Trip Report Mar. 7th-17th

cmsitaly · 03-26-2007

Well hello there again. It has taken me a while to start writing this report as I have been otherwise occupied since returning from Playa which I will share more about later. It did, however, end on a rather depressing note, and I guess that depression carried over a little into what I call "re-entry" back to the real world.

We had a wonderful time, met lots of new people and got to know some acquaintances from Peepstock '06 a little better. It was a great vacation with new experiences and of course NEW FOOD! Hope you enjoy...

March 7- Day 1
Actually I am going to begin on the pre-day. The night before we left I was doing an online check- in for our flight leaving the following day on Northwest. The computer asked me if I wanted to upgrade to 1st class...hmmmm. I ask "Josh you wanna go 1st class?" Knowing domestic first class is not International 1st class I am not super excited about the thought, but it was only $75 a ticket, and judging from the look on Josh's face I can tell he wants to do it. What the heck, why not and so we embrace the vacation attitude a little early and say let's do it!
OK now for real... day one...
We had a 3:05 departure direct flight, left on time and we were off!
There was definitely more room in the 1st class seats. Great start to our vaca! We had our choice of lunch, more attention and even a hand shake from the very friendly flight attendant. I ordered the chicken and Josh had the pasta.

I was just about to dig into my chicken when I hear...Aren't you going to take a picture? Josh asks..

WHAT WAS I THINKING!!???

So here you go..

OK, so I lied. I dug into the chocolate cake first, not the chicken, before he stopped me

Josh, taking full advanage of the "free drinks" in 1st class, wasted no time cashing in. Rum and coke please! Are these in a REAL glass? Yes, babe they are!

Happy guy!

Cosmo · 03-26-2007

Good start! Renee and I really enjoyed the time we spent with you and Josh - keep it coming..

Doggiemom · 03-26-2007

Ok...so I'm not the only one that takes pics of airplane food!

Can't wait to hear more Chris!

cmsitaly · 03-26-2007

More drinking and we arrive on time in Cancun!
We were supposed to meet Alicia (Sol) for a shared transfer to the Fusion. She was arriving on a earlier flight and we were to meet in the bar. We got our luggage, green light and we are off. Airport very quiet right now, didn't even have to ignore any "pushers" in the airport-just slid right through.

Around the corner we go, and we are outside...hmm....I think, which bar is Alicia at? Just then I look up and I see her waving. YAY!! There she is! I run to go give her a hug. We finally meet!

We had been PMing each other like crazy the week before we left, acting like 2 insane people that have never been on vacation before...you know the feeling! After a proper hug and greet with Alicia, I go to find the transfer, he is there and we are off to the Fusion!

This was the 1st time we did not take the bus. I like the bus just fine, but this is much quicker

It was raining a little, but who cares!

We arrive at the Fusion, walk into the lobby and we hear JOSH!!! CHRIS!!! We are greeted by about 15 peeps right off the bat! Vike57, his wife, Nerak, Gasman, Maggie, Barb, Shelly, Kathy, Don and more...it was dark and I was a little overwhelmed. Josh was like WTF?! Surprised, pleasantly, but a little overwhelmed. I thought here we go!!

They were all headed out to Manne's for the rib night, we said we would meet them later at the Beer Bucket., we needed to check in, and I needed a drink!

The owner said that our room was not ready yet and he was going to put us into another one for the night, no problem I thought. Well...so I thought. The room, later referred to as "The Garage" or the "emergency room" was not up to par, but we thought, I'ts only for the night-right?

No fridge, no TV, no art no nothing. Oh well, it's just for the night. we quickly change and head out to 5th HELLO PLAYA!

We walked over to the Lobby Bar (it was the closest)

and we start off with, you guessed it RB and V's, well actually it was boost-and it was blue!

Cool vibe in the front of the bar and a nice littel garden area in the back part. We have a coupla more and head out down 5th. It is still raining, so we duck into DJ's bar and have a couple more cocktails.

We had never been to DJ's before and were admiring the music motif

the floor

We decide to head over to the Beer Bucket to see if any of the gang have made it over. Sharky is there and we spent a good amount of time chatting it up with him. Real nice guy:

We have some more beers and of course I start to get ancy so we head out for a while to see where the gang is.

We catch a couple of them stumbling down 5th, so we head back down to the Beer Bucket for more beers!!

Met Stonecold and his wife (real nice)

I look over and see a peep I have not met yet, and it was Don. I introduce myself and he says "CMSItaly I have something for you!! He handed me a Bumper pin and his best interpretation of the Bumper hug! I felt so special!

Bumper could not be there in person, so he was delivering the pins and hugs for him. Whatta guy!
Thanks for thinking of me Bumps!! I was really looking forward to seeing you again this year, but Don did you proud!

We decided we had had enough to drink, travel day and all, so we headed back to Fusion.

WAIT!!!

We can't go back to the hotel, have to go to Tacos del Rey!! They were very nice there, I was pretty tipsy, and the pork tacos were yummy!! Thanks for the tip peeps!

Now off to bed (purse in hand

) 1:00. Not bad for the first night I thought

cmsitaly · 03-26-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cosmo

Good start! Renee and I really enjoyed the time we spent with you and Josh - keep it coming..

COSMO!! Hiya! We miss you guys already. We were out to dinner and I swear I thought I saw you

Of course it wasn't.

We had an awesome time hanging out with you guys too! I have some great pictures of you guys for later in the trip report.

Cosmo · 03-26-2007

Probably Robert DeNiro, I get that a lot...

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmsitaly

COSMO!! Hiya! We miss you guys already. We were out to dinner and I swear I thought I saw you

Of course it wasn't.

We had an awesome time hanging out with you guys too! I have some great pictures of you guys for later in the trip report.

smardie · 03-26-2007

Look's like you guys are having a good time. Can't wait to get there
Mark and Barb

Debbielasvegas · 03-26-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmsitaly

It did, however, end on a rather depressing note

Yikes, Chris, you ok ???

I know you werent feeling very well last I saw you... now Mother Hen is worried...

Tommygurl · 03-26-2007

Well I was enjoying my Raisin Bran until you posted pics of the yummy food!

Great start...you guys are super cute!

cmsitaly · 03-26-2007

March 8th-Day 2

Of course I wake up at like 6:45, I know better than to wake Josh, so I head to Cafe Tropical for a smoothie. Waited a while, kinda overcast today, but it is still the beach!

Walked down to La Cueva del Chango for breakfast, which is always wonderful. Josh had the granola and fruit (WTH?) That was different choice for him, but he informs me that with all the damage he is about to do to his system over the next 10 days that he better try and do it some good first. Oh, well- OK that makes sense then.

I had the eggs with chaya, and yes I forgot to take a picture! Josh's arrived first so I snapped a shot:

It looks like a small bowl, but it was one of those never-ending bowls of food. He couldn't even finish it!

We walked back to the Fusion, sat on the beach a while, still overcast. We decided to walk down the beach and ran into Barb (equinenut) and Jenna at the Playa Maya. Talked with them for a while, and headed back.

Lunchtime!!

We decided to hit La Pesca. Took a cab and got dropped off at the wrong locale...started to ask locals if they had heard of it... I got the blank stare from everyone.
OK I remember it was across from the Mega, so I start asking where the Mega is and I gets some points in the general direction. We are walking...ohh there is El Cejas! We have heard that is good, but it doesn't look open. Another day we say.

We keep heading down the street and I decide to ask again to ensure we are going the right direction I find a young woman in a store ...in my best Spanish...do you know where the Mega is? This store owner looks at me like I am nuts and she points to the left... I look around the corner and there it is MEGA.

It's freakkin huge.

I laugh and look back at her

She smiles and I thank her.

I look across the street and there it is La Pesca! We decide that we need to actually go into the Mega after we are done eating because we are simply intrigued by the size of this store. OK later-food now.

We walk in and are greeted-they look like they are not open! I ask Abierto? He says NO.

Please don't make me get back on that road again with an empty belly and no destination/knowledge of where to go next!
Then another man comes up and says let me check with the kitchen, it IS 12:50 people!

He says it is alright, so we sit. Whew! If all that adventure wasn't going to end up with at least a taco outta the deal...well nevermind. I was going to get fed.

We ordered the guacamole to start and the recommended shrimp caldo soup.

I also ordered the garlic fish and Josh ordered the empizanda (fried fish) -right up his alley. Josh looked at me and said "That's a lot of food!" I was like So what! I have been waiting to eat here, and who knows when we'll be back. So be quiet and let me be a piggy!"

Now, I don't know if I was just really hungry or what, but that guacamole was THE BEST I have had. I think they put a little chipotle in it. I am usually not a fan of it, but it was just the right amount to add a hint of smokiness. Ugh, it was so good.

I don't know what happened to the pictures of the rest of the food, maybe I ate them

No they just didn't make it for some reason. And the soup I ordered was the wrong thing, not the cheesy soup I had been dreaming of, but it was in a broth...oh well, I was stuffed anyway.

The garlic fish was very good. ADVISORY: DO NOT order this if you don't like garlic. It was soooo freakkin garlicky that I almost couldn't finish it (repeat I said ALMOST) I was certainly glad we were attending an outside party later

as I could taste garlic for the remainder of the day.

We headed over to the Mega, to check it out. It was very nice inside. We decided to pick up some liquor, mixers, cups, straws, you know, the important stuff. It was cheap a liter of Smirnoff for $10!

Got back to the hotel, napped a little and headed off to the Luna Blue Blender Bash...

cmsitaly · 03-26-2007

Hi Debbie!
Yes, I am OK. Just got pretty sick the last 2 days we were there

Quote:

Originally Posted by Debbielasvegas

Yikes, Chris, you ok ???

I know you werent feeling very well last I saw you... now Mother Hen is worried...

cmsitaly · 03-26-2007

I could see that

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cosmo

Probably Robert DeNiro, I get that a lot...

Tommygurl · 03-26-2007

I am sorry to hear you were sick the last 2 days...If it makes you feel better we were sick for about a week after we got home.......

redhairgirl1 · 03-26-2007

Cannot wait for the rest! Your trip report last time was my all time favorite. Loved the fact you walked all that way and rented the atv's being still hung from the night before!

cmsitaly · 03-26-2007

Being sick just sucks...especially as an adult, it just gets in the way. When you were a kid at least you got to miss school!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommygurl

I am sorry to hear you were sick the last 2 days...If it makes you feel better we were sick for about a week after we got home.......

03-26-2007	#1 (permalink)
cmsitaly añejo Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 4,729	Trip Report Mar. 7th-17th Well hello there again. It has taken me a while to start writing this report as I have been otherwise occupied since returning from Playa which I will share more about later. It did, however, end on a rather depressing note, and I guess that depression carried over a little into what I call "re-entry" back to the real world. We had a wonderful time, met lots of new people and got to know some acquaintances from Peepstock '06 a little better. It was a great vacation with new experiences and of course NEW FOOD! Hope you enjoy... March 7- Day 1 Actually I am going to begin on the pre-day. The night before we left I was doing an online check- in for our flight leaving the following day on Northwest. The computer asked me if I wanted to upgrade to 1st class...hmmmm. I ask "Josh you wanna go 1st class?" Knowing domestic first class is not International 1st class I am not super excited about the thought, but it was only $75 a ticket, and judging from the look on Josh's face I can tell he wants to do it. What the heck, why not and so we embrace the vacation attitude a little early and say let's do it! OK now for real... day one... We had a 3:05 departure direct flight, left on time and we were off! There was definitely more room in the 1st class seats. Great start to our vaca! We had our choice of lunch, more attention and even a hand shake from the very friendly flight attendant. I ordered the chicken and Josh had the pasta. I was just about to dig into my chicken when I hear...Aren't you going to take a picture? Josh asks.. WHAT WAS I THINKING!!??? So here you go.. OK, so I lied. I dug into the chocolate cake first, not the chicken, before he stopped me Josh, taking full advanage of the "free drinks" in 1st class, wasted no time cashing in. Rum and coke please! Are these in a REAL glass? Yes, babe they are! Happy guy! __________________ Chris 2011 Playa Trip Report HERE Cancun/Playa 2010 Trip Report HERE 2007 Playa Trip Report HERE 2006 Playa Trip Report HERE 2007 Maui Honeymoon Trip Report here

03-26-2007	#2 (permalink)
Cosmo añejo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 9,470	Good start! Renee and I really enjoyed the time we spent with you and Josh - keep it coming..

03-26-2007	#3 (permalink)
Doggiemom añejo Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Humble, Texas Posts: 9,364	Ok...so I'm not the only one that takes pics of airplane food! Can't wait to hear more Chris!

03-26-2007	#4 (permalink)
cmsitaly añejo Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 4,729	More drinking and we arrive on time in Cancun! We were supposed to meet Alicia (Sol) for a shared transfer to the Fusion. She was arriving on a earlier flight and we were to meet in the bar. We got our luggage, green light and we are off. Airport very quiet right now, didn't even have to ignore any "pushers" in the airport-just slid right through. Around the corner we go, and we are outside...hmm....I think, which bar is Alicia at? Just then I look up and I see her waving. YAY!! There she is! I run to go give her a hug. We finally meet! We had been PMing each other like crazy the week before we left, acting like 2 insane people that have never been on vacation before...you know the feeling! After a proper hug and greet with Alicia, I go to find the transfer, he is there and we are off to the Fusion! This was the 1st time we did not take the bus. I like the bus just fine, but this is much quicker It was raining a little, but who cares! We arrive at the Fusion, walk into the lobby and we hear JOSH!!! CHRIS!!! We are greeted by about 15 peeps right off the bat! Vike57, his wife, Nerak, Gasman, Maggie, Barb, Shelly, Kathy, Don and more...it was dark and I was a little overwhelmed. Josh was like WTF?! Surprised, pleasantly, but a little overwhelmed. I thought here we go!! They were all headed out to Manne's for the rib night, we said we would meet them later at the Beer Bucket., we needed to check in, and I needed a drink! The owner said that our room was not ready yet and he was going to put us into another one for the night, no problem I thought. Well...so I thought. The room, later referred to as "The Garage" or the "emergency room" was not up to par, but we thought, I'ts only for the night-right? No fridge, no TV, no art no nothing. Oh well, it's just for the night. we quickly change and head out to 5th HELLO PLAYA! We walked over to the Lobby Bar (it was the closest) and we start off with, you guessed it RB and V's, well actually it was boost-and it was blue! Cool vibe in the front of the bar and a nice littel garden area in the back part. We have a coupla more and head out down 5th. It is still raining, so we duck into DJ's bar and have a couple more cocktails. We had never been to DJ's before and were admiring the music motif the floor We decide to head over to the Beer Bucket to see if any of the gang have made it over. Sharky is there and we spent a good amount of time chatting it up with him. Real nice guy: We have some more beers and of course I start to get ancy so we head out for a while to see where the gang is. We catch a couple of them stumbling down 5th, so we head back down to the Beer Bucket for more beers!! Met Stonecold and his wife (real nice) I look over and see a peep I have not met yet, and it was Don. I introduce myself and he says "CMSItaly I have something for you!! He handed me a Bumper pin and his best interpretation of the Bumper hug! I felt so special! Bumper could not be there in person, so he was delivering the pins and hugs for him. Whatta guy! Thanks for thinking of me Bumps!! I was really looking forward to seeing you again this year, but Don did you proud! We decided we had had enough to drink, travel day and all, so we headed back to Fusion. WAIT!!! We can't go back to the hotel, have to go to Tacos del Rey!! They were very nice there, I was pretty tipsy, and the pork tacos were yummy!! Thanks for the tip peeps! Now off to bed (purse in hand ) 1:00. Not bad for the first night I thought

03-26-2007	#7 (permalink)
smardie way into it Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Seattle Wa Posts: 241	Look's like you guys are having a good time. Can't wait to get there Mark and Barb

03-26-2007	#9 (permalink)
Tommygurl crab killer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: I am Canadian!! Posts: 15,165	Well I was enjoying my Raisin Bran until you posted pics of the yummy food! Great start...you guys are super cute!

03-26-2007	#10 (permalink)
cmsitaly añejo Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 4,729	March 8th-Day 2 Of course I wake up at like 6:45, I know better than to wake Josh, so I head to Cafe Tropical for a smoothie. Waited a while, kinda overcast today, but it is still the beach! Walked down to La Cueva del Chango for breakfast, which is always wonderful. Josh had the granola and fruit (WTH?) That was different choice for him, but he informs me that with all the damage he is about to do to his system over the next 10 days that he better try and do it some good first. Oh, well- OK that makes sense then. I had the eggs with chaya, and yes I forgot to take a picture! Josh's arrived first so I snapped a shot: It looks like a small bowl, but it was one of those never-ending bowls of food. He couldn't even finish it! We walked back to the Fusion, sat on the beach a while, still overcast. We decided to walk down the beach and ran into Barb (equinenut) and Jenna at the Playa Maya. Talked with them for a while, and headed back. Lunchtime!! We decided to hit La Pesca. Took a cab and got dropped off at the wrong locale...started to ask locals if they had heard of it... I got the blank stare from everyone. OK I remember it was across from the Mega, so I start asking where the Mega is and I gets some points in the general direction. We are walking...ohh there is El Cejas! We have heard that is good, but it doesn't look open. Another day we say. We keep heading down the street and I decide to ask again to ensure we are going the right direction I find a young woman in a store ...in my best Spanish...do you know where the Mega is? This store owner looks at me like I am nuts and she points to the left... I look around the corner and there it is MEGA. It's freakkin huge. I laugh and look back at her She smiles and I thank her. I look across the street and there it is La Pesca! We decide that we need to actually go into the Mega after we are done eating because we are simply intrigued by the size of this store. OK later-food now. We walk in and are greeted-they look like they are not open! I ask Abierto? He says NO. Please don't make me get back on that road again with an empty belly and no destination/knowledge of where to go next! Then another man comes up and says let me check with the kitchen, it IS 12:50 people! He says it is alright, so we sit. Whew! If all that adventure wasn't going to end up with at least a taco outta the deal...well nevermind. I was going to get fed. We ordered the guacamole to start and the recommended shrimp caldo soup. I also ordered the garlic fish and Josh ordered the empizanda (fried fish) -right up his alley. Josh looked at me and said "That's a lot of food!" I was like So what! I have been waiting to eat here, and who knows when we'll be back. So be quiet and let me be a piggy!" Now, I don't know if I was just really hungry or what, but that guacamole was THE BEST I have had. I think they put a little chipotle in it. I am usually not a fan of it, but it was just the right amount to add a hint of smokiness. Ugh, it was so good. I don't know what happened to the pictures of the rest of the food, maybe I ate them No they just didn't make it for some reason. And the soup I ordered was the wrong thing, not the cheesy soup I had been dreaming of, but it was in a broth...oh well, I was stuffed anyway. The garlic fish was very good. ADVISORY: DO NOT order this if you don't like garlic. It was soooo freakkin garlicky that I almost couldn't finish it (repeat I said ALMOST) I was certainly glad we were attending an outside party later as I could taste garlic for the remainder of the day. We headed over to the Mega, to check it out. It was very nice inside. We decided to pick up some liquor, mixers, cups, straws, you know, the important stuff. It was cheap a liter of Smirnoff for $10! Got back to the hotel, napped a little and headed off to the Luna Blue Blender Bash...

03-26-2007	#13 (permalink)
Tommygurl crab killer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: I am Canadian!! Posts: 15,165	I am sorry to hear you were sick the last 2 days...If it makes you feel better we were sick for about a week after we got home.......

03-26-2007	#14 (permalink)
redhairgirl1 añejo Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Grand Lake, Co Posts: 8,978	Cannot wait for the rest! Your trip report last time was my all time favorite. Loved the fact you walked all that way and rented the atv's being still hung from the night before!

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