Memories...20º

I visited warmer places yesterday, as I cleaned and sorted the roll top desk...The 100 year old desk that I bought about 20 years ago so I would have a place to pay bills and keep things organized, turned into a storage unit for papers that I kept from our travels.

I revisited Cancun 1999 with Mona and Jerry on our first trip...We were newbie travelers and I a nervous wreck as we boarded planes, cleared customs and landed in a foreign country...Mona and Jerry herded us about and we toured Aztec ruins in Chichen Itze, marveled at oceans so blue, visited the open markets, learned to bargain with the natives and ate our way through Mexican buffets and sat poolside where we sipped Pina coladas.

Next 2002 with Rusty, Bobi, Stan and Cienna (we joined Mona and Jerry) again in Cancun where Cienna only 4 years old, spent every waking hour in the swimming pool...We also toured caves, animal parks, aztec ruins, took a boat ride to and swam in the ocean so warm at Isla Mujeres...A tour of Isla Mujeres by golf cart and the bus rides in Cancun remain in my memory.

Then 2003 Pam and I met Becky in Australia for a 3 week whirlwind tour, "No Worries Mate" as we swam at the lagoon in Airlie Beach, sailed "The Whit Sunday Islands" snorkeled, swam in the bluest oceans near the "Great Barrier Reef", rented a car to experience the "Great Ocean Road" hopped on planes, buses and trains as we with Becky as our tour guide, saw botanical gardens, the bush, Sydney's famed Opera House, visited Brisbane, Adelaide, and Melbourne..I mustn't forget the food and wine that we shared daily and the colorful language.

Moving right on, in 2004 Herb and I winged our way to the big Island, Oahu where we took in the  Pearl Harbor War Memorial, 'lolani Palace, China Town, and a day long guided tour of the island...We strolled along Waikiki beach, listened to the free concerts each evening in the square and worked on our tan...After 5 days we hopped a plane for nearby Maui where we met up with Bobi, Stan and Cienna who arrived on Maui via the Molokai Ferry looking like 3 drowned rats...Here we spent 7 days on the beach, sunning, snorkeling, sailing and made a 4am trip to Haleakala where we wrapped in towels for warmth (its cold on top of that mountain) and watched the sunrise.

2006, Herb and I flew to Cancun, taxied to the port and boarded a boat for Isla Mujeres where we spent 5 days at an all inclusive resort where I (since the drinks were free) tried them all...Now I could say I had watermelon and mango Margarita's, Margarita's on the rocks or blended, Tequila Sunrise's, Pina Colada's and Mojito's...My favorite "Drink" of course was:

"Sex on the Beach", 1 1/2 oz vodka
1/2 oz peach schnapps
2 oz cranberry juice
2 oz orange juice

The 5 days soon came to an end and we climbed aboard the Ferry to return to Cancun...For the next week we played tour guides to friends Carol and Rosy, we visited the ruins at Tulum, spent a day at Xcaret, floated an underground river and took in the night show...Of course we spent many hours on the beach and at the pool of choice for the day...They took their own adventure with a yacht ride to Isla Mejeres...Soon we were all winging our way back to good old Wallowa County.

Too many trips so will continue tomorrow...OWAV:)