several people were soaking in the elevated hot tub under a wide canopy. The steam rising from the elaborately designed area made me think of a cartoon scenario where unsuspecting victims were roasting in a cannibal’s stew pot. Only these roasting people looked happy about their predicament.
Below the hot tub the large and brightly lit swimming poolwas void of night swimmers for good reason. The water wildly sloshed from side to side, creating a confined tidal wave.
“I think I’m the one who’s about to feel seasick now,” Joanne said with a laugh. “We’d better keep walking.”
Rounding the side of the ship, we spotted Robert walking toward us. He waved and greeted us by name. On a ship filled with nearly two thousand people, it was nice to be recognized.
“Beautiful night, isn’t it?” Robert called out. “I’m supposed to walk off my desserts before meeting Marti for the Broadway Hits Review at nine o’clock. If you two don’t have plans, you’re welcome to join us.”
“Thanks,” Joanne and I said in unison.
“You know, I didn’t mention this at dinner because I knew my wife would kick me under the table if I dominated the conversation with real estate talk, but I have an associate who is developing some property here in Baja. He bought his acreage in the late seventies and just now is turning it into a golf resort. It’s coming along nicely. About eighty acres. If it would help you to have his name and number, I’d be glad to give it to you.”
“I don’t know if we’d have anything specific to ask him,” I said. “I’m sure our property is nowhere near that size.”
“I thought he might help to clarify some of the details on the deed or help you to find a notary you can trust. Do you know if your property is north or south of Ensenada?”
“I’m not sure. It’s in a town called San Felipe.” I realized as I said the name that one of the many tasks on my to-do list hadbeen to locate San Felipe on a map. I couldn’t believe that detail had slipped past me.
“San Felipe?” Robert repeated. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, San Felipe.”
“Is that near where your friend is building his resort?” Joanne asked.
“No. Actually, San Felipe is on the east coast of Baja. On the Sea of Cortez.”
“Are you saying San Felipe isn’t close to Ensenada?” My stomach rumbled deeply, and I felt sick all over again.
“It’s on the other side of the Baja Peninsula. My guess is San Felipe is about 150 miles east of where we dock tomorrow.” He tilted his head. “If you don’t mind my asking, how do you ladies plan to get there?”
I was lost. I felt as if I’d just failed a geography pop quiz. I had assumed far too much knowledge from my neurotic aunt and her less-than-competent lawyer. This stunning news flattened me.
“We’ll rent a car,” Joanne said optimistically.
“It’s too far,” I sputtered. “Even if we rent a car, the ship only docks in Ensenada for the day. We would have to drive to San Felipe and be back to the ship by five o’clock. We can’t do that.”
“Sounds like you’ll have to adjust your plans,” Robert said.
“We need a map,” I said.
“We need Sven,” Joanne said. “Let’s go to the lobby and see if he can sort this out for us.”
“You know, renting a car isn’t a bad idea.” Robert followed us to the elevators, where I kept pushing the Down button as if my anxiety would hurry up the mechanical contraption.
“You could rent a car in Ensenada tomorrow, drive over to San Felipe, stay a few days at your uncle’s place, sign the papers at the bank, and then drive back to Ensenada.”
“We’d miss the boat,” Joanne said.
I felt like saying we’d already missed the boat in more ways than one, but I kept my lips sealed. I was trying to think.
“You’ll miss the return trip on
this
cruise,” Robert said. “But these cruise liners come down here twice a week. Instead of sailing home on Wednesday, you could catch the next
Below the hot tub the large and brightly lit swimming poolwas void of night swimmers for good reason. The water wildly sloshed from side to side, creating a confined tidal wave.
“I think I’m the one who’s about to feel seasick now,” Joanne said with a laugh. “We’d better keep walking.”
Rounding the side of the ship, we spotted Robert walking toward us. He waved and greeted us by name. On a ship filled with nearly two thousand people, it was nice to be recognized.
“Beautiful night, isn’t it?” Robert called out. “I’m supposed to walk off my desserts before meeting Marti for the Broadway Hits Review at nine o’clock. If you two don’t have plans, you’re welcome to join us.”
“Thanks,” Joanne and I said in unison.
“You know, I didn’t mention this at dinner because I knew my wife would kick me under the table if I dominated the conversation with real estate talk, but I have an associate who is developing some property here in Baja. He bought his acreage in the late seventies and just now is turning it into a golf resort. It’s coming along nicely. About eighty acres. If it would help you to have his name and number, I’d be glad to give it to you.”
“I don’t know if we’d have anything specific to ask him,” I said. “I’m sure our property is nowhere near that size.”
“I thought he might help to clarify some of the details on the deed or help you to find a notary you can trust. Do you know if your property is north or south of Ensenada?”
“I’m not sure. It’s in a town called San Felipe.” I realized as I said the name that one of the many tasks on my to-do list hadbeen to locate San Felipe on a map. I couldn’t believe that detail had slipped past me.
“San Felipe?” Robert repeated. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, San Felipe.”
“Is that near where your friend is building his resort?” Joanne asked.
“No. Actually, San Felipe is on the east coast of Baja. On the Sea of Cortez.”
“Are you saying San Felipe isn’t close to Ensenada?” My stomach rumbled deeply, and I felt sick all over again.
“It’s on the other side of the Baja Peninsula. My guess is San Felipe is about 150 miles east of where we dock tomorrow.” He tilted his head. “If you don’t mind my asking, how do you ladies plan to get there?”
I was lost. I felt as if I’d just failed a geography pop quiz. I had assumed far too much knowledge from my neurotic aunt and her less-than-competent lawyer. This stunning news flattened me.
“We’ll rent a car,” Joanne said optimistically.
“It’s too far,” I sputtered. “Even if we rent a car, the ship only docks in Ensenada for the day. We would have to drive to San Felipe and be back to the ship by five o’clock. We can’t do that.”
“Sounds like you’ll have to adjust your plans,” Robert said.
“We need a map,” I said.
“We need Sven,” Joanne said. “Let’s go to the lobby and see if he can sort this out for us.”
“You know, renting a car isn’t a bad idea.” Robert followed us to the elevators, where I kept pushing the Down button as if my anxiety would hurry up the mechanical contraption.
“You could rent a car in Ensenada tomorrow, drive over to San Felipe, stay a few days at your uncle’s place, sign the papers at the bank, and then drive back to Ensenada.”
“We’d miss the boat,” Joanne said.
I felt like saying we’d already missed the boat in more ways than one, but I kept my lips sealed. I was trying to think.
“You’ll miss the return trip on
this
cruise,” Robert said. “But these cruise liners come down here twice a week. Instead of sailing home on Wednesday, you could catch the next
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