Paradise

Pretty much uneventful arrival and baggage claim experience. Then the car rental, which is always a big pain in the a$$. Why hasn’t this painful process changed after all these years? Now it is just a game to me. Last November, for instance, I was in Cabo San Lucas renting a car…. I had reserved it through Expedia, quite certain that my personal car insurance covered collision and collateral, not sure of the difference of those either, but finally gave them about $25 extra for the super low rate already. I kept threatening to take a taxi. And I should have, because the next day I had not one, but two flat tires! I am still working with my credit card company to reverse charges for two new tires! So today, in my terrible Spanish, I rented a car, paid the insurance, constantly threatening to take a taxi, while being enticed by a time share guy to get a better deal on a car and other free stuff, if I would just have a nice breakfast. No way Jose!

So the car was worse than the “rent a wreck” I was in last year. It wasn’t me that rented the “rent a wreck”. And wasted three hours of my life. He won’t be named here. I had to take a video to record all of the damage that the car had. It was not the small SUV that had been promised. Within 5 minutes of driving the engine light went on and another light too. A warning sound would come on every few minutes too, but we were already lost. My Mom can’t navigate! She can’t give directions, she can’t keep the map on the screen. It’s day one and I have pulled over six times to grab the phone and see where we are!!! GOD love her! So we skipped going to Costco and tried to locate a grocery store. I recognized a store from Cabo so we pulled in. Yes, into the exit, and then very nearly sideswiped by a taxi in the parking lot! Half-assed park job, with a quick return to the car for our masks. Picked up some groceries and alcohol and second trip for ice and then back on the road. We exited out the entrance, just so you know…It was about 20 minutes to the condo and we actually found it easily. They were waiting for us!

The condo is beautiful! A corner unit, indoor/outdoor. It was dark when we arrived so I can’t wait to see the views tomorrow. There are two bedrooms with a bonus area that has a little library writing desk and daybed. The kitchen opens to the dining room, which seats 8 and that opens to the indoor/outdoor living room.

The location is 25 minutes south of the airport where the jungle meets the beach.I wanted to be as close as possible to the beach but not at a resort.

After we put the groceries away and unpacked a little we decided that we better get a little dinner. The man that gave us the key said there will be places just a few minutes south. As we got in the car, another light added to the engine light and the other one, maybe oil. The road was bumpy with huge pot holes, ladened with hidden speed bumps and very dark. At home, I seldom have a chance to use my brights while driving. Again, navigation was hard. As we drove by the first little road side place to eat, I mentioned that we could eat there… Mom immediately said no, too dirty! We are in big trouble because I love these road side diners! More primitive the better.

As I write this on day 2, I am feeling stressed! There are so many things I want to accomplish on this trip and I feel like I have to set a schedule to read enough, write this blog, including the blog that never got published from 2019 when I was in the Middle East, walking, cooking, projects for work, like extra training on sleep breathing and Tmj and Invisalign. I am also working on a project in Kenya to build a dental clinic. Just complaining already.

So we drove for about 20 minutes, drove down one dusty, closed up town and went back to the condo for a little charcuterie plate and Patty, my Mom had her Limon rum which she loves and we never thought it would be here. I am having some tequila, freshly squeezed lime and a little agave and we enjoyed the waves and fresh balmy air. We talked about many things, including longevity and how we need to live our lives to the fullest. It’s two hours earlier here.