Tag: Querétaro Mexico

Five Reasons to Stay on Property at a Resort in Cozumel

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Private beach at the Occidental Resort Cozumel Mexico

Fear of Travel

Maybe, like me, fear kept you from traveling outside the United States. Yes, unfounded anxiety stood between me and a wonderful time abroad. Mental roadblocks included not knowing the language and being unsure of what to expect.

My experienced international traveling companion helped me overcome these fears, as did a few YouTube videos. The videos showed the experience of getting on the airplane to navigating customs. Most helpful videos were showing a guest exiting their taxi at the resort. It included a tour of the facilities from the entryway, check-in, to riding to the room, dining, entertainment, and of course, the swimming pools and the beach.

Island of Cozumel in Mexico

I flew to the island of Cozumel in Mexico and stayed at The Occidental Resort Cozumel. It’s an amazing five-star hotel, a unique destination. Masquerading as a Mexican hacienda, it offers amazing immunities, a private beach, and the possibility of enjoying the treasures of the Palancar Reef.

The Occidental Cozumel is an all-inclusive resort that is integrated in its natural surroundings of mangroves, white sand beaches and tropical gardens. It offers an unparalleled experience. I opted to stay on the property during my stay. Part of staying on the property was to develop my travel legs and have better control over my experience.

Here are five reasons to stay on property during a visit to an all-inclusive resort like the Occidental Resort.

5 Reasons to Stay on Property at a Resort in Cozumel

Reason One: Convenience:

  • Staying on property at the Occidental Resort in Cozumel means you have easy access to all the amenities and activities offered by the resort, without having to worry about transportation or logistics. It limits your travel to going to and from the Cozumel International Airport.
  • The airport handles national and international air traffic for the city of San Miguel, Cozumel, the island, and handles hundreds of thousands of tourists on a year-round basis. I purchased transportation to and from the airport as part of my travel package. Someone met me at the airport and got me to the resort without issue.

 

Main swimming pool at the beach at the Occidental Resort Cozumel

Reason Two: Variety of activities:

  • The Occidental Resort in Cozumel offered a wide range of activities and entertainment options, from swimming and snorkeling to spa treatments and fitness classes.
  • Staying on property allows you to take advantage of these activities without having to plan and coordinate transportation to and from off-site locations. In the evenings, there was a variety of on-site entertainment to fill the evening.

 

Lots of evening concerts, dancing, and trivia events

Reason Three: Access to dining options:

  • My resort had a variety of dining options on-site, including restaurants, bars, and cafes. I purchased the fine-dining package, which allowed me to have several evenings at speciality dining venues on property.
  • Staying on property means that you can enjoy these dining options without having to go off site to find a place to eat.

 

Dining by the beach at Occidental Resort Cozumel

Reason Four: High-quality accommodations:

  • The Occidental Resort in Cozumel has high-quality accommodations, and staying on property allows you to experience the luxury and comfort of the resort’s rooms and facilities.
  • Occidental Cozumel also offers an even more luxurious and sophisticated experience: the Royal Level at Occidental Cozumel.

 

Room with a balcony at the Occidental Resort Cozumel

Reason Five: Personalized service:

  • Staying on property at a resort in Cozumel means you have access to personalized service from the resort’s staff, who can help you with questions you may have during your stay. This can make your trip more enjoyable and stress-free.
  • The concierge and staff are there to make your stay special. Enough staff spoke English where my lack of Spanish was not an issue.

 

Royal level area sign at Occidental Resort Cozumel

I had a great time during my stay. Staying on property is a comfortable option for the experienced traveler. My visit let a smile on my face as seen in the below selfie of me on the beach at the Occidental Resort in Cozumel.

 

The author on the beach at the Occidental Resort Cozumel Mexico.

March 19, 2014

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Today in Texas History:

Today is March 19, 2014. It is the 78th day of the year.

On this date in March 19 Isidro Félix de Espinosa began his career as a Franciscan. Isidro Félix de Espinosa was born in Querétaro, Mexico, on November 26, 1679. His parents were Isidro de Espinosa and Gertrudis de Miraelrio Tovar. Espinoza had nine brother, of which only six of them lived to adulthood. On March 18, 1696, Isidro Félix de Espinosa joined the College of Santa Cruz de Querétaro, and March 19, 1697, he began his career as a Franciscan. On December 17, 1703 Espinoza received holy orders and 26 February of that same year he became a priest. Espinosa is thought likely that he was assigned to Mission San Juan Bautista at the end of 1703 or shortly thereafter.

On April 5, 1709, Espinosa, accompanied by Father Antonio de Olivares, Captain Pedro de Aguirre, and fourteen soldiers, left San Juan Bautista for address to the future San Antonio. Here, the Franciscans were impressed by the availability of water and the prospects of Spanish settlement. Expedition Espinosa, Aguirre Olivares and moved past the San Antonio River to the Colorado River of Texas, where they hoped to contact Hasinais who whispered that they had moved there. On this trip Espinosa also encountered Yojuanes and their allies the Simonis and the Tusonibi who tried to convince Espinos and his associates to come to their villages along the Rio Brazos but failed in this endeavor. Espinosa did not go to the villages of the Yojuane.

Espinosa and associates also failed to contact any natives on the Colorado River. The expedition returned to St. John the Baptist on April 28, 1709. Espinosa soon returned to Querétaro and he remained there until he was named President of new missions were established in the University Mission Texas. In 1716 he accompanied the expedition of Domingo Ramón, where he established three missions Querétaro in East Texas: Our Father San Francisco de los Teja, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, and San Jose de los Nazonis.

Espinosa missionary activities in Texas included participation in two other expeditions, Martín de Alarcón (1718) and Marques of San Miguel de Aguayo (1721). In late 1721, Espinosa was renamed as the guardian of Texas Missionary University and he never returned to the province. In 1733 he was named President of the future Hospice of San Fernando in Mexico city. In the last years of his life he returned to the University of Santa Cruz in Querétaro, where he died on February 14, 1755.

His contributions as a chronicler of the early history of Texas are without peer. He was called “El Julio Cesar de la Fé en Nueva España (The Julio Cesar of Faith in New Spain)” because he worked during the day and wrote by night. Espinosa left a remarkable collection of literature. This includes a biography of his friend, Antonio Margil of Jesus and the Chronicle of the Colleges of Propaganda Fide of New Spain, called “the most important contemporary achievement Franciscans in Texas”, the work was reprinted in 1964.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isidro_de_Espinosa and http://www.tshaonline.org/day-by-day/30646