DAY TWO AT HACIENDA PATRIZIA:

With our second day in Paradise there was so much to assimilate!  It began at the pool with many coffee drinkers and some unlikely early swimmers...me and Jim included!  Some of the grandkids were still asleep but by breakfast the wonderful smell of bacon had them coming out of their casitas ready for a new day.  

Cesse, maybe short for Cesar, and his sue (?) chef, Rosa had huge platos de fruta, crisp bacon (just the way I like it), eggs plain or scrambled with hamon , assorted salsas, beans and rice, toast and fresh squeezed orange juice.  I'm not much of a breakfast eater but everything tasted quite amazing and the juice with lots of pulp put me in heaven. (Cesse did strain some for the few who preferred no pulp,)

After breakfast most of us headed for the pool again even though Jim shouted the warnings Margie always had about drowning from stomach cramps if we swam within an hour of eating!  Really, Margie, I think that went out with Ford flatheads!

Some folks worked on the jigsaw puzzle (1000 pieces of underwater life), some played card games (Oh hell!) or Rummikub, some finished reading their books from the plane, and some just never got out of the pool, until a noon snack was served. This time it was much like yesterday, adding chicken quesadillas, jicama, cucumber, oranges, and a habanero sauce that would really curl the ole toes.  Alysyn, our guacamole girl, was in her element when the bowl this time was twice the size of yesterday, and the pico de gallo had the cilantro on the side.  Instead of margaritas like yesterday ....which were also delicious...Miche whirred up pina coladas that had so many of us coming back for seconds or thirds...or more, and resulted in a few mid-afternoon naps!

Olivia started late in the morning swimming in the pool and pretty much stayed there all day. Except for a short stint at the beach and during dinner, she swam!  I won't be surprised if she grows gills by Sunday!  The kid is in hog heaven.  I expect she'll sleep well tonight!

In the afternoon, Aaron bought a couple boogie boards and many had some tries on them.  The salt bothered some of the kids and they made a beeline for the pool and instantly felt great.  Some however stayed a long time there.  I decided to go back there with Olivia and sat with Michael and watched Sabrina and Katie ride the waves and Alysyn bob over the waves in shoulder height water.  The beach is beautiful and you can see down the coast in both directions for miles.  There was a wonderful breeze that felt great and the sand was fine on the beach and smooth and packed hard in the water which made it great for swimming.  The waves were just right...ok for a ride and not big enough to tumble.  The pelicans were having a hay day diving for fish where the kids swam.  There were very few people on the beach, unusual since it is so beautiful and enjoyable. 

In the late afternoon we started a Pinochle tourney. The plan is each duo plays the winner.  Jim and Joey started way in the hole against Michael and Erick but pulled it out at the end.  That meant Joe and Jim would play Kathy and I. It didn't take long before they were deep in the hole and Erick took over for Joe who was feeling a little "tired " from the many pina coladas he'd had!  It ended up being the longest game in history.  At one time we were 131 and they were in the hole and we couldn't make the points we needed to win.  Finally we inched out winning 151 to 106.  Now Michael and Erick will have to play us tomorrow!

We hung around listening to music, reading and more swimming and sunbathing until Polo called us to dinner at 7:30.  What a meal!  Carnitas done two ways, (one like we are used to and one with a sweet and sour sauce...both delicious) green salad with homemade honey mustard dressing, rice, black beans, onions with vinegar and habanero, guacamole, pico de gallo, and warm little corn tortillas to make into yummy tacos.  All the sun and swimming gave everyone an appetite and Lucas took black beans, and Alysyn took guacamole to a whole new level!  Adults had wine to round out the dinner and dessert was rice pudding.  

Everyone hung around outside and visited, sang and played guitar, or got in a spirited game of Oh Hell.  I stayed awhile then came on back to the room to write.  Of course, this is long, but I sent many pictures as well to try and relay what a great place this is!

Jim says " Beyond all expectations!"

Olivia says" Best vacation ever!"

More quotes tomorrow!

Love,

DAY THREE AT HACIENDA PATRIZIA:

I can't believe we are on our third (though my grandson says it's technically our second and a half day) at Hacienda Patrizia!

Our morning started as always for the coffee drinkers, filling their mugs in the kitchen, and for others grabbing their first stint in the pool.  The gardener had cleaned it so it sparkled and was so inviting.   It was great to see Polo and Micha and Cesa and Rosa had made chiliquiles  with fried eggs, fresh fruit, beans and rice and toast with butter and a wonderful homemade jam. They had found out that three of the folks didn't like pulp in their orange juice and I'll be darned if they hadn't filtered it out for them.  I of course LOVE the pulp, the chewer the better, and for those of us that feel that way they had it our way!  Honestly, they take into consideration every allergy!  Roman has troubles with dairy, Joe can't eat crustaceans, and Dianne and Michael don't like cilantro, and there are always plates just for them!

We started our tournament in Pinochle and although Kathy and I had some good starts we were only champs twice out of four times!  The other team always started deep in the hole, but when we got close to the finish line we would choke!

Some of the troop had gone to the beach again with Aaron's boogie boards to ride the waves. Many,  of course, spent most of the day they weren't playing games in the pool. Are you seeing a pattern here?

For snacks there was ceviche that was glorious served with chips, guacamole, pico de gallo, chicken quesadillas, jicama, and cucumber.  Cesa had made a hot green sauce with habanaros for the most adventurous and we washed it all down with frosty frozen pina coladas.  Boy is it going to be hard to go back to weight group!

Afterward most of us decided to walk to the Mercado, which is a really neat one.  On this side the quality is better than further over the little bridge.  When we got on the other side we were all sweating profusely.  Izzy hadn't drank enough water and got heat exhaustion and put a scare in us .  Aaron ran to buy her some Electrolit an electrolyte drink which she drank and immediately got her color back.  It scared enough of us to ride the taxi home.  Others went on to explore the square where the big mercado is.  They said the sellers are a bit more aggressive there. Perhaps I'll explore there again in the late afternoon when it is not so warm one of these days. Actually the weather has been pleasant when we are just hanging around the Hacienda and not hiking around.  The weather at the beach has a lovely breeze and the water is not cold...more like just right!

Tonight's dinner was again over the top!  Spinach salad with grapefruit, warm bread, mahi mahi. Mashed potatoes and buttery julliane squash and carrots that were beyond tasty.  For dessert they had made homemade churros with chocolate and caramel sauce.  They thought it would be a big hit with the kids and it was....they got seconds...but the adults loved them too.  In fact Aaron had bags of microwave popcorn they popped for us and we covered it with caramel sauce and shook the bag.  Yum!

We started to watch Katie's video of Beauty and the Beast, but after the movie had us hooked, the feed on the audio stopped. Everyone tried to fix that to no avail, so folks went to their cool rooms to read or sleep and I sat down to write.  

It was another amazing day in Bucerias!

Erick's quote: Sometimes life is good!!! 

Grove's quote: Best places to hang with family: the cabin at Lake Madrone, and Hacienda Patrizia in Bucerias!!!

Love, 

Grove and family

FOURTH DAY... LATER BUT LONG:

Well the fourth day was really great but I was so busy reading, swimming, and eating that I didn't get to the journal until late.   By then Michael had gone to bed and turned off the light...thank you very much!  I woke up at two and couldn't sleep.  I thought I would write since I was awake but could never find the I-pad so...

This fourth morning I woke up and came down to the pool and my boys were killing wasps that had fallen from the trees.  They looked pretty scary but Micha says they won't hurt you.

Yesterday started  about the same as usual.  The coffee drinkers hung around while the rest took a dip in the pool before breakfast.  What a treat!  Fresh squeezed OJ, Juevos Rancheros, rice, beans, toast, and fresh fruit (always fresh pineapple, cantaloupe, watermelon, lime and papaya). Always granola and yogurt. The yogurt is a little different and even Michael likes it.  

Everyone hung around and I read for awhile but Kathy and Michael went down the street for massages.  Miche recommended the place and called ahead.  For $20 US they each had an hour massage and both said it was very good.  They plan to do it again before we go home and this time I think I'll join them.  I walked down the street...the place was just a block and a half away.  We then walked down to the Mercado and over the bridge where we missed the day before.  We got Fast Aid, vanilla, and Sudafed  to take home.  We shopped along the way and made a big loop. Later I found that there was still more on the other side of the square.

It was pretty warm near the end so we hoofed it back to the Hacienda with a stop for gelato... coco for me and mint chip for Kathy.  Michael decided to hold out for a cold beer since that place is just a half a block from the Hacienda.  Snacks with lemonade, Pina coladas, margaritas, were baby bananas, chicken nachos and of course guacamole, chips, grilled bananas and several salsas.

The day before Joe had decided we would have an Elvis impersonation contest.  He even drew for two person teams for all but Jim.  To say everyone was grumpy and negative about it was an understatement.  When nobody practiced but him, he agreed to wait one night.  Michael was my partner and would not practice. 

Some went to the beach to swim...Olivia and Lucas collected little blue tiles they found in the surf and along the walk to the beach.  There were of course many in the pool as well.

Dinner was very special!  Cesa barbequed steaks.  I don't usually like Mexican beef but I don't know what Cesa did as it was a big hit!  With it we had  Cesar's Cesar salad, bbqued corn, cactus salsa, guacamole, hot pickled onions and salsas. All sooo good.  But of course we haven't been disappointed with anything!!  Afterwards the group, with Dianne as spokesperson thanked us for such a great trip together and presented us with an awesome Mexican Plaque that says " Nana and Papa's House".  We had seen one that we bargained for very unsuccessfully at the market.  They were relieved we had failed as we really only need one and I can't wait to put it up in our freshly painted house!  They also had bought a beautiful wedding cake.....red velvet with cream cheese frosting that was swoonable...so moist and wonderful.  Miche said we had to do the Mexican thing where the bride and groom eat the frosting off the tip of each other's noses.  It sorta freaked out the grandkids but we are always up for that!  It was a wonderful evening!  I am hoping we can get a big family picture on the veranda.

The biggie that we worried about, the Elvis thing,  ended up being mega fun.   Three groups did "Hounddog" in different ways with Sabrina and Olivia performing in the pool (surprising?...not), and the other two groups doing some serious hip shaking on the stage.  Michael and I did a skit to "Love Me Tender", Joe and Izzy surprised us with "Jailhouse Rock" as Izzy played the guitar!,  Alysyn and Katie chose "In the Ghetto" to honor their Grandma Leona, and Erick and Roman did "Viva Las Vegas" with a twist!  The staff here at the Hacienda Patrizia were judges and they took it quite seriously.  1st place was Erick and Roman which they did mostly in Spanish...Viva Bucerias! Did you know about my son who always must take it to new levels?  2nd was Joe and Izzy ....impressed by Joe's singing and Izzy's guitar playing, and third was Katie and Alysyn with some very special moves and harmony.  EVERYONE was a winner however with some great hip moving or singing!  Sabrina said it was the best and most fun  horrible idea Joe ever had!!!  There was a lot of laughter going on.

By the time it was all over there was only enough time  for a quick swim or read before everyone hit the sack.  That of course comes 'round to. Michael going to sleep, hiding my I-pad, and turning off the light, so today I have two days to write about.  Well, I still love him.  I just can't change him after 49.5 years!

Haste luego,

Grove

 HACIENDA PATRIZIA DAY FIVE:

Fifth day in Paradise! Oh, no!  It's going so fast!

This morning everyone was going to Sayulita but Jim.  At the last Kathy and I decided to skip the trip to Sayulita and do our shopping at Wal-Mart, hang around the hacienda and get pedicures and manicures.  I already had a great manicure... blue toenails no less...in Gridley, so I had a manicure.  While Kathy had a pedicure I had the fish eat the skin on my feet!!  I have seen this done on our trips but luckily this one wasn't in a front window for everyone to gawk at. It felt really weird, tickled a lot, and when I looked in the water and saw all those fish sucking on my feet, I wanted to stop!  Still I wanted to feel I had actually done it.

I had purchased a light pink polish and it was hard to do as it was very opaque and showed every imperfection.  The lady worked quite a long time and gave a fabulous hand and arm massage for ten dollars and two dollars tip!  Polo tells us the minimum wage is $5.50  a day.  Boy did the guy that pushed Jim to the car in the airport get a heart murmur from the twenty dollar tip he gave! We are still trying to think what to tip our staff as they are fabulous and treat us like royalty. 

Wal-Mart in Mexico is quite a trip....lots of stuff you can get in U.S., mixed with Mexican stuff.  We bought a bunch of bakery goods, but when we got back in the taxi (200 pesos through lots of traffic out of Bucerias) Miche took the box of bakery goods away and took them to the kitchen.  Kathy was bummed as she had chosen a chocolate cupcake that she wanted to eat there at Wal-Mart but the bakery lady taped up the box.  Maybe we will get a chance for it for dessert at dinner.  

I think we are having shrimp and pasta.  There will be something different for Joe as he is super allergic to crustaceans...can't even clean them without swelling up and breaking out with blisters.

Now that dinner is over I realize it was a real favorite and except for the salad there are no photos. Four kinds of pasta...red sauce fettuccine ,pesto spaghetti, garlic and olive oil rottini, shrimp pomomodoro  and lots of veggies lightly steamed with garlic sauce.  The caprizi salad had lettuce, baby tomatoes, mozzarella with a wonderful balsamic dressing I used to dip my bread.  I didn't have seconds and skipped on the pretty banana dessert but I've been eating so much I don't expect that skipping that would matter.

The staff have been super with Roman and Lucas....no lactaid for both and no tree nuts or gluten for Roman. It has been so nice knowing they will be taken care of.

Folks are all sitting  around the pool... I think I'll join them, finish this, and read and visit until bedtime!

Buenas noches ,

Grovey

SIXTH DAY AT HACIENDA PATRIZIA:

Sixth day in Hacienda Patrizia and Fathers' Day to boot. Happy Dad's Day to all of you out there and of course to those we have here at the hacienda...Jim, Erick, Aaron, Joey and of course Papa.  

Papa started off the day at mass on down the street of Lazaro Cardenas, our street with accent on first syllables.  He said the church had open windows and during mass the doves flew in and out landing on the cross.  It had rained in the night and before he came home it started to sprinkle...it didn't dampen his spirits one bit.  

Erick had gotten up and aired up the tires on the bike here and ridden to the bigger store for bags of lunch and breakfast goodies.  There were many wonderful pastries to choose from,  and Joe cooked eggs. There were  breads, salami, meats and cheeses that Joe had brought yesterday and Erick bought today for lunch.  We also had chips and dips for snack and Joe and Izzy made some great yummy strawberry drinks during snack time.  

You see today is also Sunday and the crew doesn't work on Sunday so we are on our own.  Joe and Erick were thinking about pizza but want to make it when we can invite the staff to join us... so if that will happen it will have to be tomorrow as we leave shortly after lunch on Tuesday.  

We are thinking about going down our street to a little Chinese place that opens from three until nine... I guess they don't close for the "Lord's Day" like many of these Catholics. Even the Mercado is closed!  We have gotten used to being pampered all week and making our own beds, keeping things clean and preparing meals seems to be a wake up call for what comes on Wednesday in Gridley.  Speaking of Gridley, I hear we will miss the 111 degrees of  heat on Tuesday but will still be there for many more three digit days!  I certainly hope my plants survive, even though I know I would probably not!  Isn't that a record....one to go with the non-existent climate change we have been having?  Not!

After lunch and before snacks many of us took off for the beach.  The others still hung around the pool. Erick and Aaron set us up with umbrellas and beach chairs , there was a nice breeze and great waves.  Erick, Lucas and Aaron rode the waves for hours until finally Katie and I decided to join them .  I got tumbled once and Katie lost her Giants cap momentarily until some one retrieved it for her.  I came home with a good portion of the beach sand in my suit.  Everybody here decided to just stay up in the pool and not go to the beach so poor Katie and Erick got stuck carting all the rest of the chairs and umbrellas the block and a half home.  

Well we showered the sand off and jumped in the pool, but the water was a lot warmer than the ocean.. although the ocean is pleasantly warm. 

Everyone showered and dressed for dinner, but when the fourteen of us showed up there were just enough chairs and the cook was screaming he only had four burners and couldn't cook except four orders at a time.  Kathy, Michael and I weren't going to wait so we offered to go back and set the table so all could eat in the air conditioned room.  We put out all the beautiful Mexican dishes the staff uses and it looked like Miche had been here.  The food came in shifts but it was all really delicious.....mostly Thai dishes.  We washed and put everything away and blessed our staff for doing that all the other days.

After all was back to normal the rest went out to swim and read and we stayed in the cool room and Erick and Michael proceeded to beat us twice in Pinochle.  Maybe we let them win because it was their Fathers' Day...................but maybe not!

By then it was time to go to bed and finish this and read some more of my book,

Haste manana,

Grove