Acapulco-Saturday

Saturday in Acapulco proved to be a very exciting but exhausting day. The day started just hanging out in the coffee shop. Me with water and Debbie and Jim with coffee. We just sat and enjoyed the sounds of nature and talked about what we would do.

From there, we walked along the beach and met a guy named Leo who was determined to have us visit his jewelry stand. "Real silver" and "good deals" he promised us. We didn't have any money on us at the time so we assured Leo we would be back before we left. It was amazing how warm the water was.

After that, we went back to our rooms and rested before walking to Wal-Mart for some essentials (water, snacks, sunscreen). The water in the resort is purified and filtered and is not bad; just tastes flat.

Before walking to Wal-Mart, we went to sign up for one of the tours. We opted to see the cliff divers. After signing up, we walked to Wal-Mart (about a 20-min) walk and, while it was not bad, we did have to stop a few times in some shady spots. Remember it's very very humid. The taxi drivers were determined to give us a ride but, hey, it's Mexico, we wanted adventure. Apparently, though, it's unheard of to walk 20mins to Wal-Mart. We actually spent quite a while walking around the Wal-Mart/mall.

The cliff diving show was incredible. We had dinner, dessert and two drinks and got to see two and a half shows. One started at 7:30 (we caught the end of that), we saw the 8:30 and 9:30 shows as well. There are about 40 divers (unionized) who dive from the ages of 16-38. They apparently start training around the age of 5. Several divers dive from about 60feet and then the final diver dives from about 100ft. One of the divers actually had a bandage on one shoulder. Not uncommon to get hurt but the tour driver assured us no one had ever been killed. One other plus of doing the tour: We actually got to drive into the heart of city. So amazing and I was taking pictures up a storm.

Back at the hotel we were all ready to drop. We slept well and woke up around 7 this morning. Now I'm here updating my peeps and watching Toy Story in Spanish.

Hope you are all well.

peace,

Paul

Well, we had a few pretty uneventful plane trips to Acapulco, unless you count the moment when I tried to fill out the customs and immigration forms in Spanish. The stewardess inadvertently started handing out the Spanish forms to English speaking people. I thought, ok, I'll see how much of this I can actually fill out without looking at the English form. Apparently, Americans are not allowed to fill out the Mexican-American form. And I thought I was being so clever.

On our way to Mexico City, we went through several clouds; so cool. Even more impressive is flying over the clouds and seeing how they just hang there in the sky. La ciudad de Mexico is HUGE! I knew it was huge from Spanish class but actually seeing it sprawled out was amazing. And the multitude of colors; from the buildings to the houses to the trees.

Once we arrived in Mexico City, we ate at a restaurant in the airport called California Restaurante. We originally had a Spanish speaking waitress and I was determined to order only in Spanish. Unfortunately, Debbie and Jim could not so we ended up with a bilingual server. I have my work cut out for me: Between the accent, the rapidity with which they speak, the lowness of their voices and the fact that, as in English, several different words can mean the same thing, I've got my work cut out for me. Luckily, I love a challenge.

Anyway, I had chicken cordon bleu over spaghetti and Jim and Debbie had lamb tacos in a soft corn tortilla (I really like lamb) and lamb consumme. One thing about the restaurant that struck me as funny was the fact that they were playing American pop songs in English.

From there we asked several different people how to find out gate for Acapulco. I asked two people and Debbie asked one. Each one told us something different. Hmmm, boy did we look like the typical lost Americans. Finally, Debbie asked a federal police woman and she explained to me in Spanish how to get to where we needed to go. Luckily, I was able to remember some key phrases such as speak slower please and to the left or to the right.

We finally arrived at the Fairmont Princess Acapulco and I think this Fairmont Princess is even better than the one we stayed at in Phoenix three years ago. The place is huge and practically surrounded by the Pacific. Five pools, three buildings (Jim and I are in The Pearl and Debbie is in the Tower Princesa) and exhilarating views. I read a number of reviews of this place and they were very mixed. From the ocean themed carpets to the fun melodies the elevators play as you go from floor to floor (think the sounds of a child's toy) to the spaciousness and relaxing atmosphere, I already think this place is fabulous. I will venture out into the city to take some pics and tomorrow we plan on watching the cliff divers. By the way, I really really like palm trees.

peace,

Paul

LangDetectro>en GoogleC

Well, we had a few pretty uneventful plane trips to Acapulco, unless you count the moment when I tried to fill out the customs and immigration forms in Spanish. The stewardess inadvertently started handing out the Spanish forms to English speaking people. I thought, ok, I'll see how much of this I can actually fill out without looking at the English form. Apparently, Americans are not allowed to fill out the Mexican-American form. And I thought I was being so clever. On our way to Mexico City, we went through several clouds; so cool. Even more impressive is flying over the clouds and seeing how they just hang there in the sky. La ciudad de Mexico is HUGE! I knew it was huge from Spanish class but actually seeing it sprawled out was amazing. And the multitude of colors; from the buildings to the houses to the trees. Once we arrived in Mexico City, we ate at a restaurant in the airport called California Restaurante. We originally had a Spanish speaking waitress and I was determined to order only in Spanish. Unfortunately, Debbie and Jim could not so we ended up with a bilingual server. I have my work cut out for me: Between the accent, the rapidity with which they speak, the lowness of their voices and the fact that, as in English, several different words can mean the same thing, I've got my work cut out for me. Luckily, I love a challenge. Anyway, I had chicken cordon bleu over spaghetti and Jim and Debbie had lamb tacos in a soft corn tortilla (I really like lamb) and lamb consumme. One thing about the restaurant that struck me as funny was the fact that they were playing American pop songs in English. From there we asked several different people how to find out gate for Acapulco. I asked two people and Debbie asked one. Each one told us something different. Hmmm, boy did we look like the typical lost Americans. Finally, Debbie asked a federal police woman and she explained to me in Spanish how to get to where we needed to go. Luckily, I was able to remember some key phrases such as speak slower please and to the left or to the right. We finally arrived at the Fairmont Princess Acapulco and I think this Fairmont Princess is even better than the one we stayed at in Phoenix three years ago. The place is huge and practically surrounded by the Pacific. Five pools, three buildings (Jim and I are in The Pearl and Debbie is in the Tower Princesa) and exhilarating views. I read a number of reviews of this place and they were very mixed. From the ocean themed carpets to the fun melodies the elevators play as you go from floor to floor (think the sounds of a child's toy) to the spaciousness and relaxing atmosphere, I already think this place is fabulous. I will venture out into the city to take some pics and tomorrow we plan on watching the cliff divers. By the way, I really really like palm trees. peace, Paul

Oscar winner predictions

Here we go: Check out last year's predictions-did not do too badly at all! Here are my picks for who WILL win and who SHOULD win. I know they're late but, hey, better late than never.

Best Animated Feature:
Should win-Up
Will win-Up

Best Editing:
Should win-Inglorious Basterds
Will win-The Hurt Locker

Best Cinematography:
Should win-Avatar
Will win-Avatar

Best Art Direction:
Should win-Avatar
Will win-Avatar

Best Costume Design:
Should win-Nine
Will win-The Young Victoria

Best Makeup:
Should win-Star Trek
Will win-Star Trek

Best Visual Effects:
Should win-Avatar
Will win-Avatar

Best Sound Mixing:
Should win-The Hurt Locker
Will win-The Hurt Locker

Best Sound Editing:
Should win-Avatar
Will win-The Hurt Locker

Best Original Song:
Should win-The Weary Kind (Crazy Heart)
Will win-The Weary Kind (Crazy Heart)

Best Original Score:
Should win-Avatar
Will win-Up

Best Live Action Short:
Should win-Kavi
Will win-The New Tenants

Best Animated Short:
Should win-A Matter Of Loaf And Death
Will win-Logorama

Best Documentary Short:
Should Win-The Last Campaign
Will win-Music By Prudence

Best Documentary Feature:
Should win-The Cove
Will win-The Cove

Best Foreign Language Film:
Should win-El Secreto De Sus Ojos
Will Win-The White Ribbon

Best Supporting Actress:
Should win-Mo'nique
Will win-Mo'nique

Best Supporting Actor:
Should win-Christoph Waltz
Will win-Christoph Waltz

Best Actress:
Should win-Gabourey Sidibe (Helen Mirren's a close second)
Will win-Sandra Bullock

Best Actor:
Should win-Colin Firth
Will win-Jeff Bridges

Best Original Screenplay:
Should win-The Hurt Locker
Will win-Inglorious Basterds

Best Adapted Screenplay:
Should win-Precious: Based on the novel "Push" by Sapphire
Will win-Precious: Based on the novel "Push" by Sapphire

Best Director:
Should win-Kathryn Bigelow
Will win-Kathryn Bigelow

Best Picture:
Should win-The Hurt Locker
Will win-The Hurt Locker

To all of you who view the Academy Awards as their own Super Bowl....Happy Viewing!!!!

peace,

paul

Mama He's Crazy: Ok, so, we know that Jeff Bridges can act; he's got four previous Oscar nominations and an acclaimed career to prove it. Having said that, I was disappointed by his latest film Crazy Heart (R). Adapted from a novel by Thomas Cobb, it follows the highs and lows (mostly lows) of faded country music star Bad Blake.

Bridges' boozy, vanity free role is worthy of the Academy Award nomination it garnered but during much of the movie his is anything but likable and I felt as if he was overacting in a number of spots as opposed to just letting the character flow naturally. I also did not believe the relationship that transpired between he and reporter Jean Craddock (the finally nominated Maggie Gyllenhaal).

Criticism aside, Bridges does a great job as a washed up singer trying to find redemption thanks to the love of a real woman. And the song The Weary Kind is arguably the best of the nominated songs and I'd like to see it win the gold. Bridges does make it look easy and he's a major asset to an otherwise cliche story. I still don't think he deserves to win but he's one hell of an actor.

peace,

Paul

OMG! It's the AA's

It's Official: The race for gold at the 82nd Annual Academy Awards is on, baby! First off, love it or hate it, the Academy has decided to nominate 10 films instead of 5 and what a range of films it is, with the inclusion of the tearjerker The Blind Side. There have not been more than 5 films nominated in one year since 1943. Hopefully the brass will get the upswing in numbers they've desperately been trying to recapture since 1997 when Titanic swept so many awards. Even without the inclusion of five extra films, this would have been an exciting year with the gargantuan Avatar, directed by James Cameron (his 2nd directing nom), pitted against The Hurt Locker, the little movie that could and also one of the most riveting films of last year. That movie is directed by Kathryn Bigelow, Cameron's ex-wife and the fourth woman ever to be nominated for best director (behind Lina Wertmuller, Jane Campion and Sofia Coppola). Personally, I think it would be awesome if Bigelow won. Not only is she deserving for creating such a powerful war film but it would be nice to show Cameron that he's not the only "king of the world." I was surprised that The Hangover, arguably the funniest movie of last year, was left off the list.

The other major nominees bring a mixture of plenty of new blood and some old standbys. I don't mean that disparagingly but it seems there's a few this year that we could have predicted in our sleep (hello, Morgan, Meryl and Penelope). Having said that, the new kids on the block are as follows: Colin Firth, Jeremy Renner, Christopher Plummer, Stanley Tucci, Christoph Waltz, Sandra Bullock, Carey Mulligan, Gabourey Sidibe, Vera Farmiga, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Anna Kendrick and Mo'Nique. It's nice to see Vera Farmiga and Maggie Gyllenhaal both nominated...finally.

Those who were shut out include Julianne Moore for A Single Man, Alec Baldwin for It's Complicated, Ben Foster for The Messenger, Abbie Cornish for Bright Star and perhaps the most glaring omission, Emily Blunt for The Young Victoria.

This year Meryl Streep once again breaks her own record and scores her 16th Oscar nomination. Sadly, once again, this will not be the year she wins her third award. That honor will more than likely go to Sandra Bullock (I hope not) or Carey Mulligan. I would like to see Sandra win just not for this film.

Other nominees who have been down this carpet before are Jeff Bridges (5th), George Clooney (2nd), Morgan Freeman (5th), Matt Damon (his 2nd but 1st for acting), Woody Harrelson (2nd), Helen Mirren (4th) and Penelope Cruz (3rd).

In the director's realm, new and old are almost split evenly down the middle. Jason Reitman, James Cameron and Quentin Tarantino all score their second nods while Lee Daniels and Ms. Bigelow are first timers.

No matter who wins or just politely claps while thinking, 'I can't believe she won', this should be a thrilling race.

Stay tuned as I will soon be making my predictions in every single category.

peace,

Paul

I'm doing very very well with my movie marathon of potential Oscar nominated films. Only two more to go: Crazy Heart and The Last Station both of which have not yet opened...in Rochester. I'm going out on a limb here and saying that this is Jeff Bridges's year but not Helen Mirren's.


peace,

paul

Singular Sensation: For those of you who are like me and are sick and tired of hearing about the single ladies (thank you, Beyonce!), the new movie titled A Single Man will make you forget all about that infectious ditty. Based on the Christopher Isherwood novel of the same name, Man tells the story of George Falconer who struggles to deal with his life after his partner of 16 years dies in an automobile accident.

The film is directed by famed designer Tom Ford and every single frame of the movie is so stylishly and artfully shot that the fact this is Ford's first film makes the movie all the more breathtaking. And let me say this about Firth's performance: He has played a myriad of roles in his nearly twenty-six year film career, including a gay tenant in Apartment Zero, the ever popular Mr. Darcy in Pride & Prejudice, playing father to teen Amanda Bynes, and singing alongside Meryl Streep in Mamma Mia! Each one of those roles was memorable in their own right but in A Single Man, Firth erases those previous roles by giving an indelible, amazingly honest and sexually charged performance. Even if he doesn't win the Oscar this year (he might but probably won't), this is a role that deserves to be talked about and dissected.

The film closely follows the book complete with a myriad of scenes with very minimal dialogue; this is the kind of film that other Academy Award hopefuls should be getting ideas from, one in which the performance dictates the action as opposed to the plot. The only major flaw I found with this film was the ending; I didn't like it in the book and I don't like it on film. However, it's still worth seeing and thanks to Ford's keen eye, he deserves to receive a nominee for best director. The film also stars Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode, Nicholas Hoult and Gennifer Goodwin.