Happy Things

May 28, 2010
Arriving back home in L.A. was a big cultural shock for Teddy. No more VIP service. No more smiling maids. No more white sandy beaches. Phooey. So Teddy treated herself to some "happy things" to ease the transition. Of course, fresh flowers were a must.

As were French pastries for her morning treat. The raspberry-almond croissants from Champagne on Beverly Drive are the best.

For a reminder of her tropical getaway, Teddy put all the shells she collected on Playa Del Carmen in a glass container.

Poor Teddy. She has difficulty dealing with reality!

Adios Mexico!

May 27, 2010

Saying goodbye to tropical paradise and 24-hour waiters who service your every need (with a smile) is nothing short of heartbreaking.

 

Teddy and Nibs had to arrive at the airport in Cancun super early so Teddy could get all her Duty Free shopping in.

Teddy shopped so much (gotta love the tax-free Gucci purses) that they almost missed their flight!

 

Once in the air Teddy let a single tear roll down her fur. Weep weep. Teddy was not ready to face reality in L.A.

She's already thinking about her next vacation. Where should she go?

A Little Gift...For Herself!

May 26, 2010
Teddy couldn't leave Mexico without splurging on herself so she hit the jewelry store in the Riu's lobby while Nibs was catching some afternoon zzzs. She had been glancing at the gems for days and decided she was finally ready to make a major purchase.

Just when Teddy was about to enter the store to buy this gold Versace ring, she felt an unusual pang of guilt. What kind of bear was she to sneak out and charge up Nibs' card after he'd already gifted her with this incredible vacation? Was she going to far?

Nope decided Teddy and she headed inside. Nibs would want her to have the ring, right?

Riu Redux

May 26, 2010
Unbelievably, there is not one, but five Riu resorts within walking distance around the Mayan Riviera in Playa Del Carmen. On the last day of vacation, Teddy and Nibs decided to check out another Riu Palace, just a half mile away.

This new Riu looked just like T&N's Riu. It was a near exact replica, except for minor details like this chandelier in the lobby...

And this brass statue near the plaza...

And these incredible fountains...

And these stunning Moorish lamps that look like they'd crush you dead if they ever disengaged from their chains.

Teddy started to wonder if ALL the Rius all over the world look the same. Do they?

Art Down South

May 25, 2010
The Riu is full of art work that looks like it belongs in Europe, not Mexico. Take this tapestry below, for example, with Roman ruins in the background. Nothing Mexican about that.

But Teddy appreciated the look. It made her feel like she was far, far away from home, which is the point of a vacation, right?

The fruit still life above looks like something you'd find in a Grecian villa.

This painting above, however, reminded Teddy of something she has seen in her manicure salon. Hmmm, maybe she doesn't feel that far away from home after all.

Teddy found this mural, above, soothing. There's nothing like a monotone canvas to make you say, "Ahhhh."

Even Nibs checked out the art. He said hi to this clay head. The clay head did not say hi back.

Back On The Beach

May 24, 2010
Of course it's nice to get back outside too. After all, the beach was calling! And shark-searching needed to resume. Teddy was determined to spot a tiburon.

While they didn't see any sharks (weep weep), they did get to spot a much more unusual species: overly tanned Germans. There were hordes of them and their tans were so deep it looked like they had been shipwrecked there for months with no way to get home. Go figure!

The Room

May 24, 2010
Teddy and Nibs stayed in room 129 at The Riu.

The room was muy elegante. All the furniture was colonial-style dark wood, even the large double bed.

Nibs appreciated the in-room mini bar.

When it got too hot outside the bears cranked up the A/C and sat on the wood bench in their room. You just can't run around in the sun every day!

La Plaza

May 21, 2010
During cocktail hour at the Riu musicians perform live in "La Plaza," pictured below. Can you see Teddy inside? Look hard...

Here's a close up in case you missed her.

Teddy loved it when the band played Julio Iglesias songs, which she has at home on Julio Iglesias - My Life: Greatest Hits. Yup, Teddy's a Julio fan. She's even seen him in concert! Nibs a fan? Not so much.

The Lirico

May 21, 2010
Teddy and Nibs loved the nightlife at the Riu which included live bands and dancing on the stage at the Lirico Bar Salon.

That place seated hundreds and was all dark mauve velvet.

The Lirico actually looked more like a Gold Rush era saloon in San Francisco than a bar in present day Mexico.

But that was all fine with the bears. Anything that reminds them of San Francisco, their favorite city, is fine with them!

Massages On The Beach

May 20, 2010
No challenges were presented to them during their vacation in Playa Del Carmen, but Teddy and Nibs still felt the need to get massages on the beach.

While they waited for the masseuses, Teddy worked on one of Nibs' shoulders. He has so many knots!

Teddy likes this vacation. No work, no problems, just plenty of chill out time!

Where else can you get a massage right on the beach while listening to the waves crash?

Teddy and Nibs felt like they were in a Corona commercial...

Hiding In Plain Sight

May 19, 2010
Nibs has been exhausted from the 90 degree heatwave in Playa Del Carmen so he's been relaxing in the shade a lot lately. He's had fun watching Teddy run around the resort. He wonders what on earth she could be looking for!

How can Teddy not see Nibs???

Where's Nibs?

May 19, 2010
Some days Nibs just disappeared. Teddy could not find him anywhere.

Sure, it was a big resort. But how could this bow-tied bear elude Teddy so often and so craftily?

Teddy looked all over the place, most certainly getting her exercise while doing so.

The resort is almost a mile long from front door to beach. Her paws were starting to hurt!

And the lobby bar area alone was just massive. It could easily seat 100 bears!

Teddy got so exhausted she had to relax in the reception area for a while. When she finds that Nibs she's going to have a word with him!

The Mercado

May 18, 2010
Just because she was at a resort didn't mean Teddy was going to stop shopping. She found a "mercado" down the street and took with her Nibs' wallet.

These dolls were full of color. So fiesta! So were these ceramic suns.

Nibs "Chilis" Out

May 17, 2010
Instead of swimming Nibs decided to sit down for a snack at Chilis which is, happily, near the pool area so he can keep an eye on that crazy Teddy!

Nibs opted for a fruit plate and a cup of coffee. A nice mid-morning pick-me-up.

Oddly, Nibs saw a cat enter the outdoor eatery. Nibs wasn't sure if the "gato" had an owner or was just a wild one who lived the grand life on the Riu grounds.

After his meal and "gato" experience, Nibs looked around for Teddy. Yup, there she was, doing the bear stroke in the pool. Can you see her?

Do Bears Swim?

May 17, 2010
They sure do! Teddy and Nibs were delighted that The Riu Playa Del Carmen had not one, but two swimming pools!

Nibs was especially intrigued by the main pool's semi-submerged lounge chairs. How brilliant!

Teddy told Nibs he better take his bow tie off before going into the water, but Nibs gently said, "I will tell you this once and only once: I never take my bow tie off!" OK, Nibs, whatever you say!

After putting his paw in the pool, Nibs decided to go in after lunch. Teddy is starting to wonder if Nibs likes to swim.... after all, most bears do stay out of the water.

Stay tuned!