Adventures in Cozumel

A Whirlwind Week with #4TravelChicasinCozumel

October 29, 2017 By Tam Warner 11 Comments

#4travelchicasincozumel, cozumel, travel, bloggers, blog consortium — Our first evening in Cozumel, at Pepe’s Grill

#4TravelChicasinCozumel! Yes, indeed, that is our hashtag! Four travel bloggers who met online 3 years ago and who have formed a blog consortium of sorts, 4 Times the Fun, and 4 times the audience! with Adventures of Empty Nesters (Suzanne Stavert from Pasadena, CA), Travel with Sara (Sara Broers from Mason City, IO), Wherever I May Roam blog (Melody Pittman from Vero Beach, FL), and of course, me, Travels with Tam from Dallas, Tx! We are a support system, we share each other’s posts, guest blog, and promote one another whenever possible. We have met only a couple of times at travel conferences, but we have a connection and enjoy being together, so here we are, hanging out in Cozumel, at Villa Coronado, and having fun, often odd, adventures all over the island. There hasn’t been a dull moment! Check out the hashtag, #4TravelChicasinCozumel all over social media, and join in the fun we have had this week! It has been wonderful to see the island through the eyes of my friends! And it is a good thing they have a sense of humor (which is necessary when traveling with Tam). Stay tuned!

Spa Lovers! Look at the Cozumel Med Spa!

August 10, 2017 By Tam Warner 1 Comment

While in Cozumel over the summer, I paid a visit to the Cozumel Med Spa, and Michaela Velasco, spa manager extraordinaire! I am so glad I did! I knew, of course, that resorts had spas that offered massage, facials, nail care, the usual, but I honestly didn’t know that much more is available on the island. Then I came across Michaela Velasco and received quite an education!

Of course I had heard for years that Mexico is a medical tourist destination. From dentistry to plastic surgery, Mexico can offer first class doctors and facilities at half or less the price in the USA. Treatments that aren’t available in the USA because of FDA regulations, but are available in Europe, Canada and Mexico, are also sought after.

cozumel, med spa, mexico, spa — Lovely treatment rooms

The Cozumel Med Spa offers treatments like peels, microdermabrasion, microneedling, dermaplaning, botox, fillers, and medical grade facials (need definitions? Here you go! http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/). Anyone who spends any amount of time at a dermatologist will recognize several of those treatments, and will know how expensive they are in the United States. At the Cozumel Med Spa they are less than half the cost! (You heard me!) There is also a doctor of esthetics on the premises to perform procedures. Dr Debra Santana did her training in Guadalajara.

The spa is not on the tourist drag, it is on 25th, a bit back from the tourist traps. It is quiet, and very clean and soothing, with cool air conditioning! Michaela is happy to recommend treatments for your skin, and has products onsite. I allowed her to give me a cooling, exfoliating facial, and I can tell you my skin felt luscious afterward!

We all know how much I love Cozumel, and now I have even more reason to! You can bet I will be heading to the spa every time I am on the island! I give it an A+++++!

Did You Know Guidos is the Iconic Restaurant on Cozumel?

July 31, 2017 By Tam Warner 6 Comments

cozumel dining, guidos, foodies, cozumel foodie — Guidos Garden dining

Guido’s, overlooking the Mexican Caribbean on Melgar on Cozumel, is the iconic restaurant on Cozumel, without a doubt. When I first visited the island (30 years ago!) I ate at Guidos. Whenever I visit Cozumel Guidos is at the top of the list of restaurants we always go to. Why? You mean aside from the fabulous food and daily specials?

No one has bread like Guidos. No one, anywhere! It is the very best. I think it is a tortilla, but whatever it is, it just melts in your mouth, and you could eat it all night long. Yes, it is that good. Over the years we have taken many, many people to Guidos, and every single one of them remembers the bread and wants to return!

The other “Guidos does it best” item on the menu is their Sangria. Truthfully, I am not a big drinker, but I always have at least one glass of Sangria. Usually we order a pitcher for the table! Yum!

Recently my cousins and I enjoyed a delicious meal at Guidos. Bread, of course, Sangria, of course, and then you have their regular menu (fabulous) and their specials. Please check out Guidos online menu, and look at the wonderful photos of their wood fired oven, indoor dining, and the garden. When you are on the island, you simply have not experienced Cozumel unless you have dined at Guidos!

Catch of the day Calabrese, browned butter, black olives, capers & lime.

Cozumel dining, Guidos Cozumel, fine dining, foodies, nom — A special with mango and lobster

Where to get the most Amazing Salad and Dessert in Cozumel!

July 12, 2017 By Tam Warner 8 Comments

cozumel, foodies, la cocay, cozumel foodies — We’ve been coming to La Cocay for years!

Want to know about the most amazing salad and dessert on Cozumel? One of my favorite restaurants on the planet is La Cocay on Calle 8 in Cozumel, Mexico. My family has been going to La Cocay for many years. We’ve celebrated birthdays and anniversaries there, and it is a place of many good memories for us. But let’s talk food. In my humble opinion, they have the most amazing salad and dessert on the island. Their entrees are fabulous as well, but I never have room for an entree! I always start with their tapas, have a delicious Napa Salad, and order a Chocolate Torte (souffle) the minute I sit down!

La Cocay is a warm, friendly restaurant set in a garden, though they do have indoor seating as well. The food is creative, and has a mediterranean flavor. The restaurant has even added pizza with much flair to their menu. So here is my favorite meal: I order the margarita (best on the island I think!), Goat Cheese Empanaditas with mango chutney (part of the tapas menu), and a Napa Salad, my favorite salad on earth, with mixed lettuce, apple, blue cheese and toasted pecans with a honey Dijon dressing, tied with red beets. I mean, presentation counts too!

cozumel, lacocay, foodies, cozumel foodies — My beautiful Napa Salad!!!!

The fish of the day, Mahi Mahi. La Cocay always has specials!

One of my husband’s favorites is bacon wrapped Filet Mignon with scalloped potatoes and veggies.

As a foodie, or a person who loves to eat, you must be ready to go to La Cocay! But now…the desserts!

If you are going to Cozumel and you love good food, head over to La Cocay. I guarantee you will have a fantastic evening. Please tell Kathy, the owner, and Danny, the manager, that Tam sent you!

Don’t forget my newly published book!

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I Love Introducing People to the Wonders of the Ocean

June 21, 2017 By Tam Warner 11 Comments

cozumel, snorkeling, learning, wonders of the ocean — A new ocean enthusiast!

I have always loved introducing people to the ocean. First time snorkelers, first time divers, and especially children seeing the underwater world for the first time. I cannot count how many people I have taught to snorkel or taken snorkeling, and most of them went on to dive and become certified divers. Since I am always excited to be in the water and see fish and animals and corals, I enjoy being with others who are as excited as I am!

cozumel, snorkeling, learning, wonders ocean — This future oceanographer was a natural in the water!

Good fortune came my way in Cozumel a week ago, when a ten year old girl staying next door to me fell in love with the ocean. Her entire family did! They were in Cozumel for a family wedding that took place at Villa Torres, though Villa Coronado did the honors for the ceremony! I loved the whole group, they were just wonderful. The young girl, Addison (love that name), went out on a snorkel with me and we had a great adventure: scorpion fish, flounders, yellow stingrays, and amazingly enough, a seahorse! That was magical. Seahorses are hard to find in Cozumel since the 2006 hurricane, so finding one on a snorkel was just incredible. We stayed out for over an hour, and she could not get enough! It was so fun to show her the underwater world. I had forgotten how much I enjoy introducing new people to the beautiful creatures. She was particularly drawn to the Queen Parrotfishes just becoming adults with their dazzling colors.

cozumel, snorkeling, wonders of the ocean — A pretty spotted Scorpionfish

The desire to write a book series about our Ocean Friends was something I always wanted to do in order to introduce people to the animals in the ocean. When people get interested and excited, they want to learn more, and to experience it. My first published book, Fish Faces: Photos and Fun Facts about Tropical Reef Fish, is meant to begin a journey of getting to know our ocean friends, and how important they are to our survival on this planet. It all begins with knowledge, and with knowledge comes enthusiasm. Learning should be fun at any and every age! Fish Faces is available on LULU.com right now, and will be on Amazon and Barnes and Noble soon, within the next few weeks. It is the same price on all the sites. Do you know someone interested in the ocean? This is a super fun way to learn about fish species and how different they look from ocean to ocean. I have dived in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, and many of the seas within them, so my photographs reflect a planetary view of ocean fish, along with fun facts about each species.

I so enjoyed my time snorkeling with Addison, and it makes me want to show people the ocean even more! I hope you take a look at All Fish Faces!

No Matter How far I Roam, I always come Home to Cozumel

June 18, 2017 By Tam Warner 11 Comments

cozumel, scuba, home, dive cozumel, colors of cozumel — The first sunset from the deck.

I have roamed all over our amazing planet, and there is so much more to see! Having walked on seven continents, I have been privileged to see the most beautiful, fantastic, and incredible sights. Every place is so different and so unique, and I have loved all of my travels, and treasure my experiences, both good and bad. Travel is the very best teacher, and for me, a way to learn, humble, and challenge myself at the same time. But…no matter how far I roam, the colors of Cozumel always awe and thrill me. This easy, breezy, non-pretentious island welcomes me home, I am reminded every time I come why I love it so much.

The ocean has many colors of blue, and the diving here is wonderful. I always forget the mountains of colorful corals and the creatures of Cozumel.. I love to dive the multi-faceted reefs here, and now I am trying my hand at macro photography (close up photography as the pictures below) I am discovering new dive sites and meeting new people!

cozumel, cozumel colors — A cushion seastar!

cozumel, diving, home, colors of cozumel — Close up of sea star leg. These podia serve two purposes, for movement and capture of prety.

colors of cozumel — One of the most beautiful sights are these flowing social feather dusters. They are actually worms!

It is a small world, as we all know. My next door neighbor and friend Lyn and I have been coming to Cozumel together for longer than I want to admit! Ten years ago Lyn brought some friends down and one of the women happened to be the mother of a school mate of my daughter’s. A few nights ago, her son had his wedding at Villa Torres, and the ceremony was on my front yard! It was so exciting for me to be able to give them a place for their ceremony! The sunset at the end of the ceremony was so dramatic it must be a good omen for the bride and groom!

My husband, Randy, has been delayed, but I hope he gets down here any day now. He loves the island as much as I do.

Adventures in Cozumel

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