Traveling and exploring new places and cultures is my favorite pastime occupation. Read more Keller, Texas
  • Day 6

    Final Day / Beach Time

    May 2 in Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 91 °F

    Today, we indulged in Starbucks coffee and croissants.

    My 9:00 AM Pilates class at the Gazebo was great!

    It's our final day here, so we're spending it relaxing on the beach, taking frequent swims. There's nothing quite like soaking up the sun on such a lovely day. We're really enjoying ourselves!

    For dinner, we're keeping it simple with a meal at the beachside restaurant downstairs.
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  • Day 5

    Ursula's Birthday

    May 1 in Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 91 °F

    Today began with a 30-minute Pilates class followed by a visit to the El Rey archaeological site, located about 3 miles north of our resort.

    El Rey, dating back approximately 700 years, was associated with the Itzamna community, which also controlled Chichen Itza in the Yucatan and Edzna in Campeche. While not as well preserved as other archaeological sites in Mexico, our guide explained that it served as a small settlement along a Mayan trade route. Despite its modest size, we found it intriguing, especially as we spotted numerous iguanas during our exploration.

    We returned to the resort before noon and indulged in a swim in the ocean, finding it incredibly refreshing. To enhance the experience, we lounged on beach chairs beneath palm trees and treated ourselves to a couple of margaritas.

    Tonight, we have dinner reservations at Navìos, a restaurant specializing in Mexican Fusion Seafood, where we'll celebrate Ursula’s 75th birthday. Anticipating a delightful experience, we look forward to enjoying our meal as the sun sets over the lagoon.
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  • Day 4

    Supermercado Chedauri

    April 30 in Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 90 °F

    We woke up to a lovely day with fewer clouds and less wind than before.

    Considering a trip to Tulum, we opted instead to explore a local supermarket. A quick ride on the $1 RedBus had us there in under 30 minutes.

    Supermercado Chedraui was impressive, spanning two floors. It boasted modern design, neatly organized aisles, and impeccable cleanliness. Our first stop was the pharmacy on the first floor, where we bought Caladryl lotion to soothe the itching from poison ivy on my forearm, left cheek, and chin, acquired during yard work just before our trip.

    Ascending to the second floor, we marveled at the extensive selection of fruits and vegetables. After picking up some mangoes and limes, we indulged in a moment of relaxation on the balcony, enjoying a café latte and pastries while overlooking the lagoon area.

    Before leaving, we made a stop at the liquor section, where we scored two bottles of Mezcal for less than what we were quoted at La Isla yesterday. Looks like we'll have plenty of "fire-water" to celebrate Ursula's 75th birthday tomorrow.

    Returning to our hotel shortly before noon, we unwound until it was time for our customary swim at the tranquil cove. Today's swim was the highlight of our trip so far, with the turquoise water exceptionally calm and serene.

    En route, we encountered a friendly young couple from Colorado whom we had previously met at the airport. Britton works with concrete applications, while Michelle is an accountant. They're here to celebrate her 30th birthday. Such pleasant people!

    What can I say... another delightful day of vacation!
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  • Day 3

    More Exploring

    April 29 in Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 90 °F

    We took my Yogi friend Dorothy's advice and caught the $1 RedBus to check out La Isla shopping village, getting off a few miles north.

    La Isla had all the big-name fashion stores, but also had smaller shops and restaurants within easy walking distance. It was early on a Monday, so most places weren't open until 11 AM. But honestly, it was nice to avoid the crowds and enjoy the cool breeze.

    After grabbing some Häagen Dazs, we tried to visit the San Miguelito Mayan Archeological site but couldn't find it. No signs or directions anywhere. Oh well...

    Disappointed, we headed back on the bus to our resort and booked a table at Sand & Stone for dinner, which is supposedly a bit fancier than the beach restaurant we used before.

    Later, we went for another swim at the same cove as yesterday. The sea was calmer and it was really pleasant. We had a chat with two Mexican sisters who live in Pasadena, California, and a couple from Iran who live in San Jose, California.

    Just another great day in paradise!
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  • Day 2

    Exploring the Area

    April 28 in Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F

    I snapped the first photo of the day from our balcony 15 minutes after sunrise. What a beautiful sight as you can see. The outside temperature was 80 and will rise to 84 during the afternoon.

    Sunny and slightly cloudy, this seemed a good morning to explore the beach a little further. All beaches in Mexico are public which is wonderful.

    This time we walked in a northerly direction, passing many luxury Hotels and All-Inclusives along ther way. The semi coarse and clean sand feels nice to walk on. No risk of stepping on anything sharp and almost free of any “human” debris.

    After a shower and a bit of rest, we left the resort and went to a nearby convenient store where we got a supply of bottled water, milk, and beer (better pricing). Lunch was again at the resort’s beach restaurant. I had a mixed salad with grilled chicken breast, and Ursula ordered vegetable wraps. We are impressed with the friendly hotel staff and restaurant servers.

    Later in the afternoon we put on our swimwear and enjoyed a swim at the calmer little cove we spotted yesterday. It felt so great and relaxing. Ursula ventured a little too far out for the comfort zone of the life guard and he blew the wistle!
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  • Day 1

    Day of Departure & Arrival

    April 27 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F

    We had a timely departure from DFW airport and touched down at 12:15 PM in Cancun, Mexico.

    Happy Shuttle provided a private taxi service to the Westin Resort & Spa where we are staying for the next six days. Our room wasn't quite ready which gave us time for a quick bite to eat at the beach restaurant (fish tacos and drinks). Yummy.

    Our hotel room 1639 is great. On the top floor with an ocean view and balcony.

    The beach looked so tempting that we waisted no time to explore the immediate area in shorts and sandals. The sea is just beautiful here, clean with blue/turquoise water. It was windy today with high waves, too risky to go for a swim.

    We spotted a perfect sheltered cove a 1/4 mile to the Sorth towards Club Med Resort, where are exited to swim tomorrow.
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  • Day 1

    Parr Park, Grapevine TX

    October 16, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    Today, we embarked on a delightful 4-mile walk at Parr Park in Grapevine, exploring a serene stretch of the Bear Creek river system.

    One couldn't help but notice Robert's striking 2021 red Chevy Corvette C8 Z06, boasting a 495hp center engine, which effortlessly stood out amidst other parked vehicles. If you ever need a Corvette expert, Robert is your ultimate go-to resource!

    Our adventure held two remarkable highlights: a rare encounter with a Bobcat and a captivating section of the trail adorned with artfully painted stones originating from various states, as well as countries as distant as New Zealand, Canada, and Europe.

    To conclude our invigorating hike, we savored a delightful lunch at the Old West Cafe on Northwest Highway, a truly satisfying way to cap off our day.

    I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our hike leader and the founder of our group, Aubra Palmer, for orchestrating this splendid event.

    Our next hiking adventure is set to take place in the spring of 2024, where we'll be exploring the scenic Austin area of Texas.
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  • Cedar Ridge Preserve - Hiking

    October 15, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    Mike's Lexus battery had given out, and Ray swiftly came to our aid, offering us a ride in his car.

    Our lunch spot was Twisted Root Burger in Mansfield, and it's where we were joined by Jim, Curt, and Robert, fellow members of our seasoned hiker group.

    Afterward, we drove to Cedar Ridge Preserve for our hike. The Cedar Brake Trail was bustling on this splendid sunny day, with a warning sign to stick to the trail. It became more significant when Curt narrowly missed stepping on a Copperhead snake.

    The hike proved to be a bit challenging for some, with numerous rocky areas, exposed roots, and steep sections with steps. Consequently, it took longer than expected. After Ray stumbled over an obstacle, we decided to take a shortcut back to our vehicles.

    The "planning meeting" began promptly at 5 p.m. on the Palmer's outdoor patio, accompanied by drinks and snacks. Aubra's opening remarks reminded us that this marked our 18th excursion as a group of seniors in the past ten years, emphasizing the strength of our bonds and friendships.

    Grill master Heinz commenced preparing chicken and bratwurst while our host Aubra readied all the accompaniments for a delightful patio dinner, which we all relished.

    The evening's highlight was Heinz's Video Quiz, featuring short movie clips from our 17 previous hiking adventures. Everyone was tasked with recalling and jotting down the names and locations, and the group performed remarkably well.

    We eagerly anticipate our gathering for a brief hike in the Grapevine area tomorrow morning.
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  • Day 24

    ZRH-PHI-DFW

    October 12, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 79 °F

    Regrettably, today is the day we bid farewell to the enchanting landscapes of Switzerland.

    I awoke even before the alarm clock could sound its chime. In a whirlwind of last-minute preparations, we shifted belongings from one near-maxed suitcase to another, ensuring no prohibited items were in our carry-ons. Marli kindly brewed me a delightful cup of coffee. We meticulously combed through every nook and cranny of Wally's apartment, scanning under beds, inspecting the bathroom, and peeking into the shower to guarantee we didn't unintentionally leave anything behind. With warm farewells from our gracious hosts, Wally and Marli, we pulled out of their driveway at 7:50 a.m. and embarked on our journey to the airport with a full tank of gas.

    We had allowed ourselves extra time to catch our 11:45 flight, providing a buffer for returning the rental car, enjoying a leisurely coffee and croissant, and picking up a few "must-haves" at the duty-free shop. Everything unfolded seamlessly as we settled into seats 12A and 12B aboard the 787 aircraft.

    Around 17:15, we soared past St. John, Newfoundland, and by 18:16, we found ourselves exactly 40,000 feet above Jürg & Irene in Halifax. The two are on day #402 of a camper journey through Mexico and North America.

    We landed in Philadelphia right on schedule, navigated through customs with our luggage in tow, and celebrated our return to familiar territory with a glass of wine. Then, we successfully completed the second leg of our journey to DFW, where our friend Mike was waiting to pick us up.

    And so concludes our splendid Swiss vacation. Never before have the autumn months treated us to such splendid weather.
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  • Day 23

    Konstanz, Germany

    October 11, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    Today, we explored the charming city of Konstanz, Germany. Ursula and I brought our passports, just as a precaution, but crossing the border was such a breeze that we hardly noticed it.

    Ursula teamed up with Marli for some shopping and to help Marli find a specific medication for her eyes. In the meantime, Wally and I decided to unwind with a couple of beers and delve into some meaningful conversations.

    Later on, I wandered through the streets in search of photo opportunities, but my efforts were in vain. The lighting was either unfavorable, or there were too many people obstructing the view.

    Konstanz is a vibrant place, teeming with restaurants, bars, shops, and businesses that cater to Swiss residents seeking more budget-friendly options. Our dinner at Umami Sushi & Grill was a delightful experience.

    Upon returning home, Wally and Marli treated us to a scrumptious dessert – Vermicelles with Meringué and a generous amount of sweet whipped cream. A long conversation ensued - thus, we decided to skip the slide presentation, and hit the sack early, given our 6:45 departure tomorrow morning.
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