Where Are You Watching the Super Bowl?
Who are you rooting for in the Super Bowl?
That seems to be the question everyone asks this time of year. But this year, we decided to ask a different question:
Where are you watching the Super Bowl from?
Some people watch from home with family and friends. Some head to a local sports bar packed with fans cheering for their team. Others gather at a friend’s house with snacks, drinks, and plenty of friendly competition.
As for us?
We chose the beach.
Taking the Super Bowl to Mexico
This wasn’t our first time spending Super Bowl weekend in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico, and hopefully it won’t be our last. A few friends, a condo by the ocean, good food, and a football game sounded like the perfect combination.
The planning started before we ever left home. The girls had a group chat going to decide who would bring what, which meals we would cook at the condo, which meals we would enjoy at local restaurants, and of course, what everyone would contribute for Super Bowl snacks.
Carne asada mini tacos, wings, chips, dip, queso, meat and cheese, fruit platters, and more were all on the list.
Clearly, we were not going to starve.
Packing Like Professionals
Audra and Jimmy were coming from Tucson and planned to meet us in Why, Arizona. Robert and Michelle, our favorite travel companions, were riding with us.
This trip came with one major change.
Tracey asked Robert to drive.
If you know Tracey, you know this is a big deal. As the self-appointed head driver of our family, he usually feels it is his responsibility to get everyone safely to the destination. I rarely drive on long trips, and he insists it has nothing to do with my driving ability.
This time, however, he handed the keys to Robert.
Before we could leave, we had to solve the great packing puzzle.
Food, coolers, luggage, golf clubs, cases of water, and even two boxes of china I had promised to deliver all had to fit in the vehicle. Just when Robert had everything perfectly arranged, I remembered more food in the fridge.
Then I remembered the wine.
And let’s be honest, the wine was not optional.
Thankfully, Michelle volunteered to keep it safe by her feet, and Robert proved himself to be a true Jenga master. Somehow everything fit, including Tracey’s golf club that briefly became the subject of a little pre-golf-game trash talk.
On the Road at Last
Once we pulled out of the neighborhood, we texted Jimmy and Audra to let them know we were finally on the road.
They are notorious for being early.
We are notorious for being late.
This trip was no exception.
The drive was mostly uneventful, filled with conversation, laughter, and one work conference call that required the rest of us to be quiet for longer than Tracey could comfortably handle.
We stopped in Gila Bend for a quick bite at Carl’s Jr., although for a moment we weren’t entirely sure Robert understood the assignment. He pulled into McDonald’s first, drove behind the building, circled through the back lot, and eventually landed us exactly where we wanted to be.
Just like he knew what he was doing.
Meeting Up in Why
Of course, about fifteen minutes before we arrived in Why, Jimmy and Audra texted to let us know they were already there waiting.
Those kids are always early.
After restrooms, snacks, fuel, and a quick regroup, we were officially on our way to Mexico.
We crossed the border, made our way through Sonoyta, and settled into the drive toward the beach. The roads were calm, traffic was light, and the excitement began to build the closer we got to the ocean.
By the time we arrived, we were all teasing Tracey about how much he had been talking. Apparently, I had tuned him out so well that I nearly forgot to tell the gate guard that Jimmy and Audra were with us.
Arriving in Paradise
Once inside the resort, we headed to the HOA office to collect wristbands, parking passes, and keys.
We were greeted by one of our favorite bellhops, Lorenzo, who welcomed us with big hugs and called Jose to help bring our things up to the condo.
Because part of the parking garage was under construction, getting to our spot felt like navigating a maze. We drove through several garages before finally reaching ours. Thankfully, Lorenzo led the way.
Hopefully, we could find our way back out.
Once everything was unloaded and put away, we opened the blinds, set up the patio cushions, and let the view do what it always does.
The ocean immediately calmed everything.
Some of us sat outside…Some read…..Some worked a little…..Some simply relaxed.
Whatever we were doing, we were grateful to be there.
Dinner on the Malecon
Friday night, we headed into town for dinner at Aqui Es Con Flavio.
The food was good, the conversation was better, and we enjoyed catching up with our favorite waiter there, Martin Moreno.
It was a slow night in town, so we were visited by musicians, the flower guy, and then more musicians. That is part of the charm, and sometimes part of the adventure.
Jimmy and I shared the whole fried fish, which was wonderful. Everyone enjoyed their meals, and Martin treated us to a shot of something interesting to end the night.
After dinner, hugs, handshakes, kisses, and a little extra tip for Martin, we headed back to the car.
Then came the unanimous decision.
We needed Thrifty ice cream.
I had not had ice cream in months, so that single scoop tasted extra special.
A Slow Saturday Morning
Saturday morning arrived without alarms, schedules, or pressure.
Everyone woke up at their own pace.
The weather was windy but sunny, and once we were all moving, Tracey and I cooked eggs and bacon for everyone. We enjoyed a relaxed breakfast at the condo, followed by a short lesson for Michelle on some of the camera features on her iPhone.
After breakfast, the day unfolded exactly the way a beach weekend should.
Tracey and Robert headed to the clubhouse for golf.
Jimmy and Audra went to the jacuzzi.
Michelle and I grabbed our books and settled in for some quiet reading time.
Later that evening, Jimmy and Audra cooked dinner, the guys returned from an awesome round of golf, and we enjoyed another meal together with great conversation.
Church from the Condo
That evening, we decided to watch the recording of our church’s livestream.
The four of us from Chandler grabbed our field guides for sermon notes, and Tracey streamed the service from his phone to the TV.
There were a few glitches along the way. We were not sure if it was the Wi-Fi in Mexico or the number of people watching online, but we made it through the service.
Pastor Brian did an amazing job, and the worship music was wonderful.
Afterward, Michelle and I worked on our Bible study homework together and had some great conversation. We have been loving the Uncharted Generosity Campaign and the effect it has had on our church and on each of us personally.
Super Bowl Sunday at the Beach
Sunday morning came a little slower for me.
After a restless night and very little sleep, I finally got out of bed around 8 a.m. and found Jimmy in the kitchen having breakfast. We enjoyed a quiet conversation about jobs, health, friends, and God before everyone else slowly joined us.
It had rained most of the night, and the morning was overcast. Once everyone was ready, we headed to Wrecked for breakfast and time with another local friend, Omar.
We sat inside at first because of the wind, but by the time breakfast was over, the sun had come out and the weather had turned beautiful.
So naturally, we moved outside for cornhole.
There were drinks, laughs, pictures, music, and plenty of friendly competition. The final game was a shocker when Michelle and Robert beat Tracey and me. Not because we’re amazing, because we’re not, but because it was the first time they had ever beaten us.
Great games all around.
Snacks, Football, and Friendship
Back at the condo, everyone settled into their own version of relaxation.
Tracey made it as far as the couch.
Robert found a chair on the patio.
Michelle and I brought out our books.
Jimmy and Audra made the rest of us look lazy by heading to the pool and jacuzzi.
The sun was shining, the ocean was beautiful, and I never even opened my book. Instead, I listened to a few Marco Polo messages, sent one back with a beach video, and eventually closed my eyes for a little nap.
Later, we started preparing our Super Bowl snacks.
Carne asada tacos, dips, wings, and all the goodies came together just in time for kickoff.
The food was delicious.
The friendship was priceless.
The game?
Well…
Let’s just say it was not the reason we came.
Even the commercials were a little underwhelming.
But sitting in a condo by the beach with people we love made it a perfect Super Bowl Sunday anyway.
Heading Home Too Soon
Monday morning came far too quickly.
We would have loved to stay another three days. Or ten. Or twenty. Honestly, we are not sure how many days would have felt like enough.
But real life was waiting.
Tracey and I had a workout scheduled back home. Michelle was heading to her daughter’s ultrasound to see her first grandchild. Everyone else had work, family, and responsibilities calling them back.
Still, we left grateful.
Grateful for the ocean…..Grateful for good friends….Grateful for safe travels.
And grateful for another memory made in a place we love.
Thank you for joining us virtually on our Super Bowl beach weekend. Maybe one day soon, you can come down to paradise with us in person.