A World of Rambling Tales

Another NBD Whirlwind Tour

van_neste — Wed, 9 Apr 2008 19:43:00 GMT

So another whilwind tour has taken place. I haven't been able to even keep up with the journal since so much has happened since the 2nd of April.

I flew to Montreal on April 1rst for meetings and took a quick jaunt to Chicago on the 2nd and 3rd. Didn't even get time to get to the blues clubs since Larry and I were quite busy prepping for meetings. Got back to Montreal for a workday at the head office and drove down to Ottawa for the weekend.

In the meanwhile, I became a Grand Papa (or Bon Papa as I prefer to be referred to since it then extend what I've come to know as a long line of tremendous people in my life and wish to continue the trend) on friday April 5th 2008. Isabelle Rae was born at 1:50AM a healthy baby girl landing in at a respectable 7lbs 7ounces. Unfortunately I was not there to see her but I will be holding her in my arms as of thursday April 10th.

I had meetings in Ottawa on April 7th and flew to Toronto to drive down to Sarnia for meetings on the 8th and 9th of April. I got to Toronto last night and looking forward to getting back home in High River on the 9th.

Just trying to keep up to my schedule is a challenge.

Chicago at the Speed of Light

van_neste — Thu, 3 Apr 2008 19:51:00 GMT

In Chicago though we have absolutely no time for Blues Bar Meandering. Too many meetings and too little time. Maybe next time

Toronto Just Ain't Playa Del Carmen

van_neste — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 12:09:00 GMT

Just got into Toronto at 8:00pm EST today. Go figure, I leave Playa Del Carmen, a glorious 31 degrees and sunny, spend one night in my humble High River obode and bang... the holiday is over and off I go to Toronto.

Not only is my first trip to the so called "belly button" of Canada but it has to be around -16 degrees to greet me. Well no rest for the wicked and the righteous don't need it. Just got to figure out which one or what permutation of each I actually am.

Looking forward to getting the business done over the next couple of days and aiming to be back in High River for Wednesday evening.

I just checked into my hotel room at the Hilton Airport Toronto and was nicely surprised at the renovations being finished on what I seem to refer to as my second home. The lobby is now quite modern in design and the bar and restaurant are now back into the swing of things.

Makes life easier than sneaking in through the back of the hotel as I've been doing since last fall when they began the construction. As usual, they provided me with an upgrade to a nice suite in the executive tower so I'm comfortable and will be hitting the hay early tonight.

Meetings begin early tomorrow morning but at least the first one is a breakfast meeting in the new restaurant of the hotel so I will miss out on the wonderful Toronto commute jungle.

Back to $#@##$$ Snow

van_neste — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 04:51:00 GMT

So the Mayan Escapades are over for now. Sharon and I got up at midnight on Sunday morning to drive to the Cancun Airport. Checking in and boarding by 5am, we got back to Cow Town on Sunday Morning at 11am.

We were back at home by around 1pm to be greeted by my whole famdamily as Evan and Erika had travelled from Ottawa to visit.

We had a wonderful Easter supper and hit the hay early. Tomorrow is a back to work day. Sharon can enjoy an additional day off and will be spending it with her family for Easter. Pierre... oh ... Pierre ... he will just have to re-pack again and head to the airport for a Toronto flight into -17 degrees. Woe is Pierre.

Back on the Blue Bay Homestead

van_neste — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 10:40:00 GMT

We woke up at the Aura Resort this morning a wonderfuly sunny day. Took a leisurely breakfast in the confines of our suite deck. Ochos Rancheros, tostadas frances, Jugo de Naranga, Cafe con leche the works delivered and reverently set up close to the patio by Jose.

A calm stroll to the rooftop shower for a morning makeover and the day was kickstarted away. We bid farewell to the staff of the Aura Resort and made our way into Cozumel.

Quite a different feeling there on the island. Similar differences as Vancouver Island but with less old people. LOL.... Looks like a party town out of the 70s but nice and friendly. We drove the seaside highway accross town and back and did a quick jaunt to the innards of the city to see the real Cozumel. Interesting driving techniques, especially when you count in the number of Mopeds, oldpeds, nopeds and then there's your basic bipeds.

We drove back down the coast to stop at the Money Beach Club and had a cafe con leche with Cheese danishes to boot while waiting for the ferry boarding time.

We came back accross in a record time of 22 minutes Mexican time and made our way back to the humble Blue Bay Hacienda of Sharon and Pierre. We rushed for the make up and then... once we were feeling all better, we went to the terrace for lunch.

Met some friendly Canadians after our late lunch and then realized that we should make our daily journal entries into the travel diaries.

We will be going to the Restaurente Frances for evening fare at approximately 8:45 tonight. Our last meal we realized today as we're departing at some ungodly hour in the morning.

I will be checking our flights and tying up Sharon to the back bumper of the Jeep as she certainly doesn't want to leave. (Truly, neither do I).

It's been a wonderful holiday over the last week. Everything worked out so perfectly and we certainly got to do amazing things all over the riviera Maya and it's Cozumel cousin.

Must leave to go and pack prior to supper. Tomorrow we propose to drag the sunshine in tow behind the jet and get back to Calgary to at least 23 degrees.(hey... a guy can dream).

Speak to you guys soon

Sharon ... Do you have your emergency Pierre travel kit?

van_neste — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 10:27:00 GMT

So we are definitely late submitting this story of the 21st. As the "Van Neste" Clan is often taken up in the "Adventure" of things, this trip is of course no different. Sharon has begun to get wise to the fact that leaving the hotel for a quick jaunt in the Mexican countryside, does not necessarily mean that we'll be back to pack the essentials when the inevitable happens.

Similar to her attention getting overwhelmed by "littel shiny things" a "Van Neste" will often loose continuity by getting drawn and quartered into the adventure without necessarily thinking that make up or shampoo or even a change of clothes could really matter all that much.

We left the Blue Bay resort this morning to head over to playa and grab the ferry to Cozumel for the day. As things developed we undertook a Cenote Dive on the way and caught the 1:30PM ferry to Cozumel which is only 22 mexican minutes away from Playa Del Carmen (that's 1.5 hours in Canadian Time LOL). We got to Cozumel and headed over to Senor Sanchez Beach Club down the coast line.

As the afternoon quickly decimated the time left in Cozumel, we reached out to a new resort called Wyndham Aura SPA resort on the Wyndham bay of Cozumel and decided to do just like the commercial of two survivors from a deserted island that land in a top notch resort and go from rags to pampering in one fell swoop.

A most wonderful experience. We were treated extremely well and eventhough the make up was difficult to produce from scratch, the ability Sharon has to turn a Sarong into a wonderful evening dress came as a life saver for the evening dinner.

We've included some great shots of the hotel. It's only been opened for 2 months and has absolutely wonderful ameneities. All rooms are suites, most ocean view, great all inclusive deal and amazing cuisine.

Cozumel, the dive center of Mexico certainly has improved in ameneities and resort style offerings.

We are glad to have spent the night and it gave us time to enjoy an extended stay in Cozumel.

Playa del Carnage

van_neste — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 03:53:00 GMT

The day was lazy oh but once again. Hot sun and beach (pool)for most of the day with a great siesta mid afternoon prior to our departure to Playa Del Carmen.

We can't publish most of the pictures taken that evening but have published a thoughtful moment. 5th Avenue was wonderful and full of people in the early evening. We found a good little Mexican restaurant with a table overlooking 5th Avenue.

Food was passable but the atmosphere was great. Mariachi band galore singing romantic tunes into the night.

We made it an early night as we'll be spending time in Cancun thursday afternoon and evening.

The weather today is very hot and a very little breeze to help cool off. Watch tomorrow for the Cancun photos and details of the ongoing saga.

News from my friend Mark at Acrodex about Kalon are great. He indicated that he was doing extremely well (he started on monday) and that he was really glad to have him in place on the team.

Miss you all but quite enjoying our holiday and do not want to think about coming back.

Sleepy Hollow at Blue Bay

van_neste — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 02:59:00 GMT

Ok.. so I guess the day was mainly spent lying next to the pool. Snoozing the day away seemed to be the most difficult task we actually undertook. After a lazy breakfast and updating our journal in the lobby, Sharon and I plastered ourselves with emolients and vitamin E and ended up on a couple chairs.

The wind was quite strong but good tanning was had by all. We finished the day getting ready for Italian supper at the resort restaurant. Met a couple from Calgary that we had good laughs with but ended up in bed quite early I must say, and dozed off after watching "Family Guy" speaking spanish. It seems that Sharon is disagreeing with the last bit as she relates that I probably never got past the first spanish television commercial... she's probably right.

Today will probably be another lazy morning with a planned excursion to Cancun if we feel up to it. I'll let you guys know later.

PS: the date of the 19th was somehow introduced by the journal system. I swear that we didn't lose track of the time so early in our vacation... though I can't for the life of me figure out how to change it.

Love you all and wish you were here

We're Heeeeere

van_neste — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 03:13:00 GMT

Arrival to Blue Bay Resort, Grand Esmeralda

The weather and accommodations are fantastic. Sharon and I arrived via our rented hot red ragtop Jeep to the resort. Got upgraded to a wonderful seaside and pool side deluxe room with all of the conveniences that Mexico can offer.

The food and locale is wonderful and we took advantage of the sun, food and Bahamas Mamas (drank lot's to everyone of our friends health). We took a jaunt to Playa Del Carmen in the afternoon and spent time on 5th. Great memories from Bahia Principe days with the family. Had a drink at the blue parrot, slept on the beach and returned for a great Mexican meal at the resort.

Took some shots but the drinking of shots took way over the photography. Looking forward to the sunrise (which we missed by the way) and will go to visit Tulum to let the lobster effect we contracted yesterday ease a little.

Having a great time and would recommend the location to all. Speak to you again soon.

Tulum ... Mayan City of the Ages

van_neste — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 02:56:00 GMT

Another great day in Riviera Mayan. Sharon and I took a jaunt to Tulum today... sunny, hot and a great ride with the "Top" down ( the jeep that is ). We had a great visit of the archeological Mayan temple with a guide that I recorded with the video cam. Amazing sights on the side of the Carribean Sea. Got to the playa behind the temple and took a wonderful swim in a pristine azul sea just like the Mayan Gods used to do.

We then stopped at Bahia Principe Akumel on the way back for some shopping. Sharon really likes shopping. So we shopped and then shopped some more, then kissed, then shopped some more.

Got back to the resort around 4pm in time to get ready for supper. Had a few tequilas and Blue drinks of some persuasion before supper at the french restaurant of the resort. Amazing meal with a good St Emilion red to boot. Met interesting people and though I'm quite intraverted in nature, I managed to hold a few conversations with the crowd of tourists.

We ambled back to the local bar for an additional libation and scurried around the marketplace. Made our way to the beach at about 10pm to sit with the indigenous tourists and proceeded to accelerate our drunken state with Bahamas Mamas, once again thinking about Mom all the time.

As a matter of fact Sharon and I wonder why we think about Mom and Mexico in the same breath as booze???... Bahamas Mamas, Mimosas in the morning ... hmmm... this mexican travel has a strange effect on my Mom.

We sat on the beach till late in the night. Wonderful surf and sand, black sky and scintilating stars. We then decided to bring the beach into bed with us... so it seemed this morning.

Got to go and enjoy a new day. Hot but slightly windy conditions. Good for tanning. We've booked our chairs by the pool early this morning.

PS: Michael, check out the picture Captioned "Michael's Mayan Goddesses" Sharon took this one for you baby.

Gallery: Mayan Escapade

van_neste — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 06:31:00 GMT

The Sharon and Pierre Escapade to the Mayan Riviera

Ready... Get Set... Gooooooooooooooo!

van_neste — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 05:29:00 GMT

The Pierre & Sharon Mayan Escapade and Extravaganza..." />

It's a trip and a half. Last minute deal, planning from the seat of our pants and off we go to the Mayan Riviera. We certainly wish family and friends were able to participate... but alas it was not to be.
We fly off this evening at 10:45pm from Calgary on a direct flight to Cancun. We've rented a Jeep Rag Top for the occasion and will make our way to the Blue Bay Esmeralda resort by 5:30am Cancun time.
We are so looking forward to escaping the snow that littered the streets of High River this morning. Sitting at -3 this morning was bearable due to the fact that the weather site quoted the temperature of Playa Del Carmen at a balmy 29 degrees and sunny for the extended week forecast.
Got to go load up the car as we will be dining with Gary and Candice this evening and they will chauffeur us to the airport on time.
Ta Ta for Now......