Travel Pig

Venice here I come! A few weeks ago I was planning to go to Wisconsin to visit my Mom, friends and possibly organize my high school class reunion. It was expensive. The same day I received a postcard from my nephew and his niece who are living just outside of Venice. My nephew, Mark is stationed there in the Army. So when I looked up the possibility of traveling to Venice, I impulsively booked it! Then I felt guilty and booked a very quick trip to Wisconsin for my Mother’s birthday. Saw my best friend since age 15, Julie. Had a great dinner with Mom at a very cool supper club in Pipe, Wisconsin. Pipe is so small it’s unincorporated. The supper club sat about 40 people. You want to get there at about 4:30. You sign up with one of the daughters and go to the bar and wait. Dice games are happening. Mostly shake of the day. I ordered an Old Fashioned, sometimes called Old Fashion. It was perfect except for the cherries. I hate those dyed red ones. After a bit a server brings the menu and you order from her. When the table is ready, you are invited to be seated. Immediately a fritter arrives, unless you know to ask for it to be served after dinner. We did. My Mom is a regular. A fritter can be many things, this one was kind of a deep fried rosette donut with powdered sugar on it. It’s probably a German thing. We had an amazing, Wisconsin dinner including soup, salad, bread basket, calamari appetizer and fresh lake perch! I love this place. An Restauranteur would be impressed with the efficiency and the food. Next my Mom and I stopped off to see my Father at a tiny cemetery in Jericho Wisconsin. We buried him there in October of 2009. My parents had a bench designed as their gravestone with their picture on it, their parents names and their kids. It’s pretty cool. I have relatives from my Dads side buried there. The church was built by my Great Grandfather on my Moms side. There are farms bordering it and there used to be cows next door. The next day I saw my college friends after a memorable bowl of Real Chili!!

So now off to Venice for just 6 nights. Two with my nephew’s wife and their kids, then four nights in one of my favorite cities, Venice. I have reservations at my fav restaurant. Time to fly!

We had a great trip but We are ready to get back to the USA

We decided yesterday to change our flights. And we are glad that we did. Last night security guard really emphasized that we lock all of the sliding doors, so something was up. We each slept with a knife. The only thing that got me were bugs. I have bites all over! We were also sick of the locals claiming “our” beach. There was a bar near by that vibrated the whole beach until about 4 am. we played more rummy cube and called it a night.

Today we had a leisurely morning, gave out left over food and booze to the guard and drove to the car rental and then the airport. We’ll be in Coronado by 8:30 tonight

Another beautiful day…drove to Sayulitas again.

Another morning walk through the town and on the beach. It’s really a pretty place. So much art!

Home for a little nap and watching the sun set.

On Sunday we decided to drive up the coast to Sayulitas. I had been there for a beautiful wedding a few years ago. We parked the car and then just walked a bit. I love the colors of the little surf town. We sat on the beach for what else, a margarita then found a taco shop with the best tacos ever!!!

Another beautiful day! Sue and I decided to get some walking in. We walked all the way down the beach, stopping to admire the street art along the way.

We stopped for a margarita and a little shopping and viewing the locals.

Sue and I spent a little time on the beach. The guard that works here brought chairs to us and made a little space for us. So nice to read and relax ten feet from the water. We ventured out in the neighborhood to find some food. The Cobb is a little rough in my Moms feet but we kept her going. Decided on a place upstairs but the service and the martinis were not up to par so we left. Of course they tried to charge us double but we knew the exchange rate and one that battle. Next stop was an awesome little place with great food and margaritas!!!

We needed some more tequila and limes so I punched up liquor store. Lo and behold, just 5 miles away there was a liquor store. I hadn’t seen it. We took an unmarked right which quickly turned into a dirt road, of course filled with pot holes and deep ruts. Then cobblestone, which has its own concerns. Within minutes I to the jungle we saw a few structures. Which one was the liquor store. Signs in Mexico are so optional. Finally past some chicken coops and a few people staring us down, turned a corner and there was a tequila tasting tour! A very friendly Javier asked if we wanted to taste or tour or both! Of course, both. We learned where agave was grown and how it was roasted and distilled and then he pulled up a couple chairs and we tasted tequila!

Friday we left our condo, packed up all of our stuff and drive about 5 minutes to a roadside “diner”. My Mom wasn’t too keen on stopping at these places but today she had no choice. We had gone by many times.

So back in the raid to the next condo. Took a bit to get someone’s attention to open the door, then the keys and parking were difficult, but right on the ocean with a lovely view.

We settled in, stopped at the store and then picked up Sue Maack at the airport. She was going to spend the weekend with us. For dinner we walked across the street to a little sports bar. Had some margaritas and nachos and a lot of laughs.