Travels with Amy and Dave: So How Does That Spanish Turkey Taste?

Dave and I decided that with the purchase of our Hilton Grand Vacation Club time share that we needed to utilize it for what it was designed for; a week's vacation! Dave had said he wanted to go to Cabo San Lucas as it was an area of Mexico that we had never been to before. We like to travel with two sets of very good friends and we extended the invitation for them to join us for the week. We made the decision to travel there for Thanksgiving and arrived on Saturday, November 20th and returned to San Antonio a week later on the 27th.

The airport!

We thought our hotel was in San Lucas but it was actually in San José ; a smaller, quieter side of Cabo. Cabo San Lucas, commonly called Cabo, is a city at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, in the municipality of Los Cabos in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. The city San José del Cabo is located in Baja California Sur Mexico and is the seat of the municipality of Los Cabos at the south end of the Baja California peninsula.

We stayed at the Grand Mayan Resort. Talk about an eclectic mix of decor. When you first enter the hotel you're transported through the darkness where you come upon these two huge Gods; male and female.

Then after you make your way into the lobby it's decorated in such a wide variety of styles you really don't know what to make of it. There's marble floors and leather furniture coupled with ornate chandeliers and fancy light fixtures. What a feast for the eyes!

See what we mean?

A leather chair, chandelier and venetian glass.

Talk about a decor sensory overload! Nonetheless we checked into a two bedroom suite. We were told that it had privacy for six so when we got to the room with our first set of friends (the 2nd were joining us the next day) we staked our claims to the bedrooms. The 2nd set had the common living area as their bedroom and they did have their privacy with both of our bedroom doors shut and access to a bathroom that was shared with the first couple but it was kind of disheartening and we felt slightly "taken" as we literally thought it would be three separate sleeping areas. Nonetheless everyone had good spirits and we took it like champs and moved on with our time there.

That evening couple M&D and Dave and I walked from the hotel to dinner. Our concierge told us we had to dine at a sidewalk bistro called Habaneros.

Yup; this was it!

It was a lovely evening, temps slightly cool (personally not quite warm enough for my blood!) but it was enjoyable nonetheless. On the way to the bistro we passed the Cactimundo; Los Cabo's Botanical Gardens which houses Latin America’s most important collection of cacti with species never before seen in collections open to the public. Mind you it was evening so here is my pic of the outside.

Picture rights Cactimundo.

Once we finished our meal we made our way back to the hotel.

Earlier in the day the hotel staff somehow managed to talk us into sitting through their time share presentation the following morning. If we were to complete it we would be provided with a FREE breakfast before hand as well as discounts on golf and a credit of 1,000 pesos to our hotel bill; that alone covered the costs of Internet access so we thought, "why not?" and we signed up.

So on Sunday morning bright and early we proceeded to the lobby to meet our sales person. As typical time share sales persons do; he spent a great amount of time getting to "know" us before we moved on. We were famished so we asked if we could hurry it along. When we got to the restaurant to dine it was absolutely freezing with air conditioning. I ate rather hurriedly the told the group I was going to sit outside to "thaw." Evidently I was out there for quite a while for when I returned Dave said I was beet red. When I returned the sale person still hadn't wrapped things up so me and my patience level was beginning to wane. When he finally gathered us up he proceeded with the "tour" portion of the experience. We saw room after room and then when he finally got us to the sales floor to make his "pitch" I was pretty much done with. I was very frustrated knowing full well we nor our friends M&D were going to purchase. Of course once we gave our official response of "no" he got the next sales person out there. We told sales person #2 no. When #3 came; I got up and left. I was so mad that it went for as long as it did. When we finally got the chance to leave we had to speak to yet a FOURTH person who represented another company. I was so disgusted that I told Dave never again would I sit through anything like this.

Our friends N&M were due to arrive that afternoon so we got in some lounge time before their arrival. I will give you this. The resort is beautiful on the outside and pool area. Check out these shots AND they have an infinity pool overlooking the ocean!

Artistry that surrounds the pool area.

My favorite area; the cabana lounge beds!

More artwork at the pool.

The infinity pool that overlooks the ocean!

That afternoon we made our way to the MEGA grocery store. A friend told us when we arrived in Cabo to shop at Costco but the Costco was much closer to San Lucas versus San Jose and we were content stocking up for the week at the MEGA.

That evening we cooked spaghetti and enjoyed one another with a rousing game of Farkel.

We decided the next day we'd be adventurous with our rental car and make our way to Cabo Pulmo National Park. We were told that it was a quiet beach village and was about sixty miles north of San Jose and it's located on the Sea of Cortez. It was a lovely, scenic drive that eventually turns into unpaved dirt roads to get to the final destination.

Entry to the park.

We started with lunch first and ate at La Palapa Restaurant; a palm-thatch structure located right on the beach. After lunch we walked the beach taking in the scenery and enjoy the sun.

You can only fish with a guide as the guys found out later that day as they cast their lines into the ocean and the park rangers stopped them and told them so.

Here are some lucky ones waiting for their catch.

Afterward we drive to 23°26′N 110°15′W which was the Tropic of Cancer. We buzzed by it on the way to Cabo Pulmo totally not paying attention so we made sure we stopped on the way back to snap a pic or two. Yup; that's it!

And of course also by the wayside was the Shrine of the Virgin de Guadalupe.

Of course my all time favorite of signs pretty much sums up me and my personality; get it? A crack pot? Of course I just crack myself up!

After a day in the sun we returned to shower and that evening I put on my motion sickness patch as on Tuesday we were off for some deep sea fishing. Now mind you I can take trains, planes and automobiles just fine but for some reason boats and I don't get a long. I wavered back and forth on this option knowing I don't like to be on a boat but then I thought, "When in Rome" and said I'd go. Man was I sorry. Our friends N&M passed on it early during the planning stages of the trip. M&D were a go and Dave definitely wanted to do it. We got up early for a 7:00 am departure out of the marina. We got on board before 7 and never stopped moving until we returned to the marina after 4:00 pm. For some reason I thought deep sea fishing was a boat that went out far; threw out an anchor and we fished. Oh no! Deep sea fishing evidently is moving at all times. And so did my stomach. I was miserable. We didn't catch the first fish until just after 1:30 and then once everyone caught one; we made our way back and it was after 4:00 pm by the time we returned. I told Dave "never again" and that he owed me big time! He was just so happy though.

Check out the remora fish that's attached to the marlin!

That's one big marlin!

On Wednesday we enjoyed our time at the resort then we had scheduled a sunset dinner cruise for that evening. We left port and one of the very first things you see is the El Arco de Cabo San Lucas.

El Arco de Cabo San Lucas

El Arco de Cabo San Lucas, or Lands End, Cabo San Lucas is a distinctive rock formation at the southern tip of Cabo San Lucas. The arch or El Arco is also a popular gathering spot for sea lions!

On Thursday (Thanksgiving Day) we got up and drove back into Cabo San Lucas to hit up all the touristy spots before our dinner reservation that evening.

Our Thanksgiving turkey courtesy of our maid!

Cute stuff huh?

We started with a walk through the city checking out the wares.


Lucha Libre masks

A photo opportunity around every corner in Mexico.

We started out at Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo Cantina. He came to Cabo in the 80's initially and later built and it's become one of THE places to drink and party in Cabo.

Entry into the Cantina

The wall of art

From there we made our way to Gordo Lele's Tacos and Tortas; Cabo's BEST tacos in town. The owner Javier is the cook and entertainer. It's this off the beaten path, tiny little hole in the wall but it's tasty. Javier is known as the "fifth Beatle". Other than he's fanatical about them; he puts on an entertaining show complete with a Beatle's wig and teeny tiny strumming guitar. It's a hoot. Go there if you're in Cabo San Lucas.


A taco AND a torta; pure heaven.

Singing and strumming

After that delicious lunch we wandered throughout the shops and streets of San Lucas. I loved all the different signs and colors.


Pretty sure it held but just three people in there!

We were told that when were in Cabo San Lucas that one of the places we should go to for a drink was the Office on the Beach or simply known as the Office. The Office is a laid back; good food, good drink, entertaining spot smack on the beach. There are vendors just a few feet away from the sand hawking their wares. They can't come up into the restaurant area but if you see something you like you're encourage to go down to the beach and make your selection of merchandise. It's crazy silly! I was entertained by the Tequila Pourer. Check him out!

Thumbs up if you like Tequila!

So after a day in San Lucas we made our way back to San Jose. Our dinner reservation was at 7:00 pm and I was so stuffed after a day of drinking and eating that I really couldn't bring myself to eat yet another meal; Thanksgiving night or not! The restaurant where we ate was owned by a Canadian and while it was good enough food; it just wasn't the standard good 'ol American turkey with mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce! We started with soup, salad and the entree followed by dessert. I literally took bites off of Dave's plate. I was so stuffed. That night at the hotel was a beautiful fireworks display. We thought it was for the Americans in recognition of Thanksgiving but we found out that they were for a wedding.

Our friends N&M left the next day so we after taking them to the airport we drove into San Jose and toured their shops and had lunch at Molly's.

I of course liked the name of this place!

With a name like Sanchez it's got to be good!

The town square in Cabo San Jose.

A ton of food served!

That night we returned to San Jose for a great steak dinner. We ate at La Pampa Argentinian Steakhouse. It was delicious and simply based on one little dining experience I know I want to travel to Argentina one day.

On our last day since we didn't have to be at the airport until 3:00 pm we got up and returned to San Jose to check out their art galleries; have lunch and then return the rental car. We toured galleries owned by Americans and more.

The Art District of San Jose Signage

We stopped for a bite to eat at Jazmin's Restaurant in the Art District. The food was good but it's more about the atmosphere inside as it's very colorful with art on the walls.