2016 That No Good, Awful, Terrible Year...

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"My New Year's resolution is to stop hanging out with people who keep asking me about my New Year's resolutions". ~

Happy New Year to our family & friends, and the wonderful travel blog community that I am happy to be a part of.

For the 3rd time since we've had our kids, Al and I are heading off ALONE without the kids. Vive Mexico. (Yep I'm doing the 'Snoopy' happy dance.) I'm actually going for work & pleasure as I'll be arranging a photo & video shoot of a few oceanfront condos my company represents. Trust me, there'll still be lots of time for exploring, diving, margaritas and swinging ourselves silly in a hammock.

It's our 20th anniversary this year (Al is such a lucky dog!) so it's a great excuse to get away alone. We've used up the 'honeymoon' excuse because when we got married our kids were with us, so our first time away alone we called it our 'honeymoon' cause we didn't feel like we had one then.

Then we used up 'milestone birthdays', so thank god we have a 'milestone anniversary' to pull out of our hat. Next excuse will be Al's bar mitzvah. OK- so he's not 13 & Jewish but maybe somebody will fall for it. We are quite thankful we have such trustworthy kids to leave on their own. And thank you so much to auntie Marth and the rest of my fab family helping to steer the ship. It's hard to replace Captian Sal, (ahem) but I'm sure you can handle it!

So I titled my blog 2016 That No Good, Awful, Terrible Year because everybody and their brother complained about how bad 2016 was. Social media headlines declared that NOBODY was going to miss 2016 and everyone was happy to usher it out and bring in the welcome mat.

We bid adieu to many icons: David Bowie, Prince, Muhammad Ali, Leonard Cohen, Gene Wilder, Alan Thicke, George Michael, Garry Marshall etc. And Carrie Fisher & Debbie Reynolds dying a day apart was very eerily strange.

The world saw its fair share of challenges. Great Britain turned the European Union on its head. The shameful ongoing horror continues in Syria and Iraq. Terrorism continues to be at an all-time high with the Orlando & Turkey nightclub shootings. Then terrorists opening fire at the Istanbul Airport. Followed by terrorists using trucks to mow down revelers and shoppers in Nice & Berlin. And then there's the wack job Kim Jong Un who is working away on his nuclear missile with the US as his target. Geez, are you ready for a drink after all that Debby Downer recap? I'll soon be making a batch of margaritas if you care to join us 😊

And who can forget the embarrassing and dirty presidential campaign of historic proportions between Donald Trump & Hillary Clinton? I refuse to go there.

While the struggling peso is in our Canadian favor right now, the peso really hit the pit, went into the toilet, bit the dust, gave up the ghost, called it a day, when the Donald was elected El Presidente. Trust me, many Mexican people would gladly build a wall around Trump and pay for it.

We Canadians are also concerned about the new neighbor that's moved in next door. We may get the frozen boot if Trump dissolves NAFTA & imposes border taxes. Time for Canada to put on its big girl panties and a pair of snow boots to be prepared for whatever is coming.

So time for me to cut to the chase. For those of you that saw the news about the very tragic, unfortunate and RARE shooting in Playa del Carmen MX, I'd just like to weigh in on this situation since we are returning to our second home and a home that has always been a safe, fun-filled piece of paradise despite the ongoing conflict in other areas of the world. A senseless, heartbreaking, unnecessary act just like any other gun violence we see played out in the news.

If you have read my blogs, you know that I am cautious. I weigh risk, I weigh safety, and from the first time we stepped foot onto the fine sands of the jewel of the Riviera Maya, or "Playa" as it's affectionately called, it felt like it was home, but way better. The warmth, the hospitality, the music, the food, the ambiance, the European flair, the lagoons and cenotes, the ancient Mayan ruins and beautiful colonial towns, the wildlife & nature...just utterly enchanting. The miles of beach that runs parallel to an amazing pedestrian-only walkway that spans a few miles. Playa is a playground for all ages, with a melting pot of people from all over. (I will admit Playa has their share of peddlers on 5th Ave. who after your business and we have learned to ignore them, or we stroll another route.)

Not once have I ever felt unsafe. I have felt unsafe in my own country, especially returning from Mexico when we were stranded by a certain airline that left us on our own after midnight, to make our way to a hotel in a sketchy area of Toronto. Long story but we almost had a run-in with a group of young men (thug looking) coming out of the stairwell after clearly doing drugs. Talk about feeling vulnerable while I ushered my two daughters past them as quickly as I could, and yelled back to Martha, so they'd know someone was with us. I was never so grateful for a hotel room card to work as quick as it did this time. (Al had flown home ahead, so it was just me and the girls.) We were so lucky nothing happened but it was a bad experience and one I won't repeat if I'm ever stranded at an airport.

Playa is a very international town; you want sushi, it's here. You want pubs, and even an Irish pub (McCarthy's Irish Pub), they've got it. You want Italian, well there's even a section of 5th avenue called Little Italy. Playa is a vibrant town, and everyone is friendly. I've never witnessed one fight or altercation ever. It's like there's an unwritten set of rules that everyone knows to play by. It holds so much magic and memories for us since after being together almost 10 years, we said our wedding vows there on a beach in 2008.

While there's a US/Mexican border-town drug cartel war thousands of miles away, there's never been any risk to tourists on the peninsula, until this one-off event. Word is it was a personal dispute over the selling of drugs at the BPM electronic music festival and the guy returned to take out his revenge on the head security guard. Word is also that it was payback over an extortion attempt that fell through. Sure there are drugs for sale. There are drugs for sale also at little strips malls back home. I think we refuse to acknowledge that there are drug wars/gang wars in our own cities because the thought of danger lurking close by frightens us way too much. Our city has two gangs, and if you think you are totally safe at the Rideau Center or the Tanger Mall Outlet, well good luck, because there's been gunfire exchanged at our shopping malls due to infighting in the drug circle.

Sadly Europe has been a hotbed of terrorist activity, especially Belguim. France is on guard too after the recent Nice attack this summer. I've talked to friends who are still planning a trip to Paris because they feel the reward vs the risk is higher. I'm no expert on international security, but I think we really need to look at the facts of the situation to see what real threats are there when we are traveling. Frankly, there's a real risk to driving a car, but we all still do it. (Some better than others...) There's a reason 'terrorism' is called terrorism. It creates terror, profound fear, and anxiety. I have no fear of a terrorist attack in Playa or being harmed by any drug war violence as a tourist.

Do you like visiting Boston & LA? Well the DEA has released a report that the drug cartel has spread throughout the US in major cities such as Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, and LA. Los Angeles in particular, is a key hub to facilitate the movement of drugs north and west, according to the DEA report. So this is all going on under everyone's noses and most people would be unaware of it. Every city has an undesirable underbelly.

I really have no vested interest in telling you how safe we feel here in Playa, other than reassuring anyone who has concerns. We aren't idiots (well, maybe that one time in grade 1 when I got my tongue stuck on an icy pole). I'm not making money off this blog nor are my blogs to solicit or to benefit me in any other way than to share our adventures. My message is that we feel very safe here and for those arm-chair warriors that say "Who the hell would go to Mexico" well I'm saying to you, dig deeper into the facts. It taints the whole place with a mighty big judgemental brush which is so undeserving. Yeah, I could be Mexico's mascot. Just call me Salsa like my sister Cindy does!

The Riviera Maya has always enjoyed a safety factor way beyond the yellow journalism that sensationalizes Mexico. It could change too, which would be heartbreaking. Obviously I hope and pray it doesn't, because it's a really wonderful welcoming tropical spot and the wonderful people who we've come to know can make a decent living here. We all benefit when others do well.

We will continue to come here with our family, friends, and hell I'd even bring people I don't like because I'm in a really good mood when I'm here. 😊 We will come until there's ever a reason not to come here. And if you think of it, the cartels would be foolish to involve tourists in any negative way because that's their bread and butter.

So don't worry. Even my mom knows how safe it is - she's been here quite a few times with us. (*Don't check your own city's crime rate stats. You will want to book a flight here (wink wink.)

2016 That No Good, Awful, Terrible Year...

So here we are in the new year. Al & I chatted about what we hope for in 2017. He really wants to focus on getting in more workouts and he has already set up his outdoor bike in the basement on a converted bike stand. He's back to his little no-frills cheap gym close to his office. While it may not be a fancy schmancy gym, Al makes the place light up when he shows up in his shiny spandex outfit. (Oh oh...Now I will really find out if Al really reads my blogs - insert grin here).

I really want to work on controlling my stress and worrying, and continue to focus on my health. Worrying is a useless endeavor. Worry is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it won't get you anywhere. Recently some very interesting (and scary) studies have come out linking stress to heart attacks in a way that they haven't been able to identify before. Sheesh, I'm sure to be a gonner soon if I don't watch the stress. *Note: the worst thing you can tell someone who has genuine cause for worry, is to not worry. Wow, that's genious, thank you Dr. Phil. 😞

Scientists have always believed there was a connection been stress & heart health but making the exact connection had been a mystery until recently. They are now studying a region of the brain called amygdala (say what?) which is associated with stress and fear and their findings are that it can predict the risk for heart disease and stroke. Heightened activity in the amygdala -- a region of the brain involved in stress is the mechanism by which stress can lead to cardiovascular disease in humans. (I need to be friendlier to my amygdala clearly.)

I continue to try and focus on a healthy diet. I'm not a big eater, so my goal is to be mindful of what I am eating and to ensure those small meals are filled with lots of goodness.

I took a tiny bowl of chips the other day and Ava was next to me and said, "Mom you really have self-control"! (How does she know I don't fill that little bowl 10 times a day? ? )

I do try to exercise daily (biking daily in the summer) and walking/jogging and lifting weights at home. Oh and I've given up my nasty habit of sniffing glue. Oh so now I've got your attention?! You were nodding off there. Don't worry, never had a thing for sniffing glue. Yet. Heh heh.

I'd also really like to not have to fight the big fight all the time. It seems there's always something I need to get involved in, even when I don't feel up to entering the fray. Last fall I took on a big institution regarding a policy that was extremely non-accommodating and went against the grain of what they should've been providing. By the end of my meeting with them, they agreed to change their policy (which was almost unheard of). I may be short but I'll kick the bejeezus out of your shins! Bottom line - if you're coming at my kids or my family, you'd better bring an army. (I digress...)

Frankly, I would love to absorb a portion of Al's 'zenness". He made a decision long ago that worrying is useless, figuring that I do enough worrying for both of us so why should he break a sweat? It's a good gig if you can get it.

I know he carries a lot of stress home from work and I don't know how he can balance home & work so well. We all know if I worked in the public sector I'd be fired in a day. I can't tolerate whiners, self-absorbed babies, lazy twits or somebody crunching animal crackers in their cubicle next to me (and then there's the comic con/Star Wars folks who should sometimes leave their hobbies at home. (I apologize in advance if you are one of them.)

If I summed up our 2016, it had its challenges and great moments like any other year. Our girls all graduating with honor roll at school, my parents celebrating a milestone wedding anniversary that brought our family together from different parts of the country. A wonderful summer vacation back to Mexico joined by Al's parents, topped off with another unexpected but wonderful visit from them at our home in November.

Christmas brought family and friends together to rock around the Christmas tree. In between like everyone else, there were some really trying times. Times to dig deep, times that were challenging health wise for our family and for my extended family. There were times that nerves were tested beyond-beyond. As we all know, life is not always a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes playing a poor hand well...(Unless you cheat at cards then you are probably OK.)

I will finish this blog with some good things that happened in 2016. Yes, really all you pessimists, a few good things came out of 2016 😊


• Over 800 Boko Harem Hostages were rescued by Nigerian Army (still a long way to go...I know)
• 500 African elephants were moved to safety (my favorite animal!)
• Scientists have made a massive discovery about the genetics causes of ALS (thanks to a funny gimmick called the Ice Bucket Challenge)
• Global child deaths are sinking
• Libera has eradicated the Ebola virus
• Scientists figured out how to link robotic limbs with the part of the brain that deals with intent to move so people don't have to think about how they will move the limb, it can just happen
• The Biden/Obama funny "memes" (a funny picture with funny made-up words the web shares) are sure to bring a smile to your face (see pic att)
• Pandas, tigers, & manatees numbers are growing and the Yellowstone grizzly bear has made one of the biggest wildlife comebacks in history
• Women of color made strides on election night
• 50-year war ends with peace treaty in Colombia



So listen, I'm hoping to have a talk with Ms. 2017 to negotiate a truce. Perhaps she'll consider allowing us a smidgen more good times than Ms. 2016. Perhaps she will make a very small attempt at world peace, and maybe she'll continue the advancement of new improvements & cures in the health care field. Perhaps she'll consider clean drinking water in North America (yes Flint Michigan and its toxic drinking water) and other third world countries. Maybe she'll agree to less exposure of the Kardashian clan and a complete end to Donald Trump's tweets. It's my dream, I'll make it as big as I want. (PS for those who asked how to share my blog, here's the link: just copy and paste: https://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Quintana-Roo/Playa-del-Carmen/blog-765954.html

We'll check in soon, thanks for humoring me. And hey, go crazy, leave me a message below. You know you can do it! * As usual read at your own risk. Grammar & punctuation errors could be hazardous to your health! (Gotta hire me a secretary!) Woo-hoo Al? You there?

Signing off for now,

Sal & Brad Pitt (PS if you're bored, here's my comical er nightmare blog of our trip home a few years back. Holy toledo...Just click on the link in blue: Vans, Planes & Taxis (yes I can laugh about it now...sorta...)

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Comments

[Manon]

You left alredy?
Thought you were leaving on the 27th...sorry I didn't tell you "have a good trip"...seems it went well so far, glad to hear it...nice to hear from you. Enjoy this trip and come back happy, health and stress free...here's to 2017

[Playagal]

You left already
Yes we just got here...I meant to have my secretary call your secretary, but that would've be me, and clearly time got away from me! :)

[Dancing Dave]

Playa
There is no escape from life's curve balls Sal, but it seems there's a place where you can sit back and contemplate that life is not that bad after all. Enjoyed your blog. It is clear evidence that you have time on your hands...and sand between your toes! "Ah...the serenity" as they say in Oz!

[Playagal]

Playa
Hi Dave, the fact I type 100 w/p/minute and an airport wait helps get blogs out! The mood & ambience in Playa is very upbeat - extra stops have been pulled out in light of recent events. I will cherish the serenity more than ever! Good to hear from you!

[Cindy]

Moving on to 2017
What an intelligent, broad, timely, kind and no-nonsense blog.It resonates with the feelings I've experienced recently. Any chance I get to back to Playa, well I will take it I've traveled to Europe, India, South East Asia, Africa, South America, the Caribbean and of course, the US. Outside of Mexico, there aren't many places I want to visit at this time, even though I have a ton of airline points. Your writing and words resonate with me on a very deep and personal level. I am so proud to have you as a sister; strong, passionate, kind, funny, articulate, tenacious, proud. That was an amazing blog. I would love to read another but if you also deserve to play and have fun so go for it. There is plenty of content to chew on, beautifully written and well done.....love ya Salsa. xoxo

[Playagal]

2017
Aww thanks Cin, very much appreciated your lovely comments!Yes my love for this area and its people tugs at my heartstrings. "Salsa" will get around to another blog - once Al er Brad Pitt's off diving I'll sit and give an update on things! (how many pesos do I owe you for all those glowing words? Heh heh!) ;)