Kathy & Eric's travels: Lunch at the Palms Resort or….the Holiday Inn.

This weeks choice for lunch was the Palms Resort and it was added to the list by Ruth for it’s lovely ambiance. The restaurant is situated under a very large palapa overlooking the ocean and it has a very lovely view. She thought that since this is a large hotel the food would likely be good.

Everyone gathered at the front of the park at our usual 11:30am and we just missed the green bus so we took an auriega (red truck) instead. We didn’t have far to go as The Palms is at the north end of the Golden Zone.

Nine of us in the red truck. The two ladies on either side of Diane (dark blue top) are friends from home in Wisconsin. The one on the right looks a bit pink from the sun! Nice ladies.

We are seated and checking out the menu. This is a tourist hotel so there are a large amount of North American choices available. However, the menu is in Spanish as well as English.

My usual Wednesday lunch drink….piña colada. Delicious!

Drinks are served and we are waiting for lunch.

Sitting behind us was a couple who were interested in our group of ladies. They wondered if we were on a tour! Yes, the cruise ships were in town today but…we weren’t on it. I explained our Wednesday lunch dates, our diversified bunch and that we were trying a new restaurant each week. The couple was from Alberta and asked if we had heard of Angelina’s Latin Kitchen. No one had eaten there but it was mentioned in Contessa’s (fellow blogger) blog that I read and it is apparently very good. In the end I gave them the link to my blog so they could amuse themselves with accounts of our lunches out. She is having enchiladas suiza ….looks good.

Marion’s Mexican Plata. She said the Chili relleno was much better than the one at Topolo’s and the total plate was more manageable than the one that she had at Pancho’s on the beach.

A delicious looking shrimp salad.

Sharen’s shrimp and chicken burger. Yummy!

My lunch….mango chicken. A bit sweet for me and the mango sauce was likely canned. Diane had the same lunch and thought some fresh mango chunks would have been nice. The chicken was a bit tough. I had no problem finishing my lunch but I thought I’d comment on the preparation!

Chicken Caesar salad.

Ruth’s shrimp pineapple dish.

Jeannette had chicken parmesan and the chicken was dry and overdone. No Bueno! She couldn’t eat much of the chicken. It would usually be served with a tomato sauce and have melted cheese.

So….the meals were good overall and most people enjoyed them. Most entrees were in the $120 to $130 peso range. Service was good and the setting was lovely so in the end a decent place to have lunch.

The waves were large and there was a brisk wind on Wednesday and this sailboat had no sails up. At the beginning of the week the swell was so huge the harbor master must have radioed that he was closing the smal boat harbor. There was a huge rush in to the marina to dock while we watched from our usual position on the beach. Not a day for a swim either!

Looking back to the lobby.

A beautifully constructed palapa and it’s probably stunning at night when all the lights are on.

Looks kind of ominous but it was really a nice day.

Sharen and Marion contemplate the grounds.

Bills are paid and time to go.

A nice area to have a cocktail.

At this point some of us went home, some continued on to shop and I walked up the street toward the Golden Zone. My diamond anniversary band that I wear as a wedding band had lost a small diamond and I was on my way to El Delfin for a repair estimate. I wasn’t too sure how far it was but it turned out to be a 15min. walk so it was doable. Valerie had suggested I go there as she’d had repairs and appraisals done there in the past and she was very satisfied. The jeweler took a quick look at the ring and said he would replace the diamond, clean the ring and check it over for just over 500 pesos. I left it with him and will pick it up early next week.

I continued on walking for a ways looking in all the touristy shops as I never do this anymore. Did I buy anything….no but it was nice to look.

Back on the green bus to head home.

Just before the first overpass coming home I could smell what seemed like burning brakes. A quick stop by the driver who was then on his cell phone as we moved forward.

We pulled to a stop just in front of the Venado’s car wash and there was a huge cloud of smoke behind us. Everybody off the bus! We were told we could get on the next bus as long as we had our bus ticket. Lots of people digging through their pockets at this point.