Mexico #3/2021 and counting....

Crazy year......here we go again.

Last year about this time we had a SCUBA trip scheduled but had to canx it due to the CCP Wuhan Virus chaos.   Our group all received credits to be used up to one year for the AirBnB and air travel. This is the trip we all used them. But, just two months ago were at the the Grand in Playa del Carmen.  Hell, we just got back last week from a  trip to SECRETS here on Cozumel that had delayed several weeks and really close to this one.  These three trips were never supposed to be this close..... but... here we go again!   This time, we've changed it up though!

Enroute to DFW

 

My daughter is from in from SoCal, so I set it up as a 'day' delay between flights so we can snag her from DFW,  then we'll all head back the following day for the final leg (theoretical layover from Hell). Then the whole family and friends are on a single flight as we roll into COZ.   Then is just a couple of miles to our AirBnB right near the downtown hustle and bustle of San Miguel.  This place on the web looks over the top awesome.  The review of our Hostesses are over the top... so, we're in!

Dropped off Peanut the night before at Brother Dicks and Sista' Holly's place and ran out to DFW to grab my lil baby girl.  Soon back at the homestead and we're once again, the "Three Muskateers!"  Jess is giving her mama late B'day presents and I'm tearing up .. damned I miss the days when she lived with us.   Few hours of catching up and time for some Z's...   Mexico is right around the corner. Few more work emails the following morning, throw suitcases in the Jeep and ...  it's game on!

Day One : Headed to the airport a notch early so traffic doesn't cause any stress.  Soon parked in Terminal D's main parking area (gotta' love them Military Plates!) and checking in. Texas has some awesome policies for us that served in the military; God Bless Texas! Customs paperwork always sux, so I've done all the BS paperwork early and things are smooth as silk. Family and friends (there are nine of us total ) are coming in from other airports and already there so it's just a matter of finding the restaurant they are hiding at.  Soon, sipping a cold beer and catching up. Haven't seen my brother in law and his wife Marcella in over a year so lots to catch up on.  Still, two beers in and ... time to check in.  All three muskateers are in First Class so soon relaxing at the front of the bus, drink in hand and watching a movie as we go airborne.  Cozumel here we come.  Two and half hours later we're rolling up to the terminal to an 80 degree, humid day out.  We're here!  Everyone gets their baggage, some muy frio cervezas outside, I snag us a 9 passenger van/taxi and we're 'home' in just a few minutes since we are staying downtown this time around.  Donna (our AirBnB owner/hostess) meets us at the gate and gives us the '100mph' overview of the home and property .. she's a fast talker and I'm trying to remember all the info.  My takeaway from the briefing is ...  turn off the A/C during the day, and don't flush TP down the shitters.  Guess I've gotten used to the resorts since they have modern septic systems.   This is the first time I recall someone seriously asking us to not do this in the last ten years.  When you are out an about at primitive places around the island it's the norm.  I find myself researching this and realize most of the rural homes in the country are this way; put your TP in a trash can and dispose of it as necessary.  By the time our trip is over I'll get used to it.. but... just felt wrong!   Well, once we all get things put away, we're hoofing it down the road to Woody's, a fav or ours.  About twenty minutes later we're seated, ordering margaritas and listening to some awesome music.  Vaca is on! Still, eventually you've got to head back.  Everyone's a lil beat and ... zzzzzzzzzz

The Casa / Couryard

Day Two: Let the relaxing begin.  Our go to place every morning will be the courtyard by the pool.  Marcella is the Queen of the coffee making and she'll be perking it all week.  On this day, we all head to breakfast several blocks away at Casa Cuzamil.  Service rocked, food rocked .... as did the Bloody Marys.  Surprisingly this will be our only big group breakfast during the trip. The day is a lazy one and most are content just hanging around the house, sipping cervezas and catching up.  But eventually it's time for dinner  so we hoof it again to the downtown square and have an awesome meal at La Mission.   Beautiful, large restaurant that has older/mature waiters; over the top professional. Few folks have ventured off grabbing shots of tequila (free free!) at stores offering them up , but eventually all make it to dinner.  When we head back you can hear music off a few blocks away but most of us head to the house.  Well, not Johnny .. he's like "catch you later!" and heads towards the music.  I wanted to follow but Lucy and Jess' are about twenty minutes behind me and don't have a key.....

so back to the house with the group.  Half hour later and we get a video call from Johnny and he's at a bar with music that is rocking it... and he's teasing us.... so, several of us head out.  Three blocks away we come across Cozumel Rum Company and make our way in.  This place is rocking! The band is over the top. The crowd is jamming. Drinks are ice cold and good.   Eventually we close it down and smiling.  We've barely been here on the island 24 hours!

No Name Bar

Day Three: Another relaxing morning ... coffee by the pool, great conversation. ... This was supposed to be a dive trip for most, but it's morphed. I can't dive after the ICD crap happened last year.  Few other folks that are now with us aren't divers, but Paul/Johnny/Michael head out to the harbor connect up with Julio and Ishi for a few dives that morning.  Most of us at the house will work our way a few blocks to the No Name Beach Bar to grab some loungers in their sandy beach area and enjoy the day. Turns out they'll make some killer margaritas with MAESTRO DOBEL DIAMANTE Tequila. I've never had it before, but it was recommended over the Don Julio and I'm soon a fan.  A big fan; all day long!  After the dives, the guys rolled in and we spend the rest of the day there; beautiful place!   Eventually, we walk a few blocks

Kondessa

back to the homestead for some more patio/pool time; never ending?  For dinner, there is a place literally three blocks away that rocks;  Kondesa Cocina Moderna. Beautiful outdoor dining, killer modern Mexican menu.  My Filet and Lobster will rock as does all the others choices.  We've lucked out into a winner.  Yum!

La Molinas

Day Four: Relaxing .. again.   We guys decide to head out for breakfast.  Johnny shows me some pics from Hemingway's and they have Eggs Benedict; I'm in!  It's by the water/ocean with killer views.  Service is over the top as are the drinks.  Eventually, we off to the next spot.. literally next door; La Molina. This place looks like a fav for locals with a Mexican band in the background on this Sunday morning.  We have one drink.. then another.. and another .. and maybe.. another(s).  By the time we leave we're 'new best friends' with our waiter Adrian. Too funny. In the mean time, the girls have connected up with Donna's daughter whom is giving them a tour of the of the ruins on the Island.  I

Scooter Boyz

honestly didn't think it would go well, but they all had a blast and were gone several hours. Eventually, we're all back around the pool when Michael is bored and wants to grab some scooters.  So, in flip flops and shorts we head out to find some. Everyone and their brother seems to have them to rent but trying to get the best pricing proves more difficult than it should be. Eventually, thirty dollars each, we have them for the next 24 hours and we're zipping around like crazy Gringos.  I downplayed it all when we got them, but these lil' things threw me off at first.  Hardly any room to put the feet and it just feels .. small.  But five minutes later we're in our groove and hauling ass.  They say they only do 60kph, but we were well above that and they are quick!  So we head back to Hemingway's for some margaritas to get some use out of 'em; in flip flops, shorts.. and .. the mandatory helmets.   We've got to be back for a 6pm dinner.. ... but ..not a bad afternoon. 

Dive Day / Boat Harbor

Day Five:  It's a Dive Day.  Damned I wish I was going, but ...  not to be.  On a positive note, my daughter and Beth have decided to do some "discovery dives" which is diving with the Dive Master basically holding their hands down to about 30' or so.   Since we got some scooters yesterday Michael and I ride to the harbor ahead of the rest of the group whom are grabbing a cab.  I get the chance to greet Julio and Ishi which was a positive.  After everyone rolls up, they're on the boat and headed out ... sigh ...   Even with almost a hundred dives under my belt, it's hard to let go of the whole SCUBA thing. Well,after taking some some pics of everyone heading out,  I'm on the scooter and rolling back to San Miguel to the homestead.   Few waters and some java.. I'm considering taking a nap when.... we get a call for me to head back and grab Beth.  The dive stuff didn't work out so well for her, so they dropped her off at the harbor and lobbed some calls my way.  Now I get to see how this Scooter handles with two of us!  Shockingly, not bad!  Once we are moving I don't even know she's back there... I didn't' think we'd have room but ... perfecto!   We're soon back at the casa and planning the day.   Back to the beach club for Pool time!  We again choose the No Name Bar for s second go around.   This time we park it at the pool, while Beth is taking a nap ( that whole diving/boat trip messed with her).  I'm really digging this place, using the pool this time.  Music is cranked, sun is hot, margaritas are flowing.  Few hours later the rest of the group rolls in and we take over the pool area.  But ...   we've got to return these scooters, so .. I opt to jump on Michaels and I'm riding Bitch.  I can not believe we both fit on this tiny thing.  Six hundred pounds of man meat and it held us a few miles back to the casa to get my scooter.  Few corners I swore that rear tire was going to come off the rim but it held up.  Grab mine and we're hauling ass to drop them off.  Then, a cab ride back to the bar and .. let the fun begin.  Eventually we're back at the Casa and starving, so Restaurant Wiliam it is which is just a few blocks from us.  Roberto is awesome taking care of us and we had the honor of meeting the owner towards the end of the night.  It's a really small place that we took over and dropping a few hundred bucks here with a large tip was no doubt a blessing for them.  Good Times!

Day Six:  Headed out to find a Covid test place.  First up is the main hospital near the downtowan square.  They want 895 Pesos for the test; make an appointment for that afternoon.  We hike out a few blocks towards the locals area and find Laboratorio de Análisis Clínicos del Dr. Simi.  For 500 Pesos, we can do a walk in; and we do. We immediately call the rest of the gang and they head this way.  Hard to believe we get these done for essentially $25 USD each. Next door, we find an "old school breakfast" joint with all types of options; it has two plastic tables in an old garage with no A/C.  This is what I'm talking about! Meal didn't cost much, so I tipped the heck out of it.  Hell, we've been tipping big all week knowing many of the locals have been in dire straits with the loss of tourism the last year.  Then walking back we find a killer lunch next at La Choza Cozumel.  Our group has met an awesome local whom drives a taxi .  So we contact Mr Joe to head to the south side of the Island. After a stop for beer to take with, we head out.  Restaurante Punta Morena/Playa Punta Morena first for drinks and massages.  Then skipped Coconuts and head to Freedom in Paradise Reggae Beach Bar & Grill. Mr Joe (ie Motherfucker Joe) is a wealth of info and I can't get enough of this guy, chatting the whole way there and back. As always, we're soon back at the casa, popping colds ones and putting the feet up outside by the pool.  Relaxing night.

Barracuda Hotel / No Name Bar

Day 7: Crap ... it's that time.  Party is over.   Java ...  some backyard time ...  but .. eventually ..  got to pack and grab the suitcases. Mr Joe pulls up at exactly 1000 hrs to get us and we are headed to the airport. Few hours later we're on the ground at DFW and ziping through customs. We're back on US soil and exhausted as always! We head north of McKinney and grab Peanut from the Dittels and head home.  But.. I'm startving .. so .. a final 'foody' night at Luigis up in Quinlan at Dino's place..  Clean up crawl into my bed... exhausted!   

Another one in the books ......................

We'd made plans to head back to Quinta Roo in JULY 2021 ..  but .. decided  ....to cancel  .. not enough bandwidth .. and .. it's friggn' hot..  so .... until September... ..  The Barcelo awaits us!  Then... it's almost unanimous among the group .. we head back from another AirBnB vaca!

 

M***R Joe dropping us off for departure

 

Hemingways

South Side

South Side