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Cozumel Trip Report
Posted by Terri on 02/22/02

Woody's Great Adventure
Cozumel, February 1 - 11, 2002

Hola! My name is Woody. I am a wooden fish-shaped bottle opener. I am originally from Costa Rica and was brought to the States many years ago by Kraig's parents after a visit. I was given to Kraig and Terri last July as a "white elephant" gift. Kraig and Terri had searched the entire isle of Cozumel two years ago for a bottle opener to open beer and resorted to car doors, shells, etc. I was taken along on this trip and this is my trip report of my great adventure.

I can see the Yucatan Coast....

...and Playa del Carmen....

..and finally COZUMEL!!!!

We get settled into our new home for the week, Sol Cabanas, and head to the bar.....

We meet many new friends at the bar, and a few ladies that find me irresistible.

We met up with Christi, who recently moved to Cozumel. She too found me irresistible. Christi was a great gal! We wish we would have had more time to spend with her. We can't help but admire those special people that can pack up and move to a new country. Ahh, to be young again.

Next it was time to take in the view and work on our tans!

We showered and headed to the French Quarter for dinner. We were in bed by 8:00 p.m. It had been a long day for us.

Saturday was a lay by the pool all day kind of day. We did nothing exciting all day. Had Quido's calzone for dinner - delicious! We stopped into the Havana Club to say hello to our favorite bartendar Edgar. This man can make a wicked drink. If you stop, ask for the "Circle of Friends" cocktail. Terri's new favorite beverage!

Monday morning we are off to the museum for banana pancakes. Stopped at Chedauri for beer and off around the island. First stop us Nachi Cocom beach club. This place is so pretty!

Next stop was Bob's Marley bar for a few cocktails.

Quick stop at Chen Rio

Next stop...Mezcalito's

We met this "adventurous" bunch who wanted to have their picture taken at the "naked beach" but just didn't have it in them.

Sunday, our friends Terri and Peter come over from Cancun for the day to dive with us. We picked them up at the ferry pier and stopped by Alicia's to check them in and meet up with Isidro, our dive master from Sea Urchin dive. We decided to meet at the marina at 12:30 for an afternoon dive. 1st dive was Palancar Gardens, second was Cedral. Both were great dives as always. Saw the biggest lobster and eel I ever want to see. Looked like they belonged in a science fiction movie. Enough of that for me. Give me a Sol. After showering we headed to La Morena for the Travelnotes dinner. Susan had arranged the dinner for us and we had a great turn out.

Trip Report 3...That's it for tonight +

Monday � up early to deliver coffee to Luh at USA to You. We had a great breakfast there, bagel sandwiches, mmmm. . Stop by if you have a chance. Terri2 and Peter were arriving from Cancun for the day to dive with us. We met them at the pier at 9:45 a.m. and get them settled at Alicia�s. Quick trip back to Sol Cabana�s for lunch. This was Peter�s first visit to Cozumel (he had been to Cancun several times) and he mentions he can�t believe how QUIET it is at our beach J We met Isidro at the marina at 12:30 for our afternoon dives. First dive was Palancar Gardens. Kraig had sinus trouble about 10 minutes into the dive and ended up aborting. I love this dive! Terri2 was a bit concerned about the swim throughs, but she figured if I could do it she could do it. Up on the boat, Isidro gave Kraig some Sudafed and we did our gas off at the beach. Second dive was Cedral. It was a nice dive, lots of fish. Kraig didn�t have any problems, but took it slow. Isidro started through this small swim through and I remember thinking �what is he doing�it doesn�t look large enough to fit through�. We all swim in and it opens to this larger cavern and he points over to a small �cave� in the cavern. YIKES! There is the biggest lobster I have ever seen or ever want to see again in my life. I know things look bigger underwater but I swear this thing was bigger than a German Shepard. And then it started walking towards me. Ok, get me out of here NOW. As I am trying to get over Isidro to get the hell out of there he motions to another small �cave�. Inside this one is an eel bigger than my car (ok, maybe not that big, but too big for me). He motions for me to get a closer look. No, thank you very much. I want out NOW. It was like we were in the middle of some sci-fi movie! I am such a chicken. If anyone you dive with Isidro, ask him who is the biggest chicken he knows. It will be me! Then ask him who has the biggest mouth�I will win that one too! And if you haven�t heard by now�Isidro is getting married!!!! (I have to live up to my reputation).

Now, I have to tell you I hate the way I smell when I am done diving�like fish poop! I need a shower. We head home to our little cabana in paradise (soon to be known as the cabana from hell).

I failed to mention earlier that we didn�t have any hot water in the shower the second day. No biggie, we took a cold (but quick) shower and they sent the maintenance man in to fix it. So, arriving home smelling like fish poop, I hop in the shower, get my hair all lathered up, and my body all soapy and the water just stops. What the heck� I yell to Kraig that there is no water so he runs over to the lobby and they all track into the bathroom. Hello, I am in the shower! So I get everyone back out of the bathroom and wrap myself up in towels and notice that the white towels are brown. What the hellllllllllllllllllll��
�..EEWWWWWW I am covered with brown, icky, unknown gunk. I am usually a pretty easy going gal, but this put me right on over the top. Now I still smell like fish poop, am covered in soap and shampoo, and now some mystery gunk. I am a little pissy here! They quickly shuffle me over the empty cabana next door to use the shower. Much better.

I do have to mention that the guys at Sol Cabanas were very good and I do not hold this against them. They did everything they could to make this right, including a free dinner later in the week. I would go back to Sol Cabanas in a heart beat, but will stay away from cabana #6!

Ok, off we go into town to meet everyone for our Travelnotes dinner!!! Angela had called and told me it was on 10th by Manati�s. Ok, we know where Manati�s is but cannot find La Morena. We ask and are told by one of the locals that it�s four blocks south. We walk four blocks south and ask someone else who tells us it another four blocks south. We walk four more blocks and run across Glassman�s shop. Stop in for a quick hello and directions. He tells us two and a half more blocks on the right side�and we find it!

I have to ask, do the locals tell everyone that everything is four blocks that way and then giggle as we walk away??? AND do they park as close to the front and back of your rental car as possible and then giggle???

Susan had set up the dinner for us all at La Morena, which is a newer restaurant on the island. The food was great � definitely one to add to your �must do� list. The lime soup was the best I�ve ever had, and after eating my shrimp and helping Isidro with his stuffed chicken, I�ve decided that I will certainly be back to this place.

We had a great turnout. I would guess about 25-30 people. I wish I would have written down everyone who was there but they included Me, Kraig, Isidro, Terri2, Peter, John, Angela, Dad, Corki, Doug, Tut, Susan, Jean, Greg�.who am I missing? We had a great time meeting everyone we chat with on the Travelnotes page all the time.

Group shot!

Terri1 & Terri2

Terri2 & Peter

Susan and TUT (GOTCH YA)

My three favorite guys: Kraig, Isidro, and Woody

John and Angela

And since I wasn't the first...John and Angela

After dinner we stopped into the Havana Club with Terri2& Peter for a few drinks and to flirt some more with Edgar, and then home to bed.

Trip Report 4...the last

Tuesday was a �lay by the pool, read, and drink� day. I finished three books on this trip � always a good sign of a relaxing vacation.

We met up with everyone at HSM with hopes of Manati�s for dinner. They were not open. I was really bummed that I didn�t get my Mango Chicken this trip, and it wasn�t for lack of trying. If you are going to Cozumel, find Manati�s to see if it is open. If not, keep trying. It is worth the effort! Leo, the owner, has a son who if very ill, and like any other parent, his child comes first! I talked with his sister who told me she was re-opening the restaurant for Leo, however, it was closed while we were there. Could be due to Carnaval.

Next choice for dinner was made by Tut�Sorona Grill, of course. This was my first visit to Sorona Grill but it will not be the last. Great stuff! We all stopped into mini golf for a quick hola and beer.

Golf course pics

Wednesday morning we met up with Isidro at the marina at 8:30 and Kraig had previously told him he wanted to dive the wreck (C53). I was a little (ok a lot) apprehensive about this dive. I had tried it last year and ended up aborting the dive. The thought of swimming through the ship scarred the bejeezes out of me. We arrived at the Isidro�s boat and Angela is on board! She had called Isidro the night before and arranged to dive with us. Also on board was a gal named Linda who worked for a local dive instructor, and her friend. I told Isidro of my apprehension. He carefully explained the dive. He knows I am the world�s biggest chicken but also knows me well enough to know once I get my fanny down there I will relax and be fine.   I look around the boat and see four very seasoned divers and the love of my life. I figure I am in good hands so off the boat I roll. Holy crap, the current is RIPPIN�   I grabbed a hold of the line and started my descent�with Isidro right next to me. At the bottom I took a few minutes just to relax (breathe Terri, breathe). Ok let�s go. We swam along the bottom of the boat�lobster everywhere! Cool. Up to the deck of the boat and to the first opening. Isidro goes in first and I am supposed to follow behind him. Ok, now or never. In I go. Wow is the cool. I looked around and see what Isidro had told me is true, there are exits everywhere. I really don�t feel confined. We swim through the ship, around the outside of the ship, and back through the ship. Kraig motions he is down to 700 psi so Linda and her friend are going to head up with Kraig and I will continue on with Angela and Isidro. Once back on the boat Kraig tells us while they were heading back to the line to ascend they saw a huge eagle ray. Damn. I never see cool stuff like that.

Next dive was Yucab. Nice reef, great current, lots of fish�and lots of really big barracudas. I have this really bad habit of forgetting to take out my diamond studd earrings when I dive. I never remember them until I see a barracuda checking me out. So if you see some gal diving with her hands covering her ears, it is me and there is a barracuda in the area. Like I said, I am a chicken!

Back to the hotel to wash of the fish poop, siesta by the pool and our free dinner at the hotel restaurant. In bed by 8:30 p.m. We are party animals!

Thursday was another east side day for us. Stopped at Bob Marley�s to pay our tab from our last visit and over to Coconuts for lunch. Hey there�s Elvis. It is love at first sight for Woody.

Stephanie had invited us along on the �Catch the Wave� sunset cruise with her and Filipie. We met at the flag down town and I deliver the Coors light.

Stephanie and Filipie are one of the cutest and sweetest darn couples you will ever meet.

The boat was beautiful and the bartendar sure was cute. The cruise got underway and the sun started to set. It is nice to see the island from this different view.   I head downstairs to order a drink (flirt with the bartender) and I hear Stephanie call my name on the sound system. �Terri, you better get up here if you want to see the DOLPHINS�. AAAHHHHH�� Dolphins, dolphins, dolphins. Everyone sees dolphins in Cozumel but ME! We ran to the front of the boat and there they are riding along with us. If they would have stopped the boat I would have been in the water, dress and all. So COOL.
This way the highlight of my trip!

Once again we tried Manati�s for dinner, but once again they were closed. Settled on Primas for dinner and a night cab at the Havana Club.

Friday Angela had arranged day passes for everyone at Allegro today, however, we woke up to rain and that plan was scrapped. Off to the Museum to watch the kindergarten parade. God these kids were cute!

Later in the day, we stumbled upon the market

Susan had arranged a get together for everyone at Villa Del Carmen http://www.cozumel.net/bb/villadelcarmen/

Dr. Lewis who owns the home is also the owner of Mezcalito�s and a dear friend of Susan�s husband. This is a great home and would be perfect for two or three families traveling together. I finally got to meet the love of Susan�s life � her new hubby Jim. What a dear! I am kicking myself for not taking any pictures while we were there.

Next we are off the square to sell beads for the Chrysalis group. We had a great time walking around selling the beads! If you'd like to help check out this link:
http://annuit.com/spiffytek/oceania/chrysalis/

We had dinner at Casa Denis and watched the party on the square.

Saturday � it rained heavy last night and looks like rain again today.

I curled up in my cabana hammock, grabbed a sol and a book, and didn�t move for most of the day.

We had made arrangements to watch the parade from the Havana Club. What a great view and what a great parade.

Sunday brings more rain in the morning. Back to the Museum for breakfast. The rain cleared enough for us a catch our last few rays of our vacation. Kraig came down a terrible cold this morning and wasn�t feeling to great. Late afternoon we decided to go into town for dinner. We were walking around and this blonde gal asks me �Are you Terri?� It�s Ann & Mark and they�ve come down last minute for Carnaval and to surprise the Minneapolis area folks. We join them, John, Angela, Dad, Greg and Jean for dinner at Pepe�s.   That evening we started packing up our stuff at the hotel to get ready for the trip home. How is it possible for ten days to go by so quickly.

Monday morning we finished last minute packing, said goodbye to our new friends at Sol Cabanas and arrived at the airport early enough to get exit row seats. They checked all of our bags and took a small bottle of hairspray and two lighters out of my purse. Now here is the crazy part, they took away my lighters but once inside of security, I was able to buy a lighter at one of the shops. So much for security. Left Cozumel right on time, landed Minneapolis, zipped through customs, picked up our luggage and headed home to our kids.

We met some WONDERFUL new friends on this trip, thanks Angela, John, Greg, Jean and everyone else who helped us have such a great time. Let's do it again next year!