Vacation Report

Spent some time south of the border last week: http://www.tideszihuatanejo.com/. I recommend it. Instead of the ambitious, see every museum and landmark possible excursions we've done many times over the last ten years, the missus and I instead opted for a lot of time spent under a palapa with a book and tinkly drink, waving our hand occasionally for Fernando to bring "una mas" to our little table between the lounge chairs. Beautiful place, The Tides (it used to be the Hotel Villa del Sol before they sold out to the Tides group). They've expanded the place since we last visited about 17 or 18 years ago when it was about 25 unique units (now about 70). Still romantic, with dramatic views and wonderfully crafted rooms, many with patios equipped with plunge pools (they station plants around them to mostly strategically hide whatever close combat occurs in and around them). Very nice. Great food at the hotel and we of course ate entirely too much. Breakfast is about my favorite meal in Mexico. The butter, the eggs, the bacon--they all taste better. At the Tides, they bring a tray with a large pot of coffee, some bollillos, and a sort of abbreviated newspaper and leave it on a little stand outside your door at whatever time you appoint. So, you can wake up, have your coffee, read a little and then maybe go workout or something before going to breakfast. I heartily endorse this practice.

Don't know about you, but whenever we go to a hotel somewhere, the missus will locate a men's room somewhere outside of our room for me to utilize for defecation purposes. Is it a commonly held belief by women that the male bowel movement is the most hideous thing imaginable? I think possibly it is. I'll admit that I've frequently made some deposits that were disgusting even to me. And, probably it's a good idea that this practice occurs because I did manage to stop up two guest toilets twice on this vacation with enormous gringo sized deposits. Anyway, it's something that we do and it's probably for the better. I can go off somewhere, take my time, and catch up with box scores and the like.

There's not a surplus of gringos in Mexico right now, due to the season and to the recurring drug war issues. Outside of Mexico City and the border, you're mostly safe anywhere else. The bad guys are primarily engaged in going after the other bad guys along with law enforcement and involving stupid Americans in the process is bad for business. Most of the gringos who get caught up in the violence are in some way involved in the drug business--either selling it or buying it. If you avoid doing that, you're probably okay.

We had to connect in and out of Mexico City. I don't recommend it unless you have to. Confusing airport even if you speak Spanish. If you're the hapless Glubb family from Moline making their long awaited dream vacation to Cancun and miss their connection there, I pity them--they have just entered the depths of Mexican airport hell. No one will help them, they'll be endlessly misdirected, screwed over, and left for dead. They'll end up selling their clothes and maybe one of their small children for a ride out. If you can do it, fly direct to wherever you're going in Mexico.

You see some interesting types when you show up at a place like the Tides. There's the ditsy broad from the upper Midwest with her grating accent and amazing inability to comprehend or communicate anything resembling Spanish. Then there's the 53 year old cougar from Lake Charles with her 37 year old boy toy (I heard the ages come up while sitting at the other side of the bar). Lots of young, cute wives to view in there bikinis on the beach and at the pool. Some retired couples in groups spending their children's' inheritances--good for them. People negotiating (badly) with beach vendors over bracelets and parachute rides. But, mostly, a quiet place and just what we needed. Read a couple of books--the Tom Wolfe piece that skewers the New York elite over the fashionable parties given for the Black Panthers and others along with the delicate art of community organizers squeezing guilty white people for grants. Fun stuff. Also, a Bernard Cornwell book set in the period of the Danish siege and Viking raids on what is now modern day England. Fun reading: Cornwell is a skilled historical novelist. He did the Sharpe series which is set during the Napoleonic Wars along with several others. His book, "Agincourt" is a ripping good yarn.

Anyway, a great time. My appreciation to the warm hospitality of the Mexican people, lard, tequila, Bernard Cornwell, the lovely Mrs. Bulba, and to the fine folks at the Eli Lilly Company (NYSE-LLY) who produce a series of fine and useful products.

Note: I frequently dozed off under one of the palapas pictured above.