Chatty is off to Arizona's Riviera...
Chatty is going to Arizona’s Riviera for a WHOLE WEEK.
Yes!
To those of you unfamiliar with Arizona, or our “Riviera” – it’s Rocky Point/Puerto Penasco, which is about 4 hours south of Phoenix.
Puerto Penasco is one of Mexico’s main fishing ports. All together now – SHRIMP! Chatty will be eating shrimp AT LEAST once a day.
Chatty’s resort (pictured above - and that brown area is a gorgeous waterfall, btw) is on the Sea of Cortes, with 4 miles of private beach.
Chatty can walk for an hour and still be on resort property. Then, she can walk an hour back and get a margarita at the bar by the pool.
All that walking – and on vacation, too - but Chatty is up to the challenge.
Chatty has packed EVERYTHING she can think of…and will be traveling what her mother used to refer to as “Okie-style”. Translated, this is carrying everything with you but the kitchen sink. Now, Chatty’s mom was allowed to say that, politically incorrect though it may be, because she was born and raised in Oklahoma – and was therefore an “Okie” herself. This reminds Chatty of the time that Oklahoma decided to make the term “Okie” a positive thing for Oklahoma. They made little pins that said “OKIE” – OKLAHOMA, KEY to INDUSTRY and EDUCATION. Pretty cute, yes? The pins were pretty cute, too. Chatty still has one.
Anyway, we are going to Rocky Point with two friends. Our suite has a full kitchen. Chatty likes to cook. She is sure she can find “fresh” stuff once she gets to Rocky Point and peruses the markets there. And no, Chatty doesn’t worry about the quality. In Arizona, most of our fresh stuff comes from Mexico anyway - and it's all GOOD stuff.
However, Chatty being Chatty, she must take her spices, her condiments (Chatty is probably the only person in the world who brings her own hot sauce to Mexico), her cooking utensils, her “big pot” (because we plan to boil up about 5 pounds of shrimp in beer), breakfast food, lunch food…are you getting Chatty’s drift?
Plus, she has to take clothes for herself and The Wiz, games to play (Backgammon, cards, Mexican Dominoes…the list goes on), and “Chatty stuff” – crochet, rug-hooking, books, Sudoku, Spanish-English dictionary – you know – the usual…
So, because Chatty didn’t have a “big” suitcase, she went out and found one. A great deal, btw - $65 for a (formerly) $220 Samsonite at Ross. That takes care of the clothes (and the extra pillows).
She has wrestled EVERYTHING ELSE into a mere 6 bags.
Yes!
Chatty is so proud!
Well, when Chatty says “everything”, she may have misled her readers. There are still a few things that must be put into receptacles: the “big pot”, the games, and several pairs of shoes belonging to The Wiz, without which he cannot LIVE for 7 days.
And, she forgot to mention the styrofoam cooler for transporting shrimp and other (smelly) delicacies back and forth from Rocky Point to the resort – because Chatty is not ABOUT to risk having her nice fabric coolers tainted with shrimp smells that cannot be expunged no matter how much cleaner and bleach she uses.
Happily, our friends have a BIG TRUCK.
Chatty can already envision the looks on the faces of the valets when we pull up to the (truly luxurious) resort with all of our “stuff”.
Because, Chatty’s friends – the ones with the BIG TRUCK – have a lot of stuff, too.
Their own suitcases, extra pillows, a giant cooler…
Oh, yes, we are going to be VERY popular at the Grand Mayan Resort! Actually, Chatty has been there before, having the time-share there and all, and they are always more than hospitable.
However, just for fun, check out the Mayan Palace in Puerto Penasco, and you will understand why eyebrows will no doubt be raised…
But, Chatty is Chatty. She has her own style, and travels with it. Not the usual definition of “style”, of course…as the folks at the Mayan Palace are about to find out…again!
Chatty’s timeshare is for one of the “grand suites”. That’s how she knows that the kitchen, bedrooms, baths, living room, dining area and balconies are…so very swell…
Chatty kinda feels for them.
But hey, we’re staying for 7 days, and Chatty likes to feel at home. So does The Wiz. Are we wrong about wanting that?
Nah.
Because, you know what? When we pull up, in truth we will be welcomed with open arms and big smiles. Real smiles. Chatty has traveled all over (though with less baggage than she is taking on this particular trip), and has found Mexico to be one of the most welcoming places in the world. Granted, Chatty sticks to “the tourist zone”, but still…Mexico is a beautiful country.
If you get the feeling that Chatty is very excited about this vacation – you’re right! It’s been two years since she’s been to Puerto Penasco, and she plans to enjoy every single minute while at this gorgeous place!
The people are charming and friendly. The food is exquisite. The sea is calm, tranquil, and beautiful. And, the margaritas are the best in the world.
Chatty will be back on the 9th of November.
Until then…many smiles, crocodiles!
Have a wonderful time! You sound so much like me! I love staying in places with a kitchen so I can play "house" while we are away. (Plus it's a great money-saver, not having to eat out morning, noon and night)
Hope you have a fabuloso time.
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YAY! A vacation! And, I too take my own spices and stuff i "know I always need." And, Mexico doesn't have "HOT sauce or salsa." No tiene de calliente!
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Have a great time. Bring back great stories.
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It sounds LOVELY! You had me at "shrimp boiled in beer."
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Ahhh sounds delicious, but we'll still miss Chatty on the WWC. Aunt Jackie will be jealous while Chatty is enjoying her WEEK, but still extremely excited for Chatty.
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