICE, THE STAFF EXTREMELY HELPFUL AND THE FOOD WAS GOOD.  I JUST WANTED TO HAVE SOME FUN WITH THE AMBIANCE.

AFTER LUNCH WE WALKED SOME MORE STREETS AND FINALLY FOUND THE TRENDY, NO REALLY, THIS IS THE WORD THE GUIDE BOOKS USED FOR THE QUEEN WEST AND THE WEST QUEEN WEST DISTRICTS.  THIS STREET (QUEEN STREET) IS LINED WITH ECLECTIC SHOPS, COFFEE SHOPS, STORES OF ALL KINDS (FROM FABRIC STORES TO MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES), CAFES, RESTAURANTS, BAKERIES AND ICE CREAM SHOPS.  WE COVERED EVERY BLOCK ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET IN THIS AREA.  OH, YES, DID I MENTION RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IS LEGAL IN TORONTO.

IT WAS IN THIS AREA WHERE WE MET THE RUDEST PERSON IN TORONTO AND ALSO THE MOST TALKATIVE PERSON IN TORONTO.  ROX WANTED A GLASS OF ICE TEA SO WE STOPPED IN A LITTLE BAKERY AND SHE ASKED THE GRIM LOOKING WOMAN BEHIND THE COUNTER IF SHE HAD ICED TEA.  “NO, WE HAVE FRESHLY BREWED EARL GREY TEA,” WELL, ROX SAYS, DO YOU HAVE ICED TEA,”  “NO, WE DON’T DO ICED TEA.”  “WELL DO YOU HAVE ICE WATER,” ROX ASKS, “NO, WE JUST HAVE TAP WATER.”  

NOW, WHAT I WANTED TO SAY AS WE WALKED OUT, BUT DIDN’T WAS, “THANK YOU FOR LETTING US SHARE YOU SHITTY DAY AND PISS POOR ATTITUDE.

WE STOPPED INTO A LEATHER SHOP AND AFTER SOME CURSORY CONVERSATION ROX MENTIONS THAT WE ARE FROM TEXAS AND BEFORE ROX COULD FURTHER DESCRIBE WHERE IN TEXAS WE LIVED THE YOUNG GIRL STARTS TALKING OVER ROXANE AND INQUIRES IF THIS WAS OUR FIRST TRIP TO CANADA.  ROX BEGINS TO TELL HER THAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY VISITED EASTERN CANADA AND THAT WE REALLY LIKED PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, AND BEFORE ROX COULD TELL HER OF THE OTHER PLACES WE’D VISITED WHILE THERE SHE CUTS ROX OFF AND BEGINS TELLING US THAT PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND IS WHERE SHE IS FROM.  

ANYWAY SHE WENT ON ABOUT HER LIFE IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, HER SCHOOL YEARS, HER MOTHER AND HER GRAND MOTHER, HER FIRST BOY FRIEND, HER UNCLES, HER FRIENDS IN JUNIOR HIGH AND IN HIGH SCHOOL, HER MOVE TO TORONTO, OTHER PEOPLE THAT SHE’D MET TODAY WHO WERE FROM PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, THE COLOR OF THE SOIL ON PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND AND OF COURSE THE WORLD FAMOUS POTATOES THAT COME FROM PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.  

I DON’T KNOW FOR SURE, BUT SHE MAY STILL BE TALKING ABOUT HERSELF AND HER LIFE IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND BECAUSE WE LEFT THE STORE.  AGAIN, I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SAY TO HER, BUT DIDN’T, “THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME; IT WAS NICE LISTENING TO YOU TALK.”

WE WALKED BACK TO THE CAR AND SPENT SOME TIME IN THE RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, BY NOW IT WAS ABOUT 6:00 PM.  WE DROVE FOR A WHILE ON THE SHORE LINE ROAD AND EVENTUALLY GOT ON THE FREE WAY AND GOT A ROOM ON THE LAKE IN THE LITTLE TOWN OF TRENTON.  WE WERE NOT VERY HUNGRY SO WHERE DO WE GO TO EAT TONIGHT…………YES, AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT.  YOU KNOW AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT IS WHERE YOU GO TO HAVE A LIGHT MEAL AND IN 2-3 DAYS YOU’RE HUNGRY AGAIN.  NO, REALLY, WE SPLIT AN APPETIZER AND A PLATE OF FETTUCCINI ALFREDO AND WERE TO FULL FOR DESSERT.

WE’RE OFF TO PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY TOMORROW.   THIS IS NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND THAT YOU HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT A FEW PARAGRAPHS BACK.  THAT PRINCE EDWARD IS AND ISLAND OFF THE EASTERN COAST OF NEW BRUNSWICK, WHERE WE ARE GOING TOMORROW IS AND AREA IN A BAY ON THE NORTHERN SHORE OF LAKE ONTARIO IN THE PROVINCE (CANADA DOES NOT HAVE STATES, THEY HAVE PROVINCES) OF ONTARIO.

[garymancuso-blog1]

THURSDAY 5/24/18

MAN, WE JUST COULDN’T GET OUT OF BED THIS MORNING. FINALLY GOT MOVING AROUND 9:00 AND DIDN’T LEAVE NIAGARA TILL AFTER 10:30 AM.  NOW DON’T GET ME WRONG THAT IN AND OF ITSELF IS NOT A PROBLEM BECAUSE THE ONLY PLAN FOR THE DAY WAS TO GO TO THE LITTLE OF TOWN OF “NIAGARA ON THE LAKE” WHICH IS ONLY ABOUT A HALF HOUR UP THE ROAD.  

OUR FIRST STOP WAS TO THE ONTARIO VISITOR CENTER.  THE LITTLE GIRL THERE WAS SUPER HELPFUL AND GAVE US REAMS OF INFORMATION, MAPS, BROCHURES, MAGAZINES, FLYERS AND WHATEVER OTHER PAPER GOODS WE COULD CARRY OUT OF THERE.  SHE EVEN HELPED US ORGANIZE SOME OF IT AS “WE’LL USE THIS STUFF NOW,” AND, “WE’LL USE THIS OTHER STUFF LATER.”  SHE OFFERED US ”ELASTICS” TO HELP KEEP THE TWO CATEGORIES SEPARATED.  I WONDERED WHAT “ELASTICS” WERE UNTIL I SAW HER REACH FOR SOME RUBBER BANDS.

HERE IS ANOTHER DESCRIPTION THAT IS VASTLY DIFFERENT IN CANADA. ON OUR HOUSES WE PUT UP ROOF GUTTERS TO CATCH THE RAIN THAT COMES OFF OF THE ROOF AND SEND IT DOWN THROUGH DOWNSPOUTS. HERE THE GUTTERS ARE CALLED “ROOF TROUGHS”!!!!!

WE GOT TO NIAGARA ON THE LAKE A LITTLE AFTER 11:00, LOOKED AROUND AT A FEW STORES, THEN WENT TO EAT LUNCH / BREAKFAST…………..YOU KNOW WHATEVER YOU CALL THE FIRST MEAL OF THE DAY AT 11:30 AM.  AGAIN TODAY WE HAVE A LIGHT LUNCH AND THIS TIME NO DESSERT. ROX HAD AN APPETIZER PORTION OF FRIED CALAMARI AND SHE SAID IT WAS GOOD.  I ORDERED A GREEK SALAD AND WAS PROMPTLY ADVISED BY THE WAITRESS, “YOU KNOW THERE’S NO LETTUCE IN THAT SALAD.”  WELL, THAT WAS QUITE SURPRISING TO ORDER A SALAD WITH NO LETTUCE, BUT SHE ASSURED ME THAT IT’S THE CORRECT WAY TO SERVE A GREEK SALAD BECAUSE THE OWNERS OF THE RESTAURANT ARE GREEK AND THAT’S THE WAY, THEY SAY, IT’S DONE IN GREECE.

SO I EAT MY BOWL OF OLIVES, STRIPS OF GREEN AND YELLOW PEPPER, THINLY SLICED PURPLE ONION, CUCUMBER, TOMATOES AND A LITTLE BIT OF FETA CHEESE IN A VINEGAR AND OIL BATH. NO COMPLAINTS, IT WAS GOOD AND I’M GUESSING IT WAS THE ULTIMATE MEDITERRANEAN DIET STAPLE.  ONE THING THAT WAS GLARING THAT WE NOTICED IS THAT ICE TEA AROUND HERE IS NOT BREWED BUT RATHER GRANULES TAKEN OUT OF A JAR AND MIXED WITH WATER, ALSO WE ARE REMINDED EACH TIME THAT THERE ARE NO REFILLS ON THE TEA.  SO IF YOU WANT MORE OF WHAT THEY CALL ICED TEA YOU JUST ORDER ANOTHER ONE.  NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS IS NOT THE LAND OF ICED TEA.

THIS IS A SUPER CUTE AND QUAINT TOWN WITH LOTS OF SHOPS, GALLERIES, BOUTIQUES, CAFES AND RESTAURANTS.  WE SPENT ABOUT 3 HOURS THERE WALKING IN AND OUT OF SHOPS.  ROX BOUGHT A FEW THINGS.  SINCE IT DOESN’T TAKE ME AS LONG TO SEE INSIDE OF A STORE AS ROX AND I WAIT OUTSIDE FOR HER TO BE FINISHED.  THIS TOWN HAD REAL NICE BENCHES OUT IN FRONT OF ALMOST EVERY STORE SO I WAS HAPPY TO SIT IN THE SUN AND WAIT TO GO INTO THE NEXT STORE.  SINCE I DID NOT HAVE THE DEGREE OF INTEREST IN THE MERCHANDISE THAT ROX EXHIBITED I SPENT MOST OF MY TIME READING FUNNY SIGNS. SINCE IT WOULD BE FOOLISH FOR ME TO BUY ANY NEW SIGNS FOR OUR WALL, SINCE WE ARE TRYING TO GET RID OF STUFF, I FIGURED I’D SHARE THEM WITH Y’ALL

·         BETTER TO GET THERE LATE, THAN TO ARRIVE UGLY

 ·         LORD GIVE ME COFFEE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN AND GIVE ME WINE TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CAN’T

 ·         IF YOU LICK THE ICING OFF OF YOUR CUPCAKE IT BECOMES A MUFFIN…………AND MUFFINS ARE HEALTHY

 ·         MARRIAGE IS THE SOLE CAUSE OF THE HIGH DIVORCE RATE

 ·         TODAY I ATE A CUPCAKE WITHOUT SPRINKLES…………..DIETS ARE TOUGH

 ·         FRIENDS ARE THERAPISTS THAT YOU CAN DRINK WITH

 ·         LADIES, IF A MAN SAYS HE’S GONNA FIX IT, HE’LL FIX IT. YOU DON’T HAVE TO KEEP REMINDING HIM EVERY 6 MONTHS

 FROM NIAGARA ON THE LAKE WE HEADED WEST TO START OUR TREK TOWARDS TORONTO, OTTAWA, MONTREAL AND QUEBEC CITY.  WE’LL SEE HOW FAR WE GET WITH THOSE PLANS BECAUSE OUR TRIPS ARE TRULY ABOUT THE JOURNEY AND NOT THE DESTINATION.  THIS IS EVIDENCE BY THE WAY WE TRY TO STAY OFF MAJOR HI WAYS AND FREEWAYS  AND JUST TAKE WHATEVER BACK ROADS WE CAN FIND TO TRY TO GET THE LOCAL FLAVOR OF THE PEOPLE AND PLACES IN THE SMALL TOWNS.  

WE FOUND OUR FIRST BACK ROAD AND IT FOLLOWED ALONG THE SHORELINE OF LAKE ONTARIO.  WE TRAVELED THAT THROUGH A NUMBER OF SMALL TOWNS AND STOPPED IN A FEW OF THEM TO SHOP. ONE MAJOR SHOPPING TRIP YIELDED A DRESS AND A BLOUSE FOR ROX.  IT LOOKED EXPENSIVE BECAUSE IT WAS IN CANADIAN DOLLARS BUT WE’RE PUTTING EVERYTHING ON OUR CREDIT CARD THAT HAS NO FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEE AND WHEN I LOOK AT IT ON THE CREDIT CARD STATEMENT IT ISN’T SO BAD BECAUSE IT SHOWS UP IN AMERICAN DOLLARS.

THE WEATHER WAS GREAT THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS IT WAS IN THE 80’S BOTH DAYS AND THE NIGHTS ARE REAL COOL.

WE GET BACK ON THE LITTLE ROAD TO THE NEXT TOWN AND AS WE STOP IN THE SHOPPING DISTRICT (WHICH IS ONLY ABOUT 3 BLOCKS LONG)  WE SEE A NEIGHBORHOOD BAR / RESTAURANT AND ROX SAYS SHE’D LIKE A LITTLE SOMETHING, LIKE ANOTHER APPETIZER, SO IN WE GO.  IT’S ABOUT 5:30 ISH AND THE PLACE IS HOPPIN’ WITH LOCALS.  ROX COULD TELL THEY WERE LOCALS BECAUSE AS THEY CAME IN THEY ALL KNEW EXACTLY WHERE THEY WANTED TO SIT, THEY ALL GREETED OTHERS IN THE BAR AND THE WAITRESSES ALL KNEW THEM.  SINCE THE PLACE HAS BEEN THERE FOR OVER 40 YEARS THIS IS PROBABLY THE SECOND GENERATION NOW.

WE GOT A SMALL ORDER OF NACHOS GRANDE (KIND OF AN OXYMORON I KNOW) AND IT WAS REALLY BIG, NOT REALLY GOOD BUT REALLY BIG.  IT WAS ENTERTAINING JUST WATCHING ALL THE LOCALS.  WE GOT BACK ON THE ROAD AND THIS TIME WE HAD TO GET OFF OF THE SMALL ROAD AND GET ON THE MAIN FREEWAY (THE Q.E.W., SHORT FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH WAY, FOR A SHORT WHILE, THEN GOT BACK ON THE SHORE LINE ROAD AGAIN.

THERE WERE A NUMBER OF TOWNS, THIS TIME BIGGER TOWNS CONNECTED BY THIS SHORE LINE ROAD.  AS IT WAS AFTER 7:00 WE WANTED TO FIND A ROOM FOR THE NIGHT.  THE FIRST TROUBLE WAS THAT, EVEN THOUGH, WE WERE IN A DENSELY POPULATED AREA WE COULDN’T FIGURE OUT WHY THERE WAS NO CELL PHONE SERVICE SO ROX COULDN’T DO HER MAGIC WITH HOTELS.COM.  THE SECOND PROBLEM WAS THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN A HOTEL ALONG THIS ROAD ALL AFTERNOON, SO WE HEADED TOWARDS THE HI WAY TO TRY TO FIND A HOTEL AND LOW AND BEHOLD AS WE NEARED THE HI WAY ROX HAD CELL PHONE SERVICE.

SHE DID HER MAGIC IN RELATIVELY SHORT ORDER AND WE PULLED IN AND WENT UP TO OUR ROOM FOR THE NIGHT.  IT’S AMAZING THAT THE CONFIRMATION IS AT THE HOTEL ALMOST IMMEDIATELY WHEN WE GET OUR EMAIL CONFIRMATION.  WE WERE AT THE HOTELS WITHIN IN JUST A FEW MINUTES OF MAKING THE RESERVATION AND THEY ALREADY HAD IT ON THEIR COMPUTER.  THE REASON I’M AMAZED IS BECAUSE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO IT WAS NOT DONE THAT INSTANTANEOUSLY.

NOT REALLY HUNGRY FOR A BIG MEAL WE WALK OVER TO THE “TIM HORTON’S” NEXT DOOR AND GET A COUPLE OF BLUEBERRY MUFFINS.  TIM HORTON’S IN CANADA IS WHAT A DENNY’S OR IHOP IS IN THE USA.

TOMORROW’S PLAN IS TO CONTINUE EAST AND PROBABLY HAVE A MEAL IN TORONTO.  THE REASON I SAID THAT WE ARE CONTINUING EAST WHEN BEFORE I TOLD YOU WE WERE HEADED WEST IS THAT WE WENT AS FAR WEST AS W COULD AND NOW WE WILL BE TRAVELING THE NORTH SHORE OF LAKE ONTARIO HEADED GENERALLY EAST.

[garymancuso-blog1]

WEDNESDAY 5/23/18

OK, SO WE DIDN’T MAKE THE 9:00 DEAD LINE.  BUT WE DID GET TO THE FALLS AREA BETWEEN 9:30 AND 10:00. IT’S NOT THAT WE WERE LAZY IT’S JUST THAT WE WERE SO FRIGGIN’ TIRED THAT WE DIDN’T WAKE UP TILL 8:45.  MAN! WAS IT A BIG DAY……….MAYBE I SHOULD TELL YOU ABOUT IT.

PARKING IS A PREMIUM EVERYWHERE THAT WE GO HERE IN CANADA. THE HOTEL CHARGES $25 PER DAY TO PARK IN A PARKING LOT IN FRONT OF THE HOTEL.  AS WE’RE WALKING ON THE STREETS WE SEE THAT ALL HOTELS AND MOTELS CHARGE FOR PARKING.  RESTAURANTS CHARGE FOR PARKING, EVERYBODY CHARGES FOR PARKING!  SO WE GET DOWN TO THE PARK THIS MORNING AND SCOPE OUT A $5.00 ALL DAY PARKING AND WE’RE GOOD.

THERE IS THIS THING CALLED A DISCOVERY PASS THAT PACKAGES A BUNCH OF THE ATTRACTION’S TOGETHER FOR A DISCOUNTED PRICE.  AFTER DOING OUR HOMEWORK THE NIGHT BEFORE WE DECIDE IT WOULD MAKE ECONOMIC SENSE FOR US TO GET THE PASSES.   WE STOP IN A STORE TO PURCHASE OUR PASSES AND ROX START’S THE CONVERSATION WITH, “I THINK WE WANT TO GET 2 DISCOVERY PASSES.”  THE LADY PICKS UP ON, “I THINK” AND BEGINS TELLING US ON HOW IT’S NOT THAT GOOD OF A DEAL AND FOR US TO JUST GO TO CERTAIN ATTRACTIONS AND PAY AS WE GO.  WE LOOK OVER THE ATTRACTIONS AND THERE ARE SOME THAT WE WANT TO SEE EVEN THOUGH THE LADY SAYS THEY ARE NOT THAT GOOD AND WE DO THE ARITHMETIC THERE IN FRONT OF HER AND SHE AGREES, SO WE GET TWO PASSES.

WE START OFF BY GOING TO SEE A MOVIE ON THE FALLS.  IT WAS OK.  ROX LIKED IT BETTER THAN I DID.  IT WASN’T ENOUGH DOCUMENTARY AS IT WAS JUST TOUCHING ON THE MAJOR HEADLINES, BUT I’M NOT COMPLAINING.  IT’S REAL HANDY THAT EVERY TIME YOU EXIT AN ATTRACTION THERE JUST HAPPENS TO BE A GIFT STORE THAT YOU FIND YOURSELF IN.  WE WERE PRETTY GOOD ABOUT JUST WALKING THRU AND FINDING THE DOOR OUT.

HERE’S WHERE I SHOULD STOP AND TELL EVERYONE WHO HAS NOT BEEN TO SEE NIAGARA FALLS THAT THEY ARE MISSING OUT ON SOMETHING REALLY EXCITING, INTERESTING, BREATH TAKING AND EDUCATIONAL.  RIGHT AFTER YOU FINISH READING TODAY’S BLOG, DROP WHAT YOU’RE DOING AND GO TO NIAGARA FALLS………….YOU WON’T REGRET IT.  

IF CASSIE OR LEXIE ARE READING THIS MOM AND I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR NOT TAKING Y’ALL HERE WHEN YOU WERE KIDS………….IF WE HAD ONLY KNOWN……………CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE US?

ANOTHER REASON FOR SEEING IT RIGHT AWAY IS THAT IT HAS ERODED OVER 7-1/2 MILES IN THE LAST 10,000 YEARS AND THEY SAY THAT WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN AND THAT SOON IT WILL BE GONE AND YOU WILL HAVE MISSED IT, AND WHEN IT’S GONE. IT’S GONE.  YOU’VE ONLY GOT ABOUT ANOTHER 10,000 – 12,000 YEARS OR SO, SO DON’T WAIT TILL THE LAST MINUTE.  DON’T MAKE ME SAY I TOLD YOU SO!

THE NEXT ATTRACTION WE DECIDE TO GO TO IS “THE CAVE OF THE WINDS”.  HERE YOU ENTER A BUILDING AND A GUY, STANDING BEHIND A COUNTER COVERED ABOUT 18” DEEP WITH BLUE AND GREEN DISPOSABLE RUBBER SANDALS ASKS YOU WHAT SIZE YOU WANT.  AFTER DONNING THE STYLISH SANDALS AND STORING YOUR SHOES IN A PLASTIC BAG YOU GET ON AN ELEVATOR AND DESCEND 175 FEET AND IT LETS OUT JUST A LITTLE ABOVE WATER LEVEL OF THE RIVER (OH, BY THE WAY EVEN THOUGH YOU LOOK ON THE MAP AND IT SHOWS THE NIAGARA RIVER DRAINING LAKE ERIE, GOING OVER THE FALLS AND EVENTUALLY EMPTYING INTO LAKE ONTARIO THE NIAGARA RIVER IS NOT A RIVER, IT IS TECHNICALLY A STRAIT.  THAT’S GOOD BECAUSE I’VE ALWAYS LEARNED THAT ALL NORTH AMERICAN RIVERS RUN FROM NORTH TO SOUTH AND THIS WATER WAY RUNS SOUTH TO NORTH……I WAS REALLY CONFUSED UNTIL I DISCOVER THE STRAIT THING)

MEANWHILE BACK AT THE WATER LEVEL OF THE “STRAIT”, THEY HAND YOU A YELLOW RAIN SLICKER WITH A HOOD AND YOU TRAVEL AT YOUR OWN PACE ALONG WOODEN DECKS AND WALKWAYS GETTING EVER CLOSER TO THE FALLING WATER, (HOW MUCH WATER IS FALLING YOU MIGHT ASK……………THAT’S 675,000 GALLONS PER SECOND!!) NOW THE CLOSER YOU GET TO THE FALLING WATER THE WETTER YOU ARE GETTING, THUS THE NEED TO COVER YOUR CLOTHES WITH THE PLASTIC RAIN SLICKER.  THERE ARE PLACES YOU CAN STAND AND IT’S JUST LIKE STANDING IN THE SHOWER, THE WATER IS FALLING DIRECTLY ON YOU.  

A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD STAND THERE WITH WATER DRENCHING THEM AND THEN TURN AROUND SO SOMEONE ELSE COULD TAKE A PICTURE OF THEM STANDING IN THE WATER WITH THEIR BACKS TO THE FALLS.  I COULDN’T SEE ANY SENSE IN THAT SO I JUST STOOD WHERE I COULD STILL SEE THE FALLS AND I DIDN’T HAVE TO HAVE WATER FALLING ON MY HEAD TO APPRECIATE THE MAJESTY OF THE FALLS; I STILL GOT PLENTY WET AND WAS PROUD OF IT.  

OK, SO NOW WE GO BACK UP THE ELEVATOR AND OUT TO AN AREA WHERE WE DISPOSE OF THE RAIN SLICKER AND THE SANDALS AND OFF WE GO TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FALLS TO AN OBSERVATION AREA.  THERE ARE THREE FALLS, AMERICAN FALLS, BRIDAL VALE FALLS AND THE MOTHER OF ALL FALLS – HORSESHOE FALLS.  THE CAVE OF THE WINDS TAKES YOU TO AMERICAN FALLS.  THIS OTHER OBSERVATION AREA TAKES US TO HORSESHOE FALLS.  WE SEE THESE FALLS FROM ABOVE AND DOWN BELOW WE CAN SEE THE BOATS THAT TAKE YOU ALMOST UP TO THE FALLING WATER OF THESE BIG FALLS.  WE GO TO ALL THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF THE OBSERVATION AREA AND FINALLY IT’S TIME TO EAT.

THERE’S A RESTAURANT THERE CALLED “TOP OF THE FALLS” WHERE YOU CAN GO IN AND ORDER A REGULAR MEAL NOT THE AFETERIAS THAT CAN BE FOUND AT OTHER PLACES.  WE SIT BY THE GLASS FRONT OF THE BUILDING AND CAN SEE ALL OF HORSESHOE FALLS FROM OUR TABLE…..REALLY COOL.

WE ORDER SUCH LOW CALORIE, HEALTHFUL FOODS AND ARE SO PROUD OF OUR HEALTHFUL WAYS AND THAT WE ARE JUST EATING LIGHT.  I HAD BAKED HADDOCK WITH QUINOA AND ROASTED EDEMAME AND CORN; ROX HAD A BOWL OF THICK VEGETABLE SOUP.  WE ARE STILL PATTING OURSELVES ON THE BACK FOR SUCH WONDERFULLY HEALTHY CHOICES THAT WE DECIDE TO REWARD OURSELVES  FOR BEING SO GOOD BY SPLITTING A PIECE OF APPLE PIE FOR DESSERT.  THEY BRING THIS PIECE OF PIE TO THE TABLE AND IT’S EASILY AS BIG AS A SMALL SUV.  WELL SO MUCH FOR LIGHT AND HEALTHY EATING.

ANOTHER OF THE ATTRACTIONS INCLUDED IN OUR MONEY-SAVING PASS IS AN ALL DAY PASS FOR RIDING THE TROLLEY WHICH TRAVELS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PARK.  SO, WHEN WE SHOULD HAVE WALKED TO WALK OFF THAT APPLE PIE, THIS IS WHEN WE DECIDE TO RIDE THE TROLLEY TO THE 200 FT TALL OBSERVATION TOWER THAT HANGS OUT OVER THE WATER BELOW.  HERE WE HAVE MORE BREATH TAKING VIEWS.  

NEXT ON THE AGENDA……..I TOLD YOU THIS WAS A FULL DAY………. IS THE BOAT RIDE OUT TO THE FALLING WATER, THIS ATTRACTION IS CALLED “MAID OF THE MIST”.  THE MIST RISING OVER THE FALLING WATER IS CONSTANT AND RISES 150 – 200 FEET AND SOMETIMES IS SO THICK IT RESEMBLES FOG.  NOTHING COULD HAVE PROPERLY PREPARED US FOR THIS “MAID OF THE MIST” BOAT RIDE.  

HERE WE ARE AGAIN ISSUED RAIN SLICKERS, THIS TIME THEY ARE BLUE.  AS THE BOAT PULLS AWAY FROM THE DOCK WE ARE STANDING ON THE OPEN TOP DECK AT THE FRONT OF THE BOAT AND WE CAN SEE THAT THE FALLS ARE ONLY A LITTLE BETTER THAN A QUARTER MILE AWAY.  AS WE APPROACH THE FALLS WE BEGIN TO FEEL THE EFFECTS OF THE MIST AND OF COURSE IT IS EXACERBATED BY THE WIND WHIPPING DOWN THE GORGE.  WE GET CLOSER TO THE FALLING WATER AND THE MIST IS SO THICK AND BEING BLOWN IN YOUR FACE WITH SUCH FORCE THAT YOU COULDN’T SEE THE FALLS ANYMORE AND EVERYTHING WAS JUST WHITE IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES.  IT IS LIKE RIDING A MOTORCYCLE INTO A BLINDING TEXAS THUNDER STORM.

ANOTHER ANALOGY WOULD BE IF YOU SAW THE GEORGE CLOONEY MOVIE, “THE PERFECT STORM,” YOU BEGIN TO IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE STANDING ON THE DECK OF THAT FISHING BOAT BEING HIT WITH 100 FT WAVES OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.  PERHAPS ONE LAST ANALOGY IS IN ORDER…………IF SOMEONE TOOK A FIRE HOSE AND STOOD 10 FEET IN FRONT OF YOU AND OPENED IT UP FULL FORCE.  

I HOPE THESE ANALOGIES GIVE YOU SOME SORT OF PICTURE OF HOW WET AND HOW UNCOMFORTABLE IT WAS BEING PELTED WITH THAT MUCH WATER………….BUT LORD KNOWS WE ARE HAVING FUN.  NOW I KNOW WHY THEY CALL THIS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE……..THAT’S BECAUSE YOU’D HAVE TO BE CRAZY TO EXPOSE YOURSELF TO THIS PERIL MORE THAN ONCE IN YOUR LIFETIME.

FINALLY THE BOAT TURNS AROUND AND HEADS BACK TO SHORE AND YOU CAN FEEL THE WARM SUNSHINE ON YOUR FACE AGAIN.  NOW YOU CAN FEEL WHERE THE WATER GOT PASSED THAT PLASTIC SLICKER AND RAN DOWN ON YOUR CHEST AND STOMACH UNDER YOUR SHIRT AND NOW THE FRONT OF YOUR SHIRT IS SOAKED ALSO.  AS YOU EXIT THE BOAT YOUR HAIR IS COMPLETELY WET AND HANGING IN YOUR FACE AS YOU WALK OFF THE BOAT PASSED THE LINE OF PEOPLE WAITING TO GET ON FOR THE NEXT RIDE.  I WONDER WHAT THEY’RE THINKING.

WE DECIDE TO WALK TO THE DISCOVERY CENTER THAT’S ABOUT ¾ OF A MILE AWAY AND GET THERE TO DISCOVER (GET IT, THE DISCOVERY CENTER) YES WE DISCOVER THAT EVEN THOUGH THE SIGN OUT FRONT SAYS IT’S OPEN DAILY AT 9:00 AM, WE DISCOVER IT’S CLOSED UNTIL SATURDAY.  WE TAKE THE TROLLEY ONE STOP TO THE PARKING LOT AND GET OUR CAR.  BY NOW IT’S AFTER 4:00.

THERE WERE A COUPLE OF LITTLE VILLAGES THAT WE SAW ON ONE OF THE MAPS, THAT WERE JUST UP THE ROAD 8-10 MILES SO WE WENT ON A DRIVE TO SEE WHAT WE COULD SEE.  THEY WERE CUTE, QUAINT AND LOADED WITH INTERESTING HOUSE ARCHITECTURE THAT WAS PROBABLY FAIRLY EXPENSIVE ALSO.  THE BEST PART FOR ME WAS THAT THE ROAD WENT INTO FORT NIAGARA AND ENDED AT THE SHORES OF LAKE ONTARIO.  I AM FASCINATED WITH THE GREAT LAKES AND SO EXCITED TO SEE AND TOUCH THEM.  ROX WALKED THE SHORE FOR A WHILE GATHERING TREASURES, STONES, SEA GLASS, STICKS AND ROCKS AND ONE COPPER BUTTON COVER THAT WE FIGURE WAS FROM THE WAR OF 1812.  I LAID ON THE SOFT GRASS AT THE SHORE AND FELL ASLEEP.

WE DROVE BACK TO NIAGARA AND BACK ACROSS THE BRIDGE TO CANADA AND TO OUR HOTEL.  WELL REMEMBER LAST NIGHT THE A/C WAS JUST BARELY LIVABLE AND THEY PROMISED TO FIX IT TODAY AND THAT I CALLED THEM BEFORE WE LEFT THIS MORNING TO REMIND THEM AND THAT THEY SAID THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY AS SOON AS WE LEFT.  WELL, GUESS WHAT, YOU GUESSED IT….NO A/C.  

LONG STORY SHORT, I WENT TO THE FRONT DESK AND THEY UPGRADED US TO A 2 BEDROOM SUITE WITH A JACUZZI IN THE BEDROOM AND REMOVED OUR PARKING FEE FOR THE TWO DAYS, AND BEST OF ALL THIS NEW ROOM HAS OPERABLE A/C

I TOOK A SHOWER AND IT WAS MY TURN TO PICK THE RESTAURANT FOR TONIGHT.  I CHOSE DOC MAGILLIGANS IRISH PUB AND RESTAURANT.  IT WAS ONLY A 15-20 MINUTE WALK SO, BEING THE EXERCISE BUFFS THAT WE ARE, WE DECIDED TO WALK.  WE SPLIT AN APPETIZER OF “BOXTY” (THAT A POTATO PANCAKE THAT WRAPPED AROUND MOST ANYTHING YOU WANT.  TONIGHT IT WAS WRAPPED AROUND TWO KINDS OF CHEESE AND THEN THE WHOLE THING WAS WRAPPED IN BACON.  SO BETWEEN THE BACON, POTATO AND CHEESE …………WHAT’S NOT TO LIKE.  

WE THEN SPLIT AN IRISH MIXED PLATTER WITH 3 RAMEKINS FILLED WITH CURRY CHICKEN, SHEPARD’S PIE AND STEAK AND MUSHROOM.  SPLITTING A MEAL IS MUCH BETTER THAN EATING TWO FULL MEALS. WE HAVE TO GET BETTER AT THIS.  WE WALKED HOME AND I WROTE AND ROX WATCHED TV.

[garymancuso-blog1]

TUESDAY 5/22/18

TRAVEL DAY, AND MIGHT I ADD AN EARLY TRAVEL DAY.  WE GOT STARTED AT CASSIE’S HOUSE AT 3:00 AM, TO LEAVE AT 4:00 AM, TO GET THE AIRPORT AT 4:15 AM, SO THAT WE CAN DEPART AT 5:15 AM. YES, THAT’S EARLY.  EVEN THE TSA GUYS COMPLAIN ABOUT IT BEING A ‘GOD-AWFUL-HOUR’ TO DO ANYTHING.  CASSIE DROVE US TO THE AIRPORT EVEN THOUGH SHE GRACIOUSLY AND GENEROUSLY OFFERED TO CALL US AN UBER CAR.  I TOLD HER I HAD ALREADY LOADED THE SUITCASES IN HER CAR………….SO OFF WE WENT…………….THANKS, CASSIE.

OUR FIRST LEG OR THIS TREK WAS FROM AUSTIN TO BALTIMORE. IT WAS A VERY UNEVENTFUL FLIGHT, WHICH, OF COURSE, IS THE WAY ALL FLIGHTS SHOULD BE, EXCEPT THAT THE SUN CAME UP DURING THAT FLIGHT, BUT WHO WOULD KNOW?  IT WAS VERY OVERCAST AND WHEN WE GOT TO BALTIMORE IT WAS RAINING.

HAVING COME FROM THE ISLAND IT WAS A WONDER THAT I STILL RECOGNIZED RAIN SINCE WE HAVEN’T SEEN IN ABOUT 2 MONTHS.  WE GRABBED SOME BREAKFAST AT THE AIRPORT SINCE WE HAD ABOUT A 3 HOUR LAYOVER.  SINCE ROX DOES NOT EAT BREAKFAST THE GRABBED A LITTLE LUNCH.  I HAD AN OMELET AND SHE HAD A BOWL OF SOUP.

MAN, THREE HOURS IN THE BALTIMORE IS TOO LONG……….LIKE W.C. FIELDS SAID,  “BALTIMORE, YEAH, I SPENT 2 WEEKS THERE ONE DAY!”  ANY WAY WE’RE SITTING AT THE GATE WITH STILL AN HOUR OR SO TO GO AND FINALLY THE FACT THAT WE GOT UP AT 3:00 THIS MORNING IS HITTING US HARD AND WE CAN’T STAY AWAKE.  WE TAKE TURNS WALKING UP AND DOWN THE CONCOURSE, AND I FIGURE A LITTLE SUGAR SHOULD DO THE TRICK SO I GET SOME HONEY CASHEWS.  WELL, I GUESS AT THIS POINT THERE’S NOT ENOUGH SUGAR THAT WE CAN INGEST WITHOUT GOING INTO DIABETIC SHOCK, SO, TIRED IS HOW WE WILL STAY.  

WE FINALLY GET TO BUFFALO AND WE HAD TO WAIT AT THE HERTZ COUNTER WHILE THEY GET A CAR CLEAN FOR US AND THE OTHER 7 PEOPLE THAT ARE ALSO WAITING.  I GUESS SOME OR ALL OF THE CAR CLEANING GUYS DIDN’T SHOW UP BECAUSE THE DESK AGENT SAID THEY WERE A LITTLE SHORT ON PERSONNEL. SO WE FINALLY LEFT THE AIRPORT ABOUT 3:00 PM.

SINCE IT WAS OVERCAST AND DRIZZLY WE WERE IN NO HURRY TO GO TO THE FALLS NOW SINCE WE PROBABLY COULDN’T SEE MUCH, SO WE WENT SOUTH TO A STATE PARK AREA AND A BEACH AREA, WOODLAWN BEACH.  ALTHOUGH IT WAS CLOSED (IT WILL BE OPEN NEXT WEEK FOR THE BEGINNING OF SUMMER) WE WENT UNDER THE ROPES ACROSS THE BOARDWALK THAT LEADS TO THE BEACH.  AS WE GOT TO THE END OF THE BOARDWALK AND COULD SEE THE LITTLE WAVES BREAKING ON THE SAND (THIS BODY OF WATER IS LAKE ERIE) WE SAW A WORKER SHOVELING SAND OFF OF THE BOARDWALK.  

HE WAS EXTREMELY FRIENDLY AND WE STRUCK UP A CONVERSATION (HE REMINDED ME OF THE LINE IN THE JIM CROCE SONG, ’YOU DON’T MESS AROUND WITH JIM.’  “HE WAS BIG AND DUMB AS A MAN CAN COME, AND STRONGER THAN A COUNTRY HOSS.”  AS WE WALKED CLOSER TO WHERE HE WAS WORKING I SAID, “I KNOW THE BEACH IS CLOSED BUT, WE JUST WANTED TO SEE……,” BEFORE I COULD EVEN GET THE WORDS OUT HE SAYS, “OH, DON’T WORRY ABOUT THAT, SINCE YOU’RE HERE IT’S OPEN FOR YOU.”  WOW, THAT’S SURE NOT WHAT WE EXPECTED.  

TURNS OUT IT WAS ONLY CLOSED BECAUSE THEY HAD SOME HEAVY EQUIPMENT ON THE BEACH EARLIER IN THE DAY CLEANING UP THE BEACH FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW SUMMER SEASON.  I WAS REALLY GLAD TO HEAR THAT BECAUSE I REALLY WANTED TO SEE LAKE ERIE.  HE WAS REAL TALKATIVE AND THE THREE OF US LISTENED TO HIS STORIES ABOUT THE AREA FOR ABOUT 20+ MINUTES.  HE TOLD US HE HAD GROWN UP LESS THAN A MILE FROM THERE AND STILL LIVES THERE.  HE MADE THE ANALOGY, “I’M LIKE A DEER, I NEVER TRAVEL MORE THAN A MILE FROM MY HOME UNLESS I’M BEING CHASED”.

HE TOLD US THAT HE WORKED AT THE FORD PLANT IN TOWN FOR 34 YEARS AND FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS HE WAS WORKING FOR CITY SUPERVISING THE BEACH AREA (EVEN THOUGH IT WAS BILLED AS A STATE PARK, WHEN TIMES GOT LEAN FOR THE STATE, NEW YORK GAVE THE PROPERTY TO THE CITY AND NOW THE CITY RUNS IT).  HE LAMENTED ON HOW THE CITY POLITICS TRICKLED DOWN TO HIM AND AS HE SAYS, “NOW YOU’VE ALWAYS GOT CITY OFFICIAL’S SNOT NOSED SON AS YOUR BOSS!”

WE BID HIM FAREWELL, OR WE’D PROBABLY STILL BE THERE LISTENING TO ALL OF HIS STORIES.  I GUESS HE DOESN’T SEE MANY PEOPLE WITH JUST HIM AND HIS MILES OF BEACH EVERY DAY.  WE GET BACK TO THE CAR AND HEAD NORTH TOWARDS NIAGARA FALLS.  WE CROSS A COUPLE OF BRIDGES AND DRIVE ACROSS GRAND ISLAND AND DRIVE UP AND DOWN SOME OF THE STREETS OF THE NEW YORK NIAGARA FALLS AREA THAT WE PLAN ON VISITING TOMORROW. ROX GATHERS UP A HALF A TON OF MAGAZINES AND BROCHURES ON THE AREA AND WE HEAD ACROSS THE BRIDGE, THE RAINBOW BRIDGE, WHICH GOES TO CANADA.

WE PLAN ON STAYING ON THE CANADA SIDE OF THE FALLS BECAUSE THE EXCHANGE RATE IS FAVORABLE WITH CANADIAN CURRENCY.  FOR AN AMERICAN DOLLAR WE CAN GET $1.31 WORTH OF CANADIAN GOODS OR SERVICES.   ANYWAY I WAS ANXIOUS TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN CANADA………..SINCE WE’VE SPENT SO MANY NIGHTS IN THE USA ALREADY THIS YEAR!!!!!!

ROX GOT ON HOTELS.COM FROM HER PHONE AND FOUND A RADISSON INN AND SUITES THAT LOOKED GOOD, SO WE DROVE TO IT AND SAT IN THE PARKING LOT AND BOOKED IT.  THE ROOM WE BOOKED HAD 2 QUEEN BEDS AND WHEN I GOT TO THE DESK I CHARMED THE YOUNG GIRL BEHIND THE COUNTER AND ASKED IF WE COULD GET A KING ROOM INSTEAD.  SHE NOT ONLY FOUND A KING ROOM BUT , FOR SOME REASON, SHE FELT THAT WE NEEDED A KING SUITE WITH A JACUZZI IN THE BEDROOM AREA, IT ALSO HAD A SEPARATE LITTLE LIVING ROOM AND A BAR SINK WITH A ‘FRIDGE AND MICROWAVE, ALL AT NO ADDITIONAL COST.  WELL, THAT WAS A NICE SURPRISE.  

WE FRESHENED UP A BIT AND ROX FOUND A SUPERB PLACE TO EAT THAT WAS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE, NAPOLI’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT.  IT REMINDED ME OF SOME OF THE SMALL, QUAINT, MAFIA LOOKING PLACES THAT WE HAD FREQUENTED IN SAN FRANCISCO AND NEW YORK CITY.  THE ATMOSPHERE WAS PERFECT AND WE HAD A SEMI PRIVATE TABLE FOR TWO BUT WITH STILL PLENTY OF ROOM AROUND THE TABLE.  

WE SPLIT A CALAMARI APPETIZER THAT WAS COOKED NOT AS CRISP, THAT ROX REALLY LIKED, AND WE EACH ORDERED A PASTA DISH.  I STARTED OFF WITH A GLASS OF NIAGARA FALLS AREA MERLOT AND IT WAS VERY SMOOTH AND SURPRISINGLY GOOD.  I FINISHED OFF THE MEAL, AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF WITH SOME ESPRESSO AND ROX HAD AN AMARETTO ON THE ROCKS.  WE COULDN’T EVEN ASK FOR A NICER DINING EXPERIENCE.

THE YOUNG WAITER WAS FROM THE TORONTO AREA AND GAVE US SOME TIPS OF PLACES TO SEE IN AND AROUND THE TORONTO AREA.  HE ALSO CONFIRMED THAT GIVEN THE LAID BACK, NO PLANS MADE, TRIP THAT WE LIKE THAT MONTREAL, QUEBEC CITY AND OTTAWA WOULD FIT US QUITE NICELY.

WE WALKED BACK TO THE HOTEL AND NOTICED THAT THERE WERE LARGE INVENTORIES OF POTTED 5 GALLON FLOWER POTS AT RESIDENCES AND AT COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.  THERE WERE SO MANY LARGE, COLORFUL FLOWERS THAT I FELT LIKE I WAS IN HOLLAND OR AMSTERDAM. THERE WERE ALSO MANY EMPTY LOTS THAT WE WALKED BY AND AT FIRST THEY APPEARED TO BE COVERED WITH WEEDS BUT AS WE GOT CLOSER THEY WERE ALL SUPER LARGE DANDELIONS EACH WITH A HUGE WHITE FLUFFY HEAD SO EVEN THE WEEDS ARE PRETTY AROUND HERE.

WE GOT BACK TO THE ROOM AND ROX GOT IN HER BEDROOM JACUZZI TUB AND I AM WRITING TODAY’S JOURNAL.  ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT THE ROOM IS NOT GETTING VERY COOL.  LET’S HOPE THAT IT WILL BE COOLER LATER TONIGHT.  WELL, IT’S ABOUT 12:30 AM AND WE’VE BEEN UP FOR ALMOST 22 HOURS…..MAYBE WE’LL TRY SLEEPING FOR A WHILE, ‘CAUSE WE WANT TO BE AT THE FALLS AREA ON THE USA SIDE TOMORROW AT AROUND 9:00 AM

[garymancuso-blog1]

SUNDAY AND MONDAY 1/28/18 AND 1/29/18

I’M COMBINING THESE TWO DAYS BECAUSE WE’RE SPENDING MOST OF THE DAY LYING ON THE BEACH.  SINCE WE HAVE TO LEAVE SHORTLY, THIS IS WHERE WE WANT TO SPEND THE MOST TIME; LISTENING TO THE WAVES CRASH AND WITH THE BREEZE IN OUR FACES WITH FOOD AND DRINK BEING BROUGHT TO US.  

SUNDAY TOOK A CAB TO THE POINT, YOU REMEMBER THE SURFER’S PLACE THAT IS VERY PRIMITIVE AND WE FOUND SOME CHASES ON THE BEACH WITH AN UMBRELLA AND I HAD A COUPLE OF BEERS AND A SALAD AND ROX HAD GUACAMOLE.  SEEMS THAT EVERY LITTLE RESTAURANT HAS THESE CHASES AND UMBRELLA SET UPS ON THE BEACH AND THEY WILL ALL SERVE YOU ON THE BEACH.  AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS WE WALKED UP TO THE ZICATELA AREA WHERE WE GOT A COUPLE OF DRINKS UNDER A PALAPA BAR.  WE TOOK A CAB AND GOT BACK IN THE LATE AFTERNOON.

IT WAS FUNNY THAT AT THE LAST BAR WHEN WE ASKED FOR OUR CHECK IT WAS VERY PLAINLY PRINTED AND SAID 50 PESOS.  WE GAVE THE GUY A 100 PESO BILL AND WE WERE GOING TO TIP HIM 40 PESOS.   HE BROUGHT US OUR CHANGE AND IT WAS ONLY 40 PESOS.  ROX JUMPED INTO HIS SHIT WITH BOTH FEET AND HE KEPT TELLING HER THE BILL WAS 60 PESOS, TO WHICH SHE ARGUED THAT IT WAS 50.  HE THEN WENT BACK AND PRODUCED THE BILL AND LO AND BEHOLD THE 50 WAS CROSSED OUT AND 60 WRITTEN IN.  ALTHOUGH IT WAS ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO BE 60 ROX TOLD HIM IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT IF THE WAS TO BE CHANGED HE SHOULD HAVE TOLD US AND NOT JUST RETURN US SHORT CHANGE.  OK,  SO NOW THE CAB DRIVER DROPS US OFF AT THE HOTEL, I GIVE HIM A 50 PESO BILL AND WAIT FOR MY 10 OR 15 PESOS IN CHANGE SINCE THIS IS WHAT IT HAS BEEN FOR THIS WHOLE MONTH AND ALSO THE YEAR BEFORE. WELL, THE DRIVER DOESN’T SEEM TO BE REACHING FOR ANY CHANGE AND I CATCH HIS EYE AND HE SAYS IT WAS 50 PESOS.  I IMMEDIATELY TELL HIS ITS FORTY PESOS AND HE SAYS, “OH, FORTY” LIKE IT WAS SOME KIND OF REVELATION TO HIM AND REACHES FOR THE CHANGE TO GIVE ME.

AS I GET OUT OF THE CAB I ASK ROX IF THERE IS SOME KIND OF SIGN ON OUR FOREHEADS THAT SAYS “PLEASE FUCK ME ANY CHANCE YOU GET.”  THIS WAS REALLY STRANGE TO SEE THIS DOWN HERE BECAUSE OUR ONLY EXPERIENCE WITH FOLKS IS THAT THEY ARE HONEST AND HELPFUL AND THEN TO SEE IT TWO TIMES IN A ROW NOT EVEN 15 MINUTES APART WAS ALMOST LAUGHABLE.

LATER THAT NIGHT WE WENT BACK TO THE ADOQUIN TO TRY A NICE RESTAURANT THAT WE HAD NEVER TRIED BEFORE, ‘PASCALES’.  THE SETTING WAS VERY NICE ON A WOODEN DECK RIGHT AT THE EDGE OF THE SAND OVERLOOKING THE FISHING BOATS WITH A CANDLE ON THE TABLE.  THE CANDLE WAS NICE FOR AMBIANCE BUT NOWHERE NEAR ENOUGH LIGHT TO READ THE MENU!  THE MEAL WAS GOOD BUT NOT OUTSTANDING.

THE REASON WE WENT TO THE ADOQUIN WAS TO SEE IF ROX’S JEWELRY GUY WAS BACK YET SO THAT SHE COULD GET HER PENDANT, EARRINGS AND THE CHAIN HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BRING BACK.  WELL, HE WASN’T BACK YET BUT WE WERE TOLD HE’D BE BACK TOMORROW.  OK, SO WE HEAD HOME

MONDAY OUR ONLY GOAL IS TO WALK TO ZICATELA, FIND SOME CHASES, TABLE AND UMBRELLA AT ROSARITO’S AND SPEND THE WHOLE DAY ON THE BEACH READING, DOZING, LISTENING TO PODCASTS IN THE SHADE. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL WITHOUT A PROBLEM.  OTHER THAN A FEW SHORT WALKS ON THE BEACH WE DON’T MOVE OUT OUR CHASES UNTIL ABOUT 5:30. WE THOUGHT WE MIGHT LIKE TO SPLIT A PIZZA FOR SUPPER AND BEGIN WALKING DOWN THE BOULEVARD THERE IN THE ZICATELA AREA.

WE COME TO THE PIZZA PLACE AND IT’S CLOSED (PROBABLY BECAUSE IT’S MONDAY) BUT NO BIG DEAL.  WE DECIDE TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE NICER HOTELS THERE ON ZICATELA AND GO TO THREE OF THEM WHERE WE COLLECT INFO ON RATES FOR A MONTH FOR NEXT YEAR AND ASK TO SEE SOME OF THE ROOMS.  NEXT YEAR WE’RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING WITH A KITCHENETTE.  THE FIRST ONE WAS NICE BUT EACH SUCCESSIVE ONE WAS TWICE AS NICE AS THE ONE BEFORE AND THE LAST ONE WAS LIKE A PALACE.  BY THE TIME WE LEAVE OUR TONGUE’S ARE HANGING OUT IT WAS SO NICE.  WE MIGHT GO BACK TOMORROW AND SEE ABOUT RESERVING AND LEAVING A DEPOSIT.

BY NOW IT’S DARK SO WE TAKE A CAB OVER TO THE ADOQUIN TO CHECK ON THE JEWELRY GUY.  WHEN WE GET IN THE CAB WE HAVE A REAL YOUNG DRIVER AND HE HAS SOME OLD CARLOS SANTANA MUSIC ON THE RADIO.  I IDENTIFY THE SONG AND WE BOND IMMEDIATELY OVER THE MUSIC.  I ASK HIM IF HE PLAYS GUITAR, TO WHICH HE RESPONDS, ”YES,” I ASK HIM IF HE PLAYS LIKE SANTANA HE LAUGHS AND SAYS, “NO”.  I TELL HIM I PLAY AND WE TALK GUITAR FOR A FEW MINUTES.  WHEN HE DROPS US OFF HE SAYS IT WAS 35 PESOS, I HAND HIM A 50 AND HE SAYS HE DOESN’T HAVE CHANGE AND THE ONLY OTHER SMALL BILL I HAVE IS A 20.  HE TAKES IT AND TELLS ME DON’T WORRY ABOUT THE BALANCE THE 20 IS OK.  SO I CATCH UP TO ROX AND TELL HER ABOUT THE FARE AND SAY THAT WE MUST HAVE GOTTEN THE GUITAR PLAYER’S DISCOUNT ON THE CAB.

WE FIND THE JEWELRY GUY THERE AND HE TELLS US OF HIS WOES ABOUT HIS 16 HOUR BUS RIDE FROM TAXCO. TAXCO IS WHERE ALL THE GOOD MEXICAN SILVER IS MINED AND SOLD.  GOOD MEXICAN SILVER MUST BE STAMPED WITH “.92” ON EACH PIECE AND TAXCO IS WHERE THIS SILVER COMES FROM.   BLESS HIS HEART, HE IS SO DISORGANIZED THAT WE FIND HIM WITH ALL HIS JEWELRY PIECES JUST STREWN ON TOP OF HIS DISPLAY CASES, I GUESS HE WAS GOING TO PLACE THEM IN AN ORGANIZED FASHION IN THE CASES AT SOME POINT BUT WHO KNOWS WHEN.

THERE ARE RINGS, EARRINGS, PENDANTS, CHARMS AND BRACELETS THAT ROX STARTS SIFTING THROUGH AND FINDS THE PENDANT AND EARRINGS THAT SHE WAS AFTER, BUT WAIT, SHE FINDS A BEAUTIFUL RING THAT WAS JUST SHOUTING HER NAME IN THE MIDST OF THIS PILE OF JEWELRY.   THAT’S IT, THE ORIGINAL PENDANT AND EARRING ARE NOW HISTORY (HE DIDN’T HAVE A LONG CHAIN ANYWAY) AND SHE IS INFATUATED WITH THIS RING.  SHE ASKS IF THERE ARE MATCHING EARRINGS AND HE HAPPILY ANSWERS AFFIRMATIVELY AND ROX ASKS WHERE THEY ARE, HE JUST POINTS TO THE TWO PILES OF JEWELRY PIECES STREWN ON TOP OF THE DISPLAY CASES AND SAYS, “SOMEWHERE IN THERE.”  I SPOT TWO SETS OF THEM, HE THANKS ME AND ROX PICK THE TWO SHE LIKES FROM THE SET OF FOUR.  

WE MAKE OUR DEAL AND TELL HIM WE ARE GOING ACROSS THE STREET TO EAT AND WE’LL BE BACK IN ABOUT AN HOUR TO WHICH HE TELLS US THAT HE WILL POLISH UP THE PIECES AND HAVE THEM READY WHEN WE GET BACK.

WHILE WE WERE THERE HE SHOWED US PILE OF ABOUT 10-12 OLD U.S. SILVER DOLLARS AND SAID HE WANTED TO MAKE KEY CHAINS OUT OF THEM.  I SAW THAT THEY WERE ALL 19TH CENTURY COINS THAT HAD A MINT MARK ON THEM SO I THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE REAL.  HE ASKED IF WE KNEW HOW MUCH THEY MIGHT BE WORTH.  I SAID I DIDN’T KNOW EXACTLY BUT I’M SURE THAT THEY ARE WORTH MORE THAT A DOLLAR EACH.

DURING SUPPER WE GOOGLED SOME INFO ABOUT A COUPLE OF THE COINS AND FOUND THAT THEY MIGHT BE WORTH UPWARDS OF $250.00 EACH.  WE WENT BACK AND TOLD HIM AND HE WAS WILLING TO SELL THE WHOLE PILE FOR $50.00. I TOLD HIM TO DO SOME HOMEWORK ON THEN WEB AND HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SELL THEM TO SOME COLLECTOR OR NUMISMATIC DEALER IN THE UNITED STATES (I DIDN’T USE THE WORK NUMISMATIC IN MY CONVERSATION WITH HIM) AND HE MAY BE ABLE TO SELL THEM AND MAKE SOME MONEY.  HE SEEMED EXCITED ABOUT MAKING THE MONEY BUT A LITTLE UNSURE AS TO HOW TO GO ABOUT IT. ANYWAY THAT SHOULD KEEP HIM BUSY FOR A WHILE AND IF ALL ELSE FAILS SOMEBODY WILL UNKNOWINGLY GET A VALUABLE KEY CHAIN.

WE TOOK A CAB HOME WONDERING HOW WE WILL SPEND, TOMORROW OUR LAST DAY!!!!!!

[garymancuso-blog1]

SATURDAY 1/27/18

I DIDN’T HAVE AN ENTRY FOR YESTERDAY ‘CAUSE WE DIDN’T DO MUCH OF ANYTHING.  WE ALL HAD BREAKFAST AT THE HOTEL @9:00 THEN ROX AND I DROVE CASS AND BEHZAD TO THE AIRPORT (WHICH IS ABOUT 5 MINUTES AWAY) AND DROPPED THEM OFF FOR THEIR FLIGHT.  ROX AND I DROVE THE RENT CAR TO THE AGENCY, IN ZICATELA, TO RETURN IT AND THEN WALKED HOME FROM THERE.  ROX WAS TIRED SO SHE RESTED, NAPPED AND WATCHED TV THE REST OF THE DAY AND I WROTE AND LISTENED TO PODCASTS.  WE WENT TO DINNER ABOUT 7:00 AND WATCHED A MOVIE WHEN WE GOT HOME.  THAT’S ABOUT IT FOR THE DAY.

AFTER EXPLORING ALL OF OUR OPTIONS ROX SUGGESTED WE GO TO THE MEXICAN BEACH, PUERTO ANGELITO.   THIS IS WHERE THE LOCALS ALONG WITH BUS LOADS OF VACATIONING MEXICANS GO TO THE BEACH.  GIVEN THAT THIS WAS A WEEKEND DAY THAT WOULD BE LOTS OF PEOPLE THERE TO LOOK AT AND ENTERTAIN US.  WE WERE NOT DISAPPOINTED.  THIS COVE IS ABOUT 400 YARDS WIDE AND THERE ARE ABOUT 30+ SMALL BOATS THAT ALL LOOK THE SAME.  THEY SEAT ABOUT 6-8 PEOPLE AND THE GUY AT THE BACK DRIVES IT WITH AN OUTBOARD MOTOR.

THERE WERE ABOUT 3000 PEOPLE IN THE WATER AND ANOTHER 3000 UNDER PALAPAS AND UMBRELLAS AT THE UPPER PART OF THE BEACH SITTING AT TABLES.  WE STOOD AT THE SHORE FOR A WHILE AND WERE MESMERIZED BY THE ORGANIZED CHAOS THAT WAS GOING ON IN THE WATER WITH ALL THE COMING AND GOING OF THESE SMALL BOATS.  IT’S JUST AMAZING THAT NO ONE GOT HIT, RUN OVER OR DROWNED.  

WE FOUND A TABLE UNDER SOME UMBRELLAS AT THE FRONT PART OF THE RESTAURANT SO WE COULD HAVE AN UNOBSTRUCTED VIEW OF THE BEACH.  WE WERE THE ONLY WHITE FOLKS THERE AMONG ALL THESE PEOPLE.  THESE MEXICANS WERE PROBABLY NOT LOCALS BECAUSE TOO MANY OF THEM WERE FAT. IF YOU REMEMBER IN EARLIER POSTS THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE TOWN WERE SO SMALL AND SLIGHT IN STATURE.  THERE SURE WEREN’T MANY OF THESE TYPES AT ALL.  

WE SPLIT A FRIED SHRIMP PLATE; I HAD A COUPLE OF BEERS AND ROX THE COKA-LITES AND JUST WATCHED ALL OF THE ENTERTAINING ACTIVITY.  ROX WAS NOTICING HOW ALL THE HUNDREDS OF KID ALL PLAYED, TALKED AND LAUGHED WITH OUT HAVING MUCH ADULT SUPERVISION AND DEFINITELY NO HOVERING.  A QUICK WALK THRU THE JUNK KIOSKS AND WE WALKED BACK UP THE STEEP HILL TO THE MAIN STREET.  WHILE WE WERE ON THE BEACH WE COULD SEE SOME BIG HOUSES ON THE CLIFFS OFF TO THE NORTH EAST SO WE DECIDED TO TRY TO FIND THOSE HOUSES AND WE TOOK OFF TO THE NORTH EAST.

WE WENT UP AND DOWN HILLS INTO AREAS WE HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY EXPLORED AND FINALLY FOUND THE AREA AND THE HOUSES AND HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS.  BY NOW IT WAS GETTING REAL HOT AND ROX’S KNEE WAS HURTING SO WE DECIDED TO GO ANOTHER QUARTER MILE OR SO TO THE ADOQUIN WHERE WE WOULD HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF CATCHING A CAB.  WE GOT TO THE ADOQUIN STREET AND WENT TO OUR FAVORITE LITTLE BAR WHERE WE COULD GET A FRONT TABLE AND LOOK OUT AT THE BEACH AND GET A GOOD BREEZE.  WE WALKED IN AND OUR TABLE WAS EMPTY AND WE SAT THERE FOR A WHILE WITH A COUPLE OF DRINKS WITH THE BREEZE IN OUR FACES.

GOT THE CAB HOME AND I HIT THE HAMMOCK AND ROX WATCHED TV AND PLAYED HER I-PAD GAME.  WE WENT TO DINNER ABOUT 7:00 AND DECIDED TO GO TO THE ADOQUIN TO SEE IF ROX’S JEWELER WAS BACK YET WITH THE CHAIN THAT HE PROMISED AND TO PURCHASE THE PENDANT AND EARRINGS SHE HAD SEEN PREVIOUSLY.  WE TOOK A CAB AND FOUND THAT THE SHOP WASN’T OPEN SO WE WALKED ON TO ZICATELA AND ATE AT THE SANTA FE RESTAURANT.  WE SPLIT AND ORDER OF CALAMARI AND SPINACH ENCHILADAS THEN WALKED ON DOWN ZICATELA LOOKING A THE SHOPS.  IT WAS ALMOST EERIE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ONE ON THE STREET OR IN THE RESTAURANTS AND BARS AND HERE IT WAS SATURDAY NIGHT.  WE COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHERE EVERYONE WAS ALTHOUGH THERE WERE TONS OF LARGE TOUR BUSES PARKED EVERYWHERE.

WE TOOK A CAB HOME AND THERE WE GO ANOTHER DAY DOWN, ONLY3 MORE DAYS…………….UUUUGGGGHHHHH.

[garymancuso-blog1]

THURSDAY 1/25/18

THIS IS OUR LAST DAY IN HUALTULCO AND WE WANT TO MILK EVERY LAST MINUTE FROM THIS PLACE.  I HIT THE POOL AREA FIRST WITH MY HEAD PHONES AND LISTEN TO A FEW POD CASTS.  ROX FOLLOWS NOT TOO FAR BEHIND AND WE SECURE A COUPLE OF CHASES IN THE SHADE, A VALUABLE COMMODITY AT THIS POOL AREA.  CASS AND BEHZAD SAUNTER OUT AND IN RELATIVELY SHORT ORDER, IT IS DECIDED THAT WE WILL EAT BREAKFAST HERE AT THE HOTEL.  

WE CLIMB THE STEPS TO THE RAISED OPEN AIR, PALAPA ROOFED EATING AREA AND WE ORDER BREAKFAST AND IT’S ONLY ABOUT 9:30.  WE EACH GET OUR ENTRÉE OF CHOICE AND PASS AROUND A FRUIT PLATE AS AN APPETIZER. AFTER BREAKFAST ROX AND I GO FOR A LONG WALK ON THE BEACH AND JUST AS WE ARE RETURNING WE SEE CASS AND BEHZAD LEAVING THE POOL AREA TO GO SNORKELING.   THEY GET BACK TO THE POOL AREA AND WITH OUR LATE CHECK OUT OF 1:00 WE GO TO OUR RESPECTIVE ROOMS AND GET READY TO GO.

WE GET OUT TO THE CAR ALMOST AT THE STROKE OF 1:00; AS STATED WE GOT EVERY MINUTE WE COULD FROM THIS PLACE.  WHILE BEHZAD WAS OUT SNORKELING EARLY THIS MORNING, AROUND 7:00 HE FOUND OUT THAT A CRUISE SHIP CAME IN TODAY.  ALL OF US WANTED TO SEE WHAT THE POPULATION OF A HUGE CRUISE SHIP WOULD HAVE ON THIS SMALL TOWN SO WE WENT BACK TO THE SQUARE AND FOUND JUST A TRICKLE OF PEOPLE……….WE COULDN’T FIGURE OUT WHERE EVERYBODY WAS.  ROX, THREW OUT THAT THEY HAD PROBABLY TAKEN ALL OF THE SHORE EXCURSIONS TO VARIOUS PLACES OF INTEREST THAT PAID THE CRUISE SHIP A COMMISSION TO SELL TO THEIR PASSENGERS……….AGAIN  IT’S ALWAYS ABOUT THE  MONEY.

NO PROBLEM FOR US, WE FIND A SEAFOOD RESTAURANT AND HAVE LUNCH AND WALK A FEW STREETS BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER LUNCH.  WE FIND OUR CAR AND START THE TREK BACK TO PUERTO ESCONDIDO.  THIS IS  ABOUT A 2 TO 2-1/2 HOUR TRIP.  ABOUT ¾ OF THE WAY WE STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AT A “COLD COCO” SIGN.  CASS AND BEHZAD GET ONE EACH AND THEY’RE PRETTY BIG. WHEN BEHZAD FINISHES HIS THE OLDER WOMAN, WHO IS APPARENTLY THE PROPRIETOR OF THE HOUSE / STORE /PATIO AREA, TAKES THIS BIG MACHETE AND WITH TWO MIGHTY SWINGS CUTS HIS COCONUT IN HALF AND FLICKS OUT THE COCONUT MEAT IN THE CENTER WITH THE TIP OF THE MACHETE. WE ALL PARTAKE OF THE SWEET, SOFT COCONUT MEAT.

BACK INTO THE CAR AFTER THIS SHORT BREAK AND WE GET TO HOTEL ABOUT 4:30.  AFTER A LITTLE CONSTERNATION AT THE FRONT DESK, BECAUSE SINCE WE DID NOT SHOW UP LAST NIGHT THEY CANCELLED THE RESERVATION SO THERE WAS NO ROOM FOR CASS AND BEHZAD AS THEY SAID THE HOTEL WAS FULL.   EVENTUALLY THEY FOUND A ROOM FOR THEM AND WE ARE ALL GOOD AGAIN.  

DURING THE TRIP BEHZAD HAD SAID SOMETHING ABOUT SOME LAGOONS THAT  HAD A BIO-LUMINESCENCE FEATURE AND SAID THAT ONLY 2-3 PLACES IN THE WORLD HAS THIS PHENOMENON.  I TOLD HIM THAT THE LAGOON IN PUERTO ESCONDIDO WAS ONE OF THE PLACES THAT HAD THIS PHENOMENON.  HE WAS SUPER EXCITED AND WE ARRANGED TO HAVE A TOUR DRIVER AT THE HOTEL AT 8:30 PM TO TAKE US TO THE LAGOON.  IN ORDER TO SEE THIS PHENOMENON IT NEEDS TO BE DARK.

ROX AND I HAVE DECIDED TO GO TO EL SPADIN FOR DINNER TONIGHT TO WATCH THE SUNSET AND TO SHOW CASS AND BEHZAD THE BEAUTIFUL VIEW FROM HIGH ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN.   WELL, WE WEREN’T THE ONLY ONES WITH THAT IDEA AND THE RESTAURANT WAS BUSY, ALTHOUGH WE DID NOT SCORE A TABLE AT THE EDGE WE, NEVERTHELESS, SAW AND PHOTOGRAPHED A BEAUTIFUL SUNSET.  EVERYONE LIKED THEIR DINNER AND WE LEFT IN ORDER TO MEET OUR 8:30 DATE BACK AT THE HOTEL.

BEHZAD AND I HAD PLANNED TO GO IN THE WATER WHEN WE GOT THERE SO WE ALL GOT TOWELS, PROVIDED BY THE HOTEL AND WAITED FOR THE VAN.  WHEN IT GOT THERE, 25 MINUTES LATE (DOES THAT SURPRISE ANYONE SINCE WE ARE IN MEXICO?) IT WAS TOO FULL TO GET ALL OF US ON SO WE TOOK OUR OWN CAR AND FOLLOWED THE VAN TO THE LAGOON ABOUT 20 MINUTES OUT OF TOWN.  THIS TURNED OUT TO BE THE MUCH PREFERRED WAY TO TRAVEL SINCE WE DIDN’T HAVE TO SIT WITH A VAN FULL OF PEOPLE WE DIDN’T KNOW.

WE GO THERE AND WE ALL GOT A LITTLE INFO LECTURE FROM THE GUIDE AND THEN FILED ON THE BOATS WHICH SEATED ABOUT 16 PEOPLE.  WE WERE BROKEN INTO TWO GROUPS; THE ENGLISH SPEAKING GROUP AND THE SPANISH SPEAKING GROUP.   THE BOATS PULLED AWAY FROM THE WOODEN DOCK AND TOOK OFF ACROSS THE BLACK BRACKISH WATER IN THE DARK WITH NO LIGHTS; EVERY ONCE AND A WHILE THE DRIVER / GUIDE WOULD SHINE A FLASH LIGHT TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE BOAT.  HE HAS REALLY GOT TO KNOW THIS LAGOON LIKE THE BACK OF HIS HAND TO NAVIGATE IT AT ALMOST FULL SPEED IN THE DARK.  

AFTER ABOUT 10 -15 MINUTES HE STOPS THE BOAT AND COMMENCES TO DO ABOUT 20 TIGHT DO-NUTS ON THE WATER AND THEN TELLS US TO STICK OUR HANDS IN THE WATER ON THE SIDE OF THE BOAT FACING AWAY FROM THE MOON.  SURE ENOUGH AS SOON AS YOUR HAND PENETRATES THE WATER IT LIGHTS UP LIKE YOUR HAND IS A SOURCE OF LIGHT.  THOSE OF US WHO WERE GOING IN THE DARK WATER JUMPED IN ONE BY ONE.  AS YOU ARE TREADING WATER THERE BY THE BOAT YOUR BODY MOVEMENTS ARE STIRRING UP THE ALGAE AND PLANKTON IN THE WATER, WHICH GIVES OFF THE PHOSPHORESCENCE AND THE WATER LIGHTS UP ALL AROUND YOU.

AFTER ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES OF TREADING WATER I’M READY TO GET BACK IN THE BOAT I CLIMB THE LADDER, BEHZAD IS NOT FAR BEHIND ME.  WE SIT THERE FOR ABOUT ANOTHER 15 MINUTES OR SO AND ASK QUESTIONS AND GATHER INFO ABOUT THE LAGOON AND EVENTUALLY HEAD BACK TO THE DOCK.  THE DRIVER / GUIDE FINDS THE DOCK WITH THE SAME SPEED AND AGILITY AS WITH THE TRIP OUT.  WE ALL MEET IN AN AREA, WE PAY THE GUY AND SINCE WE ARE IN OUR OWN CAR WE ARE EXCUSED TO GO. BOY, AM I GLAD WE HAVE OUR OWN TRANSPORTATION, I THINK WE ALL ARE.

WE STOP AND GET GAS AND THEN DECIDE TO GO TO ZICATELA TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT AND SOME DRINKS.  BIO-LUMINESCENCE REALLY MAKES ME HUNGRY.  THERE’S HARDLY ANYBODY ON THE MAIN BOULEVARD AND WE END UP AT “ROSEARITOS” THE PLACE ROX AND I ALWAYS GO TO LAY ON THE BEACH.  CASS AND I GET SOME FOOD ROX AND CASS GET A RUM AND COKE.  BEHZAD HAS INTRODUCED THEM TO A NEW RUM.  IT’S FROM CUBA AND SUPER SMOOTH, BUT IT’S NOT AVAILABLE IN THE STATES SO WE’LL BE GETTING SOME HERE TO TAKE HOME FOR ROX.  

IT’S ABOUT MIDNIGHT; WE’VE CLOSED THIS PLACE DOWN SO WE HEAD TO THE HOUSE.  THIS WAS A FULL DAY.  CASS AND BEHZAD CATCH A PLANE HOME TOMORROW.

[garymancuso-blog1]

WEDNESDAY 1/24/18

I WAS THE FIRST ONE UP AND OUT AT THE POOL THIS MORNING, I WAS LISTENING TO MY POD CASTS.  CASS SHOWED UP A LITTLE BEFORE 9:00.  SHE HAD A MASSAGE @9:00 BUT THE LADY DID NOT SHOW UP TILL ABOUT 9:15.  THEN ROX SHOWED UP ABOUT 9:30.  BEHZAD, WHO HAD A 10:00 MASSAGE APPT SHOWED UP A LITTLE BEFORE 10:00 AND SINCE CASS WAS LATE SO WAS HE.  HE’S DONE A LITTLE AFTER 11:00 AND BY A LITTLE BEFORE 12:00 WE ARE IN THE CAR AND HEADED TOWARDS THE LITTLE TOWN OF HUALTULCO.

BEHZAD FINDS A PLACE THAT IS BBQ CHICKEN SO WE ORDER A WHOLE CHICKEN THAT COMES WITH SOME COLD SLAW AND RICE.  ROX SPIES SOME FRIED CHICKEN AND SHE GET 3 LEGS OF THAT WHILE THE REST OF US MAKE A HAPPY PLATE OF THE BBQ CHICKEN. THE WAY HE FINDS THIS CHICKEN PLACE IS IMPORTANT. WE WALK BY ONE RESTAURANT AND BEHZAD ASKS IF THE HAVE BBQ CHICKEN.  THEY DON’T SO WE MOVE ON.  ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER THE GUY FROM THE FIRST RESTAURANT FINALLY CATCHES US ON THE SIDEWALK AND SAID HE JUST THOUGHT OF A PLACE THAT SELLS BBQ CHICKEN AND TAKES US RIGHT UP TO THE PLACE.  AN UNBELIEVABLY NICE GUY!

WE GO WANDERING UP AND DOWN SOME STREETS WHEN ROX AND CASS SPOT A STORE WITH SOME NEAT LOOKING PANTS. THEY BOTH GO IN AND TRY SOME PANTS AND END UP GETTING A PAIR EACH.  THEY REALLY LOOK GOOD ON BOTH OF THEM.  A LITTLE MORE LOOKING AND WALKING AROUND AND BEHZAD FINDS A MANGO ON A STICK.  WE PASS BY THE FIRST RESTAURANT AND I TELL THEM WE SHOULD GO IN AND ORDER SOME MARGARITAS FROM THIS GUY FOR BEING SO NICE EARLIER.  SO ROX, CASS AND I HAVE MANGO AND STRAWBERRY MARGARITAS WHILE BEHZAD IS OUT GETTING A CUP OF COFFEE AND SOME INEXPENSIVE SNORKELING EQUIPMENT.   WE FINISH UP WITH THAT SEGMENT OF BUYING AND DECIDE TO HEAD BACK TO SIT ON THE BEACH AND DRINK SOME BEER.

BEHZAD DECIDES THAT HE NEEDS TO BUY SOME PESOS WITH SOME AMERICAN DOLLARS.  WE FIND PRECIOUS FEW PLACES THAT WILL OFFER THIS SERVICE.  HE DOESN’T HAVE HIS PASSPORT WITH HIM SO CASS AND I GO IN AND I USE MY PASSPORT TO MAKE THE EXCHANGE.  THERE WAS A LONG LINE AT THIS BANK AND IT TOOK US ALMOST 30 MINUTES. BY NOW THAT HAS CUT INTO OUR BEER DRINKING BY ABOUT 45 MINUTES.  

WE GET BACK AND I AM THE FIRST ONE OUT ON THE BEACH AND SECURE 4 CHASES, AN UMBRELLA AND A SMALL TABLE. ROX COMES OUT AND IMMEDIATELY GETS ON HER PHONE TO TERRI AND CASS DECIDES TO FOLLOW BEHZAD OUT TO TRY OUT HIS NEW SNORKELING TOYS.  WELL, THAT LEAVES JUST ME TO START THE BEER DRINKING.   EVERYONE ELSE EVENTUALLY COMES BACK AND WE ORDER BEER AND A RUM AND COKE FOR ROX.  BEHZAD SUGGESTS THAT ROX TRY CUBAN RUM THAT HE KNOWS AND IT IS HEAD AND SHOULDERS SMOOTHER THAT ANYTHING THAT ROX HAS EVER TASTED.

I USE ROXANE’S PHONE WITH THE SPECIAL INTERNATIONAL CALLING PLAN TO CALL BUD; I GET HIM ON THE SECOND TRY. ABOUT TWO SENTENCES INTO THE CONVERSATION HE TELLS ME THAT TOMORROW HE AND MARGARET WILL BE ON A PLANE BACK TO SOUTH PADRE ISLAND.  THAT IS REALLY GREAT NEWS FOR HIM AND MARGARET BECAUSE THEY HAVE REALLY BEEN WANTING TO COME HOME.  HE GOES ON TO TELL ME THAT THEIR DAUGHTER, MELINDA WILL BE ACCOMPANYING THEM ON THE TRIP BACK HOME.  HE SOUND SO HAPPY, AND WE ARE HAPPY FOR THEM.  I TELL HIM I WILL BE HOME A WEEK AFTER HE ARRIVES AND TOLD HIM I WILL CALL SO THAT WE CAN GET TOGETHER.   I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

AS ROXANE GETS UP TO GO THE BATHROOM SHE COMES BACK WITH A BEAUTIFUL SCULPTURED PEARL NECKLACE AND POINTS TO AN OLD LADY SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE BEACH STRINGING PEARL NECKLACES. SHE SAID THAT THE PEARLS ARE FROM HERE. WE ALL LIKE THE NECKLACE SO CASS GOES OVER WITH ROX AND LO AND BEHOLD SHE FINDS NOT ONE BUT TWO THAT SHE LIKES. BEHZAD AND I GIVE THEM ADVICE ON HOW TO DEAL WITH THE LADY AND THEY QUICKLY RETURN WITH THE THREE NECKLACES FOR THE PRICE THEY WANTED TO PAY.

WE SIT THERE ON THE BEACH UNTIL WAY AFTER DARK AND ABOUT 7:20 DECIDE TO GO IN TO CLEAN UP FOR SUPPER.  ROX AND CASS ARRIVE WITH THEIR NEW NECKLACES AND NEW PANTS AND ROX HAS A NEW SHIRT THAT SHE GOT BEFORE WE CAME TO HUALTULCO. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SOME CANADIANS THAT I HAVE SEEN THE PAST TWO DAYS ON THE BEACH OF A PLACE TO GO AND BEHZAD ALSO HAS A SUGGESTION OF A PLACE TO GO.  WE WALK AROUND THE TOWN SQUARE AND DECIDE ON ONE CALLED “TERRA COTTA”.  OH MY GOD THE FOOD IS FABULOUS AND WE SHOULD KNOW BECAUSE WE SAMPLED A WHOLE LOT OF IT.

WE START OFF WITH A PITCHER OF FRUIT FILLED SANGRIA.  WE ARE ALL STUDYING THE MENU FOR A LONG TIME AND CANT DECIDE WHAT TO ORDER BECAUSE IT ALL SOUNDS SO GOOD.  I FINALLY REALIZE THAT THE GUY WHO WROTE ALL OF THOSE WONDERFUL DESCRIPTIONS ON THE MENU SHOULD BE CONGRATULATED.  WE FINALLY DECIDE ON AN APPETIZER AND FINALLY ORDER OUR MEALS.  CASS AND BEHZAD DECIDE THEY’D LIKE TO TASTE 2 OTHER OF THE APPETIZERS. OK, IF YOUR COUNTING AFTER WE ARE SERVED OUR BREAD AND GARLIC AND SALT MIXED BUTTER WE NOW HAVE THREE APPETIZERS TO EAT AND FOUR ENTREES.  ARE WE LITTLE PIGLETS OR WHAT? WELL WE ALMOST EAT EVERYTHING AND DECIDE AGAINST DESSERT……..GO FIGURE.

WE LEAVE THE RESTAURANT AND GO TO WANDER A LITTLE LONGER WALKING AROUND AND THROUGH THE SQUARE. WE GET HOME A LITTLE AFTER 10:00 AND BID FAREWELL AND AGREE TO MEET AT THE POOL TOMORROW MORNING AT WHATEVER TIME EACH OF US GETS UP.  AREN’T VACATIONS GREAT!

[garymancuso-blog1]

TUE 1/23/18

CASS AND I TOOK A CAB TO THE CAR RENTAL PLACE AND GOT THERE AT THE STOKE OF 9:00, THE TIME THE GIRL SAID YESTERDAY THAT THEY OPEN AND THAT SHE WOULD BE THERE.  WELL, OF COURSE, IN MEXICO THEY GET THERE WHENEVER THE HELL THEY WANT TO BECAUSE NO ONE HAS ANY CONCEPT OF HOW TIME RELATES TO REALITY. CASS WANTED A FRUIT DRINK WHILE WE WAITED SO WE WENT ACROSS THE STREET TO THE SANTA FE HOTEL AND GOT HER A DRINK AND WAITED IN THE UPSTAIRS RESTAURANT, WHICH GAVE US A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF THE FRONT OF THE RENTAL PLACE SO WE COULD SEE WHEN SHE GOT THERE.  

A LITTLE AFTER 9:15 SHE CASUALLY SAUNTERS UP AND THE STEEL DOORS START TO GO UP.  GIVING HER A CHANCE TO GET READY FOR THE DAY, CASS FINISHES HER DRINK AND WE GET OVER TO THE RENTAL PLACE.  WE DO SOME MORE PAPER WORK, CHECK THE CAR FOR EXISTING DAMAGE, GIVE HER SOME MORE MONEY AND WE’RE OFF.  THE CAR IS A STICK SHIFT, WHICH CASSIE LEARNED TO DRIVE WHEN SHE WAS 14. AFTER I PULLED AWAY FROM THE CURB IN FRONT OF STORE FRONT AND AFTER A FEW BLOCKS I PULLED OVER SO CASS COULD BRUSH UP ON HER STICK SHIFT DRIVING PROWESS.  

JUST LIKE RIDING A BIKE IT ALL CAME BACK TO HER.  SHE TURNED DOWN A ROCKY DIRT STREET TOWARDS THE HI WAY AND REALIZED THAT THIS IS NOT AN OFF-ROAD VEHICLE.  AS SHE APPROACHED THE HI WAY WE HAD TO STOP ON A HILL AND LETTING THE CLUTCH OUT WHILE STEPPING ON THE BRAKE AND TRYING TO GIVE IT A LITTLE GAS ALL AT THE SAME TIME PROVED TO BE A LITTLE BEYOND THIS FIRST DRIVING LESSON AS THE ENGINE REVVED AND CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS.  SHE DROVE OVER TO THE RIGHT A LITTLE AND IT WASN’T AS STEEP AN INCLINE AND LUCKILY THERE WAS A COP STANDING THERE ALSO. AFTER WITNESSING THE PREVIOUS MANEUVER HE WAS KIND TO STOP TRAFFIC ON THE HI WAY WHILE CASS PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC.

SHE DID FABULOUSLY ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE HOTEL.  WE GOT STUFF IN THE CAR AND WE ALL LEFT THE HOTEL A LITTLE AFTER 10:00.  SHE LET ME DRIVE THE REST OF THE DAY BUT WAS STANDING BY INCASE SHE WAS CALLED UPON TO TAKE THE WHEEL.  WE DROVE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND TURNED OFF TO GOT TO PUERTO ANGEL. ON THE WAY WE PASSED THROUGH THE PRETTIEST LITTLE VILLAGE OF MAZUNTE.  IT WAS SO QUAINT THAT WE STOPPED AND WALKED AROUND A LITTLE AND EVENTUALLY, SINCE IT WAS AFTER 11:30, WE DECIDED TO HAVE A BITE TO EAT.  THERE WAS A SMALL PLACE ON THE SIDEWALK THAT WAS ROASTING WHOLE CHICKENS IN A GLASS FRONT ROASTER.  BEHZAD SUGGESTED WE EAT THERE AND WE EACH HAD A LEG AND THIGH WITH SOME ROASTED VEGETABLES, WHICH INCLUDED A PIECE OF CACTUS ALONG WITH SOME RICE.  IT REALLY TASTED GOOD AND WE WERE HUNGRY.

IT WAS A WINDING MOUNTAINOUS ROAD FROM THERE UNTIL WE WOUND BACK TO THE HI WAY.  ALTHOUGH WE WERE TOLD TO SEE PUERTO ANGEL IT WAS DISAPPOINTING IN THAT THERE WAS REALLY NOTHING TO SEE, ESPECIALLY AFTER THAT QUAINT VILLAGE WHERE WE STOPPED.  WE DROVE THROUGH PUERTO ANGEL AND IN ABOUT A HALF HOUR OF THE WINDING ROAD GOT BACK ON THE HI WAY.  I KEPT ASKING IF ROX AND CASS WERE DOING OK.  CASS APPEARED TO BE DOING OK, AT LEAST THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID,  ROX, ALSO SAID SHE WAS DOING OK (I FIND OUT LATE THAT NIGHT THAT SHE WASN’T DOING AS WELL AS SHE LET ON).

DOWN THE HI WAY FOR ABOUT ANOTHER 20 MINUTES OR SO AND WE ARRIVE AT THE BAHIA OF HUALTULCO.  WE HAD PLANNED TO STAY AT THE HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS BECAUSE TWO DIFFERENT CANADIANS TOLD US IT WAS A NICE PLACE.  WE FIND IT, BECAUSE BEHZAD HAS A PHONE THAT WORKS HERE IN MEXICO AND THIS GPS MAP TAKES UP RIGHT TO IT.  SHORT STORY THEY HAVE NO ROOMS BUT SEND US TO ANOTHER HOTEL IN TOWN BUT IT TURNS OUT TO BE ALL INCLUSIVE AND THE ROOMS ARE REALLY EXPENSIVE.  

WE DRIVE DOWN TO THE BEACH AREA TO ANOTHER SUGGESTED HOTEL, THE HOTEL QUINTA BELLA HUALTULCO, AND BINGO; THIS PLACE IS A REAL DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH, A SHINING GEM.  THEY ONLY HAVE 2 ROOMS LEFT SO WE TAKE ONE EACH AND IN 10 MINUTES WE ARE OUT ON THE BEACH, IN CHASES, UNDER AN UMBRELLA WITH A BUCKET FILLED WITH ICE AND THREE CORONAS AND A DIET COKE.  WE ARE ALL TAKING IN THE BEAUTY OF THE BEACH, THE QUIET COVE, THE DEEP BLUE AND TURQUOISE CRYSTAL CLEAR WATER SUCKING ON OUT LIME INFUSED COLD BEER………..THIS PLACE IS SO UNBELIEVABLY GORGEOUS THAT WE DECIDE TO STAY HERE ON THE BEACH AND NOT EVEN EXPLORE THE LITTLE TOWN.

6 ROUNDS OF BEER LATER ROX HAS SWITCHED PINA COLADAS, THE SUN HAS GONE DOWN, IT’S GETTING DARK BUT, WE’RE STILL SITTING AND DRINKING BEER AND DRINKING IN THE BEAUTY.  SOME WHERE ABOUT ROUND #4 I LOOK DOWN AT THE METAL CORONA BUCKET LOADED WITH CORONA BOTTLES AND ICE AND THE SAND AND THE CLEAR WATER IN THE BACKGROUND AND I MENTION HOW THIS REALLY LOOKS LIKE WE’RE LIVING A CORONA COMMERCIAL.  AT THAT BEHZAD TAKES HIS PHONE AND THROWS IT AS FAR AS HE CAN AND IT LANDS IN THE SAND. HE SAYS, “NOW IT’S REALLY A CORONA COMMERCIAL.”  THAT WAS REALLY FUNNY.

AS WE’RE CONSUMING LOTS OF ALCOHOL WE NOTICE THAT TO OUR RIGHT UP ON A GRASS COVERED BLUFF A LITTLE ABOVE THE SAND AND THE WATER THEY ARE SETTING UP CUTE COLORFUL TABLES AND CHAIRS AND SOON THEY LIGHT A BIG GRILL IN THE FAR CORNER.   IT WAS TOO ENTICING AND WE DECIDE TO EAT THERE TONIGHT, OCEANSIDE. IT DIDN’T OPEN TILL 7:30 SO WE HAD TO KEEP ON DRINKING UNTIL THEN.  

AT A LITTLE AFTER 7:30 WE GO TO OUR RESPECTIVE ROOMS BECAUSE WE FIGURED WE SHOULD AT LEAST GET SHIRTS ON FOR SUPPER.  SHIRTS YES BUT SURELY NO SHOES.  WE MEET BACK ON THE GRASSY KNOLL IN 15 MINUTES.  WE GET A TABLE, ON THE GRASS; UNDER SOME SOFT LIGHTING IN BASKETS HUNG ABOVE THE ENTIRE AREA WITH THE SOUND OF THE WAVES CRASHING A FEW YARDS AWAY. EVEN IN THE DARK THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE

WE EACH ORDER AN ITEM THAT WILL BE GRILLED ON THE OUTSIDE GRILL, MEXICAN STEAK ARRACHA , GRILLED NY STRIP AND GRILLED DORADO.  SOME WINE AND CUBAN RUM, RUM AND COKES AND WE’RE OFF TO THE RACES.   I ORDER A NUTELLA FILLED CREPE WHICH I SPLIT WITH CASS AND BEHZAD AND ROX ORDERS MORE BREAD AND BUTTER FOR DESSERT.  AN ESPRESSO FOR ME AND A CAPPUCCINO FOR BEHZAD AND A COUPLE MORE RUM AND COKES FOR CASS AND ROX AND WE ARE WATCHING THEM PICK UP TABLE AND CHAIRS AND MOVE THEM OFF THE GRASS.  BY 11:00 WE HAVE CLOSED THIS PLACE DOWN.

WE RETIRE TO OUR RESPECTIVE ROOMS BUT BEFORE WE GET TO OUR ROOMS WE ALL DECIDE TO STAY ANOTHER NIGHT BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS SO PERFECT EVERY MINUTE THAT WE’VE BEEN HERE.

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MONDAY 1/22/18

WELL, BEHZAD MADE IT TO GO FISHING THIS MORNING, CASS SAID THAT HE LEFT A LITTLE BEFORE 7:00.  HE TEXTED CASS AND SAID HE WOULD PROBABLY BE FISHING TILL ABOUT 1:00, SO WE’LL LEISURELY WALK TO THE ADOQUIN AND WAIT FOR HIM TO SHOW UP WITH, I’M SURE ARMFULLS OF FISH.  WE GO TO DANNY’S, FOUND A TABLE WITH A GOOD BREEZE AND DIRECTLY LOOKING OUT ON TO THE SAND AND THE BAY WHERE ALL THE FISHERMEN AND BOATS ARE. WE ORDER A FRUIT DRINK AND WAIT IN THE COOL BREEZE FOR HARD WORKING FISHERMAN TO ARRIVE.  

AROUND 1:00 WE SEE BEHZAD’S SMILING FACE EMERGE FROM OVER THE TOP OF THE SAND HILL WITH TWO YELLOW FINNED TUNAS, ONE IN EACH, HAND WALKING TOWARDS US.  SOME CHUBBY YOUNG MEXICAN GIRL HURRIES OUT TO MEET HIM AND HELPS HIM BY TAKING ONE OF THE FISH AND THEY EACH DRAG THEIR RESPECTIVE FISH TO A SHED ABOUT 50 YARDS FROM OUR VANTAGE POINT.  BEHZAD HEADS TOWARD US FROM UNDER THE SHED AND ARRIVES TELLING US THAT THEY ARE FILLETING THE FISH.  HE LOOKS BUSHED.

HE ORDERS A FRUIT DRINK AND COMMENCES TO RELAY HIS FISHING ESCAPADES OF THIS MORNING.  HE PASSES AROUND A VIDEO OF SOME OF THE SPINNING DOLPHINS FLYING OUT OF THE WATER NEAR THE BOAT AND TELLS US FINDING A SCHOOL OF TUNA SO LARGE THAT THE WATER LOOKED LIKE IT WAS BOILING FROM THE FRANTIC TUNA BREAKING THE SURFACE.  SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE CHUBBY GIRL RETURNS WITH TWO HUGE PLASTIC BAGS OF DEEP MAROON COLORED YELLOW FINNED TUNA FILLETS.  

I HAD CHECKED WITH THE RESTAURANT PREVIOUSLY AND WE GIVE ONE BAG TO OUR WAITRESS AND SHE TAKES THE FISH BACK TO THE KITCHEN TO COOK IT UP FOR US.  WE GET TUNA GRILLED WITH GARLIC, TUNA PAN FRIED, BREADED TUNA AND A BIG PLATE OF THE FRESHEST BEST TASTING CEVICHE WE’VE EVER HAD. THREE CHEERS TO BEHZAD FOR SUPPLYING THE BEST MEAL WE’VE HAD SINCE WE’VE BEEN HERE.  WE EAT FISH UNTIL WE CAN’T ANYMORE THEN OFFER THE REST OF THE PLATTER TO THE WAITRESS TO SHARE WITH ALL THE OTHER EMPLOYEES.   SHE RETURNED A GREAT BIG “MUCHAS GRACIAS”.

AFTER ENJOYING THE BREEZE A LITTLE LONGER  WE OFFER THE OTHER GIANT BAG OF TUNA TO THE OWNER OF THE RESTAURANT  BECAUSE WE WERE LEAVING ON FOOT TO WALK ALONG THE BEACH TO ZICATELA AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CUMBERSOME TO CARRY AND BEING THAT LONG UNREFRIGERATED AND IN THE HOT SUN PROBABLY WOULD HAVE RUINED IT ANYWAY. THE OWNER TOOK THE BAG WITH A BIG SMILE AND ANOTHER HEART FELT “MUCHAS GRACIS”

WE LEFT AND BEHZAD WANTED AND ICE CREAM FROM A STREET VENDOR.  AT THE STREET LEVEL WE FIND A VENDOR AND I HAVE A STYROFOAM CUP PACKED WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM AND BEHZAD HAS A LONG MANGO POPSICLE IN A STYROFOAM TRAY WITH SALTY SPICY JUICE AND THE POPSICLE IS COVERED WITH MAROON COLORED SPICY SWEET GRANULES.  YOU KNOW LIKE SUGAR AND SPICE AND EVERYTHING NICE.

WE HEAD BACK DOWN TO THE BEACH TO WALK OVER TO ZICATELA TO SEE ABOUT THE RENT CAR FOR TOMORROW.   THE ONLY ONE THEY HAVE IS SITTING OUT FRONT ON THE CURB IT IS A BRAND NEW “MARCH”.  WHAT THE HELL IS A “MARCH?”  IT’S ONE OF THOSE MANY VEHICLES THAT THEY HAVE IN MEXICO THAT WE HAVE NEVER SEEN IN THE USA.  IT’S PRETTY SMALL BUT LIKE BEHZAD SAYS, “WHAT CHOICE DO WE HAVE?”  SO WE DO OUR BUSINESS AND ARRANGE TO PICK IT UP AT 9:00 TOMORROW MORNING.  WE CATCH A CAB HOME AND BEHZAD TAKES A NAP, I HIT THE HAMMOCK AND ROX AND CASS SIT BY THE POOL.

WE ALL GOT BACK TOGETHER AROUND 8:00 AND WALKED TO THE RINCONADA AND HAD SUPPER AT ESTRELLA’S. BEHZAD AND ROX HAD SHRIMP, CASS HAD A MEXICAN STEAK AND I HAD A THAI SALAD.  IT WAS ALL GOOD.  CASS, BEHZAD AND I HAD A NUTELLA CREPE FOR DESSERT AND ROX HAD A PINA COLADA.

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SUNDAY 1/21/18

TODAY WE HAD A DESTINATION. ROX WANTED TO BE AT THE “DREAM WEAVERS” EXHIBITION. THIS IS WHERE THE NATIVE INDIAN PEOPLE COME INTO TOWN AND SET UP THEIR WARES AND WE COULD WALK THROUGH AND SEE ALL OF THEIR HANDMADE GOODS. THE WOMEN SPIN COTTON,  THE MEN DYE IT THEN THE WOMEN WEAVE CLOTH AND MAKE DRESSES, PURSES, BLOUSES, TABLE RUNNERS ETC.  THERE WERE ALSO HAND MADE BASKETS OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES.  THERE WERE ALSO, MOSTLY YOUNG, GIRLS SITTING ON THE SIDEWALK WITH HAND LOOMS WEAVING CLOTH SO THAT WE COULD SEE HOW IT’S DONE

IT TOOK ABOUT AND HOUR OR SO TO WALK THROUGH IT AND SEE SOME NATIVE MASKS AND DANCERS.  ROX GOT A FEW THINGS AND WE WALKED DOWN THE STREET IN ZICATELA TO FIND A PLACE TO EAT.  WE FOUND A FAIRLY NEW PLACE THAT LOOKED NICE SO WE FOUND A TABLE FACING THE BEACH ON THE PATIO DECK.   NOT MUCH OF A BREEZE TODAY, IT’S A HOT ONE.  IT’S HOT MOSTLY BECAUSE THE HUMIDITY IS UP AND THE AIR RATHER STILL.  THE AMBIENT TEMP IS NOT MUCH HIGHER THAN NORMAL.

WE ORDERED OUR DRINKS AND OUR MEAL.  ROX GOT HER COCA-LITE IN RELATIVELY SHORT ORDER, BUT I DID NOT GET MY SIMPLE GLASS OF WATER.  TIME PASSED, THE SUN CAME UP, SENT DOWN, CAME UP AGAIN, I HAD A BIRTHDAY AND STILL I HAD NOT GOTTEN MY WATER NOR WAS THERE ANY INDICATION THAT WE WOULD EVER RECEIVE OUR MEAL.  FINALLY, SOME GUY, MAYBE A MANAGER , MAYBE A WAITER, MAYBE HE DIDN’T EVEN WORK THERE; CAME OVER TO OUR TABLE AND ASKED IF EVERYTHING WAS ALL RIGHT  (I’M SURE HE DIDN’T MEAN EVERYTHING BUT JUST THAT WHICH PERTAINED TO OUR TABLE AND MEAL.  ROX TOLD HIM WE HAD BEEN THERE FOR QUITE A WHILE BUT HAD STILL NOT GOTTEN OUR MEAL.

SHORTLY THERE AFTER THE WAITRESS, WHOM WE HAD NOT SEEN SINCE SHE WAS JUST A LITTLE GIRL, BROUGHT OUT MEALS. I TOLD HER THAT I HAD ORDERED A GLASS OF WATER WITH ICE.  I GUESS THE TWITCH OF HER LEFT CHEEK MEANT SHE WAS ACKNOWLEDGING MY STATEMENT.  I WAS SORELY MISTAKEN.  AGAIN, SHE WAS M.I.A. FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE MEAL. AFTER I FINISHED MY MEAL I WENT TO THE BAR / KITCHEN AND SAW HER AND TOLD HER I STILL HAD NOT RECEIVED MY GLASS OF WATER WITH ICE.  A SMALL LIGHT, PRECIOUSLY SMALL, MUST HAVE GONE OFF IN HER PIN HEAD AND SHE REACHED ACROSS THE BAR AND HANDED ME A GLASS OF WATER THAT PROBABLY HAD ICE IN IT DURING SOME MILLENNIUM BUT NOW WAS JUST A GLASS OF WATER.

I GOT BACK TO THE TABLE AND ROX WENT TO THE RESTROOM AND THAT GUY CAME BY THE TABLE AGAIN WITH THE SAME REPETITIVE, HOLLOW QUESTION, “IS EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT.”  I WENT ON TO ASSURE HIM IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT “NO, EVERYTHING IS DEFINITELY NOT ALL RIGHT.  CAN WE HAVE OUT CHECK PLEASE?”  I GUESS HE WAS JUST PROGRAMMED TO ASK INANE QUESTIONS BUT NOT TO LISTEN OR CARE ABOUT ANSWERS.  HE HEARD ME AND JUST LOOKED UP AND WALKED AWAY.  SHORTLY THERE AFTER OUR FAT, UNCARING WAITRESS DELIVERED THE CHECK.  WE LEFT THE CASH ON THE TABLE, SANS TIP, AND LEFT FOR THE LAST TIME.

WE STARTED WALKING TO A SHOP THAT ROX HAD VISITED MANY TIME BEFORE WHERE SHE WANTED TO LOOK AT A SHIRT AND A BEDSPREAD.   THIS IS THE SHOP, IF YOU REMEMBER THAT HAD THE GUYS WITH THE BIG LOOMS CLUNKING AWAY ON THE ROOF.   SHE FOUND A SHIRT BUT SINCE I WAS NO HELP ON DECIDING ON A BEDSPREAD SHE FIGURED SHE WOULD BRING CASSIE BY MAYBE TOMORROW TO MAKE A DEFINITE DECISION

WE WALKED UP TO THE MARKET TO GET A FEW THINGS AND STARTED HOME.  IT IS REALLY TOO HOT FOR WALKING TODAY BUT BEING THE TROOPER THAT WE ARE WE PERSEVERED.   GOT HOME A LITTLE AFTER 4 AND ALL ALONG, DUE TO MY OWN STUPIDITY AND INABILITY TO COMPREHEND WHAT I READ, WE THOUGHT CASSIE WOULD BE HERE AROUND 7 WHEN I FINALLY DISCOVERED THAT SHE WOULD BE HERE IN LESS THAN AN HOUR.  WELL, IN THE TIME IT TOOK ME TO GET TODAY’S BLOG STARTED THEY WERE HERE. I CALLED THEIR ROOM AND WE MET THEM OUT BY THE POOL FOR SOME BEERS AND THEN WENT TO DINNER……….THEY HADN’T EATEN SINCE BREAKFAST.

TONIGHT WE WENT TO THE ADOQUIN TO SHOW THEM THE SHOPPING STREET AND TO EAT AT THE GALLERIA ITALIAN RESTAURANT THAT WE LIKE.  WE SHARED THE GRILLED EGGPLANT AND THEN SHARED SOME MUSSELS IN A CREAM SAUCE ALONG WITH SOME SANGRIA AND THEN WE ORDERED DINNER.  I HAD LINGUINE BOLOGNESE, ROX HAD LASAGNA, CASS HAD RAVIOLI WITH MINT, AND BEHZAD HAD LINGUINE WITH SHRIMP.  WE WERE FULL AS LITTLE PIGLETS AND THEN WE WENT OUT TO SHOP ON THE STREET. ROX GOT A RING, CASS TRIED ON A BUNCH OF STUFF BUT GOT NOTHING BEHZAD AND I WERE ALONG FOR THE RIDE.  WE TOOK A CAB HOME AND BEHZAD SAW WHERE ALL THE FISHERMEN GATHER IN THE MORNING AND HE’LL BE AROUND 7:00 AM TO LINE UP A FISHING TRIP.  THERE’S PROBABLY NO LESS THAN 100 BOATS THERE. THE REST OF US WILL MEET HIM AT DANNY’S TOMORROW MORNING BETWEEN 10:30 AND 11:00.  

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FRIDAY 1/19/18

ROX, OF ALL PEOPLE, SET HER ALARM BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO BE OUT THE DOOR BY 10:00. WE WERE GOING TO TRY TO GET THE FIRST MEAL OF THE DAY BEFORE NOON, WHICH WOULD QUALIFY AS BREAKFAST. WALKED TO ZICETELA THIS MORNING AND WE GOT TO THE ROSARITO RESTAURANT ABOUT 11:30.  WHEW! WE MADE IT BEFORE NOON.  WE APPROACHED FROM THE BEACH SIDE AND THERE WERE PLENTY OF CHASES AND TABLE AND CHAIRS WITH UMBRELLAS FROM WHICH TO CHOOSE.  

WE PICKED OUR SPOT AS THE WAITER WAS APPROACHING US.  HE HANDED US A MENU AND WE ORDERED A BIG PITCHER OF STRAWBERRY FRUIT WATER TO START THE DAY.  WE PUT DOWN OUR STUFF ROX STAKED A CLAIM TO THE CHASE AND I SAT AT THE TABLE NEXT TO HER AND SOON OUR DRINK ARRIVED.  WE TOOK A LONG DRINK AND SETTLED IN FOR A DAY OF WATCHING THE WAVES BREAK ON THE SHORE, DOZING, EATING, ENJOYING THE BREEZE…… YOU KNOW, JUST RELAXING.

WE ORDERED BREAKFAST AND DECIDED TO SPLIT AND ORDER OF SCRAMBLED EGGS MIXED WITH CHORIZO, A LITTLE REFRIED BLACK BEANS AND RICE.  A PERFECT MEAL, NOW WE’RE READY FOR THE RELAXING.  ROX DOZES AND READS AND I DON MY HEADPHONES AND I WAS GOOD FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS ON THE CHASE IN THE SHADE.  HOW ARE WE EVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO REAL LIFE?  WELL, THE ONLY WAY I CAN IMAGINE IS KICKING AND SCREAMING ALL THE WAY.

ABOUT 2:00 WE GOT UP AND WALKED DOWN TO THE WATER AND WALKED DOWN THE BEACH A LITTLE WAY.  WE GOT BACK TO THE UMBRELLA AND ROX GOT HER DAILY GUACAMOLE AND A COKE-LITE.  HAVING EATEN AT A DECENT HOUR THIS MORNING WE WERE BOTH LOOKING FORWARD TO BE HUNGRY FOR DINNER TONIGHT.  SINCE IT TOOK AN HOUR AND A HALF TO WALK BACK WE STARTED BACK A LITTLE AFTER 3:00.

BEFORE WE LEFT WE SAW A WHALE PLAYING IN THE WATER ABOUT ½ MILE OFF SHORE AND WE STRUCK UP A CONVERSATION WITH THE MEXICAN LADY AT THE NEXT DOOR UMBRELLA.  SHE WAS DEFINITELY UPPER CLASS AND PROUD TO TELL US THAT SHE HAD ATTENDED CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY IN ENGLAND.  LIKE ROX SAYS AN EDUCATION SNOB.  SHE WAS PLEASANT TO TALK TO THEN WE BID HER FAREWELL AND STARTED OUR TREK BACK TO THE HOTEL.

WHEN WE GOT BACK ROX DID SOME CLOTHES WASHING AND I DROPPED OFF MY LAUNDRY AT THE LAUNDERIA THIS MORNING ON THE WAY TO THE BEACH.  THIS TIME I’M SPENDING 26 PESOS, THAT’S ABOUT A BUCK THIRTY FIVE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF SMALL MOTORCYCLES AND SCOOTERS RUNNING AROUND.  IT’S VERY COMMON TO SEE A WHOLE FAMILY ON A BIKE THE SIZE OF A HONDA 50 OR HONDA 90, THAT WOULD BE TWO PARENTS AND TWO KIDS.  THE OTHER DAY WE SAW 3 GUYS AND 2 SURFBOARDS ON A BIKE THAT SIZE. I GUESS YOU’RE ONLY LIMITED BY YOUR IMAGINATION.  HOW ABOUT A GUY AND A 4’ LADDER!

I WROTE FOR A WHILE AND WENT OUT TO LISTEN TO PODCASTS BY THE POOL TILL ABOUT 7:15.  CAME IN AND PUT A SHIRT ON FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY AND WE CAUGHT A CAB BACK TO ZICATELA FOR DINNER ABOUT 7:30.  WE WALKED UP AND DOWN A COUPLE OF TIMES LOOKING AT PLACES AND SETTLED FOR THE RESTAURANT INSIDE OF THE HOTEL INEZ.  I HAD BAKED FISH AND ROX HAD A CHICKEN STROGANOFF, BOTH WERE VERY GOOD. WE’D GO BACK.  GOT A CAB AND WE’RE BACK HOME BY AROUND 10:00.

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THURSDAY 1/18/18

ROXANE’S NEW HAIR MADE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT IN FINE FASHION.  SHE WOKE UP AND THE VIBRANT NEW COLORS SHONE LIKE THE MORNING SUN AND ILLUMINATED THE WHOLE ROOM.  WE GOT MOVING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE DOOR ABOUT 11:30 AND TODAY IS GOING TO BE AND EXPLORATION DAY.  WE DRESSED FOR THE BEACH.  ROX HAD HER TENNIS SHOES AND SOCKS ON, A FULL BACK PACK WITH A TOWEL, FLIP-FLOPS, SUN TAN LOTION, HER KINDLE, SOME MONEY, A VISOR, READING GLASSED, SUN GLASSES WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE CASES AND THE ROOM KEY.  I HAD ON MY SHORTS, FLIP-FLOPS, SUNGLASSES AND A HAT.

EACH DAY WE WALKED TO THE RINCONADA WE SEE A SMALL DIRT PATH TAKE OFF TO THE RIGHT THROUGH A RUSTED CHAIN LINK FENCE.  OVER THE CLIFF FAR OFF ON THE RIGHT WE CAN CATCH A GLIMPSE OF A SMALL BEACH DOWN BELOW. ON THE WEEKENDS THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF CARS AND SMALL MOTOR BIKES PARKED ALONG THE STREET NEAR THE PATH. SO, WE ARE DEDUCING THAT SOMEWHERE AT THE END OF THIS PATH MUST BE THAT BEACH.

WE WALK TO WHERE THE PATH TAKES OFF AND WE BEGIN TO FOLLOW IT.  MIND YOU THAT THE BEACH DOWN BELOW IS ABOUT 200 FEET DOWN BELOW.  THE PATH IS RELATIVELY FLAT AND THEN APPROACHES A SMALL RISE. AT THE TOP OF THAT RISE THE PATH HEADS DOWN AT A FAIRLY STEEP ANGLE. DON’T BE CONFUSED BY THINKING THIS IS A PATH THAT MAYBE SOME GOVERNMENT AGENCY HAS BUILT WITH STEPS, HAND RAILS, AND BENCHES AT TURN OUTS ETC.  IT IS A LOOSE SAND AND DIRT PATH ONLY FROM YEARS AND YEARS OF PEOPLE WALKING ON IT. IT WINDS OVER AND AROUND ROCKS AND HUGS THE SIDE OF THE DIRT HILLS THAT LEADS DOWN TO THE SAND.  THE PATH IS SO NARROW AND DEEP IN SOME SPOTS THAT IT IS NOT EVEN TWO FOOTPRINTS WIDE AND THE SIDES OF THE PATH ARE MID SHIN LEVEL.

DOWN, DOWN WE GO AND FINALLY IT SPILLS OUT ON THE SAND OF A SMALL PRIVATE COVE.  IT PROBABLY SEEMED PRIVATE BECAUSE TODAY WAS THURSDAY AND THERE WERE ONLY ABOUT A DOZEN PEOPLE DOWN THERE.  I’M SURE ON WEEKENDS QUITE A FEW MORE PEOPLE SHOW UP.

ROX FIND S A PLACE ON THE SAND AND SPREADS OUT HER TOWEL TO GET SOME SUN.  I TAKE OFF TO THE SMOOTH, ROUNDED VOLCANIC ROCKS THAT LINE THE TOP RIM OF THE SAND AT THE BASE OF THE MOUNTAIN.  I WALK DOWN A BOUT 2-3 OTHER SMALLER COVES AND SPY WHAT I THINK WILL BE A PERFECT VANTAGE POINT FOR ME SUN AND WATCH THE WAVES CRASHING ON THE ROCKS.

PLEASE INDULGE ME WHILE I DESCRIBE THIS PERFECT SPOT THAT I FOUND ABOUT A THIRD OF THE WAY DOWN THE COVE INTO THE WATER.  THERE WAS WELL WORN OBLONG ROUNDED ROCK THAT WAS PARALLEL WITH THE SAND LEANING BACK AT JUST THE CORRECT ANGLE THAT LOOKED LIKE THE SEAT OF A LARGE RECLINER.  TO THE BACK OF THIS ROCK WAS ANOTHER TALLER ROCK THAT WAS AGAIN ANGLED JUST RIGHT TO FORM THE BACK OF THIS GIANT ROCK RECLINER. I WORMED MY WAY ON TO THESE ROCKS AND BINGO ALL THE ANGLES WERE PERFECT AND THE SEAT ROCK HELD YOUR LEGS OUT JUST A LITTLE LIKE A REAL RECLINER.  I LEANED MY HEAD BACK AND THE ROCK HEAD CUSHION WAS AGAIN AT THE PERFECT ANGLE. I SAT AND WATCH THE WAVES CRASH AND SPLASH ALMOST UP TO ME BUT SEEMED TO ALWAYS STOP BEFORE THE WASHED OVER ME (EXCEPT ONCE).

AFTER A WHILE I WALKED BACK TO WHERE ROX WAS, NOW IN THE SHADE, AND WE SAT FOR A WHILE. WE WALKED DOWN TO THE OTHER END OF THE BEACH TO WHERE THE MOUNTAINS HIT THE WATER AND THEN GATHERED UP OUR STUFF FOR OUR TREK BACK UP THE MATTERHORN.  I STOPPED TWICE BECAUSE MY CALVES WERE SCREAMING.

BACK UP AT THE TOP WE DECIDED TO EAT SOMETHING FOR TODAY AS IT WAS ABOUT 2:00.  WE TURNED RIGHT AND WENT TO A PIZZA PLACE WE HAVE HAD OUR EYE ON FOR A FEW DAYS.  IT WAS JUST OPENING FOR THE DAY AND WE GOT THE FIRST PIZZA OF THE DAY.  AS WE SAT THERE FOR A WHILE, FINALLY THE SWEAT STOPPED FLOWING OUT OF EVERY PORE OF OUT BODIES AND DOWN OUR FACES, NECKS, SHOULDERS, AND ARMS ETC. ETC.

WE BOTH AGREED THAT THIS WAS THE BEST PIZZA SO FAR.  WE SPLIT A MEDIUM PIZZA AND A COUPLE OF COKES AND WALKED UP TO THE SHOP WHERE ROX GOT HER HAIR DONE YESTERDAY AND PAID THE GIRL THE REST OF THE TIP FROM YESTERDAY. WE WALKED BACK TO THE HOTEL AND I WROTE A WHILE AND ROX RESTED AND WATCHED A LITTLE TV.  I WENT OUT TO THE HAMMOCK AND LISTENED TO SOME PODCASTS TILL A LITTLE BEFORE 7:00.

SO, AT 7:00 I PUT ON A SHIRT FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY AND WE GOT READY TO GO TO THE ZICATELA AREA.  WE WEREN’T VERY HUNGRY BUT WE WENT JUST TO WALK AROUND.  WE PASSED A FEW HOTELS THAT WE CHECKED OUT FOR POSSIBLY NEXT YEAR IF WE DO COME DOWN. WE FOUND SOME GOOD PROSPECTS.  WE WALKED BY A FEW RESTAURANTS, READ SOME MENUS AND DECIDED ON ONE THAT LOOKED LIKE A NICE RESTAURANT.

WE HAD A COUPLE OF ROUNDS OF PINA COLADAS AND I HAD A CAPRESE SALAD AND ROX HAD A GUACAMOLE. WE STOPPED BY A CONVENIENCE STORE FOR A DIET COKE AND SOME CRANBERRY JUICE AND CAUGHT A CAB HOME.