Break!!! Wahoo!!!
Feliz Abril Rocky Point! The best weather is upon us…the sea water gets warmer, the days get a bit warmer, the revelers are in full swing carrying on all over town, Jozey D has her hips a shakin’ on the dance floor…It’s TIME TO CELEBRATE! Thank you to all the fab people who went out on the super fun SHAVE THE WHALE boat tour in February and of course to Shayna for tossing it all together. It was really a great time; however I needed to hunker down on the lower deck as it was a bit too tossy up above…well not for Tomas who put on his show! It was really fun hanging with Mary, Patti, Leo, Kimmie and EVERYONE! Extra prayers for our dear Patti…but she is doing so much better…all the blessings to you Patti! 😊February was also extra special spending time with my son, Zack for his birthday on the 24th. He had many friends come down to Rocky Point to celebrate and Lord knows I try and keep up but by day 4…KAPOW…no mas por favor! Cheers Z!!! As I have mentioned in past articles, my kids Zack and Via half grew up in Rocky Point. We purchased our first condo when they were 4 and 2 years old respectively. I have never interviewed them in about 18 years of writing this article so I decided to do so today and give you an aspect from the eyes of a child to a teen to a young adult on their outlook over the years of what it was like for them in Rocky Point. So, women first, I will start with Miss Via Maria and will move onto Zack in a future article.
Marco- What are some of your oldest memories of coming to Rocky Point?
Via- This was when I was around 4 or 5 years old so back in 2006/2007. I remember packing all of our beach toys, towels, and umbrella from our condo and heading to the beach each day, and we would stay from 10 am to 4 pm. We would go up and shower after the beach day and head to dinner at Mare Blu, Sally’s (Xochitl’s Café), JJ’s, La Casa del Capitan, Pollos Lucas, etc., and have a wonderful meal each night at one of our local restaurants. I even painted a tile back in 2008…I remember because the date is on the tile and hanging on Sally’s wall. I remember sand dollar hunting in Cholla Bay and wading in the water there. At Bella Sirena, I used to bring my toy torpedoes and divers to the pool and would play with them for hours, often swimming around the people who have been drinking there all day. I always met new friends each time I went as well as meeting up with the other kids whose parents were owners at Bella Sirena. One of our favorite things to do was to get together and gather hermit crabs in the tide pools and bring them up to the condo in buckets and have them for pets for the week. We would feed them and watch them. We then would always bring them back to the sea and set them free before we left.
Marco- Wow, I can tell that they are all fond memories for you. I would always see you and Zack and your friends smiling and laughing and running around together. How has this evolved over the years as you grew older?
Via- As a child, we were in our own world. It was a sense of independence as we would travel as a pack and go back and forth from the pools to the beach and play all kinds of games. I remember meeting Olivia and JoeJoe Castrachini at Bella and playing with them over the years. As a teen and adult, I loved bringing friends down and showing them what I grew up with in Rocky Point. They, of course, loved it. I would introduce them to Scott and Cathy, and they always helped to show them a good time. My friends and I would jet ski and banana boat almost daily and everyone loved that. I always enjoyed celebrating Easter in Rocky Point especially the great times celebrating my birthday with Cathy Poturalski on April 2nd as we share the same birthday. She was always special to me and would bring me a big birthday present. When I was 18, I was legal to drink in Mexico and I would take friends down from Xavier and then friends from TCU. My friends from TCU never heard of Rocky Point and I would show them around, connecting all the pieces from my childhood to now. Like when I was young, I would still take them to Thrifty for the best ice cream we ever had!
Marco- Awww, what great times. Kudos to the Pea’s!!! Any other special memories for you?
Via- I remember gathering all the donations in the U.S. over a month and then bringing them to Rocky Point to help out those in need. We would have so much stuff packed in our stretch SUV that we often couldn’t see each other and then we’d drive down the railroad tracks and hand out all the food, clothing, toys and household items. It was extra special when I saw a young girl walking down the beach years later and she had my shirt on with Olivia embroidered on the front.
Marco- What are some of the changes you have seen over the years…it is coming up on around 20 years!
Via- Well, there are so many new towers throughout the city. We have so many new restaurants now, a bowling alley, Manny’s was totally remodeled which is always fun. I do like that a lot has stayed the same…Rocky Point has been true to itself but the enhancements to the city are most welcome.
Marco- In deed! What are some of your favorite things to do in Rocky Point today?
Via- I love to relax and tan at the beach, which is great weather all year round. I love meeting new people at all the resorts and the waiters and waitresses. I love getting massages on the beach, going to Thrifty with friends, taking great sunset pictures, buying friendship bracelets, banana boating, jet skiing, listening to music, having drinks on the balcony with old and new friends.
Marco- Isn’t that what life is about…maintaining the old friends and always having room for new friends! What did you like best about Bella compared to Encantame Towers?
Via- I love all of the history of Bella and how it is beautiful yet old-school with its cobblestone streets. Bella has many hidden spots to explore like the golf, tennis courts and the walkways around the resort. Each of the pools is a bit different from the others and it has a beautiful lawn that we love to play football and other sports. Encantame Towers has an amazing rooftop pool and the views are just amazing as we are so close to the sea. I like the rooftop deck that is above the swim bar next to the beach. Additionally, I like the privacy, but there are enough people to make it fun.
Marco- Oh, I would say so…many of our Bella friends are owners here as well and WOW, we are a crew! Where do you see Rocky Point in 10 years’ time?
Via- I see it becoming more and more popular as the years go by, which in turn will attract more people. I think it will become more of an international destination.
Marco- Nice! Anything else you would like our Rocky Point readers to know about you?
Via- It was really fun growing up in Rocky Point over the years and it still has the same heart and tropical smell. I love bringing different friends from Arizona, California, and Texas to show them how nice of a place Rocky Point is and what a great time it is!
Thank you Via Maria for your insight, it is much appreciated and even I learned some things in this interview 😊. LOVE YOU always, Via! Here’s to an awesome April to everyone. As Mel Robbins is quoted, “The more you allow people to live their lives, the better your life will get. The more control you give up, the more you gain” …I think that is called FREEDOM!
ADIOS AMIGOS
GOD BLESS
Marco
