Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Final Thoughts from Mexico


Sunday and Monday in Mexico after the wedding were days for family, friends and some reflections.

The beach at nearby Playa del Carmen with the Isle of Cozumel in the distance.

Koreen and Laurie shopping for silver jewelry in Playa del Carmen.

These two moved another step closer on Sunday to their goal of cornering the world's silver market.

No, amazingly, I didn't have any of the juice of the agave plant during the festivities.

Mike is colorful young man.

I'm thinking about not going back to Catania in order to start my career in "Lucha Libre".

Who wouldn't stay in an ivy covered hotel in Mexico? 

The Contreras boys in front of the Cuban restaurant and bar,
"La Bodeguita del Medio", in Playa del Carmen.

The original one is in Old Habana and Ernest Hemingway said it was where he went to get his mojito.

Ernest is INDEED correct, this mojito deserves it's reputation!

The kids at La Bodeguita del Medio for lunch.

To the left is a portrait of Benny More, a noted Cuban musician.

Osvaldo is the Bodeguita's Havana native manager and a good guy.

He informed me that they now have a "Bodeguita del Medio" in Milan, Italy.  I am going to have to take Laurie and Maria Clara, my cousin who lives there along with her husband and daughter, to eat there when we play in Milan at the end of the season.

Two playful iguanas at the Sandos Caracol Resort. 

Our favorite swim-up bar.

Here the Contreras boys test out the latest High-Tech raft used to cross the Straights of Florida from Cuba to freedom.

It has been named the "Official Raft of Alpha 66", a VERY right wing anti-Castro Cuban immigrant group from Florida.

Koreen and Laurie enjoying some pool time.

Koreen looking Aussie-ish. 

Brian and Koreen at the Iguana Bar.

When does the Jimmy Buffett concert start?

Not to be outdone by Mike, Andy and Jenn join the Mexican Hat Mania!

An Elephant Omen... time to get back to work in Catania.

Kind of sums up the weekend.

I had breakfast at Bubba Gump's in the Cancun Airport at 6:00 a.m. and saw this quote from Forrest himself.

Love can take many forms but to me the most important are the love of a good woman, the love of parents for their children and the love for your friends.  Now obviously these three forms of love are all different in passion, emotion and intensity but they are all still love nonetheless.

These few days in Mexico was a celebration of all three types for me.  What I have with Laurie, the pride I feel for Andy and Mike, the feelings I have for Jenn and Vanessa and the wonderful friends that are Brian and Koreen are all relationships I cherish dearly!

Oh, and by the way, I love going to Mexico too.
 

Sunday, February 15, 2009

St. Valentine's Wedding Day


Being VERY excited, I woke up at about 5:00 a.m. wanting to see what kind of day Andy had ordered for the wedding... a GREAT one it turns out!

Stretching at Sunrise

Definitely NOT me!

The birds liked the sunrise too!

"Here comes the Sun..."

The Sandos Caracol Resort looks like it is ready for this VERY special day.

Spaniards

In my travels in Europe I have found Spaniards to be very fun loving people who will leap at any chance to sing and dance.  Exhibit "A" are these youngsters who are finishing an all-nighter at 6:30 a.m. in one of the Sandos Caracol's 24 hour bars.

Michael Contreras, a.k.a., "The Best Man"

Passionate about calcio/soccer he wanted to wear his Forza Catania kit to the wedding... cooler heads prevailed.

At breakfast, filling up one last time before the 11:00 a.m. wedding ceremony on the sands of the Caribbean Sea.

Jenn's sister, Amy on the left, with Andy and Jenn's close friend Rhonda who origiunally introduced them.

Rhonda's three daughters from shortest to tallest, Chloe, Sierra and Bailey.

The aisle of their open air wedding.

Hard to beat these three Queens!

Laurie in the front, with Koreen FitzGerald and Vanessa Perez, Mike's fiancee, on the right.

The sand and the water looked PERFECT just minutes before the start of the ceremony!

The weather was fabulous with temperatures at about 30 degrees Celsius which equates to 86 degrees Fahrenheit.  A gentle sea breeze made it quite comfortable.

Brothers Andy and Mike Contreras

Damn!  Maybe Mike should have gone with his calcio/soccer kit.

Jenn's Bouquet

HERE COMES THE BRIDE!

Jenn's father, Joe, escorting her down the aisle.

While most of us opted for casual footwear, Jenn decided to go formal.

The view from the Caribbean Sea side of the Wedding Arch.

The "I do's"

"Seal it with a kiss"

I have now officially earned a new title, "Father-in-Law"!

Mr. and Mrs. Andy and Jenn Contreras

Mike offering a very sweet Wedding Toast.

Cupid?

Well it WAS Valentine's Day after all!

They were just checking to be sure that the arrow scars were healing properly.

Meet the Parents

Joe and Susan Gross, Jenn and Andy Contreras, Laurie and George Contreras

The Wedding Party

The Matron-of-Honor was Jenn's sister Amy and Mike was the Best Man.
 
Two VERY proud, VERY happy and, at least on my part, VERY emotional parents!

The Contreras Clan plus Vanessa Perez whose application for membership is still being studied by Contreras family elders. 

Early reports are positive about her inclusion.  The final word should come down from on high sometime this August.

The FitzGeralds

Brian and Koreen are easily are best friends in the Western Hemisphere.  I can not begin to tell you how much it meant to Laurie and me to have them come down to the Playa del Carmen area of Quintana Roo, Mexico to share this very special moment.  THANKS!!!

Group Photo

Seen here are all of the family and friends who made the trip to Mexico. 

A Moment of Solitude

Table for 22 please.

The usually shy Chloe taking center stage.

Andy with his new niece, Sasha.

Cutting the Wedding Cake

Kind of a tiramasu filling and DELICIOUS!

They were nice to each other.

At night, the Wedding Aisle was turned into a tribute to Mt. Etna.

Bottom line...
This was TRULY a great day!  Laurie and I are both so very happy for Andy and Jenn.