Villa DelPalmar Flamingo PV Mexico

January 2011 my girlfriend Leah and I took a week and went in search of warmer weather. We landed in a nice little resort called Villa DelPalmar Flamingo on the north end of Purteo Valarta, Mexico. We spent the week lying by the pool, walking the beach, shopping, riding horseback and taking little tours.

I highly recommend the location. It's far enough from PV that you need a bus or cab to get there, but close enough to enjoy it. There's a little village north of the resort with a great flea market.



Leah and I on the beach.

Walking the beach every morning seems to be a normal past time. It's peaceful and soothing, letting the stress peel away with every wave that washes over your feet.

Horseback riding is another great past time. We rode the beach and into the town, clopping, clopping on the cobblestones as we wandered down the streets with a guide.
Bucerias is directly north of PV on Banderas Bay. It's a tiny little village to wander on horseback and on foot, exploring and shopping. Many of the restaurants are decorated with murals inside and out.


We had a lovely lunch on the beach, watching the surf and dodging the beach vendors.

The view from our room. Villa Del Palmar Flamingo is a fairly new resort, all inclusive with 3 great restaurants and wonderful tiered pools.



The children's wading pool had wonderful sea turtles painted on the concrete.

Each pool contained a waterfall that tiered into the next pool.

And fountains to splash in.


Wed. night was a pirate show on the beach with a great buffet, bar and live entertainment.
Each table had its own ship centerpiece.

Leah enjoying a hammock on the beach.

The nicest guy in the resort.

Sunset over the pools. What a lovely way to spend the week.

Hawaii Interlude - October 2009

Before winter moves in some friends and I went to Oahu for a week to soak up some sun and warmth. I'd been there about 10 years ago. This trip was a little more laid back then the previous one. Unfortunately surfing was not in the cards for me.

But the waves were easy and light so surfers were everywhere.



The main hang out on Waikiki Beach. The statue is covered with lais everyday from local surfers.

Anybody remember the movie "From Here to Eternity"? Remember the beach make out scene? Nice beach.

Hanauma Bay. This is one of the best places in Oahu for snorkeling. Great reefs and great fish. There are different areas among the reefs for the beginner snorkeler and the advanced snorkeler. Wonderful park with grass to lie on under the palm trees, showers, bathrooms, gear rental, etc. It's a little outside of Honolulu so you have to catch a shuttle or bus to go there.

Road trips are always so interesting

Australia has beautiful and huge trees. Makes you want to stop and climb one doesn't it?

One of the most incredible things to see from a cold Alaskan point of view is a white beach. It's the middle of summer here, on a weekend: the beach is almost empty. Why? Can there be that many beaches that you can find one without crowds? Guess so.

The other thing that is a marvel from someone not used to Australian waters is to find a patrol boat near the beach, watching for sharks. Maybe that is one reason there aren't a lot of people in the water. There was even a helicopter in the air.

It's a koloa bear. They are like big fur lumps in the trees. When you're walking the trails you might get lucky to see one or maybe more. They sleep all day.

And sometimes you find a creepy crawly that you don't want around. Like a spider. This one had spun its web between the eves of the house, and the swimming pool. Beautiful creepy crawly.