Finally got snow and cold

Not really too cold by Minnesota standards but the snow sure is welcomed.

Christmas

Martha hosted her annual Christmas Eve celebration. There was a big crowd this year. It was nice to have a younger generation present with Grace, Daniel and Elliott. The 'make a wish' tradition was especially good with three youthful contributors.

For some reason the tree was particularly beautiful this year. And Kelly is always a charmer.

Each to their own box

Finally Uno took possession of her own box.

Silver lining

Rose has a once a month medical appointment that JT and Linda graciously drive her to in St. Paul. After her appointment a group of us meet for breakfast/brunch at the Egg and I on Lyndale Ave. While having to go the doctor every month is not good, gathering with friends and laughing until tears (or till you have to spit out your coffee) is great.

Rose, Amy, Nancy, JT, Bunny, me, Linda

Crazy cat lady (and I am not referring to me)

This year's Christmas gift from Mom is these Christmas cat decorations. For those of you that know Frankie and Uno, you will recognize which is which.

So adorable but I think Frankie and Uno's grandma is the crazy cat lady without a cat. Ha!

No matter the size

The size of the box does not matter, Frankie love love loves to get in to a box.

Final run of the year

I was able to run this year's Reindeer Run sponsored by Minnesota Running Series because it was moved out a week. I am usually in Cozumel the weekend that this run has been scheduled. It was moved out a week to make further apart from the Turkey Trot sponsored by the same organization.

Trish came up with the theme of safety deer. I thought it was deer as hunter instead of hinted.

We had brunch at Morrissey's Irish Pub at Lake and Bryant. Awesome bloody marys. I had a potato pancake egg and rashers thing called boxtyvilla. It was really good.

Various things

Catching up on being back from vacation. I realize that my trips to Cozumel have become more about seeing the friendly faces of the people I have met on the island.

Snorkeling, swimming and eating fresh fish are still fun and important but I have met some really nice people in Cozumel and I enjoy seeing them. Granted nearly everyone I interact with is a staff of a restaurant or hotel but I am always greeted with a smile and asked how I am doing.

One thing about traveling that gets me though is how people dress while flying. I understand that people want to be comfortable but wearing pajamas, baggy sweat pants and looking unkempt go beyond comfort. People should put a little effort into looking like they care what others have to deal with.

Here are a few photos I either didn't have time to post or were on a device I didn't have access to.

The main plaza construction is complete. There is a very fancy fountain in the middle now.

I finally got a new mask. The scuba store had a mask that still fit my prescription lenses from 30 some years ago! 

I didn't have a chance to post the photo of the giant Thanksgiving cactus that started blooming on Thanksgiving.

Cozumel, rainy days

First off. Dave is doing much much better. The medicine the digestive specialist prescribed has been working. We are now back in the states at Charlotte airport waiting for flight to MSP.

It rained a good part of each day Wednesday, Thursday and Friday but we made the most of it.

Thursday we went into town and had late breakfast at the museum restaurant overlooking the ocean. Our waiter was very cute. He put the Santa hat on me.

We then went shopping before the rain started up in the afternoon.

Thursday evening we ate at a new place for us, La Perlita. They serve lion fish which is an invasive species in the Caribbean . There are promotions to encourage the consumption of lion fish to encourage fishermen to kill them. It is a very good tasting white fish.

Friday we rented a car and went to east coast where it was sunny and hot.

On the way back to west coast we stopped in El Cedral, a place I have never been. It is kind of a suburb of San Miguel and has a Mayan ruin. I paid $5 to get my photo taken with this handsome man in Mayan warrior costume.

The town is kind of eerie with lovely homes that don't appear to have any inhabitants

Friday night we ate at Casa Mission. One of our favorite places.


El Cedral ruin. There is just the one building.

Casa Mission Christmas tree

Cozumel Urgent Care

I figured the title would get people's attention. I was wondering what I would do yesterday, Wednesday, when the decision was made for me.

Dave had not been feeling well since Monday evening during dinner. He was having abdominal pain and not the intestinal kind that you generally associate with Mexico. Turns out my AT&T service plan applies in Mexico so I had him call his health insurance and nurse hotline. It was decided he should see a doctor and the insurance company recommended a clinic on the island.

We checked with the hotel concierge who call the hotel doctor. Dr. Piccolo (great name) said to meet him at the same clinic the insurance had recommended.

To make the story short, Dave had blood taken, an ultra sound, an x-ray and met with a digestive specialist along with Dr. Piccolo. Appendicitis was ruled out after the ultra sound. White blood cell count was high which indicated infection.

The specialist has prescribed some medications to help and said Dave should start feeling better nearly right away. As of this morning, he is a lot perkier. Will keep everyone posted but he seems to be on the mend. Dr. Piccolo and the staff at the urgent care were wonderful. There is lots more to the story to tell.

Meanwhile, I did go snorkeling on Tuesday afternoon. After drifting quite a ways up shore, I was thinking I wasn't going to be able to swim back against the current. Once I finally got close to shore I finally made progress. Ended up having quite the workout.

Happier times.

Jellyfish are fascinating.

This is the life.

Sunset under the umbrellas.

Cozumel, Mexico

I am back in Cozumel for my annual after Thanksgiving holiday. Arrived Saturday afternoon after a very early departure from Minneapolis. My friend Dave is with me again this year. This is trip three for him.

We connected via Miami. There were maybe 12 people on the flight! JT and Linda are also here again this year. They took United through Chicago and landed about an hour before us. They greeted us in the Coral Princess lobby.

Last year's  construction project is nearly complete. I say 'nearly' because they were installing the outdoor showers yesterday and this morning a jack hammer was tearing up something.

The WiFi is very sketchy. Everyone has a smartphone or other WiFi device so I think the system is just overloaded.

The Ironman competition was Sunday again. We watched and cheered on and off all day long. Dave and I got to see the lead competitors finish  the 112 mile bike leg and transition to the 26.2 mile run. The weather was hot and windy. These athletes are such an inspiration. It is also great to see the support that the local community provides to all the competitors.

new beach umbrellas

JT and Linda. And the palm tree wall.

Iguana for Alisha

Boat captains!