MAZATLAN, MEXICO WITH A COUPLE OF TERRIFIC GIRLS-NOV 5-12/10

A WEEK OF INNOCENT DEBAUCHERY WITH MY DAUGHTER, MELINDA AND HER DAUGHTER, ANDREA

12.11.2010 35 °C

When Granddaughter Andrea asked me if I would go to Mexico with her Mom and her I jumped at the chance. Andrea is a single Mother with two little girls two and four. Apparently Melinda thought it would be good for her to have a break and when Melinda's husband Wayne didn't want to go I was recruited to keep them safe and out of trouble. To make this possible Andrea made arrangements with her ex's parents to go to Quesnel to take charge of the kids. Weren't they great to agree? Actually the logistics weren't that easy since the grandparents and I live a long way from Quesnel where Melinda and Andrea live, but it all worked out like clockwork.

So I met them at Vancouver airport the night before the flight to Mexico, had dinner there with them and Andrea's brother Michael. NICE! Then we arrived in Mazatlan with perfect weather etcetera and checked in to our resort. (One of the RIU chain's properties and absolutely perfect.) But our suite which had a separate bedroom and bathroom for me didn't have much of a view. So we switched for a room with two beds and only one bathroom, but with a spectacular view. I was required to sign a legal paper guaranteeing not to complain about the downgrade and promise not to ask for any compensation. Now what you have been waiting for! What was it like for an eighty year old to share a room with two party girls? IN A WORD, WONDERFUL but also hilarious. Our bedtime conversations were priceless as those of you who continue to read this epistle will find out. I'll attach a couple of pictures in our room to show you bedlam mixed with order. Steaming showers, girly smells, clothes thrown all over and when they were getting dressed up for dinner it was worse or better depending on one's point of view.

Our routine was for me to get out of the room in the morning, have breakfast alone, work out in the gym and have a walk on the beach. Then meet them for coffee. So far I might as well have gone on the holiday alone. BUT we then went to the beach bar for Bloody Marys and a walk followed by helping Andrea fulfill something on her "Wish List" or bucket as she called it. So, one day she parasailed, another she went horseback riding and she and I took Salsa and Merengue(?) dance lessons on the pool edge. OMG! Do you think we missed going shopping? Lunch was at a buffet restaurant on the beach. LOVELY! Then reading, sunbathing and watching CRAZY GAMES in the pool. Also we swam around 4pm, dried off and had a drink called a Mexican Flag. This drink is served several ways but as you will see it is made up of the colours of...you guess...and is followed by a beer. You might think that was enough for an old man but then we had to get ready for a fancy dinner and a show. It's not Broadway but it's fun and they have a different show every night. Then ONE NIGHT, AND ONE NIGHT ONLY ,WE WENT TO THE DISCO. I had never been to a disco and it wasn't on my wish list either. Oh yes we went to the Sport Bar regularly and Andrea was propositioned regularly too! She explained that she was on a family vacation and behaved herself but loved the attention.

Now comes the bedtime talks after the lights were out......I hope my Institut de Francais friends are still with me. At the Sport Bar I met Katie McNabb. She was with her boyfriend but Melinda and Andrea got the totally mistaken idea I was lusting over her. So trying to be a good sport I suggested she would be a good match for me. Katie is 21 so if I married her Melinda would have a very young step-mother and being young Katie was bound to have children who would be very young brothers and sisters for Melinda as well. Also Andrea would have Katie for a grandmother. And the fun and laughing went on and on.

We really had a terrific vacation and were very sad to part at Vancouver airport.
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