The oasis in the desert

[Pete E]

My buddy Howard gave me all the "pro" imformation.He told me today
I am like a man crawling across the desert dying of thirst but I am just about to get to the Corona brewery. ( Cali) I think he thinks I'm long overdue ( he is right) and ought to take care of that right away.He even offered to set it up for me the night I arrive.Now thats the kind of guy you need looking out for you.
But I think I will maybe not proceed quite that fast.
Howard is one guy I know would not have tolerated 10% of what I did for 10% of the time I did.I think its been difficult  for him to watch what I was going through without giving me a swift kick in the a-s. He says he is really happy for me to be moving on and get something exciting going in my life.Of course if you asked me I would have told you I never ever would have done what I did either.But I did.Yes I was pretty hooked on that little girl.
I am flying in to Cali Dec 7.A girl who works for Howard is picking me up.No,she is not in to that kind of work,just knows where to find it should I desire.She has scouted some condos for me.I need to see them myself but hopefully I can move in one within a week.
Howard is one of my favorite guys,and I never would have met him if I didn't post my original story here when I first met my wife.We mailed,then talked,then met in Cali.We have been together in Cali,Las Vegas,northern Ca. where I live and southern Ca. where he lives.He is in Cali 6-8 times a year,so I will see him alot more there.
Along with pursuing our favorite subject here,good looking latinas,has come the opportunity to meet some really great guys.
One of the great things about living in Cali is I will have an opportunity to meet alot of you guys as you come through.Sounds like fun to me.

Pete

[cancunhound]

... in response to The  oasis  in  the  desert, posted by Pete E on Nov 26, 2003

Enjoy your Corona!  Looks like I'll be drinking Sol (You know in Mexico that Corona crap is like our Bud).  I just landed 4 tickets to Cancun for under $500 (yes that's with tax - and that's 4 tickets!) on about the same date.  Probably won't see much of Cancun, I usually prefer the stretch south in the 'Riviera' or Isla Mujeres - much cheaper and less commercial - nowadays I just walk up, pick a hotel and bargain for the rate and don't bother with reservations (car rental secured at $20/day with tax - some things are cheap in that area).

Hadn't really thought about it before since not much is mentioned on the board about Mexico, but the Cancun area has some pretty sharp looking latinas - the gals that work at all the resorts there speak English and are usually imports from further inland so they're not all the Mayan type - any guy that has access to the last minute deals on the charter flights should check it out.  I lost count of the number of my trips there, when they throw out $79 r/t airfare it's kind of hard to pass up.  Anyway, I'll buy you that skunk-Corona back in Cali next time I'm down if you don't accept the Aguila.

[A1A]

... in response to Re: The  oasis  in  the  desert, posted by cancunhound on Nov 27, 2003

Cancun is my vacation home away from home, been going there each year for the last 5 years.  I agree with you, I'll take a Sol over Corona anytime.  On my solo trip this past October, I had dinner with one on the mexicanas that is a waitress at the restaurant across from my hotel,on her night off.  She was from Mexico City, attractive girl, gave me some tips on restaurants in town, get the arrechera tacos at La Parilla, wow, the picante sausa had me crying.  Funny thing they brought me the gringo menu (in english 80 pesos), but I saw on the board out front 40 pesos, 4 bucks, so I got a menu en espanol, 40 pesos, no problema.
 The travel chanel rated Cancun beaches in the top 10 in the world.  I always walk down to Club Med and snorkel at the reef there.  Not a lot of fish, but a good variety and it is free.  Enjoy your trip.
A1A

[denvermike]

... in response to Re: The  oasis  in  the  desert, posted by cancunhound on Nov 27, 2003

I call Corona "almost" a beer when you gotta put a lime in it to give it some taste.

Speaking of Cancun, (which is "almost" Mexico) I really like the place despite the fact that it is gringoville. I like to drop by at least once a year for four or five days. Any longer than that and you would have to put me six feet under. Over the years I have discovered that there is a direct relationship between being hung over and drinking Tequila.

On one of my solo trips, I met a cute little Mexican woman and we had a great time for a couple of days. I figure what is the point in going to Cancun if all you are going to meet is AWs? I was surprized, this woman worked in the tourist industry, can you imagine that!

[cancunhound]

... in response to Re: Re: The  oasis  in  the  desert, posted by denvermike on Nov 27, 2003

I'll second that.  Another rule of thumb that I apply is - can the beer be enjoyed lukewarm?  Now that's a tough one!

I've been going down to Cancun since the '70s when it was nothing more than a couple of resorts and the govt built the infrastructure there.  Now - what a change.  That's why I rent a car and head south!  There are some beaches (if you know where to go) that are truly spectacular.  Beaches of course are a personal affair, but since I'm rambling - here's my favorites in no particular order:

* South Padre Island, TX:  I believe I heard that it is the most expansive beach in the world (for walking).  It's seasonable, but super nice.  Ironically it's the least accesible for me with a homebase in Texas!

* Tayrona, Colombia:  The private nooks to be found there are incredible, with mountain backdrop to boot - all with crystal clear water - kind of a clean Acapulco!  Access is a chore however.

* Negril, Jamaica:  It's not that pretty, there are no waves, but there is something about that place - it is just fun.  I dread having to arrive in the Montego Bay airport - but it's still worth it and the jerk chicken is !!!!!

* Playa del Carmen, MX:  One can find some truly swimmable beaches around this area.  Clear water, white sand - just have to watch out for the occasional coral on the feet.

* Cancun, MX:  The beach varies depending where you're located - there are some outstanding areas and some crappy ones.  Regardless - the sand is pristine coral white.  Great walking beach also - takes one day to walk from the northwest all the way south to Club Med (I'd do it again!).  Oh yeah - the wife likes the malls.

Now my Crap list?  I've gotta bunch, but I wouldn't want to start a war here (it would include San Andres, Cayman, Curacao, etc...).

[denvermike]

... in response to The lime, posted by cancunhound on Nov 27, 2003

Now we are talking about a subject near to my heart, sunny beaches.

I agree with you on South Padre, great long beaches, but you do get an occasional drop of oil stuck to your skin, great place to build sandcastles, the sand is perfect, the sand also gets super hot in the summer, ouch!

I also like Playa Del Carmen

I usually stay at the Camino Real in Cancun, great tourista beaches, "otra cerveza chico", I can´t say I was impressed with Isla Mujeres though.

I really like the beaches on Captiva Island near Fort Myers and Sanibel Florida, great place to rent a beach house and hang out.  You may want to ask what a Sanibel snow shovel i?

I like the beaches in Kauai in Hawaii, the water is wild at times, damn near drowned in the undertow one day.  Maui is pretty but mild and over developed compared to Kauai

The beaches in Bora Bora are very pretty but small, very South Sea islands, But the water is spectacularly clear and warm

But my favorite beaches are in Australia, Surfers Paradise in eastern Australia near Brisbane is great.  The beach from Hillary´s Cove to Fremantle near Perth in WA is my favorite beach to date.  It has everthing. It has one of the nicest bike paths you will ever find.

I am always looking for a new place to get sand in my swimsuit

I was dissapointed in the beaches on Aruba, plus it was too windy for my taste.

The beaches near Cape Town South Africa are pretty but not that great, the Atlantic side is super cold and rough, but the Indian Ocean side is nice (great wine area too)

The beaches in Chile are pretty but the water is too bloody cold (I can´t feel my legs!). In the summer months you don´t see many folks in the water without a wetsuit.  For example, you find the occasional dead pinguin on the beach. Plus the surf is big and super dangerous at times.    

mike

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: The  oasis  in  the  desert, posted by cancunhound on Nov 27, 2003

I decided I like Pacifico better than Corona.Corona to me doesn't taste that good without the lime,Pacifico does.
I was drinking Anguilas in Cali and they were OK if you added the lime.And about 1/3 the cost of Corona.I think I have had most of the local brews but there might be some regional ones that are OK I haven't tried.
I was in Isla Mujures once.It is sister cities with St.Petersburg and there is a sailboat race every year,from St. Pete to Isla mujures.I got to go one time with a friend.I flew home.4 1/2 days sailing open water was 4 days too long.I spent some time in Cancun also.But didn't meet any locals,it was all tourists there.But I just stayed in the tourist areas.

Pete

[denvermike]

... in response to The  oasis  in  the  desert, posted by Pete E on Nov 26, 2003

I can relate to the "oasis in the desert" comment.  I recall my first few months in Santiago after having got divorced in the USA and started the dating scene after 20 years.

My advice is to not go ape s*** but you probably will anyway, I know I sure did. I would not jump into any serious relationship for at least a year.  Date lots of women, get over ex-wife, and have the time of your life.  You will run into some bad apples along the way but you have so many other choices you really won´t care.

You may found as I did that when you live in a place where you can for the most part pick and choose between a number of nice younger women, your yearning to find a committed relationship will vanish. I have discovered here that I really like being single and thought of being married again is not important to me.

Stay away from the pros, that situation will lead nowhere. But you may have to try it just to prove it to yourself.  Most things in life are learned the hard way.

You may find an interesting irony that when you live in Cali that the women who are most interested in gringos really just want to get out of Cali and they aren´t interested in a "live-in" gringo.

I have found the opposite in Santiago.  I have met only a few women who actually wanted to live in the States, most that I know would hate the USA.  Most Chileans are so conceited about their country they couldn´t imagine living somewhere else (much like Californians). I know a few of my co-workers who transferred back to the States with their Chilean wifes and had a rough time of it. Down here even if you are middle class you have a maid.

You are about to enter a major transition period in your life, slow down and take it a bit easy, and in no time you will be you again.

One caution, you will find lots of people (male and female) who only want to get their hands in your wallet, so be very careful who you trust with money.

good luck

mike

[Red Clay]

... in response to Re: The  oasis  in  the  desert, posted by denvermike on Nov 27, 2003

Hmmm, not a very ringing endorsement for the women of Cali as being good marriage material. I keep hearing little things like that lately. I know some of you here are happily married to Calenas, but if I was still looking, I'd be wondering about my chances there.

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: The  oasis  in  the  desert, posted by denvermike on Nov 27, 2003

Mike,
Yes it will be intersesting to see who is not intersested if a trip to the states and green card are not involved.
I think I will tell them I am just taking some time off before I decide to build houses in Panama or somewhere else.
Which is something I am thinking about.I don't see being in the US other than about a 30-60 day loop the country trip every summer.For along time I have thought I would like to live in the Western US mountains 4 months a year,8 months somewhere warm in the winter.I gave up snow skiing for tropical vacations along time back.I have thought of Florida,but since I have an independent income further south and less costly sounds better,even if I had a chica already.
Yes,I'm sure if you live there motivation to pick just one or get married diminishes.
We will see.I may even get down to Chile sometime.A lady I met on my lasdt trip was from Ecuador but had little good to say about latin America.She said Chile is the only place she would consider living.I was interseted in it but the agency adds drew me to Cali.

Pete

[denvermike]

... in response to Re: Re: The  oasis  in  the  desert, posted by Pete E on Nov 27, 2003

I tend to agree with your friend about Chile.  It is really the only place I would be happy for on a long term basis in SA.  It has all the convenience of living in the US (I get to watch the Broncos suck every Sunday on Direct TV) but it has the relatively low cost of general services such as maids and the like.  Except for places like Perth, Australia, Santiago is the best foreign assignment place in the mining world.

It is really amazing how few people (outside the mining and telecom business)know how nice it is in Chile. Especially this time of year.  The climate is much like California in the summer warm and dry. This place is also amazingly high tech.

Sometimes it is hard to comprehend that I am in a foreign country when I am sitting in Starbucks on the weekend having an overpriced cup of coffee while surfing the net on my wireless Sony laptop.

Take care,
mike

[cassius]

... in response to The  oasis  in  the  desert, posted by Pete E on Nov 26, 2003

Hey poster boy,

this whole 'john' trip is very shocking! you mean a guy can pay a woman for sex?! absoluteley shocking!do you know if the sex tourism market is sensitive to the yo-yo currency markets and credit derivatives? is the price of various carnal 'services' boosted by the changes in tropical heat and rainfall?......

i spy some investment chances, don't you?

yes, you are heading (grin!) in the right direction, because here in the UK and other parts of europe even middle class 'native' women don't take regular baths. YUK!

one thing i don't want to read about here is that you've fallen hard for a pro and you want to marry her after the first kiss. she refuses to accommodate you after the financial trans; she says something like, i've been saving the best of me for the right man.

you fall more and more in love by the nanosecond; her long silky hair has you tripping. you get married a few weeks later and then she tells you no hot stuff, because she is really a virgin and she really doesn't like sex, it is so cheap and frightens the hell out of her.

damn!

so i'll help you count down to the 7th. 1 2 3......YIKES!

hey y'all just some humor!

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: The  oasis  in  the  desert, posted by cassius on Nov 27, 2003

Fall for a pro huh? I guess its been done.No I don't think so,but after all I have tolerated I can see where my judgement could be suspect.But if you could buy she was a virgin you're ready for the funny farm.Who was that lady from old Arabic tales who told stories to the Sheik all night so she wouldn't have to do it?I guess saying go to hell was not a good option.Probably would have had extremely unpleasant consequences.
I think Mike above gets it right when he says if you live there your desire to get married diminishes.It could go away entirely.Then If I learned spanish and got a tan I could become - - A Colombianio!! Some of you guys could be taking care of my kids!Maybe thats why they don't seem to mind us,it helps with child support.I think they develop a throw back anything over 25 attitude also.
Currency fluctuations effecting the price?No I think its more like how many other opportunities does she think she will get that night and how are your negotiating skills.And if you are fat or obnoxious the price probably goes up.And every girl probably tries to hold a bottom line.
Reminds me of a story.My friend goes to a house in Tijuana,years ago.His buddy goes in the next room.He can hear the conversation.The girls says its $10.He says OK!
Garry talks his girl down to $3.She lays back on the bed and just flips up her dress.He says aren't you going to take your dress off?She says for $3 you want me to take my dress off??
Another story.My friend is driving through Nevada.His friend who is with him wants to stop at a house.Larry goes in also but doesn't want to buy.They tell him you can watch for $2.They have a one way mirror and you can watch other people doing it.I better not remember that at the wrong time.Might not help performance.

Pete

Pete