We were out for dinner one evening and as things quieted in the restaurant, the owner/chef came over to have a glass of wine with us. I asked him where he and his partner go after a full evening in their restaurant. The answer surprised me a little-the Palm Room at the Fort Garry Hotel.

We had often visited the beautifully restored room for a drink before or after an event at the hotel but it hadn’t occurred to us to make the bar our destination for the evening.

Even though it was early on a Saturday evening and we had been reassured when I called ahead, that there would be room, there was not a single seat available.

The wait wasn’t terribly long though and soon we were seated with a glass of wine and our favourite cold local craft beer on their way. While our drinks were en route, we listened to the songs of the piano man, a lovely bonus to the evening.

We had come from a Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre matinee and still had another stop that evening, so we decided to order light. We had recently visited Portugal and got into the habit of ordering seafood every chance we could get. The only shrimp selection on the menu were dumplings which we thought a bit odd, until we tasted them.

Rivaling authentic har gow that we select when we are at a dim sum restaurant, they were delicate and perfectly steamed so that the seafood almost had a crunch.

I am completely hooked on any dish that has truffle oil as an ingredient. This inauspicious wild mushroom burger was fabulous with white truffle aioli and creamy Havarti. Even the bun was delectable as my husband and I pledged an oath to never settle for a Kaiser hamburger bun again. So too, the fries were exceptional-starting with a high quality potato and I suspect the use of a double-frying method.

The room itself provides one of the most pleasant ambiences in the city. The service was top-notch and everything from start to finish was perfection. Who knew?

Kath’s quote: “All food is the gift of the gods and has something of the miraculous, the egg no less than the truffle.”-Sybille Bedford

Love never fails.

When we heard about the family wedding that was to be held in Phoenix just after Christmas, we were all very excited about making the trip. After all, the groom (D’s nephew) had come all the way to Winnipeg for two of our family weddings. The dilemma was, how would we all afford plane fares and hotel accommodations? There were 11 of us: D’s Mom and brother, our three and their spouses and two grandbabies. D did the research and an Air BnB was the perfect solution.

We took an early morning flight so that when we arrived at the condo complex, our house wasn’t quite ready for us. They allowed us to leave our luggage locked on the front patio and make use of their beautiful recreational space.

There were two swimming pools, one which was heated and the other which was not. Even though it was winter for the locals, we Winnipeggers found the weather and the heated pool quite lovely.

In addition to the two swimming pools, there was a splash pad and two hot tubs. The Wee Ones preferred the hot tub to the splash pad and later in the week, the eldest of the Wee Ones actually learned how to swim under the tutelage of her Daddy.

There was also an outdoor shower and full sets of washrooms right by the pool so we were covered off in that department too. Although we never had an opportunity to use them, there were barbeques in the common space as well as an outdoor fire pit.

The pool area was well used by our group but there was never anyone else there. This was a lovely opportunity for us to host other family members and even the bride and groom one afternoon.

The high end complex offered up indoor space as well. The guys were pleased with the gym machines and nearing the end of our stay I checked out the entertaining space that could reserved if you were a resident. There was also a movie theatre that we chatted about using but ran out of time.

But I digress. I am certain that you can understand that spending time around the pool while finishing touches went into our house for the week was no hardship in the least.

Kath’s quote: “Arizona is young and daring. She is not tied to precedent, to convention, to other states’ ways of doing things…. She is bent on making her own ways, and in her own way. Her mistakes will be her own, and her triumphs likewise”. ~George Wharton James

Love never fails.

On our final day we were up at 630 am for the sunrise. It did not fail to delight us.

We took one last golf cart scoot into town and back again.

We had arranged to drop off the golf cart at 830 am where we were met by Eduardo who took us to a boat. We were being treated to AGI Tours VIP service. See the link here. It was a lovely ride over with 2 other couples (a Dentist married to a Dermitologist). We had our own van to the airport. Easy Peasy. And just like that we were home.

Kath’s quote: “Wow. I’ve never been a VIP before. I’ve never even been a IP“.Sophie Kinsella

Love never fails.

Our last day full day, what will it hold? We made plans as we basked in another gorgeous sunrise.

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We would soon miss “our” Isla home.

D talked me into breakfast out even though I was concerned about eating all the left overs in our fridge. We went to Mango for stuffed poblano and coconut French toast (me). We absolutely love Mango’s.

We took the golf cart there and back. We took some beautiful pics at the church across the street.

We emptied our kitchen and dropped off a bunch of leftover goodies with Hortenzia. Then we spent a couple of hours at the beach, wading in the water, taking some last pictures and reading. D finished his 2^nd book in 2 days.

When we came “home” D confirmed arrangements at Sunset Grill as well as our VIP service in the morning. We sipped Kahlua while our bathing suits and my hair dried.

I wrote all about our dinner at Sunset Grill in this link.

We started watching the exquisite sunset from Sunset Grill

and then carried on from our trusty golf cart.

We walked Hidalgo one last time and treated ourselves to Ferrero Roche gelato for dessert.

Kath’s quote: “It isn’t how much time you spend somewhere that makes it memorable: it’s how you spend the time”. -David Brenner

Love never fails.

On our second to last full day, D has walked into town. We are working out some logistics about paying for this year, booking next year and where we want to eat our last meals and see our last glimpses of the sea.

A rare photo of me. I am usually the one holding the camera.

We love the Caribbean side of the island. If we were ever able to stay some place long term, it would have to have at least a glimpse of the water.

I especially enjoy looking at this home where you can see the water right through the house.

The colours that Lo Lo painted her home have always been my favourite.

We had a long and lovely cart ride through Colonias so that I could take some last photos and then home for reads, hammock time and amazing left overs from Angelo’s.

Our progressive dinner (we do one every year) commenced early with a booze delivery to Javi’s and sampling their fried asparagus which was fantastic.

Next stop was Mininoes for Camaroon Soup. Also delicious.

The sunset from their second floor was sensational.

From Mininoes we walked into Centro to decide on our next course.

Do I love blue because it is the colour of the Caribbean or because it is the colour of my Love’s eyes?

We enjoyed entrees of fish cakes and drunken noodles with shrimp at Asia Caribe. Unfortunately the light was not complimentary to my photo taking. Suffice it to say, they were delicious to see and eat!

We were too full to sample their amazing desserts but ended sharing churros as we strolled “home” to the airport strip. Our island time was almost at an end.

Kath’s quote: “If you come home as happy as you leave, you have had a good vacation“. -Unknown

Love never fails.