My column this week is a bit different. I traveled to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico this past week to celebrate my BF Amy MacDonald’s 50th birthday and her success at beating breast cancer.
Two years ago she was diagnosed on Sammy Hagar’s birthday after she returned from his concert in Las Vegas. She’s a Red Head which I know understand is a die hard Sammy Hagar fan.
Her dream was to travel to Cabo on her 50th to celebrate since their birthdays are the same month. My sister too has battled breast cancer so yes, this is personal, it could be me someday.
Fifteen of us traveled and were treated to the generosity of Julie and Dave Locatelli in using their points for their timeshare and stayed at Villa de Arco which is amazing.
I roomed with her two sisters Liz Hiatt and Peggy Matucci. The trip consisted of hanging by the pool with the friends, getting to know each other, eating yummy tacos and guacamole and drinking icy alcoholic beverages. My favorite? The Caesar Palace and the Dirty Monkey. Not all of us got tickets to any of the four concerts he was holding at Cabo Wabo his nightclub in downtown Cabo.
But we hung out at the side entrance to the club to see if we could catch any of the band members arriving. On Tuesday we ventured down to hang out and it was my first time at this fan stalking behavior and I was surprise enthusiasm.
I was skeptical but being the overly friendly person I am I started up conversations with the local press and quickly got Amy involved. His personal chef was also there and we chatted up what it’s like to be the chef of a famous person and all his famous friends. We took pictures with them and they were pretty happy with the attention that I’m sure they never usually get.
Amy had a set list in Sammy’s own writing that she got on Sunday at the previous concert from his manager, Steve. She had it with her and as Sammy emerged from the Suburban with wife Kari and Amy got ready. She got him to autograph the set list and we snapped some pretty amazing pictures of those that arrived at the little side entrance.
Jason Bonham, Vic Johnson and Michael Anthony arrived and Peggy got a photo opt with Jason. Even ex-boxer Oscar de la Jolla showed up! We met so many people from all over the United States that came to see Sammy’s famous birthday bash week it was amazing.
During this trip we had noteworthy service from the staff at the hotel and just about every person who we encountered. It’s nice to be on vacation, people are usually pretty happy and easy to get along with. There were a few special encounters that I wanted to share with you all.
On a walking trip back to our hotel I wanted to stop at the local fire station that we had passed a few times in the cab. They had a store at the station that sold T-shirts that I later found out helps fund the department. I wanted to pick one up for my husband Jim who is a retired Milpitas fire captain. As we were waiting I noticed a poster of a dog wash fundraiser with a Rotary Wheel at the top. As a Rotarian this of course caught my attention. It was asking for a 100 pesos donation to help raise funds for the local humane society and the fire department.
This translates to $5.26 in American dollars. I donated $100 pesos and bought a t-shirt. I talked with the Fire Captain, Enrique Angulo Ortega, and pretty much interviewed him on the spot.
He said the area is rebuilding after the devastating hurricane two years ago. This is evident everywhere you look but there is new construction as well. It’s been 19 years since I’ve been to Cabo and the changes are very evident. They have a mall with many American stores and many strip malls and new building.
But the poverty still shows with shacks used for housing on the outskirts of town and families with small children selling gum and toys on the streets. You still get bombarded on the beach by the vendors but it is the best prices for silver jewelry and if you can handle the bartering this is the place to shop. I sat through a timeshare presentation and understand the draw, I’d go back every year if I could.
We ate at one of the top five coolest places in the world at the Sunset Mona Lisa. A beautiful placed built on the cliff of Sunset Point with outdoor tables built on the cliffs. The food was amazing and I need to figure out how to make their rosemary sorbet with cheesecake. We learned the dessert chef was at the University of Mexico in town and created amazing treats.
We received a special sample platter of desserts just for Amy’s birthday and it was extraordinary. Out of the entire trip the one conversation I had that affected me most was with a young security guard at a neighboring hotel.
Yes, we were trying to sneak in to see the pool and grounds. We chatted with him and he shared that many Mexicans think Americans hate them because of Donald Trump and his followers. I was overwhelmingly sad and tried in my poor Spanish and his broken English to say that we are not all the same. We tried to say this is not the case and we asked him to pray for us Americans through this next election.
We wrapped the trip up by sitting together one evening playing Cards Against Humanity, which I would recommend if you aren’t squeamish or a prude. Yes, I’ll be getting that game for myself pronto. Home safe and back at it.
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