Vacation Time!

 Tonight I fired back up the PC.  Tired of typing these posts on the phone. Up and out early for me - reserved our chairs by 7:30.  Then we ate breakfast before landing by the pool at 9:00.  We had the place to ourselves until about 11, when a group of young (mid-30's) Candians showed up.  Two of them were celebrating 15 years and brought down about 8 friends to celebrate with them for 2 weeks! We hit the buffet for lunch and then back to the pool by 1:30.  We must have had a sign up that said come join us as another group of 4 took over "our end" of the pool.  They left and did not take their towels nor empty drink glasses - rude.  That was followed by another six people who brought their own bluetooth speaker - playing late 60's / early 70's tunes.  Not our vibe.  We packed up and boogied as it was already 4 pm. We took a taxi down to Puerto Modero (Argentinian Steak House) for dinner.  We both enjoyed the ribeye steaks and a few ...

Star Bar being set up for a wedding Our room key and all-inclusive bracelet   A bit of a later start this morning. Didn’t hit the Star Bar sun deck until 9:30. Full sun and ample wind. I spent most of the day in our private pool. Only break we took was for a late lunch about 1:00. Our private bartender (really nothing private/personal just feels that way), anyway he told us that the deck needed to be clear by 4:30 so they could set up for a wedding. No big deal to us as we usually call it about 4 anyway.  Dinner was Italian again and it was good again. Back to the room for Thursday Night Football. Sandy fell asleep during the game while I was finishing my second book.  Since we are all-inclusive, there has to be a way to identify us. We are used to those stupid plastic bands but the Uno has something unique. These are cloth bands with little tags on them - see photo above. The tags serve as your room key - quite convenient and not nearly as uncomfortable as the plastic ba...

The Star Bar sun deck at night The Christmas decorations at La Isla mall Sandy’s chocolates on her pillow tonight The front of our hotel  Out early for breakfast this morning and then to the Star Bar sun deck until lunch. Back to the sun deck and then to room for showers. However, since we have not had maid service in two days, we were out of towels. I called the front desk and Sandy texted our concierge. We got service! Mind you, we were never mean nor did we complain - how could we? This week is basically free! And we’re on vacation. No need to be upset or cause a stink.  We took a taxi down to La Isla to shop and have dinner. Came back to extra service in our room - turned down bed, chocolates, and fresh water bottles. Kissing up now! Weather is the same old boring 84 degrees with almost full sun all day long. Tough to handle but we shall do our best.  Photos from today.  Looking out over the sun deck toward the ocean.  Damn phone. Can’t move pictures. Can’t ...

 Sandy left early to reserve chairs at the adults-only Star Bar sun deck (where all the shows have been going on). Then we had breakfast, slathered up with sunscreen and laid out there until 4.  We ate ate the Mexican restaurant last night. Again, good food. Then to the lobby bar for drinks.  Wes and Mallory wanted to chat so Grandma video called them and we caught up with them before bed.  Nothing really new here. More of the same coming.  The view from our semi-private pool on the Star Bar deck.  Selfie in the pool.  Dinner date The view of the deck. No, we are not suffering!

The reflection during our outdoor dining tonight The kiddie pool off our balcony  Tonight’s sunset Sandy’s Banana Monkey from our pool chairs this morning   Up for breakfast by 9. Actually found bacon this morning. Did get to see a show from our balcony last night. Interesting.  Sat by the far N pool until lunch. Went next door to the Islander for lunch. Not part of the same computer system, so we had to pay, but it was worth it.  Then went to the Star Bar for the afternoon of sun. That’s where we are heading in the morning.  Dinner tonight was Italian. Ate outside with about 25 million mosquitoes. Not that we’d get any sympathy. Back to the room for Monday Night Football. Colts getting whooped.  Another concert at the Star Bar tonight  

 Mistakes were made. Left my PC charger at home. Will be updating this vacation blog on my phone. Hopefully this explains the brevity.  We left for the airport at 6:45 am, Saturday, 26 Nov. uneventful trip and the airport was desolate. The TSA agent said there was a rush earlier but it was over. Right into Cancun direct and then waited forever for our luggage. No worries. We’re on vacation. Ate a late lunch and to bed early. Slept for 13 hours off and on.  Up at 8 Sunday. Down to the buffet for breakfast. At the pool by 9:30. Hot here. 85F. Spent the day in and out of the pool to stay cool.  We’re at the Royal Uno this trip. Only been open for about six months. Will save our review for later. Rooms are very nice though.  Some photos courtesy of Sandy. 

 Well, this week has come to a close.  Today it was 82 F (28 C) and full sun in the morning.  Clouds came in after lunch but not fully covered.  We hit the beach directly after breakfast - by 9:30 and sat by the lap pool.  Greg and I played cornhole and he won 3-2 today, making us even for the trip. Lunch, of course, was at the pool bar.  The plan was to then go kayaking but the waves were too heavy to allow for this activity today.  So instead we talked the girls into playing cornhole.  Greg and I beat them handily before we switched to couples.  The Seagers beat the Ungers by more luck than sense.  This activity is not one for the girls. Dinner was Sushi night.  Greg and Sandy ordered from the menu.  Then back to the room for more cards.  The guys won 3 to 1 tonight making the total for the trip 10 - 4.  According to the women we are as poor winners as we are losers.  I think they are poor losers.   I...

 Up about 9.  Headed down to breakfast and then to the pool.  It was overcast / mostly cloudy, but still 82 F (28 C).  Greg and I played some cornhole and I was on it, winning 3-0.  Go ahead and ask him about it.  Lunch was at the pool bar.  Stayed out until it sprinkled.  Back to the room for cards, with more cards after dinner.   Dinner was 50's night with singing and dancing.  Yes, we sang, but very little dancing on our part. Cards, you ask?  Well, let's just say that it is going to take a lot of card playing for the girls to catch up.  They did start running their mouths, but their asses couldn't cash those checks.  So they resorted to throwing water bottles and kicking us under the table - to no avail.  We routed them today 5-1.  Their only rally cry?  "Well, at least it wasn't 5 to 0." I have finished one book, Man Eaters of Kumaon by Jim Corbett.  This is the second reading of this book an...

 Got up to some clouds and the threat of rain.  Ran down to the store to get some nutrients for breakfast.  The girls had a 10:30 appt with the Spa for a foot treatment - which they said they enjoyed.  The boys played some cornhole until the bar opened.  We ate lunch at the pool bar and then as the rains came, we returned to the room for some Bid Euchre.   The girls decided to get "artsy" and painted some ceramic pieces.  Dinner was Italian night at the restaurant.  Back to the room to finish off with more cards. The girls will attempt to claim that we either cheated or I am not reporting the correct scores.  However, the boys won 3-2.  We let the girls win 2 games so that we could sleep in our beds tonight.  We figured that beating them as badly as we did at Euchre last night was not wise.   Weather tomorrow is looking like only a 20% chance of rain in the early morning, then reaching 80 F (27 C).  Beats the cra...

 Got a late start this morning, going to the opposite side (the S or "Sun" side) so we could grab deck chairs that actually sit in the pool.  Hit it about 10 am.  Stayed in the pool until 11 when water aerobics started and the bar opened.  The girls decided to do exercises while the men did 12 oz curls, both arms.  We then hit the ocean for a swim before having lunch at the poolside cafe. We laid out until the rains came about 4-ish.  We laid around the room until dinner at 6.  Back to the room to play Euchre.  The men won 6 straight before letting the women win one, just so we wouldn't have to hear about it all night.  They may claim they didn't get good cards, but we all know they just are not good card players. A few photos from today... During breakfast, looking E toward Cozumel During lunch.  Sent to Lesley I. just for hazing. Me doing my exercises while the girls do theirs. Sandy is the one immediately under my drinking arm, Christ...

 Up again today at about 7:30.  All four of us went down for breakfast before heading to the lap pool.  Greg & Christy stayed in the room to try and recover from too much sun yesterday - and I'm here to tell ya, it's hot down here.  That's not a complaint as there is snow falling at home!  We will take hot. Just to give you an idea of how hot it is - Sandy was in the pool three times before lunch!  Lunch was at the pool bar, as par norm.  And then we spent most of the afternoon in the pool attempting to keep cool. Dinner tonight included the Mexican Show with dancers giving the history of the Mayans.  And then we spent way too much money at the vendor shops that were set up outside the restaurant.  But at least all the grandkids have gifts from Grandma & Papaw returning from Mexico. And this is our plan for the remainder of the week...sleep when tired and eat when hungry while basking in the 87 F heat.  Clear and beautiful here....