ARRIBA!

went to mexico with my girlfriend for a week in august (13th to the 20th to be exact). stayed at a resort named "canto del sol" in the HOT AND HUMID city of puerto vallarta.

everyone was so friendly, but it was so hot. i actually ended up getting sunburn. ME! a brown dude getting sunburn. quite embarrassing. i guess it was the endless hours in the swimming pool drinking pina coladas and vampiros.

yeah, i tried not to focus solely on beer and go straight for the hard drinks, may as well make the most of the all-inclusiveness.

many things to do in the crazy city, lots of tours and shopping and drinking and happiness

but so hot and humid, in the 40s with humidity

but for my list of things to do, i checked off most of the items

-i purchased myself an oversized sombrero by the flea market salesperson who kept calling me "brother" and saying all the goods in the store were "almost free"
-i went horseback riding (from hell) in the sierra madres
-i ate things i've never heard of
-took shots of tequila
-lounged in a pool until my skin became all wrinkly and i looked retired

however, one thing on the list that i assumed would be done quite easily, was not checked off. and that was to befriend someone named "julio"

in my whole week in mexico, i did not meet one person named "julio"
there was a carlos (who was the signature vacations dude that helped us arrange our touring expeditions), a cesar (which doesn't really cut it, cause i have a friend named caesar at home [and my friend spells his name properly]), a few antonios (one of whom led the horseback ride from hell), a sebastien (who aided me during the hellride) a rafael who was our regular waiter at the hotel restaurant, a cervando (who was the city tour guide and wouldn't shut up about the famous 1963 film "NIGHT OF THE IGUANA" starring richard burton which put puerto vallarta on the map), and even a felipe (he served me fish during my last dinner there)

but no julio, not even one.
*sigh*

there were even people hired there to entertain at the pool
they were known as activities personell, must be a great job to have
they were also part of the evening dance shows the hotel would present

the costumes were..... interesting to say the least

i remember heather turning to me and saying "do you see their outfits and tights?"
and i replied "do you see their gay?"

needless to say, the hotel was great
and i was drunk