Few Words From Alex...

OMG....it's time to leave for the airport! Well, maybe not just quite yet, but I'm sure that you're as ready as I am. I'm looking forward to much warmer temperatures. Getting ready to leave town can be stressful and energy sapping. Don't forget to get enough rest before you leave so that you're not too tired to P-A-R-T-Y !

Remember to pack your valuables into your carry-on...stuff that you'd really be upset if it got lost. Especially medications, documents, camera, jewlery, and that special bathing suit that makes you look 10 pound less. If your luggage should get lost or delayed, at least you can go for a swim.

Also, don't forget the biodegradeable sunscreen. I found some in Mother's Health Food Store here in southern Calif. The snorkeling excurion is in a lagoon that requires biodegradeable sunscreen. I also understand that they sell some right at the lagoon if you don't happen to get some before you leave. I'll have some that I can share as well.

Thank you for joining us on what promises to be another excellent adventure. This is a very special part of the world. Sometimes I think we take it for granted since we live so close to Mexico, but people travel great distances to visit this fascinating area. We're very lucky.

Hasta luego!

Alex

Mexican Cocina (Kitchen)?

We're pretty lucky in California to have some awesome Mexican eats. But trying the really thing is authentic...so,

Thought I would highlight some Mexican cuisine that you might have tried or not. Here are a small listing that might be helpful to you as you are wandering through PDC or Puerto Morelos for some local eats.

Also check back on the blog articles "PDC - Playa del Carmen" & "Puerto Morelos -eats & Drinks" for more restaurants & eateries.

Lomo - Pork Loin

Asada - Steak

Pollo - Chicken

Lengua - Tongue

Pata - Pig or Beef Feet

Tacos Dorados - Crunchy Tacos

Tacos Suaves - Soft Tacos

Ceviche - Fresh raw seafood marinated in fresh lime juice garnished with tomatoes, onions, chillies and cilantro

Sope - thickish small circle of fried masa with pinched sides, topped with meat or fish, onions, salsa, lettuce

Machaca - Shredded beef scrambled with eggs and some vegetables

Carnitas -pork deep cooked in lard & simmered served with tortillas

Chile en nogada - Problano pepper stuffed with ground pork & beef spices, fruits,raisins & almonds, friend lightly battered with a walnut cream sauce

Gorditas - thickish fried corn tortilla, slit & stuffed with choiceof beef pork or chickenwith or without lettuce, cheese, tomatoes & onion.

Tacos al Pastor - Thin sliced of flavored pork roasted on a revolving cylinder dripping with onions slices and juice of fresh pineapple slices. Served in small corn tortilla ith chopped onions & cilantro.

Torta - a sandwich , usually on bolillo bread, typically with sliced avocado, onions, tomatoe with chice of meat and often cheese.

Photo provided by Flickr.christophermacsurak

2 Davis' 4 Dinner @ NOW Jade...please!

Been surfing the internet a bit to explore and see if I can get any idea of the restaurant scene for the NOW Jade Riviera Cancun Resort. Haven't found much other than 1. names and descriptions of the restaurants 2. which restaurants require a dress code 3. the resort restaurants do not take reservations 4. the seating capacity are small with approximately 10 or so tables per establishment, so potential delay for getting in, count on it!

The reviews seem to vary on opinions and often there are whiners or mix matched hotel guests. So these reviews I take with a grain of salt. However for those guests of ours who have been loyal blogerss...did want to let you know that Roger and I will be checking out each of the restaurants during our stay and on Wednesday after our cocktail reception. We will try out the 'Tamarindo", mexican cuisine....hopefully this will be the easiest to get in...we shall see or maybe change out at the last minute?

Oh and all else fails, because you decided to hang out at the bar...don't forget room service it's part of the all inclusive service and 24 hours to boot!

Hope you all have begun laying out your outfit. Below is a recap of the appropriate dress code

for each of the dining establishment at the NOW Jade Riviera Cancun Resort.

DRESS CODE: "CASUAL ELEGANCE"

Capers - "Italian Cuisine" Dinner Only

Mercure - "French Cuisine" Breakfast & Dinner

Tamarindo - "Mexican Cuisine" Dinner Only

Spice - "Asian Cuisine" Dinner Only

Cin Cin - "Mediterranean Cuisine" Dinner Only

DRESS CODE: "CASUAL"

Carnival International Buffet Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Castaways - Lunch Only

Coco Cafe - Premium Coffee & Deli

Photos provided by Apple Vacation

This may be good news for Virgin America flyers!

If you are on Virgin America Airlines and traveling to & fro Mexico, I may have great news for you! Buzz pointed out to me about Virgin America's baggage policy. If you purchased your tickets after August 30, 2010, Main Cabin guests are permitted one (1) piece of luggage at no charge. Main Cabin Select & First Class are permitted two (2) pieces at no charge. There is however a oversize and overweight bag fee. So cheek out this policy as follows on the link below:

http://www.virginamerica.com/

Go to...

FAQ >Checked baggage >What are your baggage fee?>Guest Traveling To & Fro Mexico

Photo provided by Flickr.striatic

Try This?

Here's a last minute item you can pick up at your local CVS Pharmacy. It's a great hand sanitizer. CVS has a small purse size squirt tube (that you might on occasion see Roger hanging on his T-Shirt neck collar) and you can get the larger refills. Also, check the travel size bin section as they may stock the smaller carry-on "refill" size.

What I like about this hand sanitizer is that it is liquid verse gel. meaning that when you spray it is like water and dries clean. Unlike the gel that is sticky at times.

I have included a photo of the product. So if you have a CVS near by it's worth checking out this product. Oh by the way, I mention CVS because this item is a CVS brand product. Hope you find it.

Here's Some Recommended Reading from Our Guests...

Allow me to begin by saying many thanks for those who responded to my email. Appreciate your input and assistance. For those who want to lounge around the pool, relax and perhaps read a book or two. Here are some recommendations from our own guests. Check it out...

JIM - "Thunderstruk" & "The Devil in the White City by Eric Larson plus "The Girl Who Played with Fire" by Stieg Larsson

I highly recommend "Thunderstruk" and The Devil in the White City, both by Erik Larson. These are two historical pieces that read like mystery fiction novels. "Erik Larson" is a master researcher, weaving historical events into a fascinating story. Each book takes two apparently unrelated events and ties them together in a unique and entertaining fashion. Both are fascinating books you won't want to put down...and you'll learn a lot, too.

An very well-written fiction book I'm currently reading is "The Girl Who Played with Fire," by Stieg Larsson (Wow, that's real close to the name of the first author!) This one is a murder mystery that takes place in Sweden

JAN - "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", The Girl who Played with Fire" & "The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest " by Stieg Larsson

These books were recommended to me, and I will bring “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” by Stieg Larsson. (a suspenseful thriller.-Jim is reading Larsson’s” other book “The Girl who Played with Fire”.) I see that there is one more thriller by Larsson called “The Girl who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest.”

RUSSELL - How about the "Drink Menu"? By NOW Jade Riviera Cancun Resort &Spa

I prefer the purist approach, Absolute Vodka,straight up and on the rocks..no umbrellas or garnish...just more vodka!

ALEX - "The Help"by Kathryn Stockett & "Kitchen House" by Kathleen Grissom

Last 2 books that I really liked were: "

The Help", by Kathryn Stockett, "

Kitchen House", by Kathleen Grissom

KAREN - Various Titles by Nora Roberts, Sandra Brown, J.D. Robb, Tom Clancy, James Patterson, Jonathan Kellerman, Patricia Cornwall & Vince Flynn.

Well, the last thing I want to read when I am "chilling" on vacation is a "real" book. I prefer the simple to follow, predictable and no brainer romance type novels (a.k.a. smut novels)....though calling them a novel is a stretch of the imagination in this case. This way I don't have to keep track of a real plot, a dozen or so characters of various tongue twisting names and countries, good guys, bad guys, counter-good guys and bad guys....you get the idea. I just don't have the concentration power for all that when I'm on vacation. Maybe that would be due to those lovely little umbrella drinks of the day...ya' think?!

Some of those authors are Nora Roberts, Sandra Brown, J.D.Robb (who is also Nora Roberts) and any of the zillion others that make a living off of romantic intrigue. Not sure that any of these come translated in Japanese for Fumi, but I'm also not sure you want her to know what's in any of these anyway ;-)

For anyone who would like a "real" book recommendation, and in particular if you want to "listen" to a book instead of read, download "The Help." It's so well read that it's like going to the movies. Good reads come from Tom Clancy, James Patterson, Jonathan Kellerman, Patricia Cornwall and Vince Flynn (among hundreds more you all know and love I'm sure. These are all interesting authors I have read. One would think I was slightly literate after all this info, but trust me, it's a disguise. Plus, I keep going to the library and checking out books I've already read. I forget the names of books very quickly and even reading the dust cover doesn't clue me into the fact that I've read it before. Wazzup with that? Too many little umbrella drinks at home, too, I guess.

FUMI - Japanese Historical Stories by Yamamoto Ichiriki & Ikenami Shoturo

I enjoy reading stories of ancient times & the people in Japan including, but not always Samurai and their life. I would gladly share these books with you, but you will have to be able to read Japanese. Oh but I have another option, my other son, Russell

surprised me with a subscription to Reader's Digest. I will bring that and when I'm done...I can share that with you. It is not in Japanese. Thank you so much, Russell!

ROCKY - "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garty Stein

A great book that all will enjoy. "The art of racing in the rain", by Garty Stein. takes about three days to read (I'm a slow reader) very good.

NAOMI-"The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" by Jamie Ford and "Sarah's Key" by Tatiana de Rosnay

I recommend THE HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET. Takes place in Seattle during WWII, by JamieFord. Kinda a love story.

The book I'm taking with me is SARAH'S KEY by Tatiana de Rosnay, another WWII fiction takes place in France, about how the French police rounded up the Jewish families in the middle of the night. Something like SOPHIE'S CHOICE, I think.

MARTY - "Private" by James Patterson, "TickTock" by James Patterson,"Strategic Moves" by Stuart Woods,"Escape from Bangkok" by Andy Botts , "Caught" by Harlan Coben and "Fear the Worst" by Linwood Barclay.

I also like to read biographies but these tend to bore most folks so I'll leave those off and I also have been enjoying books on Hawaiian History (if anyone has any interest I can provide a short list on these).Escape from Bangkok by Andy Botts (someone I know who lives by me),One of my projects for next week is to go online and download a few new titles for beach reading. Getting excited!

ROGER - "Okinawa" - The Last battle of World War II by Robert Leckie

This book was given to me by Buzz and so I'm bringing it to read in between my martinis and naps. From what I can gather The author Robert Leckie was a Pacific War veteran and former Marine. The book is a stirring account of one of World War II's most desperate and fiercely fought battles. I wonder if they have any Japanese World War II Swords, hmmm...???

DIANA - "Turning The Tables - Resturants From The Inside Out" by Steven Shaw

The author a.k.a "The Fat Guy" is the founder of eGullet website, a James Beard Award winning food critic. In this book he shares with style and humor the inside scoop to getting the coveted reservation at restaurants, how to read between the lines of food critic reviews, why does some restaurant succeed and yet others fail or how does that fish or rare farmstead cheese reach your plate..best said by Anthony Bourdain, "Turning the Table is pure crack for foodies looking for more inside information on the restaurant world".

Photo provided by Flickr.siddylam

IMPORTANT UPDATE: SNORKEL EXCURSION

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Well the information is in...and before I continue to share this with everyone. Alex, please take a bow for all your work and effort to communicate with not only the tour operator who are on "Manana Time". But also for coordinating with many individuals in our group to get this snorkeling excursion underway. The information is fantastic! Thanks so much!

Although our excursion information is finally confirmed, there are some changes that require your review. The Snorkeling Excursion location is about an hour away from our resort and will now include Playa del Carmen which is one of the largest town next to Cancun on the Riviera Maya. Perfect opportunity to shop or try some delicious local restaurant for lunch. Just so you know a taxi ride to Playa del Carmen will be costly from our resort. Not to mention a bit of drive if you were thinking of visiting this town. Therefore, Alex and I decided our Snorkel Trip would be even better if we could cover "two excursions for the price of one" . So review the details below...and my hope is that Alex doesn't get one call, so we can all go as planned.

We currently have 22 individuals signed up for our Snorkeling Excursion to Yal-Ku Lagoon in Akumal. Sorry to announce that unfortunately our trip has increased in price from my original notification due to the cost of gas, different snorkeling location & accommodation as well as the transportation distance from our resort . IN ORDER FOR THIS TRIP to occur WE NEED A MINIMUM OF 20 PEOPLE.

If after reviewing this excursion information, you still want to go? DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. However, if you are considering canceling please contact Alex no later than 5pm on Wednesday, February 16th. Again we will need a minimum of 20 people for this excursion

to occur.

Further questions? We can assist you, please contact either Alex or myself. My fingers are crossed that this is a GO! Thanks for your immediate attention.

Diana

Excursion 3: Private Group "SNORKELING & PLAYA DEL CARMEN"

Date: Tuesday, March 8th

Time: 8am-2pm

Cost: $65 per person (not including tip for guide)

Trip Schedule (Approximation):

8am Pick-Up, our private group at resort

8-9am Travel Time to Akumal

9-11am Snorkeling at Yal-Ku Lagoon

11-11:30am Travel Time to Playa del Carmen

11:30-1:30am On Your Own in Playa del Carmen

1:30-2pm Travel Time to Resort

2pm Drop-Off at NOW Jade Riviera Cancun Resort

Photo provided by Flickr. bettyx1138

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