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Cozumel Trip Report
Posted by Lisa in Mich on
01/27/02
Trip Report finally~! Jan19-26
Okay y'll! Here it goes.
Beth and I left Detroit last Saturday morning at around 7 am to get to
the airport and manage the security. No major problems,
except Beth got stopped every single time.
Endded up having 1 1/2 hours to kill until we took off. The plane
was 3/4 full. I like it like that. We had Starbucks coffee
and a cheese danish! ymm!
Got to Coz around 2:20 pm. So very excited to finally be back.
Zoomed through customs and off to Sol Cabanas. Quickly
checked in with Rogelio and checked into room 211.
We changed to our shorts and out to the Bar to meet Carlos and
Patricia. The First two beers tasted like a dream. The
whole thing seemed to be a dream. We made friends from Texas, Kim,
Ed, Mike and Linda. Also from New York City. Andrea and Marc. Then
Richard from Holland.
This turned into a nice little family that checked in with each other
daily. We plan on keeping in touch.
After a lazy afternoon on the bar we headed up town for dinner at Fat
Tuesdays. I was so excited/tired to even eat. Walked around
the square and back streets, just in shock that we are truly back in
Cozumel. Someone pinch me!!!!
Back to the Hotel to sleep at 9 pm. Still to excited to sleep.
It was sometime past midnight before I passed out.
Sunday morning we slept till around 8 and then ran over to Las Graviotos
(sp) for breakfast. Pretty good food. Walked the
beach down past paridisus. Then spent most of this day enjoying the
beach and the snorkeling at the hotel. Also getting to know our new
friends.
Everyone there I instantly bonded with. Carlos helped me with my spanish,
and I help Patricia. We drank and chatted the day away with all
our new friends. Marc and Andrea where out diving and Mike
and Ed two. So we got to hear their stories. Around 12 noon
we got a call from our local friends. They had tried to call the
previous day before we arrived. They left a message for us
to meet them in front of the new Carlos and Charlies. (kinda out
of thier character) They prefer thier local hangouts better.
Around 8 pm we taxi uptown. It was so exciting to see
our pals again. Geyler and Juan and their two Friends Antonio and
Carlos. We drank and danced and just caught up with them. Still
in shock that we made it back to Coz.
After a while we left the bar and wandered the streets just talking and
laughing. I finally got so tired. Antonio drove us
back to the hotel. I am not sure of the time....I didn't wear a
watch all week.
Monday morning,
Down to eat breakfast, Our morning ritual is to stop to give all
Sol Cabanas employees hugs and kisses!!!! I brought them
candy also. Then we have another enjoyable breakfast, and fed the
fish for our snorkeling friends. Back to the beach to rest from
drinking. When the sun gets to hot we jump in for a
swim. Then to the bar and then back and forth all day. Ahhh
relaxation. This is how most of the days went. I got stung by a
bee too. Ouch!!
Now from here on out I don't remember what day I did what. So you
all are going to just get all the main events of the week.
It was either Monday or Tues that our local Friend Geyler came to get us
for dinner and we stopped for a cooler and loaded it with ice and beer.
Then stopped to pick up some good tacos from a taco stand a few blocks
in off the main square. Don't remember the name but it was a
yellow building on a corner, well lite and very busy with the locals. We
had to stop and use some local families bathroom. That was
interesting, but she let us walk right through her house. We loaded
everything up and 5 of us drove to the east side to El Morena.
The guys pulled a table and chairs down to the water front as close and
we could get it and then we ate by the moonlite and stars. How
peaceful!!!
Geylers two friends Ricardo and Jorge came along. It was
interesting to chat with them. Their life on Cozumel isn't the
most glamourous. Working 12 hours a day 6 days a week. It
was fun to get to know them and for them to learn about us. We
played jokes and laughed for a few hours and then finally returned to be
dropped of at Sol Cabanas.
Thank God because I was starting to pass out. Too many beers did
me in! Agian I don't know what time it was. This day a
man drown on the eastside. Unfortunatly our friends from Texas
were there. A pretty shaking experience.
The next day was spent recooping at the hotel, getting to know the staff
and our new friends from Texas and New York. Also capt Rick and
Carol who are anchored out in front. They sail the Carribean for a
living. hee hee hee Wonderful people. Offered to take us out
sailing but unfortuantly we never made it. Every night about 20
dolphin passed the hotel. What a site!
Also I never got to meet Christi and Stephanie. I called the dive
shop and sent a note with Richard who was diving with Studio Blue all
week. I wanted to go along one day, but Beth never felt up to
it. One evening I stopped in but no one could tell me how to
get to Christi's place.
Beth went out I beleive it was Tues night on her own. I didn't feel like
it. I was tired of drinking and I decide to sit back in the Lobby and
keep Julio company. The two of us can really get to talking. He
and I learned so much about each other throughout the week. When
he got off at 11 he drove me up to find Beth. We saw her coming
out of C&C with three guys. Her new friends. Dennis from
Ca, Paco from Cha cha cha divers, Thorner from NY a Paul From NJ. All
three divers dive with Paco. Beth tells Julio and I that these
guys convinced her to hang out on the dive boat all day Wed and that we
could snorkel Columbia shallows while they dove. I was game even
though I wanted to go meet Christi and snorkel while Richard dove.
SO... Julio graciously drove Beth and I back to the hotel to get
our sleep. Julio and I stay up for a chit chat. He has to
work early the next morning.
Now I beleive this is wed morning we wake up, eat breakfast, Kiss our
Sol Cabanas family goodbye for the day and head down to meet Paco and
the boys at Cha cha cha. We are on the boat and going at around 9
am. I instantly got along with everyone. Enjoyed the day on
the boat and Enjoyed Snorkeling. Paco is a fun guy. We were
all throwing ice water all over each other and just having a good
ole time. I saw a lot of amazing fish, but of course I can't tell
you what they all are. A hugh grouper I believe and a lemon shark
or something. This was in the deep water. I am not the greatest at
Fish ID. It was truly amazing. The guys waved up to us when
I snorkeled the deeper dives.
We arrive back at shore around 3 pm and I was getting pretty sick of the
boat. Paco was sick of the cruise ships tours in his way. Beth
wished to return to the hotel.
I went to the dive shop to clean up and eat some fruit. Then I
went to lunch with the guys. Drove to the east side to Mezcalitos
for some grilled shrimp and Sol's, their treat. What nice guys!!!!
Then down the east coast stopping off at all the sites. Dennis has
been coming to coz for 19 yrs and this year is staying 9 weeks. He has
some amazing Dive stories. He was surprised to find I knew so much
about Cozumel. This being only my second trip! I love
it there that is why!
Back to town after a long relaxing afternoon. Stopped for some
chewing gum and then they dropped me back at the hotel so Beth wouldn't
worry. By this time Beth is antsy to get out. I agree
to go back to town. Although I am so bushed. We stop in C&C to
find our dive buddies, but they are gone. Stop in the dive shop, no luck
there. I wasn't up to drinking so we start just walking and
checking out the streets. What to my surprise, we run into out
Friend Juan! He is a really good guy. He and Geyler are
brothers. He runs us down to his home to meet his Mom and
family. That was another interesting experince. His
Mom liked me so much she offered me one of their beautiful Mayan
Hammocks. I kept refusing. We hung out with Juan for a while
hugged and kissed his mom goodbye and headed up to the main strip.
To ocean watch. Got tired after visiting and then off to the
hotel for bed.
Now Thur We did our normal routine of sleeping, snorkeling eating drink
around the hotel. Visiting all the staff and our other
friends. Beth made arrangements to meet Geyler for a dinner
cruise. That left me free. I called Suze to let her
know I have supplies for the kids and arranged to drop them off. It was
a pleasure talking with her. I tried to Call Christi. I ate dinner with
Kim, Ed Richard and Patricia. Then I was planning on going to town
with Kim and Ed. They decide they were worn out from the day and
they had to leave in the morning.
I decided to sleep in the Hammock and call it a night, when Julio
changed my plans again and asked me to hang out after work. I
still relaxed in the Hammock and listen to the radio. Around 11 pm
I met Julio in the lobby. We walked the beach a while and
then decided to drive around and endded up in his favorite local bar.
It is a Karoke type place. Really neat place and boy can the
people sing. He was so into it. I loved watching him feel the
music. I was the only american in the bar, which I was cool with.
I was warmly excepted. Several women came up and Kissed my cheek
and my hand.
Julio and I danced the night away and when we weren't dancing we
listened to the music. Well he sang, I listened. hee heee.
I actually knew two songs from my Selena CD. He was quite
impressed. I love the Mexicano music.
I finally started to pass out. I couldn't swing it. This all
night partying. So we take off from the bar and all the local
Mexicanos Whistle and cheer for us. I had to shake everyones
hand. They must have thought I was Julios women or
something. Several men asked Julio if they could dance with me and
I said sure why not! Except it must have been a site because I am
6'2 and they come to my waist! What a hoot!
Julio wants to chop my feet off!!! Back to the hotel and we chat a
while in the car. I could have gone on and on with him,, but my
eyes kept shutting. I let him go since I can hardly keep awake. I
think he could have stayed up all night learning about me. He didn't
seem at all tired.
I think he is the biggest Sweetheart in the world!
Friday morning we skip breakfast. I finally meet Beth out at the
Bar where Julio has been telling her how I was passing out and falling
down drunk! Of course he is lying!!!!! I sit at the bar most
of the day trying to wake up and Julio and I are talking each others
heads off agian!!!! Singing agian too!! Patricia came in
today. It is her day off and I wanted to teach her how to swim.
She is my new best friend in Coz and we just adore each other. She
gave Julio a strong warning not to tease orhurt her new Amiga Lisa.
She did wonderful with swimming although she was very nervous. A
better swimmer than she gives herself credit for. I forget how
hard it is to learn to swim!
Julio gets off at 6 and has plans with his buddies and tomorrow is our
last day. So we say our good byes and exchange addresses. I
was really sad to see him go. Beth and I went up to eat at
La Mission and we also ate at Pepes one night. Forgot to mention
that. Stopped in to Mini golf to drop our supplies off and
meet sally and scott. Then we just by chance passed Glassmans shop and
went in to introduce ourselves. Strolled into studio blue and
tried to find someone who knew where Christi was. No luck!
Then off to find all our friends for our last party. Juan and
Thorner, Dennis, Paul and Paco. We drank all evening with them and
then everyone went to Senor Frogs. Juan and I visited on the wall across
the street. We didn't feel like drinking anymore. He is sad
to see me go, so I wanted to visit with just him for a while. Finally
it is late. I think 2 something. Beth and I head back to the hotel.
Wake up miserable Saturday morning knowing we have to leave this
life. We pack, run down to eat lunch one last time at
the bar. Kiss and hug everyone over and over and over.
Julio totally surprised me and showed up to wish me farewell. I
was totally shocked. It was so so hard to say goodbye to everyone.
We were crying on the inside. Tried very hard not to show our saddness.
We checked out around 12 pm and a new slew of guests were checking in.
I turned to take one last look at the beach out front and Julio
blew me a kiss and then Rogelio blew me a kiss and the taxi door slammed
shut. We are now very sad!
The plane ride was pretty sad, but we are plotting our next trip and are
aiming for may, but might have to wait until the fall. Back home
we are and no one understands how we are feeling and how special Cozumel
is. They are all so wrapped up in work and life here. If
they only knew what they were missing!!!
My Spanish teacher here in Michigan called to check on me today.
Wanting to know if I need to work on my Spanish. Strange I haven't heard
from her in a couple of months. Until I now am missing Mexico. Maybe it
is a sign.
I think I need to work with her, just in case I give up on
Michigan and move to Mexico for a while. Big step I am not quite
ready to make, but I sure can dream about it.
I want to tell everyone on the board that the Sol Cabanas Staff is the
best on the island and that I love each and every one of them. Miguel,
Rogelio, Edgar, Luis, Julio, Carlos, Patricia, Trinidad and all the
resturant staff and maids. They are the sweetest bunch of people.
If any of you are staying there please tell them that Lisa sends all her
love.
Sorry this is a long one. I tried to cut the details. I just
can't wait to go, back. Cozumel is definatly my calling and my home away
from home. Maybe by my next visit I will be diving! ;)
I also have to get back to finish meeting some of you.
Thanks to all of you on the board for the tips and advice.
Lisa
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