MARY'S BIRTHDAY WALK-ABOUT.

Gene got me this for my birthday. The next morning I struck out for Austin...leaving Gene to do pet duty and teaching for the next 4 days. Went the back way-north of Del Rio to Rocksprings where I drove by a great looking small historic hotel on their square and strolled thru an antique mall...then on to Fredericksburg where I ate lunch and did a teensy bit of shopping. The first 2 hours of my drive I didn't pass ANYONE...just dodged roadkill...then I hadda pass a Granpa who was going 50 mph...the speed limit was 70 mph. Got to Austin and shopped for a patio umbrella...and FOUND one!! In October!! Excellent price. Met up with Sunny...she followed me to Kay & Jim's. Had a wonderful visit and saw Kay's Mama briefly. Spent the night there. Thanks ya'll!!!

It's Nadine pig and my friend Sunny. This was taken at Kay & Jim's in Austin. I had not seen Sunny in 29 years. She was the human who set up Gene and I's first date. It was so dreamy to see her!!! I love ya Sunshine. Her Mom was my high school art teacher at Cole on Ft. Sam Houston and left a BIG impression on my life. I'll never forget you Mrs. Villa!!

The next day I kidnapped Kay for 48 hours and we had an explore/adventure. This is a Mariott Hotel on the river in New Braunfels where we spent the night. It was so quiet and peaceful. I bet it hops with families in the summer.

We had a 3rd. floor room with a small balcony and enjoyed it very much. Ate dinner at Huisache Bar & Grill and it was sooo good. Went to Phoenix Saloon to see my pal Mario who tends bar there...and it was Karoke night...much hilarity.

Kay & Bruce in a secret locale. In fact the next 24 hrs. was kinda secret. I can tell you that we saw a music show that was alot of fun. Rev. Horton Heat and this hilarious punk band opened....the singer played an accordian! We didn't make it til the end of the show as it was standing room only. 

EVERYBODY LOVES BRUCE!!!!!!!!! He's the most fun person...the most kind person.....and a joy to hang out with.

Well....this picture belongs in the #2 spot...but I don't know how to do that. Kay & Jim treated me to a lovely birthday dinner at Rocco's Grill (in Austin)....I LOVE THAT PLACE!!! Food and service is excellent...not to mention that the funky murals are wonderful! Wish I'd painted THAT!

TOBY'S PLANE RIDE!

Our nephew works at the San Marcos Municipal airport and got to ride in this vintage plane yesterday.

Pretty much the coolest thing ever! He was still high from it when he called me last night.

MY BOOK ART....

I love books...people don't read at all any more...or they Kindle.

I felt sorta bad doing about this...at first....do you like it? They'd just end up in the land fill.

They talk to me.

Hey, THAT'S not book art. The boys are waiting for Papi.

Harold waits for no one.

MORE OF CZM 2012. The Final Chapter.

My yearly summer Cozumel purchase. I always buy a new pair. Paid $20. U.S. Ida wanted me to buy 2 pair for $18. ea.

Our other favorite shoes. We snorkeled to the south at Playa Corona and to the north at Playa Azul. Both places were fun but about as good as in front of our hotel. Playa Corona has purple sea fans though. There was some vurrent at Playa Azul...but not bad. We didn't notice any current at the other 2 places.

Our hotel was near one of the two cruise ship piers. Some people hate that...we're indifferent. This is the huge Oasis of the Seas...it holds 6,000 guests...not MY idea of fun. There are 2 or 3 ships per day in summer when it is low season. On Sundays there are no ships. In high season there are 6 to 8 per day.

Towel art is amusing. Do they take classes? Evidently swans are old hat as we did not get any swans while we were there. Is this a whale or dolphin or what? 

It's a lobster...right?

We looked at this critter forever...what the hell IS it? We decided it must be a rabbit.

Crab.

Jajajaja...(laughing in Spanish)...on our last day Senor Geno went swimming in the pool with his wallet.

Pretty hotel grounds.

The gardners work so hard. They are there early every day and there are alot of them. Casa Del Mar upgrade suites in the background.

I LOVE THIS TREE. I almost tried to smuggle home some of the tubular seed pods. I knew they'd freeze this winter...so did not.

Tons and tons of Mandevilla vines and hibiscus hedges by the tennis court.

This old wagon w/ accompanying plants would look great in my yard.

Who knows what these are? I do not.

You can see a peek of the sea. Some folks don't like this hotel because the palms hide the ocean view. If you have a room on the 3rd. floor you would see the sea. We usually stay at Villa Blanca and they don't have an ocean view either...so it matters not to us.

Hahahahaaa...isn't this guy funny? That's all my blog for our vacation. P.S.....we ate raw fruits and vegetables and did not get sick. Never worry about water or ice...even the locals drink bottled water. All the employees at our hotel spoke very good English. We saw rooms that were for English classes. The A/C was ice cold, water pressure sucked and beds & pillows rock hard. The employees work 6 days a week except for a few who work 7 a.m. to 11 p.m....so they can get 2 days off. Everybody very kind and friendly. Cozumel is very Americanized. I don't think the temp. broke 90 degrees all week. We've been there other years in July when it was just MISERABLY hot. This was the first time in 23 years that we didn't go to the east side of Cozumel or to the plaza for Sunday night musica. We went to see Alicia at her B&B and Chuco made us a great breakfast and then the 4 of us went to dinner at La Mission on 30th our last night...good food and great company.
NOTE: See 2 more posts below.

CASA DEL MAR HOTEL...COZUMEL. 2012.

This hotel is a small place...mainly divers. So, early to bed and early to rise...just like us. These are the upgraded rooms...where we did NOT stay. Nice stained glass windows. It has living and dining area upstairs and bedroom downstairs.

The view from our room. All staff very kind and efficient. Constantly cleaning and fixing and gardening etc.

I fell in love with the mosiac work at this place. I think I have a new art endeavor. This is in the floor at the restaurant.

Hey...there's Senor Geno....contemplating breakfast. Atlantis submarine is right across the street. Restaurants right there are Ernesto's Fajita Factory and Paprika. We ate at neither...so can't comment.

This sign helped us when we were looking where to turn with the rent car...duh. Driving on the island is pretty crazy...Geno is fearless.

The gardeners were hard at work every morning...no lawn mowers. They cut the grass with a machete....and no sprinklers...they hand water. Go left to the restaurant. Go right to the pool. We had lovely pool service and even beach service if we wanted.

Part of the front entrance to Casa Del Mar. This place is just what we like. No high rise buildings...and SMALL. For those in the know...Park Royal is right next door. 

Senor Geno makes his way to #117. This is from the inside of the hotel....nice little courtyard with dancing waters from the fountain. The place is 3 stories w/ no elevator. We were on the ground floor. 

Often times we had the pool to ourselves...and even when we didn't it was never crowded. There is a swim up bench at the far end to get drinks and food from Santos. The restaurant is on t'other side under the palapa. We tipped EVERYBODY lavishly. We paid $39. pp per day for all inclusive (which we NEVER DO)...well, hell...we can drink that much in Tecate and Pina Coladas....but...the food was GOOD...no buffet (which I HATE) ...IMO those hotel employees never see the "tips included" business. A dollar doesn't mean much to us...but it means ALOT to them!!! I was happy to see many Mexican National families vacationing...Mom, Dad, the kids and usually a granma in tow. We don't usually see them on the island...or at least not in large numbers. Everybody was having fun.

Wish I could've taken those huge ceramics home w/ me.

This is the bridge that went over the road and took us to the water...very handy. Snorkeling every morning and a stroll after dinner every evening.

 Our room was on the bottom right 4 from the back. At some big resorts you have quite a hike to the beach and pool. We liked Casa Del Mar alot.

This is the restaurant/bar viewed from the other side of the pool.

Casa Del Mar restaurant. I fell in LOVE w/ this wall. Sometimes the chef would peek out the round window.

COZUMEL 2012..Said we couldn't go...but missed the sea calling us!!!

This is in front of our hotel. The water was across the street. My photos do not capture the 7 shades of blue & turquoise of the sea. To the left we entered the water every morning and snorkeled within the bouyed area. There were plenty of fish to see and sometimes we were the only ones there. Lots of boat traffic...big & small but we didn't mind. The ocean was calm in the morning and evening. Our first day we tried to snorkel around 3 p.m. and got tossed around pretty badly (getting in and out)...I got scared and got out after 15 minutes. Our usual snorkel time was 45 minutes to an hour. LOTS OF FUN & OUR FAVORITE THING TO DO!

A nice sunset with one of the five Fury catamarans parked for the night. We did their tour years ago...too many people (I don't like other folk's fins in my face) and too much drinking.

These guys were soaking up the last heat of the day on the hotel tennis courts. They didn't even run away.

This is a huge palapa next door to our hotel at Park Royal Resort. We don't like big resorts with high rise buildings...cool palapa though...a real work of art.

This man was sitting on a truckload of palapa makings. SO COOL!

The Red Eye Band at Love Cafe...a palapa beach bar within walking distance of town...to the north. We've seen them before and enjoy them alot.

We happened upon this band on an evening walk from our hotel. They were at La Palapita...across from Villa Blanca...have no idea what their name was. THERE WAS A P A R T Y GOIN' ON THERE!!! Kids, dogs, boats, music, sunset and lots of drunken dancing and yelling. Whole families of Mexican Nationals on vacation. It was hilarious people watching. Band rocked...did Mexican cumbias and rock and roll American cover songs.

Stopped at this bakery near our car rental place...ISIS. Third time we've rented from Margarita. When we got the car we bought excellent flan for a dollar. After dropping off the car (a 2 day rental for $35. per day) we bought tiramisu. Muy bueno. Always try to stop at Zermatt's.