February 29, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Moving Day.

This is the first time in my life that I have travelled on the day of Leap Year. At least, not I remember. Today I leave this lovely place in Mexico. I like it here but now I am looking forward to seeing my Mississippi family and my lovely home on the Reservoir. My time at Playa Royale has been delightful and I have enjoyed my company. Now my guests are gone and I must move on. I fly to Houston, then to Jackson where I will take a Lyft home. Last time I forgot to take my phone off airplane mode so was unable to connect to Lyft but I bet I do not make the same mistake today. Now I must make one last trip to the locker, eat my breakfast, left for me by Rita, then get dressed and take a taxi to the airport. The day will be long but I will work hard to keep the journey interesting. I am set for moving on to my next adventure.

February 28, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. My Last Beach Lunch.

Kathy and Ted are good friends. They both helped me when Ken was in the hospital. We had only met them the year before and they visited us in Nova Scotia the same summer along with Ted's grandchildren, so they were not long time friends. But they were good friends. They took turns visiting Ken both in the hospital and when he was recovering in the condo and they brought me dinner several times when I returned from the hospital. They helped in a practical way as well as emotional help. They were a Godsend. And two summers ago they visited us in Nova Scotia and were astonished to see Ken going up and down the stairs with ease. Ted had to admit that he felt that Ken was never being able to get out of the hospital. So they are dear, good friends. They have been here the whole time that I have been here and I have been with them many times but I have never been with them with just the three of us. They had company and I had company and I chat with them at the pool but today, for my last day, they invited me to the beach restaurant for lunch. We caught up on our families. And we talked. Last year they spent 3 months in New Zealand and Australia so I did not see them. Their plan was to visit me in Nova Scotia but their plans c hanged and when they could come our place was full. This year, they have a busy summer with weddings so will not be able to come to Nova Scotia but they will definitely be here at Playa Royale next January and February. And so will I. The setting is spectacular and the food was excellent but the company was the best. Thanks to Kathy and Ted for taking me for lunch on my last day. Now I look forward to seeing them next time.

February 27, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Italian Ladies.

Rosa sits at the same palapa every day. When I go to the pool I sit with Rosa too because last year after Ken died she invited me to join her under her palapa. All the other Italian ladies sit with Rosa too. Because I am sitting with Rosa, the new ladies do not know I am not Italian so I listen to their conversations which are half English and half Italian. This afternoon was a perfect example. I was sitting talking to Rosa when one by one, four Italian ladies came by to join in the conversation. One of the ladies has an ill mother in law who lives in Italy. She started to talk about the food she eats in the home of her mother in law that she can not eat anywhere in the world. The ladies joined in. It was very funny. Then they talked about the food their grandchildren will not eat. One by one they were laughing about the food they have eaten all their lives but they can not serve to their grandchildren. They all thought it was a hoot and described how they disguise the food to trick the children. The topic of dishes came up. Rosa said that her father wanted dinner served on the best china every evening. And they used serving dished on the table and multiple plates throughout the meal. But Rosa laughed that her children and grandchildren will not hear of it. They want the kitchen dished for every meal. The other ladies all agreed. And no one wants the beautiful dishes. The ladies think it is a big joke and the conversation was hilarious. I enjoyed every minute.

February 26, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Balcony Neighbors.

Our complex here consists of five towers of condominiums, built into a large horseshoe. The large center houses the pool and shrubs along with all the palm trees. About ten feet from our balcony rail, at an angle is another balcony rail. We work hard to not intrude on our balcony neighbors by keeping our dining table well away from their balcony and they do the same with us. These folks own their condo and have done so all the years we have been here too. So theoretically, we should be good friends but that is not the case because they never come out onto their balcony. Suzanne R. had a conversation with the man years ago and I have chatted with the lady only once, until this year. When they have company, they eat outside but never when by themselves. This winter, Rita has had two conversations with the lady and I had one. She is very nice but it is mystery what they do all day. Day after day we never see them. At night, the lights are on in the living room and we suspect that they watch TV every evening. This afternoon the man was sitting on a chair talking on the phone. But he quickly went inside. Our balcony neighbors live in Calgary where he owns a business. He is very short and very round. The Health organization in Alberta refused to pay for him to have his bad hips replaced so he had them done in Mexico during the winter, which cost him $27,000. each. She is delighted which is probably why she was keen to chat with us this season. We eat all our meals on the balcony and we never see them. Because they have full ownership, they come frequently through the year. But we never see them. We call them our mystery neighbors. But at least they make no noise so we are happy.

February 25, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Moving Out.

Thursday morning, Rita and Ian leave to return to Ontario. They wish to assist me in loading my belongings into the lockers just down the balcony. This morning I organized my clothes and set them on the dining table and I put stuff in carrying bags like shoes and shampoos etc. Tomorrow we will load the lockers. Last week I returned to the locker any thing I had not used this season so one shelf is already almost full. I will do a final laundry on Friday and load the rest of my things to the locker before leaving for Mississippi myself on Saturday. We were left with three bottles of unopened wine so we invited our friends for a goodby glass tomorrow night. Unfortunately we are out of sunset food. I was happy with only inviting friends for a glass of wine with no food but Rita took over and bought guacamole at the market. And she found some cheese at the back of the fridge. We have lots of crackers too. So we are having a party. My neighbors Margaret and David who just arrived on Sunday will be here, along with friends Kathy and Ted. Jim and Joan will be here too along with their daughter and her fiancé, who will arrive tomorrow. So we will be 11 people here. We might run out of wine. But on Saturday I am moving out once again. I am already looking forward to seeing my Mississippi family.

February 24, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. A Morning at the Spa.

Rita and I indulged our selves. When I turned 50, the agents gave me a gift certificate for a pedicure, a manicure and a facial. I have been having pedicures ever since but have never again gotten either a facial or manicure. But this morning, Rita and I went to the spa at the golf club for our morning at the spa. First we sat on lounge chairs drinking cucumber water and eating nuts while wearing a beige gown. We were so busy we forgot to have a hot tub. They keep the place dark which meant that I needed to keep tight to Rita';s arm. After more cold cucumber water we went for our treatment. First was the massage. I had not had a massage for years so I enjoyed it thoroughly. There were many reasons why I had not been having massages but now I am hale and hearty so was up for a massage. About ten years ago I was having a massage when the therapist pushed extra hard on my shoulders and tipped the cot with my head heading to the floor. Fortunately, I was caught because I certainly was in no position to catch myself. Nothing untoward occurred today. After my massage, all I needed to do was stay on my back for the facial. I have no idea what the therapist put on my face but I know my facial took as long as the massage. Many different things were out on my face and then removed. I actually fell asleep during the process. We were both told to not wash our faces for four hours. Ian, Kathy and Ted met us at the golf club for lunch. All three told us that we had been transformed. But I do not believe them.

February 23, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Pool People.

The folks around the pool have changed. This week a whole new group has moved in. I hardly recognized anyone today. In fact, on Monday when I was in the hot tub a lady came over to speak to me. She said she was delighted to see me again and was pleased to see that I was again at Playa. Today she passed me again on the deck of the pool and hugged me as she and her family were heading to the beach. My problem is that I have no idea who she is and when I got to know her. But pool people are like that. This week I chatted with a couple from Winnipeg. It takes me 45 minutes to get through my exercises in the deep water and we talked the whole time. I have not seen them since but when I do, I will feel as if they were old friends. . My friend who I do not know told me that she had been looking for me all week but did not see me so she was delighted to spot me today. Now I must figure out who she is and where I got to know her, all the while I must pretend I know her. Whew. Since I arrived January 5 the same folks had been at the pool. Ted and Kathy I see and I always sit with Rosa. But even she noted that a whole new group has arrived. The Italians who stop to visit her are new this week so I have had to get to know a whole new group. In the early years here most people were owners but now many folks are renting. I suppose the full time owners have gotten old so rent out their units. The new groups are younger too. My hot tub friends of this year have gone home. And soon I will be home too. The caste of characters at the pool are always changing. Except for my friend Rosa. She is always at her same palapa which pleases me.