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whosxafraid · 4 years

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[ x ] @brooklynislandgirl

The box addressed to Luka during mail call is small. Smaller still the one inside it. It can be fitted to a computer usb but includes an adaptor for his phone. Because she thinks of everything. It’s a strange gift. The drive is filled with one video. It starts with her in the morning, sans make up, still in her pyjamas and holding up a cup of coffee. She smiles sleepily into the camera. “Mornin’ Lulu. If ya watchin’ dis, means ya got my Christmas present. I know bein’ ovah-seas can be really hard, especially when ya feel cut off an’ alone from da people ya considah family. So…wi’ dat in mind, dis video gonna be me takin’ ya t'rough a day in da life. One ya can hold onto, one ya can watch whenevah ya missin’ us. Missin’ me.” And she does just that. It cuts off just before she slips into the shower. Resumes when she’s dressed again. They go to morning mass, then she helps serve breakfast to Father Vinnie’s homeless congregation, before passing out blankets and hats, gloves and other winter survival gear. She holds one little girl against her hip ~born to motherhood was Beth~ and the rest of the kids sing carols and thank Luka and his unit for their donations, and helping Santa find them, even though it isn’t Christmas yet.

Lunch at her favourite vegan cafe and she chats about how impressed she was that he even got some of the ship’s crew to pitch in for her church’s children’s programs and that thanks to them all of the kids and most of the adults will have hot meals for weeks. Not to mention a roof over their heads until after the new year. She has never looked so radiantly happy, and promises to show him when he gets home just what it all means to her. The it’s normal errands, picking up Andy’s dry-cleaning, dropping off lunch and donuts for Baz. It’s having a coffee in Central Park, and a stolen moment or two from Jay wishing him the best of holidays and Happy Hanukkah. Closer to sunset and its video of lights and displays and the snow drifting down in multi-coloured showers that melt into her hair.

Eventually she even takes clips and things from the ER, no patients though. She wouldn’t endanger them, or violate patients rights but there’s some quiet moments while working on her charting, and the nurses also send their greetings. She takes pictures of the doctors who no longer treat her like chattel.

The video ends nearly a full 24 hours later as she is exhaustedly dropping into her brother’s chair, and her eyes can barely stay open. “So, dat’s it. A day back at home because ya no can be here. I hope it makes ya feel less lonely. Love you, Lulu. Come home safe to us. Mele Kalikimaka!!!”

Mail call and...he doesn’t really realize the way his head snaps up from his book when his name cuts across the room. Or for that matter how more falls out of his bunk than climbs. His feet struggling to shift him across the space as quickly as possible, while his dips and dodges around the low hanging pipes in the ceiling. All he knows is once his fingers are wrapped around the rather small box, it only takes a second for smile to start forming on his lips. A little less deftly working his way back to his bunk, as he tears into the package.

A small sound of amusement at the shark that ends up in his palm, a check of the box to make sure he hadn’t overlooked everything. But then it all becomes a bit..confused. Brows knitting together. She sent him a usb? That was...odd. Then again his mind almost instantly starts buzzing with all the things that could be on, verses what mostly would be on it, verses what actually was on it. Because Beth? She isn’t your typical...well anyone. She’s her. But just to be safe...he’ll be using that adapter. Doesn’t need any of the lads possibly seeing or hearing something they don’t need to.

So the shark is tucked away in his bunk for safe keeping until a few hours later when the lot of his squad are sleeping off a few contraband food parcels that no body asked where House got them from.

And it’s a bit like single player twister, when he finally hears House kick against the bunk beneath him, their particular not so complicated ‘all clear’ signal. Turning around in a way he can reach where he’d hidden his treasure. Another angle managed that wasn’t natural for his phone and earbuds. And then its simply turning the damn thing on, letting it boot. Getting everything plugged in and opening the file. And...

“Good mornin’, beautiful.”

Mouthed more than said, a warm little grin on his face. One that grows by fractions when she explains what this whole home movie is about. A documentary of Beth’s life when he’s not there? He’ll take it and with lots of than---Okay extra lots of thanks, because damn that view. He wasn’t expecting that. And he’ll never admit to the fact that he rewound it once...okay twice before letting the video play on unhindered. World can judge him if it likes but he’s been gone pushing 19 months now. He misses much more than just her bright personality.

The camera cuts in a slightly shaky manner and then its off to the proverbial races. Mass that makes him feel...alot guilty he lets that slip so much when he’s not home. And he makes a mental note to do better, while simultaneously knowing...he really won’t. Then breakfast for the homeless and handing out much needed supplies.Caroling and the cutest wee lass on Beth’s hip that makes long for other things, but swallows it down because that’s not really his decision. The thanks from the children has him all teeth smiling nose inches away from the screen as he is.

That only grows wider when it all changes up to Beth out to eat at her favorite cafe. (He recognizes the signage in the window.) Chattering on about how grateful she is everyone helped. How far that help is going to get those kids and most of the adults food in their stomachs and somewhere warm to sleep. And even though its only video he can see it can’t he? How happy she is. How she seems to glow with it. And between that and the way she’s framed by the snow lined window behind her--he maybe misses home just a little bit more than he did moments before.

He’ll have to find a way to share this bit with the lads, though artfully removing the last few seconds because they don’t need to be privy to just how Beth might choose to fulfill that promise. Because he knows they’ll be just as happy the ‘chitlins’, as Mason called them, got all the things they needed. And at least some of the things they wanted, because Gorilla had insisted and his kids had jumped all over the quest. Drug their school mates into it. Shown up at Beth’s church per Gorilla’s wife’s email with a Santa sized stash of toys for all the programs kids. Without a dime of the donated funds spent.

Then its a flurry of every day ordinary things. Dry cleaning, dropping off food for the engine gremlin. Coffee in the park with Jay. Where he reads far more into the wink she gives the camera than Beth ever would think too. Things like : Everything is set for Christmas morning. Everyone’s got their jobs. It’ll be perfect or I’ll kill them all. We got you, Jamba.

And from there it’s more...subdued. Clips of her filling out charts. Small breaks with coffee he can taste the Styrofoam cups from here. And maybe now and then a thumb subconsciously traces the lines of her face. Trying to wipe away the exhaustion. Forgetting his own in the wake of it. A small awkward sense in his stomach as a few of the nurses from that first Thanksgiving that had all but attempt to climb him like a tree, offered hellos and happy holidays.

Next came a few paused photos of some of the doctors. A few of which he can tell are smiling for the sake of well...a lot of things. Because he’s far more perceptive than Beth sometimes gives him credit for. So he’d flexed just enough to make it clear, she wasn’t up for dibs. Especially for slime bags like that. And that if they didn’t keep their hands to themselves he’d ruin their medical careers. Which had nothing to do with lawsuits.

A few more sped up clips of her making rounds. Talking with the other nurses. Coffee with one of the janitors that had missed their bus, and Beth had taken it upon her self to spend her break making sure they weren’t standing out in the cold alone. Something that again makes him miss home, miss her more than he had before he’d started this whole thing. So by the time the video is crawling towards its end, Beth curled up in her brother’s chair---there’s an aching want to be there. A need to pick her up and tuck her into bed. Settle up beside her and sleep until who cared in the afternoon. But he can’t. An---

Everything stop. The video. His breathing. His heart for a certifiable few beats. Why? Because had she just? No. No way that couldn’t have been what she said. And he’s backing the video up. Turning up the volume in his ear buds and Sweet Holy Mary...she did. She’d....said........it. And perhaps irrationally his ears burn as he backs it up and plays it again over and over. The blood in his veins heating to levels that might be embarrassing if anyone could notice. The glass like quality his gaze suddenly has and---

That. That right there was the best Christmas present she could have ever given him. The best...anything she could have given him. And he knows right then, middle of no where South which ever ocean sea they’re in now...he’ll never forget what it sounds like, or what it felt like to hear it. Second hand through a video or not. She’d said it and he wasn’t ever going to give it away. Except maybe to return it. But that would have to wait until Sunday. Radio silence as they were for the next few days. And there’s a heavy sigh in the quiet of the bunk space.

Sometimes...he really---disliked the hindrances that came with the responsibility.

#[post via mobile]#tw: holidays #tw: christmas #brooklynislandgirl #He Doesnt Know How Heaven Could Be Better Than Her || Beth and Luka #Traveling Soldier || Military AU [ Closed ]

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thisisluxurytravel · 5 years

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Review of Solaz Luxury Suites – Los Cabos newest luxury hotel

I spent a week holiday at Solaz Los Cabos, which is touted as one of the best new luxury hotels in Cabos. Read on to find out if they deserve their reputation.

Getting there

Solaz Los Cabos is located about 35 minutes away from the airport.

It is better to pre-arrange your airport transfer as you will get a better car and get a cheaper rate.

I used Cabo ground service during my trip and highly recommend them. The car is brand new, and their driver was friendly and professional. He shared a lot of information about the Cabos regions during the drive. You can find more info on their website

Beware of the timeshare sales pitch at checking!

Solaz is not an easy place to get into. The security guard could not find my name on his list, so it took about 5 minutes to gain access to the resort. I arrived at 11 am and was happy to hear that my room was ready.

Checking was smooth except for the attempted timeshare visit push. After checking, the receptionist leads me to the guest experience counter under the pretense of giving me information about the hotel.

The guest assistant started giving me some info about the hotels and the restaurants. She then told me that they invite all new guests to a free breakfast. And as the hotel just won an architectural prize they would take a few minutes to show us the architecture features of the hotel after breakfast. I received a breakfast voucher, and it is only when I got back to the room that I read the voucher and realized I had just signed up for a 90 minutes timeshare presentation…

I found it very deceptive. Not the behavior you would expect for a luxury hotel. I canceled the breakfast and made sure to stay away from the concierge and guest experience desks for the rest of the week.

Fortunately, the rest of our stay was outstanding and we forgot about this unfortunate experience.

The Solaz Luxury Suites resort in Los Cabos

The Luxury collection hotel and the Luxury suites compose the Solaz resort. The luxury Suites is the timeshare part of the resort. It is a good option if you like to have a kitchen and feel a bit more like home. We stayed in the Luxury Suite and got access to the same pools, gyms or restaurants as the hotel.

The architecture of the resort is spectacular with high-quality finishing, good taste design, and beautifully landscaped gardens.

The three-bedroom Imperial Suite at Solaz Los Cabos

During our stay at Solaz Los Cabos, we were lucky enough to enjoy the three-bedroom Imperial Suite located in the main building. It is one of the biggest suites in the whole hotel. Each of the three bedrooms has lavished attached bathrooms with glass-enclosed showers.

The master bedroom is facing the terrace and has a sea view. It is so relaxing to fall asleep by the sound of the wave. The apartment is soundproof, and we didn’t hear any other guests during our whole week there.

It is worth noting that the 2 other bedrooms, while comfortable, are at the back of the apartment and are facing the highway. The highway is adjacent to the hotel. You can hear the cars from the rooms so not the most pleasant holiday feeling if you have a room at the back of the building.

The living room was spacious, comfortable, and easy to settle in. The kitchen has great equipment for cooking. The whole set of furniture in the hotel is elegant which maintains the entire aesthetic of the hotel.

There is a sound system in every room in which you can plug your phone and play your music.

The suite is equipped with automatic lighting. While it looks fancy at the beginning, I found it annoying. Every time we would come back in the apartment, all the lights ( and the TV!) would automatically turn on. If you would have a nap and then make a move, all the lights in your bedroom would also turn on. I, therefore, spent a lot of time during the week turning off unwanted lights…

TIP: if you want to cook, there is a small store below the reception. They carry a limited range of products so you might prefer to go grocery shopping outside the hotel, there is a Walmart supermarket near San Jose where you can stock up for your stay.

There is a Jacuzzi on the terrace, but this was a bit of a disappointment as it is only a one-person bathtub with some light jets. It, therefore, felt a bit awkward using the Jacuzzi while other people were on the terrace.

Our suite was located on the fifth floor and offered a panoramic sea view.

TIP: Ask for a high floor room as the higher you are, the better Seaview you will get. Anything above the fourth floor should be good

The suites are beautifully designed with soft colors and a lot of wooden panels given them a natural feel.

The imperial suites are marketed for 12 people. I don’t recommend you staying there with 12 people as it is not that spacious. There was a dining table that could fit 6 people. The seating area was also suitable for 6 people, and there were only 2 lounge chairs on the terrace. We were just 3 people, and it was perfect.

TIP: Don’t invite more than 5 or 6 people to stay in the imperial suite if you want a comfortable stay

The cleaning team was very efficient and left our room spotless every day.

TIP: Amenities were not replenished during our stay so you might want to bring your own shampoo

TIP: There is a washing machine is the imperial suite, so you can pack light, but you need to bring your own washing powder. You can also use the dryer to dry your clothes after swimming

TIP: there were only 2 small plastic water bottles for a 12 person apartment so make sure you bring drinking water with you.

What to do at Solaz Luxury suites

The Solaz Los Cabos offers a resort built alongside the vibrant beach. Here you can enjoy the spa treatments, dance lessons as well as yoga classes during your stay in the hotel.

Relaxing by the pool

Let’s be honest. Most guests come to a beach resort to relax by the pool, so the swimming pool is one of the most essential places in a resort. And Solaz ‘s pools didn’t disappoint. The pools at the resort are very stylish. You can just relax on a lounge chair or leisurely drift in the water. There are four pools, and they are all stunning. Plenty of lounge chairs are available, but the chairs near the pool on the beachfront were sometimes hard to find.

All the pools are family-friendly. I would suggest Solaz reserve one of the pools for adults as not everyone enjoys relaxing with playing children.

The service at the pool was usually excellent but sometimes inconsistent which for a hotel in this price points was a bit disappointing. If you wait for someone to come and install your towel or open your umbrella, you sometimes be waiting for a long time. Used towels of guests who left the pool would also remain for a while, making it hard to know which seats were available. During the whole week, the staff offered us ice popsicle twice. Unlike many luxury hotels, Solaz doesn’t provide complimentary water by the pool.

The food at the pool is excellent and quite affordable for a luxury hotel. The food and drink service was also very friendly and efficient.

TIP: We found that the pool would get busier during mid-day so would usually go early morning or after 4 pm when it started to get quieter.

TIP: Beware of the sun in Los Cabos. We saw many guests with horrid sunburns.

Exercising in the gym or taking yoga classes at Solaz Luxury Suites

The gym is spacious and very well equipped, so Solaz is a great place to keep your exercising routine.

Solaz also offers complimentary yoga class and aquagym.

We tried the yoga class and were disappointed. The class is by the side of the central pool, which is a very exposed location. A woman and her kids in the pool were talking ( screaming?) very loudly during the whole class, which doesn’t lead to the relaxation expected from a yoga class. The teacher arrived late and wasn’t the most knowledgeable about yoga. If yoga is important to you, check out the resort at Pedregal. I was there the week before and was positively impressed with the quality of the Yoga teachers there. You can read my review of the resort at Pedregal here.

There is also a spa, but we didn’t get to try it.

Explore the marine life around Los Cabos

The Baja Peninsula is teeming with marine life. Make sure you go out of the hotel as spectacular experiences abound. Over the week, we swam with manta rays, sea lions, sharks, and millions of other fishes.

You can do most tours over a half-day so that you can still enjoy some time by the pool. I have done and recommend the following tours:

Snorkeling and Kayaking by the arch. This half-day tour takes you to the most scenic point in Cabo San Luca. It is a great morning exercise, and you can meet sea lions and fishes. Read my review here

Diving in Cabo Pulmo. Cabo Pulmo is regarded as the best diving destination around Los Cabos. It is a long day trip as we left at 6 am and came back at 6 pm, but it is worth it if you are into diving. Read my review here

Shark dive snorkeling. This is a half-day trip that takes you to swim with sharks and other large pelagics. We swam with two sharks and two manta rays, but you could also be lucky and encounter whales or dolphins. Read my review here

Chileno beach is an excellent place for swimming and snorkeling, and it is located 5-minute drive from the hotel. There are showers and bathrooms available on the beach.

Does Solaz care about Sustainability?

I have not found any indication that Solaz cares about sustainability. (they did not answer my emails)

No solar panels and high energy consumption was the norm.

For example, we could not turn off the AC in our apartment. The living room was freezing cold during the whole week. We asked maintenance to fix twice but never heard back from them. So we had to keep the windows open and waste a lot of energy.

The automatic lighting system was also wasteful with the lights turning on automatically. I spent at least 5 minutes a day turning off lights and TV.

The towels and bedsheets were also changed too often with no option offered to keep the old linens.

If you care about environmental sustainability, I don’t think Solaz is the right hotel for you.

Conclusion:

Despite being a timeshare, Solaz Luxury suites is a great place to stay for a family or group of friends that enjoy having a full-size apartment and a kitchen in a luxury resort. We felt at ease and enjoyed the utmost comfort and care throughout our 7 days stay in the Imperial Suite. The architecture of the hotel and landscaping are stunning.

I wish they would care more about sustainability. Solaz Luxury Suites is still a new resort, and there are a few small improvements that would help justify the price they currently charge. I am sure this place will only get better with time.

For more things to do in Mexico, check out my review of the diving liveaboard on Quino El Guardian and my review of the Resort at Pedregal in Los Cabos.

Have a great time in Mexico!

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