Hello World! It’s been a while. I have been battling some serious health problems. It was scary, and I’m not out of the woods yet, but I’m back in the saddle and I’ll be posting on a regular basis. So much has happened since my last post, and I can’t wait to begin writing on all of them!

So, keep checking back, and we’ll have some interesting reading for you.

It’s not an island, but Mexico is a great place to go for a warm weather, beach, ocean vacation. While many of Mexico’s destinations have gotten very touristy (Is that a word?) like Cabo and Cancun, I have had some great experiences in Mexico, especially in Puerto Vallarta.

I spent the week of my 40th birthday in Puerto Vallarta with some friends. We actually stayed a little north in Nuevo Vallarta, in a great all-inclusive resort right on Banderas Bay.

Because Puerto Vallarta lies on Bahia Banderas, the second largest natural bay in North America and has over 100 miles of coast line, it is a haven for anyone who enjoys any type of beach activity, from whale watching to parasailing. Bungee jumping over the Pacific, windsurfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, jet skiing or fishing are yours for the asking. The surf, at most beaches is normally very calm and safe for swimming year around

Plus, for me, it is a great place to enjoy the warm Gulf of Mexico waters without hearing the Jaws theme every time you go in the ocean (I’ve talked about that in prior blogs), why no Jaws theme you ask?

Banderas Bay is a horseshoe shaped bay that is occupied by hundreds of bottle nosed dolphins. Because it’s a breeding ground, the dolphins patrol the mouth of the bay, driving away any sharks that try to enter! Safe swimming!

It was a great vacation, alternating between great activities like horseback riding through the mountains, sailing and snorkeling across the bay, to days of lying in the shade on the beach, reading, sleeping, eating and swimming in the warm tropical waters. Ahhhh, it was great.

I’m looking to take a break from my UFirst business for our annual February trip. In the last vote by my travel group, taking a cruise was still in the lead, but we’ve been finding some great deals to Mexico, so it’s making a run as our destination. I would go back there anytime.

We all got together over the holiday to discuss our February trip, and the dreaded word reared its ugly head…cruise.

Now it’s not that I’m 100% opposed to cruises. I did one in 2000 that went to Jamaica, Cozumel and the Cayman Islands, and had a blast..in Jamaica, Cozumel and the Cayman Islands. It was the 4 days at sea that drove me nuts.

To crowded, everyone fighting over deck chairs by the pool (There actually was a fistfight between two woman over saving deck chairs. I guess there is an etiquette to it and it wasn’t observed. It was entertaining though!) Being herded in and out of dinner like cattle, bad, bad, entertainment, it just wasn’t that much fun.

Now I know today they show you all these great things you can do on your cruise, free style dining, rock climbing, putting greens,etc, but the bottom line is, your still stuck on a boat, and the time off ship you usually have time for one excursion, then your back on the ship.

I like going to a destination, getting to spend time there, checking out local haunts, meeting the locals, getting to do numerous excursions, which you don’t get on a cruise.

Now the one factor that could sway the group, price. Cruises are very economical. Everything is covered in its price, except alcohol, and since I don’t drink, that’s not a factor. We’re all more budget travelers than luxury travelers, so price is a consideration. I’m up in the air about this, but a friend did make a good point.

While it might not be my first choice, a cruise in the Caribbean beats a cold week in the February Midwest every time. Amen