We just got back from a great vacation to Mexico with our friends Dan and Jamie White and no KIDS. We were in Riviera Maya, which is a half hour south of Cancun, while the kids spent the week in Idaho alternating between both sets of grandparents (you guys are the best!). We left Phoenix early Saturday morning and arrived at our resort around 3Pm. We stayed at the Grand Mayan, which was incredible! The grounds were amazing and so tropical. The pool was unbelievable--totally indescribable and we were right on a gorgeous beach. We ate at the resort at Havana Moon (a Cuban themed restaurant) that had beautiful ocean views. We sat there and enjoyed our meal with the windows open to the tropical breeze--Paradise! On Sunday we had a day of snorkeling planned with Mexico Blue Dream. We drove into Playa del Carmen (about a half hour from our resort) to meet our guide Pierre. He took us to 3 gre
at sites. First was Yal-Ku lagoon. A beautiful bay where the underground river meets the ocean. The lagoon is surrounded by mangrove trees. We had to snorkel side by side because as you swim through the water the fresh and salt water mix and become cloudy. We were surrounded by tropical yellow, black and white striped fish. I had some great pics of Jamie in the middle of them, but they're gone (more on that in a minute). Then we went to a gorgeous white sandy beach called Akumal where we snorkeled with the sea turtles and sting rays. Awesome. Then we had a great lunch with lots of chips and homemade salsas at a roadside shack --really a shack with only 2 walls and a cement floor. Clint had shrimp (big mistake) and I ordered chicken since I figured it was the freshest thing what with all the chickens running around the restaurant (still can't believe I would eat somewhere like that--even more, I can't believe Jamie would eat somewhere like that). Afterward we headed to do a cavern snorkel. We went to a place called Dos Ojos. This was the highlight of Clint's trip. I was freezing cold even though the water is 75 degrees so I wore 2 wet suits. Our guide Pierre is into cave diving and he found some air pockets way far into the caverns so he took us back there. I was ready to have a panic attack as we wedged between stalagtites and our snorkels scraped the top of the cave. But we made it into a larger cavern full of stalagtites where we turned off our lights and as our eyes adju
sted to the light you could see the most beautiful clear turquoise water. Then we went further back into what they called the bat cave. Again we turned off our lights to try to get them to fly around us but we couldn't be quiet long enough cuz we kept laughing. Nervous laughter. After the bats, Jamie and I decided to get out since we were freezing. So the boys decided to do some extreme snorkeling. They did a free dive under the rocks to another opening in the cave. They held their breath and dove down and came up into a 2 inch air space. Clint said he had enough room just to put his lips up and take a breath. Then they dove down again and made it to the other side.
He said it was pretty intense--No thanks, not for me, glad I got out early. After our long day we stopped at a restaurant called La Pesca for dinner and left our backpacks in the trunk of the car. When we got back to our resort and went to get our stuff out, we realized our trunk had been broken into and our backpacks were gone. We lost about $2000 (our cameras and Jamie's wallet). So mad! Mostly at myself since Clint and I have traveled enough to know better than to leave anything in the car. So sad to loose my camera and our pictures from the day. We decided we better file a police report so we could make an insurance claim. Remember this is Mexico... nothing is fast. We were there until 2am while the officer did a little of our report and then checked his Facebook, and a little more report then some YouTube. Funny. On Monday we decided to try look for cameras. We headed to Walmart where Jamie picked out a camera only to find it wasn't in stock so she picked another and g
uess what-- they have nothing in stock, but she could buy the display with no box or instructions. After about 2 hours of trying to find a camera, Clint and I left and went back to the dive shop where Patrice the owner loaned us one of his cameras for the week. So nice. He saved our trip. Then we went back to Walmart to see if Jamie had made any progress (and to check if the camera guy was still alive after dealing with jamie!). The electronics manager had just found the box and the instructions when we walked away after 3 hours. In the US if you want a camera, you pick one out, pay and leave... 15minutes tops! The day got better though when we went to a little taqueria called El Fogon where Clint and Jamie found their love. Tacos El Pastor. Shaved pork on tortillas with pineapple, onions, cheese and hold the cilantro por favor. Yummy. We ended up eati
ng there 4 times. They were 7
0 pesos each... so that's like 55 cents. That night we spent some time at our beautiful resort. On Tuesday we went to Chichen-Itza. We got there early to beat the tour buses. Our guide Reuben had a lot of interesting knowledge of the Mayan culture. This was our 2nd time to the ruins there and I was really disappointed that you can't climb to the top of the main temple anymore. But it was still amazing. That after noon we ate lunch and came out into a rainstorm but when I ducked into a doorway, I smelled leather. Upstairs was an amazing shoe store full of handmade sandals. I was
in heaven! We bought 5 pairs and spent 800 pesos which is like $70. The lady told us it took 3 days to make them. My favorite pair we bought were Clint's sandals that had tires for the soles! We went to another cenote after that ca
lled Dzitknup. It was beautiful. Bright turquoise water with little black curious cave fish. We didn't get any great pics since it was so dark and our pics blurred. Our way home was nerve racking since we got caught in the craziest rainstorm. It was pouring--coming down so hard we couldn't even see. As if driving in Mexico isn't scary enough already. Wednesday was the best day. We had a professional photographer take pictures of the four of us on the beach. Jamie and I had a blast getting ready and then posing. The boys weren't so thrilled but the photos were beautiful of all of us.
While we waited for the pictures to get done, we decided to get some sun tanning in. Then we headed south to Puerto Moralas and ate at a little restaurant called El Pirata. Here's where Dan and I found our food love. Tacos de pescado con ajo. Fish tacos with garlic. I don't know if I've ever had anything so good in my life. Fresh fish with garlic, lime and homemade pico de gallo. I could eat them everyday. Clint and Jamie weren't so lucky with their meals so after some shopping in the rain, (Clint bought a cowboy hat that makes him look like Kenny Chesney) we headed back to Playa del Carmen to El Fogon for some Tacos El Pastor for Jamie and Clint. On Thursday we went to Explore Park.
We decided to do the zip lines first. 21 zip lines that have 4 water landings. It was a blast. Jamie screamed on every one and was told she was "
muy dramatica" b
y one of the workers! The best part of the day was the amphibious vehicles which were similar to rangers. We did that twice. The first time I drove while Clint held on for dear life and the second time I rode with Jamie where I
really held on for dear life! We had a great time driving through the caves and over the bridges. On our second run it was pouring rain so hard that we couldn't even see anything and we were sliding all over in the mud and the caves were filling up with water. We almost hit a tree when we slid around a corner. We had to throw
it in reverse fast so our boys in the ranger behind us didn't see. Friday was our last day and we woke up to lots more rain. Everything we own is soaked! We took some last pictures of the resort and the beach and read books and played games. We headed to Puerto Morales one last time for fish tacos and then window shopped some more. Clint and I went back into Playa del Carmen since we were scheduled to do a night dive out on the reef but when we got there they cancelled it due to the rain storm. That was the
biggest bummer of the trip since we were both looking forward to that. That night we went back to Havana Moon at our resort for dinner and dancing. Despite the Mosquitos, Robbers, Crazy Drivers, Montezuma's Revenge, Topes (speed bumps) and the RAIN... we had a great vacation!
at sites. First was Yal-Ku lagoon. A beautiful bay where the underground river meets the ocean. The lagoon is surrounded by mangrove trees. We had to snorkel side by side because as you swim through the water the fresh and salt water mix and become cloudy. We were surrounded by tropical yellow, black and white striped fish. I had some great pics of Jamie in the middle of them, but they're gone (more on that in a minute). Then we went to a gorgeous white sandy beach called Akumal where we snorkeled with the sea turtles and sting rays. Awesome. Then we had a great lunch with lots of chips and homemade salsas at a roadside shack --really a shack with only 2 walls and a cement floor. Clint had shrimp (big mistake) and I ordered chicken since I figured it was the freshest thing what with all the chickens running around the restaurant (still can't believe I would eat somewhere like that--even more, I can't believe Jamie would eat somewhere like that). Afterward we headed to do a cavern snorkel. We went to a place called Dos Ojos. This was the highlight of Clint's trip. I was freezing cold even though the water is 75 degrees so I wore 2 wet suits. Our guide Pierre is into cave diving and he found some air pockets way far into the caverns so he took us back there. I was ready to have a panic attack as we wedged between stalagtites and our snorkels scraped the top of the cave. But we made it into a larger cavern full of stalagtites where we turned off our lights and as our eyes adju
sted to the light you could see the most beautiful clear turquoise water. Then we went further back into what they called the bat cave. Again we turned off our lights to try to get them to fly around us but we couldn't be quiet long enough cuz we kept laughing. Nervous laughter. After the bats, Jamie and I decided to get out since we were freezing. So the boys decided to do some extreme snorkeling. They did a free dive under the rocks to another opening in the cave. They held their breath and dove down and came up into a 2 inch air space. Clint said he had enough room just to put his lips up and take a breath. Then they dove down again and made it to the other side. 
He said it was pretty intense--No thanks, not for me, glad I got out early. After our long day we stopped at a restaurant called La Pesca for dinner and left our backpacks in the trunk of the car. When we got back to our resort and went to get our stuff out, we realized our trunk had been broken into and our backpacks were gone. We lost about $2000 (our cameras and Jamie's wallet). So mad! Mostly at myself since Clint and I have traveled enough to know better than to leave anything in the car. So sad to loose my camera and our pictures from the day. We decided we better file a police report so we could make an insurance claim. Remember this is Mexico... nothing is fast. We were there until 2am while the officer did a little of our report and then checked his Facebook, and a little more report then some YouTube. Funny. On Monday we decided to try look for cameras. We headed to Walmart where Jamie picked out a camera only to find it wasn't in stock so she picked another and g
uess what-- they have nothing in stock, but she could buy the display with no box or instructions. After about 2 hours of trying to find a camera, Clint and I left and went back to the dive shop where Patrice the owner loaned us one of his cameras for the week. So nice. He saved our trip. Then we went back to Walmart to see if Jamie had made any progress (and to check if the camera guy was still alive after dealing with jamie!). The electronics manager had just found the box and the instructions when we walked away after 3 hours. In the US if you want a camera, you pick one out, pay and leave... 15minutes tops! The day got better though when we went to a little taqueria called El Fogon where Clint and Jamie found their love. Tacos El Pastor. Shaved pork on tortillas with pineapple, onions, cheese and hold the cilantro por favor. Yummy. We ended up eati
ng there 4 times. They were 7
0 pesos each... so that's like 55 cents. That night we spent some time at our beautiful resort. On Tuesday we went to Chichen-Itza. We got there early to beat the tour buses. Our guide Reuben had a lot of interesting knowledge of the Mayan culture. This was our 2nd time to the ruins there and I was really disappointed that you can't climb to the top of the main temple anymore. But it was still amazing. That after noon we ate lunch and came out into a rainstorm but when I ducked into a doorway, I smelled leather. Upstairs was an amazing shoe store full of handmade sandals. I was
in heaven! We bought 5 pairs and spent 800 pesos which is like $70. The lady told us it took 3 days to make them. My favorite pair we bought were Clint's sandals that had tires for the soles! We went to another cenote after that ca
lled Dzitknup. It was beautiful. Bright turquoise water with little black curious cave fish. We didn't get any great pics since it was so dark and our pics blurred. Our way home was nerve racking since we got caught in the craziest rainstorm. It was pouring--coming down so hard we couldn't even see. As if driving in Mexico isn't scary enough already. Wednesday was the best day. We had a professional photographer take pictures of the four of us on the beach. Jamie and I had a blast getting ready and then posing. The boys weren't so thrilled but the photos were beautiful of all of us. 
While we waited for the pictures to get done, we decided to get some sun tanning in. Then we headed south to Puerto Moralas and ate at a little restaurant called El Pirata. Here's where Dan and I found our food love. Tacos de pescado con ajo. Fish tacos with garlic. I don't know if I've ever had anything so good in my life. Fresh fish with garlic, lime and homemade pico de gallo. I could eat them everyday. Clint and Jamie weren't so lucky with their meals so after some shopping in the rain, (Clint bought a cowboy hat that makes him look like Kenny Chesney) we headed back to Playa del Carmen to El Fogon for some Tacos El Pastor for Jamie and Clint. On Thursday we went to Explore Park. 
We decided to do the zip lines first. 21 zip lines that have 4 water landings. It was a blast. Jamie screamed on every one and was told she was "muy dramatica" b
y one of the workers! The best part of the day was the amphibious vehicles which were similar to rangers. We did that twice. The first time I drove while Clint held on for dear life and the second time I rode with Jamie where I really held on for dear life! We had a great time driving through the caves and over the bridges. On our second run it was pouring rain so hard that we couldn't even see anything and we were sliding all over in the mud and the caves were filling up with water. We almost hit a tree when we slid around a corner. We had to throw
it in reverse fast so our boys in the ranger behind us didn't see. Friday was our last day and we woke up to lots more rain. Everything we own is soaked! We took some last pictures of the resort and the beach and read books and played games. We headed to Puerto Morales one last time for fish tacos and then window shopped some more. Clint and I went back into Playa del Carmen since we were scheduled to do a night dive out on the reef but when we got there they cancelled it due to the rain storm. That was the
biggest bummer of the trip since we were both looking forward to that. That night we went back to Havana Moon at our resort for dinner and dancing. Despite the Mosquitos, Robbers, Crazy Drivers, Montezuma's Revenge, Topes (speed bumps) and the RAIN... we had a great vacation!
