PRIVATE EXCURSION SIGN UPS-Deadline Wed, Feb 16th!

Thanks to Alex with her contacts & her hand on familiarity with this region we would like to offer a couple of private excursion option for this trip which is noted below. The important understanding here is that these excursions are PRIVATE and will be for OUR GROUP ONLY.

Please note that we have a deadline for the sign-ups which include full payments. Yes, we are getting close to departure here folks. Plus pre-payment will make your return trip far more appealing instead of a huge credit card bill waiting for you as your welcome home mat. Trust me on this!

Don't delay contact Alex soon...Roger & I will be signing up for the TULUM/COBA RUINS excursion!

Davis Group Excursion No. 1

COBA/TULUM MAYA RUINS & CENOTE SWIM

Date: Sunday, March 6th

Cost: 10-19 sign-ups $ 119 per person or 20+ sign-ups $95 per person

Excursion includes:

Our own private group transportation, english speaking guide, two maya ruin sites, buffet lunch all entrance fees and an opportunity for one entry into a raffle to have your excursion paid for. Raffle prize is for payment of one individual person. One raffle ticket per person per sign-up for Excursion 1 only. Prize winner will be announced & posted by Friday, February 18 on this blog. The Davis' are excluded from the raffle drawing (Yes, you heard me, Roger).

The tour as quoted takes you swimming to an open air cenote, not a cavern for snorkeling.
This is the suggested itinerary for the tour:
Approximate Itinerary

8 am Pick up from Now Jade Resort and transfer to Coba

9.30 Coba guided tour and free time at ruins

11.30 Visit and swim at Cenote near Coba.
12.30 Mexican buffet lunch

1.30 Transfer to Tulum

2.30 Tulum guided tour and free time at ruins

5.30 Back at Now Jade Resort

Davis Group Excursion No. 2

CENOTE SCUBA DIVING EXPEDITION

Date: Monday. March 7th

Cost: $ 135 per person, minimum participation number maybe required

Excursion includes:

Transportation from hotel, english speaking guide and 2 tank cavern dive.

Scuba Divers, only. Contact Alex directly for further information.

DEADLINE FOR SIGN-UP is .... Wednesday, February 16 -5pm,

Sorry, NO EXCEPTION

Please contact Alex at ..... 949-756-3223 or Bookit1@earthlink.net

Photo provided by Flickr:kudumomo & Divers: Ted & Alex

Words from Alex....Coba/Tulum Excursion

Prepare for an expedition through the Mayan empire of Cancun, sweeping through two of the most important cities in the Riviera Maya - Tulum and Coba. These two great cities are truly distinct from each other - Tulum, the walled city overlooking the Caribbean Sea, and Coba - set deep in the Mayan jungles. This excursion takes us to 2 of the most important Mayan sites on the Yucatan Peninsula.

Our journey begins as we journey to Coba, the largest of the Mayan cities of Cancun. Coba covers an immense area of some 50 square km. The ancient city was begun in A.D. 600, and thousands of Maya are believed to have lived here during the Classic period. In a guided tour of the ruins site, we'll learn about it's history, culture, architecture, and it's significance in the Mayan empire. Time permitting, we may have an opportunity to climb the great pyramid of Nohoch Mul if you like, offering you vistas over the Riviera Maya and it's jungles. Our next Maya ruin site is Tulum, famed for it's dazzling views, overlooking the Caribbean Sea. We'll have a guided tour and opportunity to take pictures.

We will also make a stop at a open air cenote to have a refreshing swim.

The tour includes:
Private service for our group
Round trip ground transfer from Now Jade Resort
Guided tour Tulum and Coba ruins
Entrance fees Tulum, Coba and Cenote
Mexican buffet lunch
Soft drinks and drinking water on board of the van

Excursion information will be forthcoming. Please note that there is a deadline associated with this excursion sign-up. So return here at this blog for upcoming information.

Photo by Flickr:ADivs, Coba /Nohoch Mul "Big Mound"

CENOTES: 2 Swim Opportunities.... by Alex

Beneath the Mexican Penninsula of Yucatan lies an enormous and unique labyrinth of water. Through the cenotes you can enter fascinating caverns, caves and underground river passages. The Mayas gave the name cenotes to these underground chambers filled with fresh water. For them, these were the entrances to the underworld and places for spiritual activites. The caves were formed about 1.5 million years ago. The labyrinth of Yucatan has lain underwater ever since and everywhere there are holes in the ground containing collapsed cave ceilings, shafts, water basins, pools, lake and lagoons....the cenotes.

Best time of year for diving and snorkeling in these Cenotes is Dec-May....how perfect is that for us! Visibility is 65-260 feet! Water temperature is a refreshing 73-79 degrees.

There are many cenotes to choose from. Our tour operator goes to a different one everyday. The cenotes that are best for snorkeling are different from the ones that are best for diving, so these 2 activites cannot be done at the same location and will be provided in 2 excursion opportunities:

Excursion 1. TULUM/COBA/CENOTE & Excursion 2. CENOTE SCUBA DIVE

Details will be forthcoming....so stay tuned so you don't miss the deadline date for sign-up.

Photo by DoCancun.com

Spotlight by Roger: "Ted & Alex"

All of you know Alex...at least her phone voice.....she is our very talented travel agent. You know, the one who is always asking for money and/or credit card numbers, giving out deadlines, setting up excursions, etc., etc. Well, the other half of this dynamic duo is Ted. Yes, they do have different last names but they’re still a happily married couple so hands off!! Ted is a gourmet chef having graduated from the French Culinary Institute of America and much like Colonel Sanders (you know, starting a new venture late in life) Ted just opened his very own “roach coach”. Of course this is no ordinary roach coach, more like a portable gourmet dining room appropriately named "Flavor Rush". Alex, being the good wife that she is, is helping Ted launch this new endeavor and for a closer look go their web site at http://www.lpelkey.net/FLAVOR_RUSH/index.html .

Alex will be one of Diana’s “Bridesmaids” and along with Ted is also a SCUBA diver. So, introduce yourself to Ted & Alex and stop to ponder this: “is there a whole new meaning to the age old expression......T & A ??? I wonder??

Did You Know this Helpful Blog Tip?

Just dawned on me that you might not know this...I know Roger sure didn't. So indulge me a bit for those of our guests who are computer wizards. In our blog when the word or phrase is highlighted. You can double click on the word/phrase with your cursor and it will link on to the webpage of that subject.

So for example let's pick on Ted and his "Flavor Rush". See how Flavor Rush is highlighted? Double click it and you can get to his website or as Roger highlighted in his Spotlight posting Ted's Flavor Rush's actual website link is http://www.lpelkey.net/FLAVOR_RUSH/index.html

So now try ... Roger & Diana's 20th Anniversary Renewal and how about NOW Jade Resort ....

You are now linked in and into countdown mode for Fun...hope this helped!

Weather - What do I expect?

Although our 20th anniversary landmark was on October 20th of 2010, we chose March 2011 as our ceremony celebration, simply because the weather is near perfection during this time period! The Riviera Maya's best weather season is between December and April. With an average of 253 days of sunshine in a year... we are counting that this time of year will greet us with around 84 degrees during the day and 64 degrees at night. Humidity is generally comfortable as this is the drier time of the year and also known as the high season for tourists. Yes, there is a reason why the weather plays a major role with this high tourist season.

Thought you all might want to know this tidbit of weather information as you may be out shopping for that perfect outfit, right?! Oh and if you haven't discovered it with your last blog article on NOW JADE Resort's website. There is a live webcam of our resort that you can access. Click on to the Now Jade Resort Home Page and find under the center photo the heading WEBCAM, then in the bottom center of the live webcam photo you will see the first icon looking like a sun/circle. If you place your cursor it will open up a window noting Cancun's temperature, condition, humidity, barometer, windspeed, sunrise, sunset & wind chill.

If you need more specific information, check out the Weather Channel and type Puerto Morelos, Mexico in the location. This is our little resort town. Now start pulling out those summer clothes, but be sure to bring a light sweater/windbreaker for the air conditioner or the plane ride ...yahoo!

Photo provided by Flickr.sarchi

Location, Location, Location

Welcome to the NOW JADE RESORT & SPA...Our resort (if you only knew) has made its journey through us in a number of processes! For one, when we were trying to find a resort in the Riviera Maya, we checked out some 20-30 places before making this our final selection. Our exploration ranged from high end luxury to simple tropical rustic resorts. Of course you all know Diana, so tropical rustic was an easy cross off and since Roger is also part of the partnership...well, you know a retired-purchasing pro requires a value bargain as a "must have" for his decision factor. So we are very thrilled to introduce the NOW Jade Resort & Spa as our destination choice for our 20th Anniversary Renewal in March 2011.

The NOW Jade Resort & Spa attracted us with it's modern and sleek appeal. In particular, the openness, fun loving warmth of colors and design of the resort was a definite wow factor for us. Another selection highlight was that in our communication with the lead resort staff. We found that they were very responsive in our inquiry and needs. We are hoping that our personal experience will demonstrate a positive customer service for all of you as well. What was Roger's true draw you ask? Well he loved two things, value of our trip (well duh) which includes your meals and yes, booze and secondary ...he's trusting his "One & Only" for knowing what he likes!

As many of you know, Roger & Diana are cruise lovers, so the all inclusive option was perfect and the fact that your booze was included added an extra bonus & thrill. So keep in mind that staying at the resort will keep your expenses tight to your original budget, or if you like, you can explore outside the resort and hang with the locals, but know it will cost you extra.

If you haven't checked out the looks of the resort yet - double click on the NOW JADE RESORT & SPA website and take a peek into your home for the week. Hope you enjoy it!

Photos by Apple Vacation & Now Jade Riviera

Spotlight by Roger: "RUSSELL & RANDY"

Although they’re both single and available, it seems only natural to write about them as a couple........but they’re not gay!! Their “relationship” has outlasted all of their marriages....combined and they still like each other. They both like to ride Harley’s and their favorite drink is Absolute vodka on the rocks (word to the wise here..DO NOT try to keep up with either one of them in the drinking department...you'll be very, very sorry). They are both retired and Russell lives in North Hollywood and Randy lives in Burbank. They get together at least once a week to eat Thai food, drink and perhaps watch the fights on T.V. Now, about this gay thing. Although the jury is still out, the latest claim is “metrosexual”. However, as noted on the T.V. show "Two and a Half Men", a metrosexual was defined by Charlie as a gay man who is not getting laid.....so the jury is still out.

Russell will be Roger’s Best Man and it will be a familiar role since Russell considers Laguna Beach his beach house and Diana considers Russell as her second husband. As noted above, both Randy and Russell enjoy drinking and having fun. So, given the fact that this resort provides “free” booze, don’t hang with these two unless you’re prepared for a lot of laughs and, of course, lots of drinks!

NEW FACES ... joining us!

Although our payment deadline was in December and you all might have thought we would have had finalized our group by now, the update is not quite so. We are pleased to announce that two new faces have joined our group, our friends Naomi & Joan will be joining us from Hawaii. I know, what an honor, three friends from Hawaii - yes our friend Marty is also from Hawaii. Glad you are all with us. So our current total is a grand group of 28!

Within the next week or two we will be sending you an email roster with a list of everyone's contact so you can be in touch if you like. Counting the days....

Mucho Gracias for joining us!

Diana and Roger

SPOTLIGHT SERIES by Roger

Allow me to take this opportunity to once again introduce my one & only hubby and the writer of our upcoming blog post series "SPOTLIGHT", by Roger ! In these upcoming future blog articles, Roger has graciously offered to contribute his creative writing abilities and fun sense of humor to introduce our guests who will be joining our 20th Anniversary Renewal.

So as Roger often says ... get comfortable, grab your favorite drink and return often to see if it's you're turn to be "Spotlighted". Our kick off series start with Karen and Buzz Vaughn as they have not missed any of our group social gathering or trips. What loyalty, huh? So please revisit us here as it could very well be YOU next....

Spotlight: "KAREN & BUZZ"

Diana knew Karen at the City of Irvine long before Roger started “working” there (this working thing is a very grey area). Anyway, Roger worked with Karen in Purchasing and although Buzz was a vendor he soon became part of the family when he and Karen were married on Valentine’s Day many years ago. Things have not been the same since! They’re currently retired in Irvine and Buzz and Roger play cribbage every Thursday at Knowlwoods with a couple of other “seniors”.

Karen will be Diana’s Matron of Honor and Buzz will be one of two Groomsmen supporting Roger (figuratively speaking, of course). These two have not missed any of Roger and Diana’s events and they will be happy to share many funny stories about either one of them......especially Roger. They both love good food and their favorite drinks are very cold Grey Goose martini’s. So, belly up to the bar and let the laughs begin.

YOU CAN HAVE YOUR SAY TOO!

With high tech opportunities.... seriously, I am easily amused. Here's your chance to have your say! Be a writer and offer your creative side the opportunity to submit an article for our blog or perhaps type a few words and simply comment on one of the posted blog articles.

In our past group travel blogs, we've had guest contributors such as Karen, Laura & Alex (who by the way will be joining us on this trip). I'm sure if you asked them they would say its as easy as writing an email.

If you recall we are not looking for professional writers or topics for that matter. We want this blog to be fun, enjoyable, informative and hopefully interactive. Oh I better say appropriately rated as well! I can give you Roger's email for XXX rated materials if you like. So, if you're interested here's some options as to what to do:

COMMENT ON A BLOG ARTICLE

Under each blog article is a white box. Double Click the Comment and it will open a “Post a Comment” box that you can make your comments, remarks on the article. After you write your comments you can either click “Preview” to see what you wrote or “Post Comment” will publish your comment.

WRITE AN ARTICLE:

Type up your article and send it on an email or on a word document and I'll cut and paste it for posting. See I said it would be easy! Also attach a jpeg photo if you have one that is appropriate

to the subject. If you don't have one. I may be able to assist or forget' bout it!

Hope to hear from you soon!

Photo provided by: Flickr.pijus

PASSPORT or Forgetta 'bout it!

So if you haven't gotten your passport...GET IT DONE! And if you do have one be sure you double check your expiration date. You should have at least a 6 month expiration date window . If not get it renewed. For specific contact and details check the US Passport website for your specific requirement.

Also, Alex usually likes a copy of your current passport which she keeps in her file. Just in case you run into some issues. Roger and I have one already with her and some of you might as well. If your passport information has changed be sure she has a current copy. You can email her directly if you have other specific questions.

This is an IMPORTANT must do! So don't delay!

Photo provided by Flickr: nathan.borror

We're Back & Getting Excited...

Hope you all had a wonderful Holiday Season and an even more Happy New Year start. Roger and I had a fabulous time with family & friends in the cold and wet wintery season of Sonoma Valley in Northern California. However, quite honestly we are counting down to the warmer days and sunshine of the Riviera Maya of Mexico.

So check back often at our anniversary blog as we begin our countdown to Mexico, mi amigos! March is truly around the corner. Can't wait to see you! .... Diana & Roger

Photo by Flickr.CameronParkins