Happy Anniversary Luna Blue!

[alwaysmissinpdc]

Congratulations! Your story and accomplishments are impressive. So are the guest reviews.

[MsRubio]

When I tell friends we are going back to Mexico they always ask which resort we are staying at...and I tell them we are staying at our favorite boutique hotel. I tell them we know a great couple that moved from San Francisco to live their dream of running a hotel in paradise. We have become creatures of habit...it just wouldn't be the same if I didn't wake up every morning and see Papa T working in the garden and Cheri smiling behind the front desk. We are so lucky to have found Luna Blue and made lifelong friends with you guys.

Congrats and we can't wait to get back and check out all the wonderful new things awaiting us at the Blue.

[Cosmo]

Congrats, you two! Looking forward to toasting your success with a drink or two at your new swing bar soon. Best, Renee and Cos

[Tony&Cheri]

You guys are very sweet. Thank you. Really, thank you.

Yes three years ago we flew into town to take over a run down back packer hotel called the Zanzibar. On February 1st, 2005 we signed the papers and , oh my god...we owned a hotel in Mexico.

As Jerry and the boys once sang, "What a long strange trip it's been". Within the first ten months we had two hurricanes (Emily and Wilma), an architect who ran off with $15,000 (we got that back) and contractor who ran off with $20,000 (that was gone) three weeks before the grand opening of the renovated hotel was scheduled. We opened as the Luna Blue on December 21, 2005 with the staff hanging curtains which were delivered three weeks late, and running fans on walls still wet with paint. We had one maid and so we worked through Christmas cleaning rooms, and celebrated the holiday by going to the beach late in the afternoon on the 25th and falling asleep in the sand. (Tommy is fond of recalling I snored through our first meeting.)

Then there was the night Mario was breaking up the old pool and punctured the water main... in the middle of a rain storm. There was the day the sewage backed up, and the week the water pump, and it's replacement died. There was the guest whose children painted our new furniture, and the guest whose mentally ill mama stole air conditioning remotes. There was the night Cheri fell carrying refrigerators across the courtyard (you can see the scar on her knee) and of course my go-rounds with dengue. And there were other difficult times...some too "dramatic" to mention here.

But there were people in our lives who made the difference between our success and going home to the states. There was Shammy, who stayed at our hotel when it really wasn't all that comfortable. We promised her a night out for a nice dinner at a good restaurant but the new furniture arrived at eight that night, and Shammy spent the evening in her "going out clothes" unloading trucks. She eventually got tacos at El Fogon.

There was Cuff and Ruthie who took it on themselves, without ever knowing us before hand to photograph the hotel from every possible (complimentary) angle and publicize it on the net. And whose friendship sustained us when life got a little rocky.

There was an undercover cop from Iowa who wandered in on vacation and became part of the family. And a little girl down the road who stole our hearts, made us laugh, cooked us dinner and wrecked our car before running off with the cop. (Call us you two!)

And there was a young guy living in town who was my exact opposite...didn't drink, went to church, was still raising little kids, and thought George Bush was a great President. He turned out to be one of those special people whose friendship has helped keep me sane. Go figure.

And there are many, many others. Sorry for not listing everybody. I could fill several pages with thanks to the people who inspired us, helped us, supported us, had nice words for us or just rented a room on the chance that the Luna Blue might turn out all right. Please know that each kind word and act is remembered and appreciated.

Cheri is back in California tonight visiting her mother while I am trying to get everything done for the bar. We talked on the phone a little while ago and read your comments together. We got a little misty eyed and each had a glass of wine, she in the Chancellor Hotel in San Francisco and me at home in Playa. We toasted our fortune not in having a successful hotel but in having such good people in our lives.

Thank you all.

This is just the beginning.

Papa T

[redhairgirl1]

Congrat's you two! Mel and i met you briefly when we were in Playa last year. We are coming back again at the end of July, and definently plan to spend a few hours at your great new bar!!

[gingele]

Originally Posted by redhairgirl1

Congrat's you two! Mel and i met you briefly when we were in Playa last year. We are coming back again at the end of July, and definently plan to spend a few hours at your great new bar!!

aHEM...You better add at least one other redhead to that guest list!


T&C, congrats! Not just on the hotel (which is an amazing feat in and of itself) - but for everything you do for your adopted home. You are an asset to your community.


Cheers to Luna Blue and Cheers to T&C!

[Starfish]

What a beautiful story Tony. You have memories and friends that will last a life time. I had tears in my eyes reading it.

[StewartG]

Swell folks...

Swell hotel...

Congrats, you guys!

[DavidB]

Seems like Tony and Cheri keep taking in strays and make them family. The hotel we had reservations for in 2006 was going to go to condos during the middle of our vacation. Rather then be moved out into some "other hotel' in the middle of our vacation we canceled and went to the Blue. What a stroke of luck. Now when people ask us where we stay in Playa we say "Some friends of ours own a hotel there"

[Coccinelle]

Oh Tony, bless your little heart and Cheri's also. Through blood sweat and tears, look at what you have accomplished. I have a lump in my throat after reading your lovely post. I remember how worried & stressed you were over those contractors. Bry & I became concerned, thinking that you would end up collapsing with a heart attack or something! Even with all of this you opened your arms and hearts. You made us feel welcomed and special.

I also remember that when we first came to the Luna, you told us that you had all been working so hard to get the Treetop Terrace room ready for us. We were the first guests to occupy the newly renovated room I believe. I can still remember the smell of the fresh palapa roof (intoxicating!), the old iron bed and the pink and white striped bed cover. Let's just say that through all the drilling and hammering, we fell in love with the place that would become our home away from home...the 'then' Zanzibar Hotel. And of course, you both stole our hearts at "Hi guys, you don't know how happy we are what you decided to stay here."

And Owen, my gosh Owen !! Bry & I still laugh when we occasionally bring up this name. We had a blast with him!! Oh, and yes I also recall how Cheri & I were so sorry that Sarita didn't get a chance to meet our cutie crop duster from corn country. We so wanted to play matchmaker. LOL. It worked! Us girls have great intuition about these things ya know.

I could go on and on...

Again, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you, merci and gracias for helping Bry & I create such beautiful memories and for opening your hearts to us. You have touched us in a very special way.

Salud!

[sunshngrl]

Congrats Tony & Cheri!

We have read so many great stories about you guys and your hotel, my husband & I can't wait to come by when we arrive in Playa next week and say hi (and maybe book our vacation for next year)!

[bufante]

Holy poop! 3 years already, my time flies.

Hard work, good employees, and two very special dedicated people are the reason you are there and doing well. Haven gotten to know you two the past 3 years (I was there before the Luna! nanana) I have no doubt that you two could have done this sort of thing anywhere with any sort of venture.

Congrats and here is several more years!