Excerpts...

Joely and I divvied up the list and we're going to write snippets about all the wonderful characters we encountered.  Here's my first contribution:

Assassin On The Bass
So, the Assassin was this Russian-looking guy travelling with a tiny daughter/girlfriend. We noticed him on the second day. We were in the hotel lobby bar.  A 5-piece band was belting out slightly-to-extremely terrible covers of everything from the Beatles to Bruno Mars. Mid-slightly-terrible cover of the Eagles, the Assassin walks up to the band and stands there smiling, swaying, snapping his giant killing fingers. His daughter/girlfriend stayed back seemingly amused by his odd behavior. He stood there for a good 2 minutes then as quickly as it began, he walked away. We were confused and bemused in our mango daiquiri haze. We decided he was a ruthless assassin with a penchant for adult contemporary music...gets him in the mood.

Fast forward 2 days. Same bar, same lukewarm cover band. This time, we choose to sit out on the patio but have a great view of the stage. We toast with our Sol con limon - “To US!”. I raise my drink to my lips and freeze…Daughter/Girlfriend is standing against the wall opposite the band - beaming. I follow her gaze across the room and there...on the stage...playing the bass guitar...is the Assassin. He’s sitting in the with the band. He played a mean bass solo -- I’m talkin’ assassin mean. You might say...he killed it.

Mexico...Day...almost time to think about home

Yesterday was more of the magical same.  Sun, beach, pool, a constant stream of jokes and drinks from Frankie (our fav poolside server).  We had an excellent dinner at Maria Marie with Jose.  We've had such great mealtime experiences here but, Jose takes the cake!  He recommends off-menu items, attends to our every whim and even went to the Tapas place next door to get Will his favorite churros for dessert.  He's awesome.  He introduced us to an after dinner aperitif called a "Carajillo" served over ice including Licor 43 and freshly brewed espresso.  Will, who doesn't drink, finished his first.  It was so delicious!

As we began to think about heading home, it was only fitting today was gloomy, windy and rainy. We took a long walk, shopped for souvenirs at the local mall, visited a really creepy, cool abandoned hotel with a thatched roof and medieval stone structures.  It's completely overgrown with local foliage and looks like it was never rebuilt after the 2003 tropical storm that wiped out much of the area.  We attempted some pool time it was short-lived and a bit nippy.  We have dinner reservations at the "dress code" restaurant tonight.  The boys have to wear PANTS!!  Can you IMAGINE!  Updates and pics to follow.

As sad as we are to leave, important things await - like amazing family, a new home (for the Mason/Steinberg clan), jobs that keep us gainfully employed and more adventures in this crazy life.  For all of these things, we are grateful. 

One more day of excellent people watching, poolside relaxation, constant food and drinks and an endless string of quips, one-liners and hysterical snorts.  We miss you, dear readers but fear not!  We'll be homeward bound soon enough. 

Please enjoy some pictures of our adventures over the last two days and...tip your server.

Obligatory selfie by the pool...

The boys' favorite breakfast ever - eggs on horse (not actual horse meat)

Joely and I found a breakfast favorite as well - chilaquiles (basically, breakfast nachos with green salsa and tortilla chip strips with chicken, cheese, sour cream and pickled red onion.

Grapefruit mimosas for breakfast refreshment

Will contemplating the universe...or thinking about shrimp...probably shrimp.

Our most favorite server, Jose!

Mexico day somethingorother pics

Here are some shots from our patio...

What day is it?

Have you ever been on a vacation where you had no concept of time?  Hours...days...go by without a care.  That's what I've been experiencing the last few days.  It's magical.  Like in the Lightning Thief when they go to that casino and eat the lotus leaves that lull you into complacency.  That's what is happening here at the Zilara! We spent the day yesterday waiting on Will to be done golfing...eating...drinking...lying about in the sun.  It was impossibly relaxing.  Today was...that.  Except for the golf part.

IGUANA

You see, Will met some interesting friends while golfing yesterday and is hesitant to return to the course.  Here are a few of the friends he met along the way:

MEXICAN RACCOON

ALLIGATOR

We had heard there might be gators at the course because it had recently flooded...and so there was!  The raccoon-like creatures were more monkey than raccoon and apparently moved disturbingly fast.  He's in no hurry to return.

We had a wonderfully belly-warming Mexican coffee last night made by the incomparable Jose!  Note his incredibly deft fire-pouring skills!

 We also had an amazing cheese-wrapped-in-holy-leaf appetizer and a salmon stuffed avocado...we ended the night with warm churros dipped in chocolate.  It didn't suck. 

Friends...it's breezy, warm and beautiful here. We're with good friends...meeting new friends and generally taking a minute to breathe before real life comes crashing down in the form of a major move and a grueling travel schedule for Will.  Take those moments when you can and spend time eye to eye with those you love.  Adios for now!

Mexico - Day One and a Half

Friends!  Whew!  Yesterday was mostly travel.  Not much to report.  We had much fun people watching on the  plane/in the airport.  We got to the hotel around 9 PM, finally sat down for a late dinner around 10 PM and crashed out of sheer exhaustion.  There was an awesome show in the lobby complete with real motorcycles and dance moves from the 40s, 50s, 60s, etc.  It was hilarious and lively.  We ate at a wonderful ocean-side dinner complete with waves crashing and sea winds blowing. 

I woke up embarrassingly late this morning.  Will had already done like 10 things including getting coffee, booking tee times, reading the news, working.  It was impressive.  My ability to sleep through all of it was equally impressive, I'd say. 

We met up with Joely and Thatcher in the late morning, staked out beach chairs and plunged into the bath-water-temp pool...and stayed there...for hours.  We had a great waiter named Frankie who kept us drinking and laughing to our hearts content.

The evening is about to begin with a trip to the VIP Club bar and then dinner at a tapas restaurant.  So far, I'm relaxed, enjoying the time and just - - not thinking about much.  That's a major change from my last 6 months so, I'm really trying to enjoy it!  You'll notice a severe lack of pictures...my phone doesn't work internationally and Will has been slow in sharing pics with me but, you will see them soon dear readers!

In the meantime, please enjoy this list of proposed band names based on our people watching thus far:

Meathead Parade
Tiny Euro Backpack
Shrink-wrapped Backpack
Black Hat Blather
Tiny Bright Blue Speedo
Drunk Old Guy
Hot Steam Burns
Silver Chest Hair

I'm sure there will be more.  Adios!

The "We-made-it-to-40" Mexico Trip begins in 24 hours!

Dear readers...there will not be a Steinberg family Hawaiian vacation this year so...I thought I'd blog our trip to Mexico with my friend Joely and her husband Thatcher.  Joely and I have been friends for many decades and when 40 was fast approaching, we agreed to take a trip somewhere warm and sunny to celebrate.  We planned on our friend Cat joining as well but alas, life often has a different plan.  We'll miss her terribly and will be drinking much tequila in her honor.

Stay tuned for some serious fun in the sun!!

Isaiah's Corner - Days 4 and 5

As you can tell, we got kind of busy and I didn't do a blog yesterday!  

Wednesday, we went to North Shore again.  We wanted to show Grandma Susan shave ice and turtles.  But first, we stopped by the Dole plantation.  My dad and I did a giant maze made of various plants.  We had a map that showed certain drawings we needed to copy.  We had to do it in the fastest time we could.  It took us about 25 minutes!  I also got an airbrushed tattoo of an eagle.  Here's a picture.

Thursday, we went into Waikiki for a special breakfast at the Hau Tree which is a restaurant right on the beach.  You have a really good view of the beach and there's a tree right in the middle of the restaurant.  It's very beautiful.  After breakfast, we went shopping at the International Marketplace.  Then, it was time for surf lessons! 

 

 This is me and my instructor

It was a good but tiring day.  We went to a luau, too!  I even got to go up on stage and dance with some hula girls.  Here's a picture of me doing a Tahitian hula dance.

And here is a picture of my grandma Susan, my dad and I.

Hawaii - Day 5

Well, we're on the home stretch friends.  :(  

I had a great opportunity to meet with the Vice President and CIO at Hawaii Pacific University yesterday.  It was a really cool networking meeting.  She is doing great things there! I always love to hear about the new and innovative work that's being done in education technology and when I can meet with a woman in leadership in technology, all the better!

After my meeting, we headed out to North Shore.  We spent the afternoon sightseeing,went to the Dole plantation, stopped for shave ice and then went to the turtle beach to see a big boy named Oakley.  He was 150 lbs!  Susan wanted to take him home.

 We're on our way out right now but I'll post more later on today!!