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| Wed: Day 13: 31C
- NO CLOUDS IN SIGHT |
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Late breakfast, then off to the beach for
some snorkeling. No waves, no wind - and no shade huts a vailable.
The beach guy set our loungers up near the water in the full sun where Lisa
could read and keep her eye on me. I was in the water for over an
hour. What a blast. I spent the whole hour in water no more than
12 feet deep, floating, watching some small fish, then diving down to try
and get a picture. I'm starting to like this snorkeling thing.
In the past I'd have a life jacket and worried about getting tired.
But you don't get tired just floating. During this, beach volleyball
was in session, Canada vs. Europe. I was having too much fun in the
water.
On our way back, Lisa decided to hang out at
the main pool. I wanted the heated pool. The snooty pool.
At the pool I had a small snack of 3 shrimp cocktails. Now
 I
guess I should explain how this is not a lot of food. Each one came in
a dish with 3 shrimp on a bed of either lettuce or cabbage surrounded by
either tomatoes or cucumbers. So 9 shrimp and a salad. And
shrimp is the leanest protein one can eat. It is good for you. I
spent some time talking with Yenni, including explaining curling.
Then, a guy walks over to get a drink.
I say "Dave". He doesn't even look. Later on he comes back for
another
 drink.
I say "Dave". Again he doesn't look. So I say "excuse me, is
your name Dave?" He says "No". I say "Are you sure?" He
was. Anyway Dave and Darlene, oops I mean Evan were from Cold Lake (so
they loved the heated pool). He looked just like my driving school
instructor (who now after I told the story to, signs his name Evan). I
asked Evan (the guy I thought was Dave), do you have a sports car, since
Dave does, he said yes, I said a Z3 girlie car like Dave, he said no a vette.
He asked if Dave was good looking. I cannot comment on such a
question, not an expert, have no experience judging how men look - not that
there is anything wrong with that. They arrived last Friday (same day
Jim and Angela left) -
 hey
I should have asked Evan if he took my towel! But we hadn't seen them
since they were all over the place. Beach, main pool, etc. This
was what I was looking for, someone to replace Jim and Angela, and so we
agreed to meet at the hill top bar after dinner. Lisa and I were
eating at the French again. At the French I had an amuse bouche to die
for - mussels. The music was superb. We bought their CD.
Same violin player that serenades us at the tea parties.
This night we stayed up and closed a few bars
drinking with Evan and Darlene, Len and Carol, Jack and Nancy (from Norwood
ON east of Toronto). And Dan and Neisha also met up with us for a few
minutes. To our shock and surprise, we made it to 3AM.
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| Thu: Day 14: 31C
- NO CLOUDS IN SIGHT |
I took some abuse at the pool one day when I bragged
about finishing the book I started in Punta
 Cana,
so for the record, here was my reading list this trip.
A Croatia (2nd half), Canadian Business 2005/2006 annual, The
National Enquirer March 06, PC World March 06 (how can you do any traveling
without reading something to do with computers), The Balkans (I started half
way thru to ensure I made it to the end - and I did), Entertainment Weekly
April 06, Golf magazine March 06 (great except the bunker tip), Glamour
April 06 (kind of bathroom reading) (excellent tips on how to keep your skin
looking young and feeling moist). I was also ready to next start
reading Croatia - a Nation Forced in War, but who was I kidding, it was
thick and there were only 3 days remaining. I'll save it for next
year. It will just be that much better.
Spent an hour of my last day here at the spa - went for a
massage.
 Excellent.
I needed that. All that lying around doing nothing can be hard on the
body. And in the latter part of the day as we left the pool, we left a
few things for our great bartenders. I gave Jose the big bubba, he was
very happy. Went to the lobby for some shopping. Got some
T-shirts for my brother Paul's kids, another music CD/DVD for me.
Passed on a percussion instrument (drum).
Tonight was manager's reception again - every Thursday.
It was great as was the first one. Spoke to Oscar the general manager,
complimented him on his resort and got his card so that when we return next
year, I can get all of us exactly the rooms we would like. Building,
floor, etc.
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| Fri: Day 15:
30C - CLOUDS, Tarmac at the airport was wet. |
Skipped breakfast again (yep got on the scale again).
Cloudy out. Said our goodbyes, got whisked to
 the
front lobby - actually our luggage did, we decided to walk the 200 yards.
Cab arrived to take us away. This cab driver was weird. When we
got to the airport road, he pulls over, two big buses pass us by, he gets
out to run back and talk to a couple of buddies, all without saying
anything. Did I mention 2 buses full of people are now ahead of us?
He comes back, gets in, we are off again. An oncoming cab approaches.
He stops. he gets out again. They chat. I'm thinking is
the cab going to blow or is an unmarked van going to stop and kidnap us.
Seriously? No. But I was getting pissed.
At the airport, we get to the Air Canada line and we are
100th in line of a line of 100. BP was 160/90. I remember our AC
rep at the resort telling us of the VIP lounge and the perks. $25CDN
each. We never did buy access to it. So I asked Lisa to find an
AC rep and pay it. She did. We were then asked to change lines
and presto, 3rd in line. We were going to ask if there were any 1st
class seats left, but the young man said no. We checked in. Our
next task was to get in a line of 30 to pay the departure tax, but, as a VIP
customer, we paid him, he went to the desk, then behind it, and paid it for
us. Next the passport control. All the lines had 10 or so in
line except row 1. Which is where we went. Suffice to say within
15 minutes of forking out $50 we were walking thru the metal detectors
(while #99 in line was probably now #88 in line) and into the VIP lounge.
Air conditioned, puffy leather chairs. We sat down. We were
presented with a plate of cold cuts. Can't eat without drinks, so we
had cappuccinos with Bailey's. And some banana chips etc. All
free!!! Well $50. Well worth it. When it was time to
leave, we went up stairs and onto the plane. The tarmac was wet.
It had rained here while we
 were
in the lounge.
Once on the plane I noticed four empty 1st class seats.
Buddy was wrong. We asked to upgrade, No can do once you are on
the plane. Oh well, saved $100+ and as luck would have it there was one
other empty seat on the plane, the one right of Lisa so we had the side, 3
seats. Just as good. Movie was The Family Stone - sucked.
3 and 1/2 hour flight home. Flew over an array of windmills around
Yarmouth. Temperature in Cuba 30C, at home 5C. Either way, shirt
weather.
What a vacation. What great people we met especially
Jim and Angela whom we spent a lot of time with. Jim, come on down so
we can play a round of golf - it's on me.
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