San Francisco ALA 2015, Day 1

ALA is the biggest conference of the year for librarians, and I am making the crazy attempt to cram four days into two.  My flight landed early and I took a LYFT to my hotel.  I find LYFT in CA is cheaper than cabs or Ubers. I arrived last night exhausted and hungry, but a comfy bed beckoned.

Before I even checked in at registration, I had to eat something other than the snack bag of animal crackers I ate 12 hours earlier. I saw a place across the street called Mel's Diner, so I decided to give it a try.  Fast, hot, and delicious, just what I needed. 



Added bonus Michael Jackson on the jukebox.



Then it was on to the Coffee Klatch, it like speed dating for authors and readers.  Authors would come to a table and promote their new book, it was awesome!  And tickets were not expensive.

I  met Suzanne Young, who promoted her first stand-alone title Here Ruby.
It's described as The Shining meets Hotel California.  I can't wait to read it.

Next up was the sassy and funny Gail Giles, whose new book Girls Like Us
won the Schneider Family Award.  

Tobin Anderson stopped by, and he has a new work of non-fiction coming out
Symphony for the City of the Dead.  It's a well-researched, readible WWI story.
 I'm excited!

Another author we saw was Jandi Nelson, whose new book I'll Give You The Sun
just won the Printz Award, I was very excited to meet her, and she was very real and charming. 
I can't wait to read this book, so glad it's on my to read list this summer.

Next I tore through the Exhibits like a madwoman, maniacally collecting readers guides, ARCs (Advanced Readers Copies), pens, ARCs, posters, and more ARCs.  Really, I mean setting me loose in there is just plain nutso.  I always say I'm not going to go nuts, and then, there they are...FREE BOOKS!!  Calling my name.  Unfortunately books are heavy, like, really damn heavy.  I thought my shoulders were going to fall off.  I shipped two boxes home (hint, use brown boxes and media mail shipping) and then my water bottle spilled in one of my bags, ruining all of my posters and readers guides,  So guess what I'm going to try and find tomorrow?

I took a break, bought some lunch (food is expensive here!), ran to my hotel room to dump out my ruined posters and readers guides, and I switched to my backpack, which I should have been using all along.  I then went up the street to Market and 4th and watched some of the Pride Parade.  I have never been to a Pride Parade before, but since SCOTUS ruled on Friday that all marriages are legal in all 50 states (about damn time!) I thought it would be fun to go and show support.  The crowds were huge and the mood was joyous and festive.  The parade was LONG, like hours long.  I was there closer to the end, but people were still having a great time.  I spied a lot of festive rainbow-clad librarians in the crowds.



I did have to leave the party to attend two more workshops, they were both great.  One was on using and creating maps with children's literature.  Another was about after school teen spaces.  It was a great way to end the day.

I did find this, I thought it was rather charming since this is a conference for tech and book nerds,
and there was this curious item in the conference center.  Who knew they still existed?

Luckily Wholefoods is only a couple of blocks away, and I had an ages old gift card that I brought with me, so I did some provisions shopping and used my new insulated grocery bag (yeah, they gave those away at the conference too!)  After my bubble bath, I had a nice quiet picnic in my hotel room watching Dirty Dancing on Netflix.  It was a very long, really fun first day.

Isla Mujeres: the end

A time it was and what a time it was.  All good things must come to an end.  I truly loved my trip.  In part it was the wonderful people I got to share it with, and in part it was the island itself.  Sometimes when I am travelling, there are things I wish I had done differently, that really didn't happen here.  I would get pesos the first day, but that's about it.

I stayed at Los Archos, The Arches.  It was nice and clean, very simple, but it had AC and wifi, both are musts for me.  It is a five minute walk to the beach, and you can rent a chair and umbrella for the day.  There are nicer, more expensive places right on the beach, where chairs and umbrellas are included and you can charge food to the room.  Another hotel is all inclusive, but I would not want that, as there are so many wonderful places to eat for less right on the street.  It is worth comparing prices.  The beach hotels I saw the inside of were Ixchel and Privilege, both were lovely.  Privilege was the all inclusive one.  Again, I think it is worth comparing prices, how often are you going to be on the beach, etc. 

My last day I got to have breakfast with Christy, Christiane, Deliza, and some of Christiane's family.  It was a perfect ending to a perfect long weekend.

I am so thankful I got to share this moment with them.

My room, sorry it's messy, I was packing up.  But you can see it's nice and big for a couple.

There is a safe to store valuables, which I recommend.  And a closet and shelves.

I also had a TV, fridge and microwave.

Bathroom is clean, just don't drink the water.  This is true for all of Mexico, buy bottled.

My view from the balcony.  I would ask for a street view next time.  Although it was really hot out, so it didn't matter.  I never used it anyway.

A note about sunscreen.  Wear it.  I used this turbo-charged sunscreen, and I never burned.  I also only applied about once a day and I was good.  So I recommend this kind.  It did sting when I got some in my eyes.

This tee shirt made me laugh.

There were all kinds of tee shirts.  I liked them, but I knew I would never wear it, so I took this picture instead.

I was all alone!  I kind of liked it actually.

The ferry ride was delightful.  A nice way to wind down after several hectic days.

I am writing this back home in Boston, and the entire trip feels like a dream.  Yes, getting home was miserable to say the least, but I did learn a few things.  Always, always, always get direct flight coming home with international travel.  I don't care what it costs.  Basically after a lovely ferry ride from the island to Cancun, it was all downhill from there.  My flight was delayed an hour, and when I landed in Ft Lauderdale I had to get my bag, go through the longest customs line ever, then immigration, be rescreened, recheck my bag, run to another building to another terminal and the far side of that terminal.  Since more than half of the Cancun flight was flying to Boston, they held the plane for an hour.  And the best part?  It was the same plane we had just disembarked.  But the plane landed in the international terminal and we had to go to the domestic terminal. 

So like I said, lesson learned, direct flight.  But I made it home.  All is well.

Isla Mujeres Day 3

Saturday I planned to be my play day, anything I wanted to do, I would do it.  I bumped into some of Christy's family (her Dad's side) and we went to the Christy approved breakfast spot, Cafe Mogagua. I was still sore from all the dancing (I think everyone had swollen feet, I heard the party finally broke up around 3 or 4am)  so I treated myself to a waffle, something I never order, I usually get eggs, but this was amazing, and all the fruit!  So fresh!

I wanted to to a little shopping next,  The Island is known for its silver and other crafts, but I knew I wanted a necklace.  The shops were open and vendors kept beckoning me into their space, but I like to stroll and check things out that interest me.  So I said a lot of "no gracias" as I kept walking.  I did find some nice jewlery from a seller named Wiley.  He was really nice, and took my American dollars.  Interesting thing about money here.  It is better to have pesos, you can bargin better.  And American dollars are accepted at many places, but they have to be prestine, no writing, not even a single tear.  Banks give people a very hard time and often won't cash a less than perfect bill.  Now I know why my bank lady kept looking to give me fresh bills, she must have known this.  And pesos have to be ordered in advance at my bank.  Next time I would just go to a bank here and withdraw pesos, you get the best rate that way.

Christy had stopped by my hotel earlier before breakfast and told me that they were going back to the club to relax and get some stuff left over from last night.  So after shopping I headed on over and joined them at the pool.  It was fun seeing the place during the day, dance floor gone.  I relaxed in the pool I had been dancing in the night before.  I still wish that I had brought my bathing suit to the wedding.  I wonder how that would have been written on the invitation?  And this little guy was just chillin' by the steps.  Lizzards are like squirrles here.

And the few things meant all the leftover booze.  If a bottle of hard liquer was unopened, they could sell it back to the resort.  Opened, they saved it and Christiane is giving it to her family.  No tequila was left.

Christy, Daliza and I went to see the Turtles, something I really wanted to do so I was happy I could join in. I had a choice of Aztec ruins or turtles, and I chose turtles.  I believe I chose wisely.  We went at the end of the day, and one of the workers let us hold everything.  He was a sweet old man who simply loved Daliza, adorable!

Some of these turtles are deformed, and this center rescues them.  I got to hold big and baby turtles, sea urchines, star fish, I was less adventurous about the crabs.  Since I'm allergic, I know I probably would be just fine, but I didn't want to risk it.  Plus, they were REALLY creepy looking.  Turtles are cute.

Daliza has no fear!

And she was really concerned about the giant snail falling out.

Everyone loved the baby turtles, damaged ones and all.

         Chris is a great driver.  She let me do slow donuts in the parking lot, but the roads can be a bit crazy.
                                                          I was content to let her drive.

We had one last dip in the ocean, and I had tacos on the beach since I was really hungry.  The water and food are what I will miss most, so I made sure to get my fill of them.  Then I was told we were all meeting for a late dinner, oh well.  The tacos were still good.

The Island had a blackout, it was only for an hour or so.  So many people lit the streets with candles and flashlights.  One musician on top of a restaurant played "free falling" in Spanish on his guitar.  It was delightful.  

Another table bought us champagne.  So the girls had a nice toast.

A friend ordered the salted fish, that only comes for two, so a bunch of us shared.  It had to be cracked open and the fish was baked in this salt block, the skin fell off and delicious red snapper, a white fish, was left.  Amazing, not salty at all!  So fresh, so good!

I ordered the simple salad to share, since I had the tacos earlier I really was not hungry.  But salad and fish soon disappeared with everyone at the table.

We were all exhausted, it was a long perfect day.  Daliza did what all of us wished we could have done.

Chris and Chris Wedding

The day is finally here! Chris and Chris are getting married!  I went to the beach in the am, because why wouldn't I?  The water here is quite amazing, to say the least.  Warm, refreshing, and perfect for these hot, humid days.  I then had to do my bridesmaid duty and get primped and painted, all gussied up for the big day.  I was fun to get ready with the brides.

Since the wedding was taking place at the other end of the island, several of us cabbed it there, we nearly ran over a guy on a bike, reaffirming my wise decision to NOT rent a scooter or golf cart.

Zama Beach club is quite amazing.  Simple, elegant and breathtaking.  The ceremony was lovely, and I don't think there was a dry eye to be found (thank goodness for the magic myst they spray to keep makeup on!)

There is a nice long pier lit by candles and you can get a good idea of the reception.

The canopy for the ceremony, with the waves, and sunset, it couldn't be more picture perfect.

See?  See? So simple and amazing.

There are two pools, one on top of the stone wall and this one.  I danced for a while on the top one.  I was really hot!  The dance floor changed colors, and the party went on till 2am,  I lasted to 1.  My feet are still killing me.  But oh boy did we have fun!

Dinner was delicious, chips, dip, cerviche (this green one was amazing with basil and grouper fish, salad, chicken, pork, everything delicious!

Ok, so I was supposed to sit at table 4, but I sat at 5.  I'm a rebel.

Pretty wedding cake.  I was asked to perform one last bridesmaid duty and paint the toppers a few hours before the ceremony.  I'm still suffering post-traumatic artistic disorder.

A rainbow cake!

Lots to choose for dessert, I opted for the bannas and whipped cream.  Yum!

Big Haired Bitches!  Someone called it Mad Men Hair.  I guess I need to watch that show now.

The calm before the storm, pre-ceremony and party hydration.

Funny faces!!!

My Best Friend's Wedding!  25 years of friendship, I was so honored to be a part of this day.

Isla Mujeres Day 1

Traveling to Isla Mujeres requires a plane, a taxi, and a ferry ride. My flight was delayed by 45 min, and then in the Cancun airport the computers at immigration were down. So we had to wait, and wait, and wait. I offered to take a look at their computers, or have them do the check-in old school, I had a pen I was willing to share. After almost an hour  they did just that, not the me helping with computers, but they began doing check-in old school. Right before I got to my agent the computers were up and running.

I found my luggage and went outside to meet my prebooked cab. Miracle beyond miracle, they were still there, about 2 hours after I was supposed to land. I was so thankful they were still there.

It's a pleasant half hour drive to the ferry, and once at the dock I had a moment to take in the beautiful water, while eating a burrito, may it be the first of many. I highly recommend the bar that is part of the dock, delicious food, friendly service. The ferry is small, not what I am used to for ferries, nothing like the Cape Island ferries. So be prepared for a bumpy ride. I stayed inside as I had not put on sunscreen. The weather is glorious, sunny and high 80's. A sweet breeze keeps the humidity way down. 

I bumped into other attendees of the wedding when asking directions to my hotel, the man said we had to take a cab, but I knew it was close, only a few blocks, so I insisted on walking. I'm glad I did as it only took us about 15 minutes, and asking two more times where to go.

I am staying on Hidalgo Street, there are tons of vendors and restaurants, and my little hotel is tucked in.  Los Arcos is clean, quiet, has a fridge, microwave and wi-fi.  Really I don't need more than the fridge and wi-fi.  I was so happy to arrive, that after a little relaxing I was refreshed (and hungry) and went exploring.  When I was having a drink, I bumped into Chris, who was heading in the direction of my hotel.  I was the last of the wedding party to arrive, most have been here for days, but I'm here! 

Los Arcos on the busy street.

My first guac and chips, may it be the first of many!

The view from Christy's hotel.  Mine is of a back alley, so I won't show that.  Christy's is beautiful.

Two goofballs

The water and sunset here is spectacular.

I had to put on my suit and go swimming at night.  It was so beautiful and warm, I'm so glad I did.

Fish tacos.  I love the food here!

The street I am staying on.  My hotel is the orange building.

Stray dogs and cats are everywhere,  People put collars on them, but they still are strays.
They are very friendly and are used to tourists feeding them.