I really wished I could have spent more time in the Riviera Maya. Although this was a brief trip for us this time, the time spent on the beach and in the water was therapeutic. I really needed it. Each day was as perfect as it could be and the beauty of this place has a place in my heart.............and we try to come back each year. I didn't think of crab shells, flea markets, or any of the things that consume my days at home. Nice! Oh.......but good things must come to an end, for the time being, and there is much work to do. Since my return home, I have been busy filling custom orders and trying to get ahead of the game in preparation for the onslaught of Christmas shoppers. Everybody wants an egg from the golden goose............in my case, insert "crab shell". Here are a few more pictures of my work:
And if that's not enough......here's some more:
As I have mentioned before on this blog, I set up at Northpoint Plaza Flea Market in Dundalk, MD. on Saturdays and Sundays. On Mondays you can find me at Hunter's Sale Barn near Rising Sun in Cecil County, MD. If you live in the area, stop on by and say hello!
I am usually busy painting away on a dozen of so crab shells, which you can watch me paint if you care to do so............... but if you have children with you, be sure to read the riot act to them or at least duct tape their hands together.......hehehe.......this stuff is fragile and nobody likes paying for a broken crab shell. :)
There's more to come................meanwhile, as I paint the crab shells, I'll be thinking about the days I spent on vacation...........and I will still have to say that I am the luckiest man on the planet.............
Pictures and words........that's all I have to show everyone and hopefully convince you that the Grand Palladium Resort in Mexico is the one of the best, if not THE best, place to vacation. Forget Ocean City, MD...........forget Florida.......you need to experience some paradise as I have. So what does it cost you?.......a ten day all-inclusive package including airfare will cost you about what you would spend on a weekend in Atlantic City........imagine that. This is one of the reasons that me and Supernurse go to places such as this.........value. Who doesn't want more bang for your buck?
You have seen the Corona beer commercials.........and yes......it is just like that.
As I write this........I wish I was there right now.........again and again..........
If you look real hard you can see how calm and beautiful the Caribbean water is.
Vacationers of all ages, sizes, and shapes.............from all over the world...........and everyone is comfortable with their own self.
One day......maybe I will get to see the turtles...........instead of the empty nests.
Guided Segway tours of the resort......including the beach!
I have this thing that I do when on vacation and there happens to be someone serenading you.......as in this case.......while we were eating..........I make a request...........Malaguena Salerosa.......so far, I have never been told "Sorry....can't do that". These guys were great......and they did this just for me and Supernurse:
The food was great. Something for everyone. If you can't find something that you like on any given day........well.......there is something wrong with you and you need counseling. Princess Fartknocker.......as skinny as she is........had no trouble filling up her plate and her stomach.
I noticed that the orange juice tasted better here than the orange juice back home. I found out that it is because they use REAL sugar to sweeten things in Mexico. In the USA, our government encourages the use of corn products to sweeten things.....and the result is that actual sugar is too expensive to use. It is not that way in Mexico.......even the sodas taste better.
You want fancy?...........you can have fancy.
Here's a clip of the flaming drinks at the bar...........
And this time we did return to the salt water pool..........that is located right at the water's edge.
If you look carefully.........there is a rainbow straight ahead.
The pictures do not do this place any justice.........
.............is there anything more beautiful?
God willing, I will go back again and spend more time soaking it all up. It is a great escape from the rat race........and a ten day stretch in the lap of luxury where we lived like royalty with servants everywhere..........well......maybe not everywhere......but you catch my drift, don't you?
It is good for your soul..........therapeutic..........it cures what ails you........healing........a feast for the eyes.........and......... the best part........ I was there with the love of my life.......Supernurse.........it just doesn't get any better than this.
I may look a bit rough.......but.......I have several excuses.
Excuse #1: I drank more than my share of cerveza. Excuse #2: I also drank Supernurse's share of cerveza. (actually, she drank stuff like margaritas) Excuse#3: Earlier that day I tried to eat some chili......whoa!....I though I was on fire....hot!.....resulting in my downing of more cerveza. Excuse#4: I am on vacation with Supernurse........did you think that I would be sleeping every night? Excuse#5: I was waterlogged from being in the water all day.....and a bit toasted from the sun. Excuse#6: I am Signtopia......of course I look a bit rough.....hehehe.
So here we go with the ninth installment of my report about the Riviera Maya vacation at the Grand Palladium Resort in Mexico. There's tons of entertainment throughout the day and at night, the stage shows kick into gear........if you like such things......and I do.......
The resort has a staff of entertainers called "People Of Palladium".........and they perform shows every night.......a different show every night.........music, dancing, musicals (albeit lip-synched), comedy, acrobatics, costumes and more costumes..........wow! This group does it all.......and they are very good at what they do.
In the hotel lobby, there are bulletin boards with information about the staff and the schedule for the shows.
The theater is quite large and is open-air.
One of the shows began with a couple of performers doing a ballet dance routine and things were going well when all of a sudden they tripped and the guy dropped the girl and she indicated that she could not continue the show........they carried her offstage.......and then one of the staff came out onstage and asked if there was a doctor in the audience........oh no.....this is not good.......he goes backstage and then comes out again after a couple of minutes and announces that the show will continue because they have someone to fill in for the injured female dancer. Fantastic!......... ............but........... .........they have got to be kidding...........THIS is the fill-in?..........
Yep...........THIS is THE fill-in!
It didn't take long to figure out that it was all pre-planned..........the joke was on us.......the injury was faked........but very convincing.......
..........and this guy was hilarious. (click on the pictures for a larger view, then hit the escape key to return)
The costuming is wonderful and well done......the choreography was top notch.
Always smiling............they really enjoy their work.
Lot's of them.......male and female........all of them very talented and seemingly tireless.
A wide variety of themed routines...........
..........and the crowd is always pleased.
They take a bow.......
.......and happily pose for pictures.
Imagine this work environment..............it must be nice.
From assorted Disney themes........
.............Little Mermaid..............
......great sets and effects.......
..........did I mention costumes?
...........and assorted Disney characters.........
...........WHO doesn't like this stuff?
Princess Fartknocker loved it!
Beauty and the Beast..........
............and Snow White!
.......Sleeping Beauty.........
.....this is good stuff.....
.........and the shows are all part of your all-inclusive package............imagine that!
Every night......... This is not a rinky-dink wannabee group of wish they were entertainers...........
.........I would say that they are professionals and extremely talented.
Aladdin.........
........and this is just the Disney show on one night..........other shows on other nights............native dance routines, traditional dance and music, etc, etc..........there is something to please everyone.
These guys walked past me in the lobby...........they are wearing Mayan outfits..........this is 2012 stuff......hehehe.....
"Okay pal........hurry up with the picture".........."Okay Mayan dude....just don't cut my penis off in celebration of joy or anything like that 'cause I read where they really, really did that stuff to people back in the day.......you know......the Mel Gibson movie?"
Hehehehe........just kidding........oh.......and yet more entertainment in the lobby......each night.....a different performer...........solo performances, bands..................oh and this one particular band only played one night.......their name is Quarzo and they are fantastic. Rock and roll as it should be played.......loud and proud and proper. I was stunned at how good a singer Mauricio is.......and the rest of the band......well.......I cannot remember their names but any one of them could hold their own anywhere at anytime in anyplace in any big name band. We are talking Led Zeppelin, Van Halen.....ACDC.......yes indeedy!
They should be on stage.............great guys too........here's a short video of Quarzo performing some Pearl Jam.......I apologize for the sound........the video was taken with my Kodak camera and the loud music overwhelms the teeny tiny microphone embedded in it.
And here is another video, shot by someone else that must have had a better camera, of Quarzo doing some Led Zep.
Stay tuned.........Part Ten is next and the final installment.
