TRAVEL Archives | TRAVELS WITH TAM

Two of the Best Dive Sites in Cozumel are full of Sea Turtles!

July 17, 2017 By Tam Warner 11 Comments

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reefs, palancar, cedar pass, cozumel diving — The Palancar Reef System is amazing.

Dive sites on Cozumel often have turtles! I always love diving El Paso de Cedral (Cedar Pass) and the Palancar Reefs. I cannot think of a single trip I have taken to Cozumel when I didn’t dive them more than once. Palancar is beautiful, full of colorful coral and sponges (and turtles!). Palancar Reef is so large it is split into four sections: Palancar Gardens, Palancar Horseshoe, Palancar Caves and Palancar Pinnacles. The mountains and colors of the reef never cease to awe me. Huge pinnacles come up from the depths and take one’s breath away. I wish I had the ability to translate it into images. Cedar Pass, on the other hand, is a basically flat area with no large coral, but it does have a lot of small coral head areas, and under the ledges are some pretty amazing creatures! And I don’t think I’ve ever been on the reef without seeing turtles and a nurse shark or two. These reefs could not be more different, yet each is a fabulous dive site. Take a look!

columbia deeps, columbia shallows, cozumel, dive cozumel — Look at that face! A beautiful Hawksbill Sea Turtle.

An incredibly large and old Loggerhead. You don’t see them often on the reef, but they nest on the east side of Cozumel.

The fish are waiting for the goodies the turtle doesn’t eat, they are happy to have crumbs!

cozumel, turtles, diving cozumel, scuba — Turtles always have a clean up crew! In this case, a French Angel and a Yellow Head Wrasse.

reefs, cozumel diving, palancar, cedar pass, cozumel — These Blue Striped Grunts are hanging out in a recessed area on Palancar Gardens

Children of all ages love to look at fish faces! My first book, All Fish Faces, is an introduction to species living all over the planet, and fun facts about them. And of course, cool photos of fish faces! Meeting our fishy friends face to face can only help people understand and love our oceans.<br />

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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Buccanos at Night is one of the Reasons to Consider Cozumel a Foodie Destination!

July 2, 2017 By Tam Warner 22 Comments

Food has become one of the best features of a Cozumel vacation! Beginning with Buccanos at Night, I am planning a series of articles on different restaurants on the island, showing you that Cozumel has grown into a first rate foodie vacation destination. 30 years ago you received a taco, and often a tummy virus to boot. Those days are long, long gone.

foodies, cozumel, buccanos — I love this piece of Mayan art.

Buccanos at Night has been a closely held secret for locals, but it is now a destination in itself. During the day it is a beach club, mostly for cruise ship passengers, but at night, Wednesday through Sunday, it becomes a first rate international restaurant. Buccanos at Night is not afraid to combine bold flavors and create culinary masterpieces from appetizers to desserts, making it a popular and trendy spot for foodies and locals alike.

My recent visit to Buccanos was a surprise, as they had opened an upstairs space instead of sharing the space of the beach club. I told Inez, the owner, that she has to decorate my home. Every piece of furniture or art in the restaurant is nothing short of fabulous. Every piece is a wonder. The ambiance is wonderful, candlelit with views over the ocean to the mainland, and boats passing by. But the true draw: the food.

We began with cocktails. I had their top shelf margarita, and my guests enjoyed the special cocktail of the evening with fresh coconut. We ordered bread, and it was so buttery it melted in your mouth. Garlic and a little Parmesan gave it an extra oomph. I enjoyed a Lobster Caesar Salad for my meal, while my guests enjoyed a Miso Buttered Lobster Tail and a Surf and Turf, Angus meets Lobster, Burger! If I was still eating meat, I would have loved to taste the burger! It looked amazing, and my cousin said it was beyond delicious.

Just writing this blog makes me hungry. I think I will call and make another reservation before I head home!

Love the art? So do I! The artist’s name is Carina, and you can find her at https://www.caribarbachanoart.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cari.barbachano.

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.

5 Ways of Making your African Safari Unforgettable!

June 5, 2017 By Tam Warner 5 Comments

5 things to do on an African Safari, Africa, big cats, conservation — Beautiful young male in the Serengeti

Beautiful young female leopard, guarding her kill. Photo Credit Alexandra Minton

Seriously, you must do these 5 things on safari! There is nothing as incredible as an African Safari. Nothing. Seeing these animals in the wild is not at all comparable to seeing them in a zoo or a “safari” park. The savannah goes on forever….truly, the Circle of Life is real. Going to the Serengeti is like stepping into the Lion King, I kid you not. Or a Nat Geo documentary. I expected to see Simba and his friends at any moment. Instead, I saw many simbas (simba means “lion”!). An African Safari is a trip anyone who loves to travel must take at least once in their lifetime! Be adventurous! [Read more…] about 5 Ways of Making your African Safari Unforgettable!

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