THe Monday after Easter, the busiest Sunday of the year, about 20 locals and ex-pats gatherred at the main pier with trash bags in hand to do their part in cleaning up the beach and streets. The beach was actually in pretty good shape but the streets and alleys needed help. Thank you to the new citizen’s committee, the CCC, for their kick off on this event and all of our friends who joined in.

If anyone ever has any doubt that magical things happen at Abbey del Sol when our wonderful “family” of guests, who return year after year, put their wishes together with their creative thought, getting a hammock by the pool at Abbey2 is the perfect story.

Yesterday our dear friend and neighbor, Fernando Mendoza, calls me to ask if I could help fine tune a FB post he was writing. He had 2 hammocks he had purchased from an elderly and very needy old woman who came by and knocked on his door and was offering them for sale on FB.

Once we finished editing his post I turned to look at the hammocks and the colors were lovely. One of them clearly needed to go home with me so I purchaed it and walked back to Abbey2 where a number of our “family” was lounging around the pool.

So there I am standing, chatting with the family, standing between two very fine palm trees (that I didn’t see at all) and musing “where should I put this very fine hammock?”

And someone, Kristy, Dennis, Leslie, Loni or Jason (another tribe of crazy Cunuks we adore) said “what about right here?” “Where?” I say (am I slow or what!) “Those two fine palm trees,” they say and, voila! We now have a hammock by the pool at Abbey2.

Shortly thereafter Cathy, who is staying in #9, comes into the office with a glow of happiness on her face. “You got me my hammock!” All she had really wanted was a nice hammock to relax in and #9 doesn’t have a space for it. So, as per usual, “Your wish is our command!”

Ken and Audrey along with Angie and Shaun are a great example of how to spend your last few hours before heading to the airport for that much dreaded trip home. Lovely Audrey is serving tequila shots to the others lounging in the pool. The morning started with a beach walk, a little breakfast, a refreshing swim and a shot of tequila to top it all off. We look forward to doing it all again next year!

– Bill Cottman, Minneapolis

Last year when John and Kristin Ode, Tiff and Abby’s friends from Minnesota, flew in for their annual Puerto vacation, Tiff drove them straight from the airport to the dock to get on Raul’s boat and head out for a spectacular sunset, full moon cruise. This year, on the last day of their annual vacation, the full moon and sunset cooperated by being close to the same time, and we headed on out again along with other wonderful, long time friends and Abbey del Sol-ites. So peaceful and beautiful. Sunset cruises are the best. You can combine it with a snorkel trip and then enjoy the fruits, cheese and crackers with your beer and sodas.