A Man Flies Into a Country

The panorama-type photo of the view from the balcony.

So just got back from a vacation.

For 15 years (give or take) my best friend and I have spent a couple of weeks in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. We stay at the same hotel. We eat at mostly the same restaurants. And we do basically the same thing every time. And that thing is relax and do nothing. No excursions. No (planned) walks. Nothing. Just pure relaxation. … And food. And drinks. And sunsets. But that all just adds to the relaxation.

A very pretty sunset.

Here is a sample schedule (all times are approximate)…

Drunken Tom.

• 8:00 Wake up, coffee, sit on balcony, watch things, shower, watch things, coffee
• 10:00 breakfast, watch things 
• 11:00 back to the room, lotion, speedo(!)
• 11:30 beach, watch things, swimming, tan, watch things
• 2:00 beverages, watch things
• 3:00 lunch, watch things
• 4:00 back to the room, shower, TV, nap
• 6:00 tea on balcony, watch things: mostly sunset
• 7:30 dinner, drinks, watch things
• 9:30 coffee, watch things
• 11:00 room, TV, sleep

Repeat 14 times. Yup. Not the most exciting schedule, but utterly and completely relaxing. Not much else to say really. Oh. Except. It rained for 48 hours non-stop. And it was glorious. It was very relaxing sitting under a palapa and staying dry, while the rain lightly falls around you. Nice warm rain. The beach was mostly empty. So. Peaceful

Little circles of dryness.

I'll post a few rainy-day videos later. But that's all I have really. If you want more photos just look at some of the photos on flickr from the last 15 years. They're all about the same. Not much changes. Well. Except for me. I change. Why do you think there are no speedo photos???

The end.

Vacation 360s

I was messing around with Photosynth while I was on vacation.

We staying at the Hotel Tropicana. A simple yet friendly hotel right on the beach in the heart of downtown Puerto Vallart. First up the view from the balcony of our hotel room.

Next, the view from the beach in front of the hotel.

Next, a view from the back of the hotel.

Finally, a view from the corner of the old and new pool.

Vacation Pictures

A few of the photos from my trip to Puerto Vallarta.

Can you guess that I like sunsents????

I'm Back

Every November for the last umpteen years, me and my best friend have gone to Puerto Vallarta. Two weeks ago I got back from that vacation. Yes it was over two weeks ago (it seems like an eternity has passed). I got back to Toronto and things at work were crazy (more on that later), so this is the first time I've had a chance to post. Up first… a rundown of all of the stuff that we did. Pictures will follow in a later post (or two).

So here is what we did…

• Wake up at 8:00.
• Drink coffee on the balcony until 9:00.
• Shower, then go to breakfast.
• Come back up to the room and get ready for the beach.
• Go to the beach and lay in the sun.
• When I get too hot, go for a swim.
• Eat lunch and have a cocktail or two on the beach
• Go back to the room at around 4:00.
• Shower, again.
• Have a nap.
• Get up at 5:45 and watch the sunset
• Go for dinner at about 7:30.
• Finish dinner and go for coffee.
• Leave the coffee shop at 10:30.
• Go to bed at midnight.
• Repeat for 13 days

That is all that me and my best friend did. That's it. Some may call it boring. I, on the other hand, call it the most relaxing thing that I could possibly do. There was ABSOLUTELY no stress (well except for the work thing) and that didn't bother me much. BTW: Margaritas help with an overactive mind.

Thirteen days of complete and total relaxation. We had deep talks, usually after a margarita. We talked with friends. We stared at the water and the sunset. All of the stress that I managed to accumulate over the year… gone in two weeks. I became a totally different person. I became human.

The only thing different and exciting this year was the fact that they are building a new pool for the hotel. Sitting on the balcony and watching the, obviously paid by the hour workers, was the most soothing, frustrating, and highly entertaining thing in the entire world. Apparently, I can be easily be amused.

Complete. Total. Relaxation.

Oh, did I mention I like margaritas?