"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."~ A. Lincoln Well we've made up our minds to be as happy as we can be, based on the good time we had on our first day here. If I had to use one solid word to convey our first day, it would be -- FANTASTICO! After lunch at Yan Ten's we sat around oceanside for a few hours, laughing, talking, taking in the view, and enjoying some amazing drinks & tasty food! Oh that big first margarita was to die for....ahhhh. 2for1 Corona and margaritas. Some of us had the chicken kebobs with jasmine rice & salad, some had chicken quesadillas, and nachos. It was great, but the best part was being together & finally showing Blaine & Greg Playa in ... read more

"A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one "Year" and out the other" ~ Happy New Year all! SO how are the New Year’s resolutions coming along? We're going to have to put our resolutions on hold temporarily as we are heading back to Playa del Carmen (MX) again in a few days, thanks in good part to Playa Beach Condos & Villas, who I can't believe I've been writing travel articles for almost 2 years now! (Tonya thanks for letting me write my "tongue & cheek" travel blogs for your company!) OK I hear a collective groan; yes another trip to Playa, but hey now, be fair, I did work (er...write for it! :) And for those of you not traveling to warm destinations this winter, you may think it cruel to crow ... read more

"On the keyboard of life, always keep one finger on the escape key." ~ Survival of the Fittest - Part 3 (I will apologize in advance for the long blog; it just took on a life of its own. So put on your seatbelt if you decide to read on!) Four letters to describe my experience at the Montreal Airport. "OMFG". (Oh & sorry mom about the "F" in OMFG, but it was necessary given the circumstances!) Well the game was on. After our Paris flight landed, everyone rushed to get off the plane like there was a Boxing Day sale at Future Shop. We hoofed it into the terminal where we lined up for customs, which now is a bunch of kiosks, where you have to scan your own passport, scan your own customs form, ... read more

"Impossible is a word only to be found in the dictionary of fools". Napoleon Bonoparte The last few days I made it my mission to get around this big city which I thought would be "impossible", but I did it!! (Obviously I do not have a fool's dictionary!) I have to say, love is in the details here and much of that credit for the details has been given to the city planner Haussmann, who was hired by Louis Napoleon III to modernize Paris. By the mid 1800's, Paris was suffocating; the population had more than doubled, it was unsanitary, dangerous and congested. So Haussmann, created new roads, public parks, ornaments and most importanly to squash disease from spreading they installed new sewage systems. He completed transformed Paris from a medieval city to the magnificent, "City ... read more

"I cook with wine. Sometimes I even add it to the food." W.C. Fields Ahh food & drink in Paris...It's a decadent treat dining out two times a day & best of all, I don't have to cook or do dishes! I don't usually eat this much or so often, so it's an adjustment but darn it, I'll take one for the team :) Sometimes I think I hear Miss Piggy's voice ringing in my ears saying, "Never ever eat more than you can lift"! I am also enjoying the rare treat of having a glass of Champagne. Real authentic Champagne!! I could picture my sister Cindy & I being here together, sipping the good stuff! She (my sister) loves the good stuff too! After a bit of fruit in the morning, we saunter out for ... read more