On  May 11th,2002,  Charles Mitchell, owner of the Charles B. Mitchell Winery in FairPlay, California took his employees and their spouses or friends for a quick vacation to Rosarita Beach, (also called Rosarito), Mexico (yes, I worked for him at the time).

We met at the Sacramento Airport shortly before noon and flew to San Diego, California, where we climbed into rental cars for the hour trip to Rosarita Beach. We arrived by 3:30pm, checked into the Rosarita Beach Hotel and headed to the bar for a Margaurita (or two). By 6PM, all of the 19 Mitchell people could found in the bar with an assortment of beers, marguaritas, and various rum or tequila refreshments.
Norma and Sue discuss life
(Sue runs the tasting room and  Wine Club)
At 8PM we were seated in the hotel dining room where Charles treated us to a wonderful meal (I recommend the grilled lobster!). He had asked each of us to bring a bottle ot two of wine to share with the meal which was a wonderful idea (especially since we didn't have to drive anywhere).

Norma and I escaped and hit the sack about 10:30 that night while others were getting their second wind and still going strong.
The next mornng, after a wonderful nights sleep with the windows open listening to the surf, we headed down the road for breakfast at the Calafia Hotel and then a couple of beers to settle everything.

After a wonderful morning, we headed back to the hotel, while others went golfing and some drove to Ensenada for shopping. We shopped a little, sat around one of the pools and sipped beer and tequila drinks and then walked up to Papa & Beers for some more fun, including tequila shots, beach volleyball and a ride on the mechanical bull. Then back to the hotel for cocktails and a two block walk to El Nido for Dinner. Back to the hotel for a nightcap and then in bed by 11pm.

The group starting to assemble for trip home.		 The next morning it was time to get up and take a final walk on the beach before heading back to reality. We left Rosarita in plenty of time to allow for delays at the border. On the way back to the States, Charles took us to the L.A. Cetto Winery in Tijuana - what a nice place (and pretty good wine too).

We anticipated it could take 1 1/2 hours to get through the border crossing, but we did it in less than 45 minutes. We made it to the airport in plenty of time, only to have Norma picked for a random search. Unfortuntely we had gotten a lot of sun and exercise in Mexico, so she had used Vasaline Intensive Care Lotion to soothe the pain. No one told us that it contains nitrogylcerin which of course sent the machines ballistic. After several supervisors convinced themselves that Norma wasn't a terrorist, it was on the plane for the quick trip back to Sacramento and the drive up the hill. We made it home by dark and it felt good to sleep in our own bed. Thanks to Charles, it was a wonderful vacation and a nice introduction to Mexico.