ISLA COZUMEL 2013- Part 2.

Sunsets are fun to watch. The clouds almost always obsure the sun at the last minute.

This cover band called "Fugga" was very, very good. They play right on the water so you can enjoy the sunset while listening to your favorite classic rock.

The band invited this woman up to belt out a song...she was great and so was the kid because she played his leg like an air guitar. Everybody is there....kids, dogs etc. It winds down around 9 p.m.

Jamey & Michelle at Playa Palancar where we took a small boat out to 2 reefs to snorkel. Saw a HUGE turtle, nurse shark and tons of lovely colored fish. Man it was HOT...the water felt sooo good.

The next day we went on another snorkel trip. This one was longer. Here's Jamey at the end of the trip party...snorkel 1st...drinks after.

Tiger in front of the boat he took us out on...at the party he and his mate come out into the water and served cheese & crackers and great guacamole. There were 10 of us total on this trip. One of the reefs we snorkeled was a garden of purple sea fans.

J.J. the mate is chatting up Michelle...trying to get a date. He was very kind to her. She had never snorkeled and is fearful of water. He said "I get EVERYBODY in the water". He was one on one with her while the rest of us went off w/ Tiger. I was so glad Michelle got to see some fish!

On the ride back...Darling Bruce contemplates all he saw underwater .

Michelle is happy.

A spray painter on the plaza downtown. We usually go there on Sunday nights for the salsa band, eat some fresh churros and sweat ALOT!

Spent a day on the east side. It's undeveloped pretty much...w/ one hotel and a handful of beach bars. There is no electricity over there so they close at dusk. Had the BEST margarita at Mezcalitos. Every year we greet the Siamese cat that lives there...she's really entertaining.

Girls just wanna have fun...and they did. After swinging there is 'hammock time'. The east side has some big waves and a nasty undertow...we did not get in.

Mezcalitos.

What is it? It's a turtle nest...do not touch. Red sticks mark the nests all up and down the beach on this side of Cozumel. The volunteer group works hard every night to make sure the Loggerhead and Green turtle nests are marked and not disturbed and hatch safely.

Next stop was Punta Morena. It's bigger and has a nice, cold saltwater swimming pool.

Last stop was Coconuts. It is on a small cliff w/ great view. There are a couple of resident dogs, birds, crocodile, chickens etc. After 3 stops we were ready to go back to the hotel. Another successful vacation to our favorite spot on Planet Earth.

ISLA COZUMEL 2013. PART 1.

Cool luggage art in the San Antonio airport.

I would like to have this in my front yard...wouldn't you?

Got up at 4:45 a.m. so by the time we checked into Casa Del Mar we were hot, tired and hungry. We had stayed there last year in a standard room which was acceptable but this year we wanted to 'go large and special'. Our group of 5 had booked 3 of the 8 cabanas. We were informed that they had over-sold the cabana rooms...grrrrr. But to our delight Gene and I were upgraded to the 'penthouse' which is the best accommodation in the hotel. This is one of the 2 living areas. It is a 2 bedroom but they locked a door to turned it into a 1 bedroom for us.

Sliding glass door goes out onto our large, private patio. The kitchen had granite counter tops, microwave, toaster, toaster oven, 2 burner cook top, fridge, coffee pot etc. etc. Jamey and her friend Michelle were in a cabana right next door and Bruce had a cabana a few doors down. This room overlooked the street so had alot of street noise sometimes but we are early risers so it was fine....and we had ear plugs. There was also a washer/dryer in the room, 2 T.V.s... had a ton of storage and the bathroom had double sinks and a bathtub which is unusual for Cozumel. We felt SO pampered...even had a DVD player.

This is our bedroom which included a 2nd sitting area....had vaulted ceilings in both rooms w/ beautiful wood beams. The hotel is very clean and well maintained. The grounds are lovely.

Hola...my name is.....

Casa Del Mar only has about 100 rooms and is mainly for divers so usually quiet and not crowded...everybody is out and about or diving etc. The only pool is adequate with a swim up 'bench' and the only bar/restaurant is on the other side under this palapa. Not much shade at the pool. We do not go for those huge, sprawling resorts with multiple pools, bars and restaurants.

Main building on the right that has standard and superior rooms...no elevator. Cabana rooms on the left. A/C is always ice cold.

Bruce and Gene at the swim up bar on Day 1.....we added the meal/drink plan when we arrived...you can't add it later...why? I dunno...thems the rules. Did that last year and thought it was an excellent deal. For $39. per day...good food, good drinks. The coconut ice cream was to die for. Service was impeccable and we tipped accordingly. Unfortunately there was a group of about 20 "ugly American" kids for the first 3 days that we were there and they absolutely took over the pool and pool area...throwing coconuts around and being loud and rude. We were SO glad when they left.

Jamey brought her friend Little Michelle with her from New York. It was alot of fun watching them have alot of fun...and um...it was fun. This is part of our private patio. See the stair rail down there on the right....it's a bridge that goes over the road to the sea.

This big, square umbrella thingie was wonderful. We had some rain showers for a day or two. Most mornings the staff brought us coffee here and one night we ordered a big fajita dinner that they brought to us...it was most excellent and only steps from the pool.

This is Jamey and Michelle's cabana. It was 2 levels with a bedroom and bath on each....and a nice little kitchenette. Really nicely decorated inside! You can check pictures on the Casa Del Mar website under 'accommodations'.

This is Paco...he was a freaky, large, straw, woven stool in the penthouse and got new adornments daily.

Gene and Bruce enjoying the patio. Some folks would not like this hotel becuase there isn't much ocean view and the 'beach' is manmade on ironshore...not long and sandy for strolls...and it's close to one of the cruise ship piers. There's a bit of decent snorkeling across the street. It's a short cab ride to town (north) or to the pretty southern beaches. We were lucky enough to "borrow" a friend's car for the week for $30. per day. It was nice to have the freedom to come and go as we pleased.

WHAT'S A VINEGAROON?

Many of Gene's students have been promising to bring a vinegaroon (AKA whip scorpion) and they never do....then one kid finally got one and Gene brought it home in a jar.

We let this guy go across the street in a huge pile of dead wood. Vinegaroons have no venom glands but have glands near their abdomens that spray acid when they are bothered...it smells like vinegar.

They are carnivorous and nocturnal feeders. FYI- Langtry Texas where Judge Roy Bean held court was originally named "Vinegaroon". That is your biology lesson for today.

He seemed pretty happy in his new home.

BAR-B-Qing with the neighbors.

Had a great feast with 3 neighbor couples...everybody's dogs also in attendance. It was HOT!

The sun is setting and we are sweating. Gene, Fernando (our landlord) and David from across the street.

Ahhhhh...the misting fan is helping some.

Celina loves Hello Kitty.

Robert is cooking short ribs, sausage, steak and chicken.

Grilled corn was the appetizer.