End Of The World!: Riviera Maya Vacation

Every year during football season it becomes a challenge to watch a Ravens game while we are out of the country. On a cruise ship, we managed to get to watch a game but not a Ravens game. In Aruba, we had to leave our resort and head for a Fridays restaurant to find a screen with our Ravens on it. This time............we were in Mexico and the Grand Palladium Resort just so happened to have a "Sport Bar" with several tv screens and one huge screen hooked up to a satellite dish............ahhhhhhh........there was hope! It was a good sign of things when we saw a picture hanging on the wall that just so happened to show the Ravens vs Steelers...........yep.....there was hope that we would be able to watch the game on Sunday. The question is.......HOW can we make sure we get the game on that big screen?........the answer was.........become good friends with the bartender......hehehe.

How important is it to encounter resort staff that actually appear to be happy that you are there?.........it is very important. It makes for a totally enjoyable time and I must say that 99% of the staff at this resort did a great job and were very hospitable. In particular, the bartender at the "Sport Bar". His name is Francisco and he went out of his way to make our time there a memorable one.

Here is Francisco and my buddy Captain Morgan..........Francisco kept the beer and the tequila flowing and he would also entertain us with assorted card tricks. Francisco also would mix drinks that we had never heard of and offer them to us to try. He would bust out a huge grin when he made a "michelita" (Sp?) which was beer with tabasco, pepper, etc....etc.............whoa!

The "Sport Bar" was a large room with lots of tv screens and sports memorabilia all over the place. There is also ping pong, pool tables, foosball, and internet available. One bar and a snack bar which served typical "sport" snacks...........like chicken wings and popcorn.

I couldn't help but notice this menu.............how could anyone order a "dry anis"?

As I mentioned, Francisco was very adept at card tricks and he spent alot of time focusing his attention our way..........of course, it wasn't very busy so he could spend the time.

Looks good doesn't it?

As I said before..............make a friend, get the Ravens Game on the big screen......hehehe.
Sadly, the Ravens lost........oh well.

Captain Morgan presented a Ravens souvenir towel to Francisco so that it can be framed and hung on the wall of the "Sport Bar". Me and Captain Morgan signed the towel. Captain Morgan just could not let it stand that the "Sport Bar" had a framed Steelers Terrible Towel hanging on the wall.........and he offered them his towel.

Okay........so there is the photo op....................

............and here is the bigger picture........hehehe.

This is Ricardo. He is one of the managers of the entertainment staff......."People Of Palladium". Ricardo was great and he also went out of his way, even interrupting his own meal, to entertain and socialize with us. Aside from his skills at his job, Ricardo also enjoyed performing card tricks and other assorted bar tricks.

Okay..........so you have four shot glasses full of beer and Ricardo has one full glass of beer and one half full glass of beer. The challenge is that Ricardo bets you that he can drink all of his beer before you can.............and you will be up to the challenge because it ain't nothing to down four shots of beer real fast. The problem is........there is one catch.............Ricardo tells you that there is only one rule..................which is that he cannot touch any of your glasses and you cannot touch any of his glasses.............and that sounds really reasonable...........so.........let's get this thing started.

Guess who won?..............................Ricardo. So how does he do it?
Hmmmmmm..........if you really want to know..........stay tuned.

Stay Tuned, folks.........Part Six is coming.........more beach!