Playa Del Carmen    February  2008

We are now watching a lone guitarist spinning notes from 18 inches of tightly pulled metal wire stretched across his slick guitar. He is knocking out songs–Santana-like, and the crowd is wooing him on. We are seated on lush black chairs that you comfortably sink into, as we enjoy the international people watching. The lounge is open air on one side, and the other part is under roof. Not far from us, we watch and hear the bartender quickly blend fancy alcohol drinks for the many thirsty guests.
A few hours ago, we swam like minnows in the large pool. It was refreshing after a long pleasant day of shopping downtown. We peeked into dozens of small colorful stores, and loaded up on Mexican souvenirs to bring back home. On main street we dodged street vendors who easily bantered with us at first, and then shouted out lower and lower prices as we walked away. And not to be forgotten, having a wonderful lunch in an authentic Mexican cafe that featured wandering musicians that serenaded us.
Tulum was breathtaking. Our easygoing tour guide was funny and informative, sharing lots of information about Mayan history. The ruins were large and beautiful. We snapped as many pictures as we could as we walked by each section. The last hour, we had a chance to walk down the steep stone laden hill towards the legendary turquoise ocean. The large waves crashed onto the shore, as 100’s of sun seekers cooled themselves off, by diving in. We regretted not bringing bathing suits to change into. Next time!

Road Trip
The odometer clicks along…as we speed along the highway
After hours on the road, we find a rest stop for lunch, and I can’t help but be fascinated by the people watching. In particular, a large bus named “Enchanted” pulls into the large designated parking spot, and out came dozens and dozens of old retired folks, their souls pouring out of that bus like Angels on a mission.
Albany, New York Late August, 2013After checking in at our hotel, we trekked in the darkness towards downtown. We passed blocks and blocks of worn-down looking store-fronts hoping to find a special place to have dinner. It wasn’t looking good. And it was getting late. We kept trudging along and the scenery changed as we got downtown. Large old buildings jutted out of the ground, that displayed architectural styles that I hadn’t ever witnessed before. Even in the darkness, I could feel the awe of their historic importance.
I looked up my buddy John’s advice of an old Italian restaurant called Lombardos, and we headed there for a late dinner. Arriving there, we were treated to a well preserved establishment that had started as a speakeasy, almost a century ago. Old fashioned small tiles covered the floor, and large dark wooden framed pictures filled the walls, all of this feeling like we had stepped back in time. We received wonderful attention form all of the staff, and the owner spent time at our booth, filling us in about the history of the place and the surrounding area. And the food was superb. So, it all worked out well.