Freedom Shores

REMEMBER THOSE WHO MADE YOUR FREEDOM POSSIBLE! Bill Bussear – USMC.Ret.

For reservations beginning on November 1, 2007, call Bill Bussear at 951-801-2716 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.isla-aguada.com

E-Mail Newsletter

MAY 25, 2007 VOLUME 1, NUMBER 2 Freedom Shores Hotel We worked as hard as possible from December 2006 until the last week in March of 2007 to get the hotel up and running. When we left we were very happy because it had become a reality. We had finished what I believe to be the only hotel in the world that is totally accessible and built for, people in wheelchairs! We did not expect many guests during the summer months but we were very mistaken! Before Thelma and I arrived in California, we talked to our general manager, Graciela, and she told us that the hotel was totally full of guests because of Semana Santa (Spring Break). We did not know that Isla Aguada was a very popular vacation destination for so many Mexican tourists. Since that time it has experienced a steady stream of guests.

La Gringa Restaurant In front of the restaurant we have an outside, covered patio. So many of our customers prefer to eat outdoors! We are in the process of doubling its size! All along the Malecon (beachfront promenade) is also a favorite dining spot for our customers. They love to eat near the water where there is a gentle breeze off the lagoon and where the sunsets are so romantic!! The Campeche State Department of Tourism is conducting classes on customer service for the hotels and the restaurants here at Isla Aguada. Freedom Shores is hosting the training sessions. Our employees are very proud and eager to put into practice the new things they are learning! This new knowledge will make your stay at Freedom Shores even more enjoyable. The Isla Aguada High School graduating class of 2007 is holding their graduation dinner at La Gringa Restaurant. The class will graduate about 125 students this year.

Freedom Shores Nurse's Aides We have 12 nurses aides who are fully trained and ready for the winter season. All of them went through a training course on the proper care of paraplegic/quadriplegics.

Dept. of Tourism from Campeche visits Freedom Shores During the month of April, we were surprised when a TV van pulled into Freedom Shores. The reporter stated that he was from the state department of tourism and they had heard about what we were doing in Isla Aguada and they were sent to make a videotape. They spent about two hours at Freedom Shores shooting the beach, the restaurant, the hotel, and the grounds. They told us that the videotape would be shown on statewide television in about a week.

Radio Reportage The statewide radio station "Los Cuarenta mas Populares (The Top 40) have visited and featured Freedom Shores about five times in the past four months! One of the radio announcers is Roberto Zirate who is also, handicapped. He is very happy to be affiliated with other handicapped people who want to make the state of Campeche more accessible. We look forward to working with Roberto on such issues as public transportation, curb cuts, and making public buildings accessible. National Mexican Television Because of the visit by the Department of Tourism from Campeche, we were also visited during the last week in April by a national television network. TV Azteca sent a TV van and they spent about three hours making their videotape. When they were finished, they all went to the restaurant and enjoyed a meal. Their tape was played over national television about two weeks later! It was so exciting! Thelma and I were in Michigan at that time and we were frantically trying to find the TV Azteca channel. We even called DirecTV and were unable to watch the coverage. When we return to Freedom Shores in September, we are going to get a copy of the tape.

Redesigned Web Site Freedom Shore's web site is being totally redesigned. My sister Ellen has graciously consented to offer her expertise and assistance in guiding the web site designers in this venture. She has some wonderful ideas and I think you're going to like the new web site very much!

Reservations About two weeks ago we started accepting reservations for the winter season which begins on November 1st and ends on April 15th. Make sure you make your reservation early so you are not left out!

Book Reviews I left the Crile V A Hospital near Cleveland, Ohio in November of 1962. I was a C5, C6 quadriplegic and my friend, who had a car, was a paraplegic. We headed for Mexico. Many other paraplegics/quadriplegics were also heading for Mexico during the late 50s and the 60s. Ninety-nine percent of them headed for Guadalajara, Mexico. They were leaving Canada and the United States and going to Mexico to bask in the sun, drink the booze, and to chase the beautiful senoritas! Jack Tumidajski was one of those quadriplegics. After years in Mexico he returned to the United States and today he lives near Phoenix, Arizona. He has written a wonderful book titled "Quadalajara" which is about his adventures down Mexico way. Jack has a web site which is located at: www.quadmexico.com. You can order the book from his web site. It is a great read and it will give you an idea of what to expect when you come to Mexico. Houston to Ciudad del Carmen Airport Freedom Shores is located about 25 miles from the airport in Ciudad Del Carmen, Campeche and is only a two-hour flight from Houston. It is possible to fly from Canada/United States to Mexico City, but someone in a wheelchair could get lost there! There are thousands of people moving through that airport 24 hours a day! That might be a problem if you don't speak Spanish! I think it would be much easier to fly to Houston and take the connecting flight to Ciudad Del Carmen. We will supply transportation to and from the airport for a modest fee of 50 dollars. Note: Check out this neat product offering for w/c transfers at: www.gimpgear.us/comfortcarrier.htm. It looks like a great answer to the hassle of air travel. Freedom Shores has two of these lifts available for your use when you arrive.

Room Rates for Winter Season - Nov 1, 2007 – Apr 15, 2008

* All rooms have Air Conditioning.

Facing the Lagoon

(I have five rooms with two double-beds.)

Initial person renting a room (not needing personal assistance).

--$75 dollars per day plus $10 for each additional person (up to four per room, meals not included).

WEELKY/MONTHLY RATES

The prices below include meals

First Person - $664.99 weekly/$2,459.96 per monthly including meals!

Double Occupancy - $734.99 weekly/$2,739.96 monthly

Triple Occupancy - $804.99 weekly/$3,019.96 monthly

Quadruple Occupancy - $874.99 weekly/$3,299.96 monthly

Initial person renting a room (needing personal assistance).

--$105 dollars per day plus $10 dollars for each additional person up to four per room (Meals not included). First Person (Handicapped) - $874.99 weekly/$3,299.96 monthly including meals!

Double Occupancy (Non-Disabled) - $944.99 weekly/$3,579.96 monthly

Triple Occupancy - $1,084.99 weekly/$4,139.96 monthly

Quadruple Occupancy - $1,224.99 weekly/$4,699.96 monthly

Facing the Garden

(I have two rooms with two double beds.)

-- Same pricing as above.

Facing the Garden

(I have two rooms with four double-beds.)

Disabled/Non-disabled

--$50 dollars per day! Meals not included!

---or---$494.99 dollars per week (including meals!) -- $70.71 per day!

---or---$1,887.96 dollars per month (including meals!) -- $62.93 per day!

---or---$11,327.76 dollars per season (including meals!) -- $62.93 per day!

A 25% deposit is required to hold your reservations. It must be received within 14 days after you make your reservations or we must cancel. We are unable to accept credit cards at this time. Your personal check/bank check/cashier check is acceptable.

A 100% prepayment on all reservations must be made 30 days prior to your arrival.

Refund Policy: We will refund your money, minus a $100 cancellation charge, with a prior notice of 30 days from the commencement of your reservation.

Minimum Stay: SEVEN DAYS

We will pick you up at the airport for a modest $50 fee.

RESERVATIONS OR INQUIRIES: Please direct all reservation requests and inquiries to: William & Thelma Bussear

Telephone: 951.801.2716 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.isla-aguada.com How to contact Freedom Shores for questions and to make reservations for the winter season beginning on November 1, 2007.

Please remember that we are a small hotel and that we only have 9 rooms with a total of 20 beds available.

Please make your reservations well in advance of your vacation.

Call Bill now at: Telephone: 951-801-2716 Fax: 951-742-8326