Isla Chicas 2008

Now that we have the beginnings of Isla Chicas 2008....the room and a Roca Mar update....it's time to get on with the FUN stuff!  During a wonderful day at the new and improved Zama's, I coerced the chicas into joining me in a long tradition....the beach back photo!  They were a willing bunch, so it was easy to get them settled in a secluded spot while I ran back and forth, setting the camera timer and running back into the line-up.  Lots of giggles!   So, here they are....Isla Chicas 2008!!

Lots of fun yet to come but.....Doreese's blog will have to go on a bit of a holiday.....my dad is having surgery for esophageal cancer on Wednesday, November 26.  Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.....

Roca Mar Update as of Nov.1/08

Roca Mar Update as of Nov.1/08  --  Update Jan 09--see bottom of post....

I took a morning walk past our first favourite place to stay….the Roca Mar. We began staying here in 2003….loved the funkiness of the place and the fact that ‘Ino’ was there to watch over it all. Miss him….we have a lot of wonderful memories from the Roca Mar.

Anyway, Roca Mar was sold earlier this year and has been undergoing a major renovation. One that was sorely needed. It is a beautiful location and I am so happy to see the restoration taking place instead of it being bulldozed for some 6 story condo building! Once the work is done, it will be a prime location to stay….although much pricier than in the past I’m sure!

Here are some photos that I took on November 1st…there were a lot of workers there so I’m sure a lot of progress has been made since then. Tentative opening date is for some time in December. We shall see!  M & J's is currently located on Hidalgo....search them out for a delicious breakfast.

T

 

It will be exciting to see the finished project!

UPDATE--Jan 2009

The Roca Mar is finished and looks amazing!  There is some information here...

http://www.isla-mujeres.net/hotelrocamar/

 

and you can see the new photos at Kathryn's Travel...

http://www.kathrynstravel.com/Rocamar_IslaMujeres.html

Isla Mujeres Chicas Only October 2008 -- The Room

What a crazy FUN holiday this was!!!  Somehow, a bunch of little pieces fell together and a group of chicas ended up on Isla Mujeres at the same time.  No hubbies or boyfriends in sight...woohoo!  Let the 'Sisterhood of the Travelling Bra' begin!

So, where to stay?  Girls travelling alone need a safe, secure place to stay.  Not to mention, convenient location, clean and Cheap!  We needed to budget wisely so we would have more pesos for pompom margs!

Maria Leticia was quickly chosen and with help from Chris on Isla Mujeres, the reservations were made.  I was very happy with my room, and for the price it couldn't be beat.  I would definitely recommend this location for anyone.  It's a very popular place and has many regulars that stay there for long holidays.  We were lucky to get in as it was low season.  Their website is  http://www.isla-mujeres.net/rentals/marialeticia/home.htm

Here is a little tour of my room and the location of Maria Leticia....

 

There was always lots of water pressure....the light in the bathroom was very dim though....I had to use a little flashlight in there sometimes!

Great views from the balcony!

On the second night I closed this heavy wooden door....it kept out any noise and gave added security as well.

Watch out for all the wires!

The metal security gate closes and locks at night....we had to wake up a night watchman several times...poor guy!  

A little video of the room...

Dancing With The Stars!

The countdown is on!  

We are big fans of Dancing with the Stars...I know, I know, it's TV fluff, but tell me....who doesn't wish that they could do some of those dances!  Next time I'm on Isla and that salsa music comes on I just want to get up and shake it like Brooke or Julianne....I'm shaking twice as much stuff so it should be twice as good, right?!  :)

Today was the semi-final and it's down to Lance, Cody, Warren and Brooke.  So who is going to take home the coveted disco ball trophy?

My thoughts.....

Cody---cute kid but doesn't have a lot of flexibility...love Julianne....think he might be going home tomorrow

Warren---not a big fan of this guy....I think his dancing is sloppy, but he is light on his feet.  I'm not sure that he deserves to be in the final as his content is seriously lacking, compared to the others

Lance---talk about coming from behind!  He has been doing great on the last few dances!  I've really enjoyed their originality.  The judges were tough on them from the start, but they have worked so hard.  I really like Lacey too.  I'm leaning towards the trophy for them...depends on what they do next week

Brooke---kind of like Kristi of last year....front runner from the start.  Derek creates some very tough choreography.  Their routines are more difficult than the rest of the dancers, but maybe they should tone it down a bit and be a little more perfect in their technique instead.  She's definitely a natural talent.

If you're watching...make sure you vote for your favourite!  Who do you think will win?

Bond is Back!

We went to see the new Bond movie last night...Quantum of Solace...what an action packed movie that was!  I still find the plots a little confusing...the usual bad guy doing bad stuff and the good guy doing bad stuff for a good reason.... but there was definitely a lot of on-the-edge-of-your-seat moments to make up for it.  It was interesting that it was a continuation of the last Bond....I don't remember Bond movies being like that before.

Daniel Craig is a superb Bond....I can't believe that I was so upset the day that they said Pierce wouldn't be back again as Bond...uh, Pierce who?

The fluff is gone, even the martinis are different in this one...just 2 hours of action!

Who is your favourite Bond?

Holiday Smiles!

Have you ever noticed if you smile more when you're on a holiday?  Or laugh a LOT?  I know I do!  My recent holiday to Isla Mujeres was an all-girls holiday.  What a FANTASTIC holiday it was!  Of course it was different not sharing Isla time with hubby, but how often do you get a group of women together like this.....most of us have met on Isla Mujeres or have only met on message boards.  We were together for hours every day and night...and never tired of each others' company.  My cheeks were sore for days after I came home from all the laughing!  This photo was taken at Casa Sirena...we were lucky enough to be invited to a happy hour get-together there.  The margaritas were awesome and the company even greater.  Just look at all the smiles!!  That's what holidays are all about.....

A sunrise goodbye....

I enjoyed the most beautiful sunrise when I had to leave Isla Mujeres on the 6am ferry on Nov.2.  Seeing that made me smile, but it certainly didn't make it any easier to leave!

Twilight is finished

I started reading Twilight during the girls only Isla Mujeres holiday in late October.  I just finished it....enjoyed it.  It may be a 'teen' book, but for light reading on the beach, it was great.  I'm looking forward to the movie....bought tickets for the show on Nov.21, and I'm also starting the second book in the series, New Moon.

What book have you recently read and enjoyed?  

A little more about us.....

Vince and I both have busy full-time jobs that we enjoy....Vince with the Ministry of Health as an Environmental Health Officer and I am an Office Manager at a private company.  Our youngest son is in grade 9, middle son is in second year university striving for a degree in Physics and our oldest is out on his own and working hard.  Each day is filled from start to finish so.....

....We love our Mexico holidays......it all started back in 1999, when we took our first holiday to Mexico and stayed for 2 wonderful weeks at the all-inclusive Iberostar Tucan resort, just south of Playa del Carmen.  One look at that gorgeous blue ocean and we were in love!

We had already been on several holidays to California and loved relaxing and wine-tasting in Santa Barbara, but Mexico was a whole new adventure.  We had no sooner returned from our 1st Iberostar visit when we began planning the next holiday.  We returned to the Iberostar Tucan again in 2000 and then tried a new Iberostar in 2001, the Iberostar Paraiso del Mar.  It was during a visit to the Iberostar in 2002 that we took a day trip to Isla Mujeres, a small island just off the mainland near Cancun.  Wow....now this is a relaxing place!  We added Isla Mujeres to our holiday list!

Over the next few years, our holidays were shared between the Iberostar and Isla Mujeres.  In some ways they are the complete opposite of each other, but they both offer us the relaxation and fun that we look for on our holidays.  We've also enjoyed sharing these special places with our sons.

We are lucky to be able to go to Mexico for 3-4 weeks each February and then we also try to go again in August for our wedding anniversary.  Mexico holidays are cheaper and way more fun than marriage counselling!

So, this blog will be a lot about...planning for Mexico and being in Mexico....our favourite home away from home!

Time to join the blogging world! 

My first post in my first blog!  It feels GOOD!

What will this blog be about?...hmmmm.....daily life with hubby, 3 sons, 3 cats, a full-time job and.....dreaming of our next holiday to Mexico!