Cabo part 2: rest and relaxation

Since we were flying across the continent, we thought we should probably stay in Cabo for a full week. In fact, at the wedding we won a prize for staying the longest, even longer than the bride and groom who were on their honeymoon.

It was our first time ever staying at an all inclusive. We quickly discovered that staying at a place where everything is provided for you - from meals at five restaurants, a huge pool, a nice stretch of beach, to evening entertainment - means it is about as easy of a vacation as you can get. It is a nice life when you eat your breakfast with this view.

After saying goodbye to some of those who had to leave that morning, on Monday we relaxed at the pool all morning and early afternoon (you will notice that this becomes a trend). In the afternoon we went into Cabo San Lucas for a little adventure. We walked through the marina to Medano beach and rented kayaks to paddle out to the famous arch where the Sea of Cortez and Pacific Ocean converge. It was a long trip - took every minute of the hour we had the kayaks - but it was great to see the late-afternoon sun on Land's End.

Tuesday morning was another strenuous day that included a breakfast of fresh fruit, chilaquiles (which I had for breakfast every morning), omelets, and chocolate croissants followed by some pool time. Maya and Tyson mentioned taking the afternoon shuttle into Cabo San Lucas and hanging out at one of the bars on the beach. They really had to twist my arm on that one. Lelaine and I had not gone clubbing with the young whipper snappers on Friday and Saturday nights, so we thought this was going to be as close to the true Cabo partying experience as we would get. Worried that I wasn't getting enough exercise, I showcased my new-found running skills by entering a race along the beach, that also may have involved tequila, beer, and spinning around a pole ten times Even after a detour into the water, I managed to finish a respectable second. To protect the innocent all video and pictures of the event have been destroyed.

Maya, Tyson, Lelaine, and I woke up early Wednesday morning and drove to Cabo Pulmo, a coral reef 40 miles northeast of San Jose Del Cabo for a little snorkeling excitement. We found a guide who could take us out on a boat immediately and headed for four different sites. The first was on the reef. The water was fairly clear and there were at least twenty types of fish. The second site was a school of jack fish. It took the captain a bit to find them and in that time, the rocking of the boat did a number on Lelaine's motion sickness prone stomach. When we were told that we were going to see a school of fish, I wasn't impressed. But it was a different story when we got into the water. There were thousands of fish. I have never seen anything like it. All one kind, all swimming closely together. After taking a few minutes to take it all in I realized that below the group I was looking at, there was another massive group of fish. Lelaine was worried that where there are thousands of fish, there might be a shark or two, so we got back into the boat. The rocking up and down was not sitting well with her, so the captain took us back to the beach and the rest of the group went to another reef site and then a colony of sea lions. We should have some pictures when we develop the film from the underwater camera.

Thursday morning, which happened to be Thanksgiving, we were sad because Maya and Tyson - who I'm sure have always dreamed of spending their honeymoon with us - left for home in San Francisco. It was our last full day, so we decided to do what we do best: lay by the pool and mosey down to the beach. After a long day in the sun, we treated ourselves to dinner at a nice restaurant in San Jose Del Cabo. Lelaine had chips and guacamole, grilled red snapper, and a chocolate tart. I was adventurous and had qeusadilas stuffed with flowers and goat cheese, scallops in white mole, and a corn cake for dessert.

It was tough to go home on Friday. It had been a wonderful week, and hopefully we will make it back to Cabo one day.

Here's a link to the best photos from Cabo. Enjoy!

Cabo part 1: Maya and Tyson's wedding

On Friday we flew to Cabo for Lelaine's cousin Maya's wedding. We were excited to see family, and spending a week in Cabo isn't too bad either.

We woke up early in the morning for our flights to Vegas, Phoenix, and then Los Cabos. Fortunately we had a long enough layover in Phoenix that we got to meet up with my friend Jeremy, who we have been meaning to visit in Phoenix for about four years. Better late and brief than never, but we are definitely going to try to make it out for a real visit sometime soon.

We arrived in Cabo late Friday night and met up with Uncle Perry, Aunt Nora, Therese, and Felicia at the hotel, the Melia Cabo Real in the corridor, for a quick dinner, then headed to the beach for a party the hotel was putting on. Little did we know that one of the highlights of the trip would come so quickly when Uncle Perry joined a group of ladies on stage to dance to some booty shaking music. It had been a long day of traveling so we went to bed early.

Saturday morning Lelaine, Therese, and Felicia went into Cabo to visit the market and do a little shopping while I played golf with Tyson and some of his family and friends. The score was high and balls attracted to the sand - both the traps and the out-of-bounds desert - but I had a great time. It isn't every day that you get to play a desert course that is both in the mountains and along the water.

The wedding was just before sunset. Maya and Tyson are obviously good people as they had quite the turnout for a destination wedding. After the ceremony was a cocktail hour and reception. Being in Mexico, the tequila was plentiful and Uncle Perry decided to partake in a shot or five. That night some of the more energetic in the group went out to party in Cabo San Lucas, but we were pooped and called it a night.

Sunday we developed what would be a pattern for most of the rest of our stay: get up and eat breakfast under a big palapa overlooking the Sea of Cortez then spend the day lounging by the pool with trips to the pool bar for cervezas and margaritas, the snack bar for tacos, and maybe even wonder down to the beach. That night a group of us went to one of the nice restaurants at the hotel for a big meal before several people had to depart in the morning.

#13

Friday night Doug and I went up to Philadelphia to see Pearl Jam. It was my thirteenth show and Doug's first. I will spare you all the details, but it was amazing. For sentimental reasons my first show will probably always be my favorite, and yes I realize that is pretty sappy, but this was easily #1b.

Around the fifth or sixth time I saw them I started making a list of the songs I most wanted to hear live but hadn't. Breath has been the top song on that list every time. Not only did they play it, but they did three others as well: Tremor Christ, Unthought Known, and Force of Nature. When they went into Breath, I actually had to stop for a second to verify that my ears weren't deceiving me. In addition to a few rarities they played a couple of the big fan favorites, including Jeremy with a string quartet and Alive. I was pleased that Doug got to see them do a few of the classics. Needless to say, we were happy campers on the drive home.

If she doesn't scare you, no evil thing will...

A super quick post with our Halloween picture. For those unfamiliar with the 101 Dalmatians, I am Cruella De Vil. Chris and Doug were dalmatians. I wasn't successful turning them into a new fur coat. There's always next year.