Trip Report May 30th/June 7th

[rugger]

Hey ChicagoGuy, I'm looking for a little advice. We are from Michigan and usually fly out of Detroit. We chose to fly out of O'Hare this year. We are flying out on Sun. Sept. 11. Thought it might give us some extra time to look around Chicago on Sat. We would also arrive a couple hours earlier in Cancun and we all know that every hour is valuable in PDC. But we arrive back at O'Hare at 3:10 on Fri., meaning we will leave the airport around 4:00 to 4:30. What will be the best way to deal with the traffic? Best route out? Am I going to kick myself in the ass for choosing this flight?

[ryshkus]

Our flight got in at the same time. Traffic was fine. Yes it took a little longer, but it wasn't horrible. Of course I was traveling north towards Wisconsin.

[ChicagoGuy]

Originally Posted by rugger

Hey ChicagoGuy, I'm looking for a little advice. We are from Michigan and usually fly out of Detroit. We chose to fly out of O'Hare this year. We are flying out on Sun. Sept. 11. Thought it might give us some extra time to look around Chicago on Sat. We would also arrive a couple hours earlier in Cancun and we all know that every hour is valuable in PDC. But we arrive back at O'Hare at 3:10 on Fri., meaning we will leave the airport around 4:00 to 4:30. What will be the best way to deal with the traffic? Best route out? Am I going to kick myself in the ass for choosing this flight?

Well its probably not going to be pretty. On a Friday at rush hour traffic on all routes is going to be at max capacity. Midway would be a better choice for the future. The best way out from O'hare to Detroit will most probably be the same route you take to come in. 90-94thru downtown, exit indiana south. Good luck and try to remain calm.




As it happens a minor fender bender has interrupted my weekend and had me on the disabled list. No one was hurt very badly, just bumps and brusies. Other than being a little sore, I'm just fine

Cont. trip report-

Ok back to it. WED morning we are up early and off to Punta E after breakfast. It was a nice lazy day at the beach. There is this great spot near the end of the beach that has four or five palm trees clumped together, the only shade on the beach and today we were lucky enough to get it. What a difference! It was really hot out there but with the shade we were able to hang out all day. After the long walk home it was time for a drink at happy hour and catch up with some of the other guests at our hotel. After only a few I was feeling it and decided to take a short nap, next thing I remember is waking up at 9:30 for dinner. Earlier over drinks someone mentioned Capt'n Bob's and I just couldn't get it out of my head.
We made that our choice for dinner and really enjoyed it! The service is top notch and our food was fantastic. During dinner it began to pour rain so we decided to order dessert and wait it out. Bananas Flambe'
they roll out this little cart and fire it up right at your table! Great presentation and it was so delicious. We are all finished but the rain was not. Captain Bob gave us an umbrella so we could make a dash for it, but we get soaked anyway. That spot north on 5th where the road dips and there is a small hill, was flooded waist deep. We had to wade through it. Once on the other side we bumped into a German couple who was staying at our hotel. We had all ducked into the same palapa to get out of the rain for a moment. Soaked and laughing we all make the final dash up 5th and back to our hotel. The bar was still open when we got back so we dried off and had some drinks. After several shots of tequila we call it a night.

Originally Posted by ChicagoGuy

Shawn

I regret not being able to make it to TB on the first, I was really looking forward to meeting you! I have enjoyed reading your posts. I guess it was for the best, seeing as you had already fulfilled your HOMO quota for this trip! Hey maybe I can be the gay element in your next trip!
You have a great attitude about it, no surprise. You are obviously an outgoing and very approachable person, and apparently you must also be quite good looking if ALL the WOMEN, AND a few MO's hit on you!

You really have to make it up north to COCO and beyond! It is beautiful and
once you pass COCO there are very few people, its nice to walk for half an hour and pass just four or five people on the beach!

Its funny you mention the tattoo's and children. My mom gets so pissed every time I go see her in Memphis because my nieces are obsessed with my ink, it started with them spiting on thier fingers and attemting to scrub the tattoos off of me, followed by them drawing all over themselves with ink pens and Magic Markers That did not sit very well with grandma!
I'm not going to tell my tattoo artist your comment, after spending 15 hours creating that one of a kind piece, I don't think he would consider that a compliment. He did however just sit me down in a chair and started going crazy drawing on me with an ink pen-just to layout some of the basics. Also you are seeing at least 2 different tats I had already, the one around my neck and the atomic symbol on my arm. The piece on my chest arm and back is the new custom piece he did to create a more cohesive look, guess it didn't work

I'll return to the trip report tomorrow!!!

ChicagoGuy...

Baahahahahahahahahaha.....you got me in stitches!!!!! I just finished reading your response and fell out of my chair laughing!!

I too am sorry, even more sorry now, that I didn't get the pleasure of meeting you. I sincerely hope we get together one of these trips to have a few cervezas and even more laughs. You have a great sense of humor.

As far as being a "goodlooking guy", not sure about that one however I do seem to attract the opposite sex (on occasion) and the odd "MO".

I loved the magic marker story! That's too funny!

Oh and by the way, no dis intended on the ink comment. Just my offhand/unconventional attempt at humor. Personally, I think your tatoos are wild looking! Anything different always interests me.

Shawn

p.s. if you really want to be my next "gay element", no sweat...I'll pen you in.

[ryshkus]

Com'n ChicagoGuy...the report was getting interesting.....

[ChicagoGuy]

Originally Posted by ryshkus

Com'n ChicagoGuy...the report was getting interesting.....

still nursin my arm a bit, poor me. Although it didn't seem to be bothering me much last night. We took our best friend out for his birthday. Our dear friend Ron, he always takes care of our place when we are in PdC. More on that at the end of the report.

Wed night cont.

I recalled something our german friend had said at somepoint during our tequila fest. At this point we are all drinking, his girlfiend left the bar and went to sleep, he proceeds to bitch about the her. RUDE, but he finishes and we continue to have some really interesting conversations. He asks Dan and I if we are married (he noticed the rings) we said yes. "My mother, she too is married" he replied "to my Aunt Helga, it was always this way...Aunt Helga.....Aunt Olga....Aunt Connie"

NOW i get it shes a lesbian. So I'm thinkin cool hes really makin an effort to connect on some level and despite the fact that he's switching between speaking German and English, It's a really great conversation. THEN he says it...."Tonight we drink, we party, we have fun, tomorrow maybe I don't know you...is OK?"

It's like a Hallmark card right?
Dear Diary..........I met the cutest PUTZ today

[ChicagoGuy]

Originally Posted by SCR

ChicagoGuy...

Baahahahahahahahahaha.....you got me in stitches!!!!! I just finished reading your response and fell out of my chair laughing!!

I too am sorry, even more sorry now, that I didn't get the pleasure of meeting you. I sincerely hope we get together one of these trips to have a few cervezas and even more laughs. You have a great sense of humor.

As far as being a "goodlooking guy", not sure about that one however I do seem to attract the opposite sex (on occasion) and the odd "MO".

I loved the magic marker story! That's too funny!

Oh and by the way, no dis intended on the ink comment. Just my offhand/unconventional attempt at humor. Personally, I think your tatoos are wild looking! Anything different always interests me.

Shawn

p.s. if you really want to be my next "gay element", no sweat...I'll pen you in.

Right back at ya Shawn, I love your sense of humor, I get it! I hope we get to have those cervezas soon!! Looks like you are headin back quick! Nice Life dude ! What, are ya Kept or somethin? Does your SugarMoma have a brother who might be "on the fence?"

Have a blast man!!!! Cant wait to hear about it....well, all you can recall that is.

Bryan

Originally Posted by ChicagoGuy

Right back at ya Shawn, I love your sense of humor, I get it! I hope we get to have those cervezas soon!! Looks like you are headin back quick! Nice Life dude ! What, are ya Kept or somethin? Does your SugarMoma have a brother who might be "on the fence?"

Have a blast man!!!! Cant wait to hear about it....well, all you can recall that is.

Bryan

Nope. No sugarmomma, so I guess that's a big negatory on the brother sitting "on the fence" bit. However if I do meet one, I'm definately checking for ya!

Can't wait to arrive in July. Last one till next year. Perhaps we can get together then and poke fun at each other?

Keep er coming with the trip report. I'm loving it!

Cheers Bryan!

Shawn

[TAPPY]

Loving your trip report.......keep it coming !!!!

[ChicagoGuy]

Even after drinkin all night I was so excited to be going to Akumal for the catamaran I had chartered before we left. It was the Robinson Crusoe snorkel trip. When I booked it they told me no one else was booked, they went on to offer it to us as a private charter! WOW the whole boat to ourselves now that sounded perfect! I jumped on it. We are up at 7:00am (I think maybe we slept 3 hours)grabbed a quick bite to eat and fell into a taxi. In my fog I managed to utter "Akumal" and "el arco, por favor" and we were off. We had planned to take a collectivo-but suddenly time was an issue so we just cabbed it.

We arrive in Akumal and the driver drops us at the arch. The dive shop was easy to spot. There seemed to be alot of people waiting to go somewhere, I wondered for a minute where they were headed. I soon got my answer, they were all going on our charter. We are a little dissappointed, but quickly decide to roll with it. After all they only take a maximum of 12 people. Wrong again, there were 18 people in all plus crew. Again we say lets roll with it. After eveyone settles in I hear a loud obnoxious woman say "I'm surprised, there are alot more people on board than I thought there would be". I took a deep breath and said "you're surprised?, I booked a private charter" we all had a laugh and I didn't hear much out of the Loud woman after that.

The sail was fantastic! Nice water and weather. we start to sail north so I figure we are headed to Xaac, I was right!
It was more beautiful than I had imagined. The crew anchors us and we head to the beaches to drop our stuff and start snorkeling. It had rained the night before so there was some debris in the water, but the snorkeling was still great. I chased some huge purple fish around and snapped away with my camera. We had a blast just playin and snorkeling, it was like you were in your own world having been deserted on a tropical island. After chasing all the fish, it was time to eat them! The crew had grilled up some Mahi, made fresh cevieche, salsa,guac and chips, it was a fantastic lunch on the beach. During lunch I strike up a conversation with a family on the beach. It turns out to be Howard from the forum. We had a great conversation and shared some of our vacation expierences. It was a pleasure to meet his wonderful family. We all start gathering our stuff and head back to the catamaran. The sail back to Akumal is fun, the waves are high and we are really gettin a ride! Weather looked like it was going to get bad so we finished to sail about an hour early, still it was great! I was really glad We had gone with them! I thought it was a bargain at $65 pp.
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We walked around Akumal for a bit befor headin to PdC. Went by Lucy's to get some shrimp but she was closed! saw a cab so we grabbed it and went back to PdC.

When we got back I was still hungry so we stopped in Carmencita's. I love the empenadas there! They were awesome again this year. This place remains one of my favorite spots to get a snack and a drink. Its nap time now so we catch a few Z's. We wake up refreshed and decide to stop by and say hello to James and Anna (Elsa was asleep). It was great to visit with them and catch up a bit. We made plans to get together on Sat for a BBQ! We say goodbye and make our way to Kubuki for dinner. I have had sushi on the brain for days! It was late but they still served us from the sushi bar. WOW now that was Top Quality sushi!
better than I've had in Chicago. It was the perfect ending to the day!

Awesome!

Sounds like you had a steller day Bryan! I may do the FatCat when I get there. I hear that's a riot as well.

That bar you mentioned, Carmencitas, (that's the green bar right?) I was there on my last trip and thought it was a pretty cool spot too. Although I didn't eat there, I think I'll try it this time, and I'll order the empanads as you suggest.

Bummer you didn't get the "charter", but it's way better with other folks don't you agree?

I haven't tried the Kubuki restaurant yet, But I remember looking in the window of the place one day, as it was closed at the time. However I did try the one on north 5th Ave around 28th? It was fantastic! But I will definately give the Kubuki a try. I love sushi.

Looking forward to more!!

Shawn

[ChicagoGuy]

Another BE-U-TE-FUL day begins with a little breakfast at the hotel. Today I just cant walk all the way up to Punta E..... We grab our frozen bottle of water, hit HOT baking (pick up some stuff for later on the beach) and got a cab, $20 pesos! I couldn't believe how cheap it was. Last year it was 50, if you could even get a cab to go there.

The shady palms area is taken so we set up camp in the seering sun. IT was HOT! Only a few others on the beach today, and I must say the view was really amazing!
[IMG][/IMG]

So he makes camp very near us, I felt bad about taking his pic so I decide to ask him if it was ok. It was-he actually posed for a little photo shoot
WoW I'm amazed at what people will agree to if you just ask nice

I look down the beach towards the palms and notice that those folks are packing things up and leaving. We waste no time moving to the shade as soon as they depart. Our new beach buddy decides to join us. Turns out to be a very nice guy living in playa, owns a small business in town with a friend of his. We chatted all afternoon untill he had to leave for work, he invited us to stop by his shop and say hello later. Dan and I stay and enjoy the beach for a couple more hours before headin home. We clean up and have a drink downstairs then head over to say hello to James. We chat for a bit with the playainfo folks and have a nice visit with the family. We were leaving when we realized we were near the shop our "new beach buddy" owns. We decide to go say hello. He was happy to see us and proudly showed us around his store. We needed to get going so we asked if he wanted to meet up for a drink later that night. He said he wasn't sure he could go out but maybe he would see us at Santanera. We left kinda laughing at ourselves ! We were walkin back to the hotel when I though I heard someone calling my name--turn around its Beach Buddy. He left his shop to find us and ask what time he should meet us at the club. We make a plan and he is off [insert swanky music from "Stayin Alive"]
and we kinda strut back to the hotel.

Last night some cool chics from L.A. came in for a wedding, we met them briefly,and hit it off-tonight we are taking them to dinner. We all meet up at the bar and decided to try sushi Ken (right next to the hotel) It was great, but I ordered too many things that had cream cheese--overkill. The sushi was really good there just like last year however I think I liked Kubuki better. After dinner we took the girls to Deseo for a drink, we hung there for an hour or so then headed for Santanera. Upstairs was packed at
1:00 am downstairs was a ghost town till 3:30am. Dan walked the girls home around 2:00 and came back to meet me. Beach Buddy shows up soon after and we have some drinks. Now its getting really late and my memory starts to get fuzzy. The end of day 5 [IMG][/IMG]

great trip report so far! and finally getting interesting!!!! we need to see more pics like the last one.

Originally Posted by ChicagoGuy

...Beach Buddy shows up soon after and we have some drinks. Now its getting really late and my memory starts to get fuzzy. The end of day 5

Good stuff Bryan! Love the pictrures too!

But is it just me or are you having the same problem with your memory as I did? Must be something in the beer down there.

Shawn

[ChicagoGuy]

To day we planned to take it easy and Hang out at the pool. We didn't venture away from the hotel all morning. The pool is small but nice and usually empty. People seemed to respect the space of others by kinda taking turns with the pool. So usually you had it to yourself.[IMG][/IMG]

They have great beds next to the pool and a drink is just seconds away. I really like this hotel, often it felt as if we had the whole place to ourselves.
And the service--it's like havin a butler just waiting for you to make a request. A couple of times I'd be walkin by the bar and Juan carlos would stop me to say" hello"- he would start mixin up a cocktail and just hand it to me..... just because! Now thats love! we enjoyed our pool time till about 2:00pm.

Now it was time to get cleaned up and ready for the BBQ we had planned earlier in the week during a visit with Anna and Elsa! It was so nice of them, I wanted to pick-up a quality bottle of tequila as a little "thank you". We roamed around searching in the heat way to long, I was sure I could find something on ave 30! I went into 25 places looking, only to find Jose Cuervo. After about 45 mins. we decided to "say it with cervezas"
Mission accomplished. We make it over there about 3:00 or 3:30 and what a day it was! We met some new folks, which is always cool, but also got to catch up with friends we have missed so much!

Heather- if you are reading- tell our friend how wonderful it was to see her again and have her update us when she can! We love her!

James thrilled us with his grilling talents, his pollo santiago was incredible! Spent the whole afternoon and into the evening just playin with Elsa, talkin with Anna, havin a great laugh, eatin, drinkin and catching up with everybody. By far the best day we had! People truly make the difference, and the Happy Family...what can you say they ROCK times 3! WE LOVE YOU GUYS thanks SO much!

It must have been 8:30 or 9:00 when we said our goodbyes and began to head back to AM for what else a drink at the bar! I'm feelin the swerve and I'm ready for a quick "disco nap". We wake and feel like a small snack so we went to Carmencita's. It's around 11:00pm now and those empenadas hit the spot! Carmancita is there and we chat with her and her brother a bit. If you are a single Gal on your way to Playa you have GOT to stop in and HOPE he is your waiter. I believe the word Caliente would apply here.
I tried not to stare....but c'mon it was like one of the "Von Dutch" models fell out of the ad! People watchin is prime on this corner tonight. We just hung out and watched all sorts of activity. There were 2 young girls maybe 11years old each, taking pictures of each other on the Frog in front of Senor Frogs retail store. It was histerical and so cute, one would strike this
"I'm way to young to be posing like a hoochie" pose and the other girl would take the shot- then direct a new or edited pose-fluff the hair and make-up(I think it was lip-gloss) and shoot again. It went on for half an hour!

We consider going out to a club but nix it and go back to the hotel.
A jacuzzi sounds good about now, I figured it would wipe me out and I'd be ready for bed. WRONG! It charged with energy and by 2:00am we were on our way to Playa 69. Now this place is just kinda icky, they had however made some upgrades since last year, which was nice but 30% less "dank" is still not very good. They had a big show that night with strippers and Drag Queens..... yada yada yada..... the drag queens did a nice job-and they are SERIOUS about it! At least it is so crowded that you cant really see how janky this place really is. After a few shots we got brave and let loose a bit dancin on the tiny overfilled dancefloor. We had a hoot and met some really cool people, drank even more. I'm sure by now you may have some sorted,stereotypical scene in your head of a bunch of hot sweaty shirtless guys bumpin and grindin to a saucy latin beat--yup, that was pretty much it ! The place was crazy and we have a blast and just in time my memory starts to get really really fuzzy![IMG][/IMG]