Cozumel’s Garden Resort - VillablancaWritten by Bobbi Buchanan
Cozumel’s Garden Resort - VillablancaRead Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link: http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/hotels/mexico/cozumel/villa/blanca.html Flying into Cozumel always feels like coming home. I am a long way and another lifetime from place I call home, so this is a special feeling. This particular trip I was discovering that home of my childhood was reaching out again. My friend, Lena, and I are traveling alone together, minus family. The first time it is excruciatingly painful to leave kids. This time it is proving to be a wise choice. We are reconnecting to a part of us that is not wife, mother, businesswoman, or teacher. We are simply women. We can sleep in or stay out late with no one to worry about. My friend is a runner and heads out early to see sunrise. I am a reader and watch sunset from my lounge chair. We both like to write and dance and see all sights from top-of-the-line restaurants to hole-in-the-wall hot dog stand, from big yacht to tiny canoes, and from developed beaches with ever-ready cabana boys, to wild rocky shores splashing with rough seas. We remember past, cherish present, and plan future. We challenge each other to greater things, cry and heal together over great hurts, and generally help each other make life changes we have been avoiding. Then, we go home to be better at all roles we hold. We are heading down to Cozumel for a few days lounging around Villa Blanca, so we are naturally excited. Despite several trips to Cozumel, I could not recall that particular hotel. I asked my teenage daughter (also my computer guru) to do a little on-line research for me. As soon as she heard name she exclaimed, “Mom, that's hotel with shark! You, know, one you always want to stay in every time we drive by." Villa Blanca is on road about a mile south from San Miguel. It is just across road from sea and not too far from a public swimming beach and lighthouse. You notice first lush tropical hibiscus hedges surrounding gleaming white walls that front it. There's a huge white shark watching over reception area. Every time I drove by I murmured a wish to stay there. And since we drove by about a hundred times over several trips to Cozumel, children just rolled their eyes when I said it. Yet more than just beauty of hotel, there is something calling me, making me feel I had been there before. We drive up on a glorious Caribbean day. The white of pillars reflect bright sunshine; a mild breeze blows off sea carrying with it hint of far away places. There are places you go that are nice and then you leave and it becomes just a vague pleasant memory. There are places where you walk in and you know immediately you have come home — a place you would come home to if you could live in a soothing, elegant space in which your every need is attended to. We step into cool of reception area, check in quickly, then we are given our room number. Juan carries our luggage and in numerous other ways rescues two ladies in distress; he is there with a smile that never wavers despite vast quantities of luggage. While we explore our room, lean over our balcony, and make ourselves at home, Juan sees to our bags and makes sure all was in order. Being copious drinkers, of water that is, we are delighted by large five gallon water jug in our room. Many hotels on Cozumel provide a two-liter bottle each day and charge dearly for any extras. We are cheap at heart with habit of stopping at Chedraui’s (the local grocery) to pick up gallons of water — not much fun to haul around town (we generally walked everywhere). So this is a delightful introduction to our home away from home — an annoying, time consuming and expensive detail avoided.
| | To See and To Be Seen – The Ingleside Inn in Palm SpringsWritten by Kim and Don Tatera
To See and To Be Seen – The Ingleside Inn in Palm Springs Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.comTo read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link: http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/hotels/calif/ingleside/iingleside.html Having lived in Southern California for over twelve years, I was beginning to think that I would never see anyone famous, let alone live like anyone famous. How wrong I was! Being oldest child of baby boomers has its definite advantages. I know songs and movies of days gone by. You know, those classic movies in "black and white" and those songs on vinyl records. I enjoy crooning of Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, and Frank Sinatra. Give me a Doris Day and Rock Hudson movie any time. Having grown up with these memorable movies and music, I feel as if I was born in wrong era. Fortunately for people like me, there is Ingleside Inn of Palm Springs, California. Melvyn Haber's Ingleside Inn and Restaurant is a short distance from famed Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs. Behind wrought-iron gates winds a sweeping, tree lined driveway that you could imagine seeing Carole Lombard arriving at in a big black limousine. With lovely views of Mt. San Jacinto in background and gracious service and privacy Inn staff offers, it is easy to understand why "in" crowd of Hollywood cherishes this quaint, antique filled, yet aristocratic resort. Recently, my mother and I arrived in early afternoon. Pulling up to lobby through tree-lined drive was definitely a moment to savor. The vine-covered veranda of lobby building gave feeling that one might see George Hamilton sitting there relaxing, enjoying a Cosmopolitan. Once we parked and entered exquisitely furnished lobby with its wood-burning fireplace, Armida (with Inn) graciously checked us in to our suite, Floral Room on Fountain Courtyard. As we entered Floral Room, we were quick to notice that title of suite was very appropriate. The plush, bright azure carpeting complemented beautifully matching floral patterned chairs, bedding and drapery. This rich texture and color was improved upon by well-appointed antique furniture and marble mantle of wood-burning fireplace. Imagine pulling drapery between sitting room and bedroom area closed after a night of romantic dining and dancing with that someone special. I am sure that Lily Pons, who visited for a weekend and ultimately stayed 13 years in next-door suite, must have appreciated same thought. The large bathroom with walk-in marbled shower with bench seat was beautifully lit with shimmering crystal sconces. The double French doors in bedroom led to bougainvillea covered, semi-private patio with chaise lounge chairs in which to relax and enjoy well-maintained grounds.
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