6/23/2015 – Tuesday
Watched a horrible movie until 12 in the morning the night before, a Jason Stayham movie, Redemption; not one of his best. Any who, tried to setup a new Mac OS on a flash drive so my dumb Dropbox would work. The drobo keeps appearing and ‘unexpectedly ejecting itself’ according to my existing OS. That was taking too long so I went to bed.
Fiona got up at 15 till 5 and I did too. I took a shower (my weekly), shaved, and put on my blue Tesla shirt and a polo over it with my cargo shorts. The ‘limo driver’ appeared 15 after 5 in the morning and we shoved all out crap in the Mazda 6, and told him how to get out of our neighborhood. Kids wore PJ’s the entire day. Left half past 5 and arrived 15 after 6. Checked in at United counter with 2 checked bags and waddled over to gate 94. We where the first people. More arrived. I went and had a Mexican breakfast – huevos rancheros jamon, which the kids ignored. I even had 3 corn tortillas! We got on around 5 past 8 and the plane took off 9. We arrived at 2 which is 4 central. I sat next to Lawson who fell asleep about 2 hours in for about an hour. No such luck with the Niamh. Feed him Cheerios and kept a kindle I front of him and he was a happy camper. The had outlets on the plane that lived below the seats except for the fact that the plugs that fit them actually where to loose from all the previous people who plugged in their crap and kicked it which made for a loose and sloppy connection. I wiped out my little travel extension cord with a ground plug and that seemed to do the trick. Fiona in 8E/F didn’t have her plugs turned on? Someone must have blown them.
Anywho, filled out paperwork, no one in line, a breeze through customs. Found the nanny Tiffany among all the other people in customs. Apparently Fiona is Facebook friends so knew what she looked like which is helpful. Anywho, we get stopped by a tour guide person who wants to know who is picking us up? Which company? Fiona doesn’t know and does have a print out, and I’m clueless. We spend a good 10 minutes in the tour hallway waiting for the travel master to tell us the all important answer. No luck. We hope for the best and assume a guy will be outside with out name on it. There is no guy… Dum, dum, dum! Fiona checks. TaDa email found Fantasea Tours, who knew. Fiona tried to call with her phone, but it no worky. A nice guy lets us borrow his phone, and Fiona says, we are here but don’t see our guy? Anywho, I look around go back across, keep looking – BOOM. There is our guy! Holding a Fionna Marshall sign! Yahoo. 70 dollars later we make it to the ferry building. We buy tickets. A nice guy helps with with out bags. We wait 20 minutes for the half past 5 ferry. It arrives. Bad singing ensues on our 30 minutes ferry ride. We get ambushed buy bicycle guys who work for tips. We agree and but the bags and two kids on a baggage bike. We walk 7 blocks in the thick moist air. Moist. We arrive at the Privilege, where we give everything but our blood type to check in. However we do get champagne and a blue wrist ban. Place looks like a castle on the beach. We are in room 301, a stones throw from the front desk, on the ground floor. 1 kid gets the couch, the other a rollaway. Tiffany is up 4 floors at 344. We wait, and the group of us looks for a bunch of really white people from Washington. They are not to be found, but to keep moral up I have a tequila sunrise, and so does the Fiona. We look, we walk, it is 7. I’m hungry. We go back and sit down for dinner and we can see all around us – perfect. I spot Jon first. Bingo Andy and Niki are here with family. We have already ordered. I’m into my negro modelo. I try a Mexican flag shot – it tastes like cough syrup, have another beer, eat salmon, and a bowl of ice cream, with a side of beer. Anywho long day, and the kids are toast. Oh a dumb black cat nibbled on Fiona’s hand, nothing major but startled the deer after her 4th glass of wine 😉
6/24/2015 – Wednesday
Set the alarm to go off at 8. Boy I was dead to the world when that alarm went off. Niamh of course woke up early, Lawson not so much. Had an omelette for breakfast, with HOT SAUCE, 😉 it was tasty. Along with fruit, yogurt, toast buffet style. We are off to Garrafon today. Not exactly sure how to get there, but we tried to ask the front desk, they were busy with other people and Fiona sort of knew how to get there… Oh, wait. So off we went back to the dock that the ferry came in, with Lawson walking in front of cars along the way (not so good that). Made to the ferry house asked how to get to Garrafon, and the ferry lady said, oh take a taxi! Oh. So much for our 15 minutes walk. 75 pesos and 15 minutes later via taxi we arrived and stopped at Parque Garrafon! 20 minutes till 10. They didn’t open till 10, and Fiona didn’t bring the cool piece of paper with our name on it, so the guy found us by last name and down we went to get our bracelet for the VIP suite. Whatever that is. Lots of iguanas everyplace we look of all sizes. Pretty neat. I get a locker key and 4 towels. Locker #1 sine I was first. Then inside to get our VIP wrist band. Oh we get a VIP locker, well ok. I stand in line for 15 minutes, I get an electronic bracelet for locker 46. Fancy. Shove the towels in, and we are off on a hike to see the ruins. Oh wait… More like some rocks on a cliff surrounded by sculptures. It was actually kind of neat except for that is was dang hot and we had a could of winey kids. When are we going to the pool, I’m hot, I’m thirsty. Anywho, we walked , saw a cow, and came back to the pool. A big infiniti pool. The kids cooled off, but I anted to get in the ocean. So we walked down to the place to get in. Rented a life jacket, mask, snorkel, and fins for the adults. Why we didn’t bring our own stuff… Oh well. Anywho Lawson was tired of swallowing water and his mask didn’t fit so he turned around at the zip line house and Niamh and I snorkels to the pier and back. Bust out the margaritas. Back in the pool, and we had some drinks. It was 2ish so we went back for a snack at the VIP lounge, and had a nice lunch. Lawson dropped a glass which shattered into pieces, but otherwise good. Wanted to zip line but Lawson was too small, Niamh made the cut so she and Fiona went to zip line from 3 houses. My canon ran out of juice, but they had fun. Lawson was sad, but both kids did a jump thing – a trampoline and stretchy cords to help them bounce 15 feet in the air. They loved it. It was around 3 and everyone was toast. Back in a taxi and 100 pesos later back to the Privlege hotel. We all took an hour break, then the kids went int the hotel pool. Too deep for Lawson, but a bar does serve drinks from the pool. Back to the room by 5 to change for dinner. Went to a buffet which was good. Mojito me. Dropped the kids off with the nanny and then Met up with a group of people half past 7 at night and did a walk thru town. Fun little Main Street. Walked it, turned around stopped at a bar with live music, sang some bad songs with a giant margarita. Got the kids at 11. Out cold. Took a shower and am ready for a snorkel tour tomorrow!
6/25/2015 – Thursday
Fucking Mosquitos. Kept me up all night with my itchy left foot. I have about 15 damn bites on my left foot. Couldn’t slept at all, geez. Anywho up again at 8 for another spectacular buffet breakfast. In the lobby half past 9 to leave to snorkel tour. Figured out payment of 70 dollars to the fantasy sea driver for airport pickup, which was the same people to take us out today for snorkeling. A quick walk to the snorkel dive boat, Rosa Isabella, a green boat that could fit 15 people. We went to a lighthouse about 5 miles upstream and drifted to it. We missed a cave, and slamming into rocks, but the kids got cold since they didn’t kick enough, but it was a good snorkel. Then off to the museum which was the same place that we saw the art work at Garrafon, which was sunken artwork in the water. It was off the coast of the place that we saw all the artwork from yesterday. On the way to Garrafon we stopped at dolphin discovery to see the Dolphins from afar pop up, push people on boogie boards, jump, and was pretty neat. This is not the same dolphin place we are going to later in the week, but imagine it will be very similar. Anywho, back to the museum of stuff under water. There was life size status, in two places, a car, and people burning their heads in the sand. All very cool and in the water 30 feet down. Then off the lunch where we got to see a turtle place with extras. It was pretty cool. The kids got to feed the turtles, and see/hold a sea star, urchin, and get freaked out by other sea critters. Then had loch and a boat ride back through a mangrove. Back by 2:30 which Lawson fell asleep on the boat and took a nap with his return to the hotel. Got ready for the big wedding day which started at 5:30. It was hot. 36 people on the beach, with a nice arbor and a guy from WA named Dave who did the ceremony. By 6 is was over and we did a piñata with the kids, which was fun to see while the items where being prepared. The wedding was great. Nikki and Andy where super. The food great, and the dancing till 10 pretty epic. Up to Matt and Christine’s room for some after party celebration. We left at 11 to get the kids. A very fun day.
6/26/2015 – Friday
Another horrible nights sleep as I want to cut off my feet. Anywho today is a travel day. Another omelette and said good bye to Jon and Kate and their kids, said bye to Kendra and Aaron and their kids, said bye to Nikki’s sister and Becket. Saw Teri and Damian during breakfast but didn’t say bye for some reason which is lame, but needed to pack I guess. We checked out and got my blue wrist band cut, oh well I still have 4 others. A hot sweaty walk along the water got us to the ferry dock, but the boat pulled away right when we arrived. Do we want until half past 12 for the direct ferry or leave on the half past 11 ferry and cab it? We opt to wait 30 minutes and take a taxi. The kids play frisbee. The ferry arrives, Fiona and Niamh sit up top, Lawson and I sit in the cabin in the air conditioning. All 10 people got off the ferry before the massive hord got on board when we arrive at noon. Got a taxi and 20 U.S. Dollars arrived at the fiestamericana condesa cancun hotel.
His is the kind of place Mark and Micah would love. There is a massive pool, a power fine beach, all you can drink bars, oh and a pirate ship with slides in the pool. We could not check in right away until around 3 so we had lunch at the buffet. Then we walked around and came across a toucan and we took some pictures with it as it nibble Niamh’s arm. Then we checked in, then to the pool. Lawson went down a steep slide and bonked his head. The staff came around to make sure he was fine, which he was since he was eating and drinking apple juice. A quick rinse off and to the buffet for dinner around 5.
Back to the room by 7 and man I am exhausted and my feet itch… still. I’m in bed and there is a bad movie on and I say time for bed around 8. Room service checks in on us at 8 for water and towels. I say no. I’m out. A knock on the door at half past 11 at night. Some stupid lady asks if I know the people next door. I say nothing and slowly close the door. Dumb lady. I can t fall back asleep and now my feet start up again. Damn blood sucking parasites. We have to get up at 6 for the whale tour. Oh, the condo got an offer, that is at least good news.
6/27/2015 – Saturday
6 in the morning, the alarm goes off. Man I’m tired. I’m sending the counter offer in time to make the date, sending an email off to the rocky ridge people. We have 10 minutes to make it down stairs. We grab some fruit loops for the kids and a banana for me. Chuba picks us up and we make 3 more stops for a full van of people. He gives us the low down about all natural sun block and the are no guarantees to see a whale shark. We rent some shorties instead of wearing a live vest for 15 dollars. The do not have a shortie for Niamh or Lawson. Lawson is too small to even go swim with the whale shark. 5 years old you have to be. Oh well at least he can go on the boat and we didn’t pay for him. The whale shark would swallow him up as the mouth is 1 meter big, and the water chop was about 3 or 4 feet high. Anywho, 1.5 hours later is was go, go, go in the water as there where 40 boats around 1 poor whale shark. Niamh got to go in 3 times, and Fiona and I each got to go in twice. It was awesome. Two people got sea slick and didn’t go in, one guy went in but got sick on the way back. Niamh was super excited, and would had to swim fast. Having just a shortie helped quite a bit. Anywho was 2 people in at a time, but managed to get all 3 of us in at one time. Niamh and I left Fiona in the dust, she claims a boat cut her off 😉 Anywho, it was great.
We headed back to Isla Mujeres for lunch and a potty break. I didn’t get lunch since I had to take the kids to the potty, oh well. There was a gal from UPS on the boat class of ’12 which I chuckled at. We arrived back and paid the tour guide for his video. No one else chipped in, but whatever. Once in a lifetime thing.
Back to the pool. Finding a chair in the shade is hard, but managed to get three in a row while the kids pirated and swam. Out of the water and drinks later, back to room. Showered and went down to a sit down place to eat at the hotel. I had tuna satay, which was pretty darn tasty. Another early night. We watched the first Spider-Man with Toby McGuire in it, and went to bed at 8 again. Room service checked in again at 8 but no one stupid knocked on our door. Lawson did have a dream and Niamh didn’t kick me and hit me in e face nearly as much as he night before.
6/28/2015 – Sunday
Well Niamh poked me in the eye to wake me up. That was pleasant. Oh it is 7, time to get up, with a nice poke in the eye. Nothing planned today. Down to the buffet for an omelette, fruit loops for the kids, a waffle for them too to boot at 9. And 10 when we left there was a line waiting to get into the buffet. Back to the room, hey we have wireless today! Yahoo! Mailed off acceptance on condo, wrote against to rocky ridge people, set up some interviews. Now the real challenge finding a shady spot. The kids want to go to beach. Red flag day, no ocean today. Damn it is hot. No shade, must find shade. No umbrella service. Ah shade, that didn’t last long kids want pirate ship and pool. Humm, another hunt for shade. Nothing. Pull a lounge into the end of cover place over a pathway. Fiona is on the prowl. She finds some chairs up top, 2 even! We move the pool is deeper Fiona is off to get the floaty. Maybe we should have done something as this is nuts.
The kids love the pool, and we managed to hang on to our shade until noon, before kids started having listening disorders kick in. I got a cheese pizza for the kids and a pepperoni for the adults. I ended up eating the entire cheese pizza and half the pepperoni. I was stuffed. Back to the room for a shower and a little break from the sun. Kids are heartbroken, but we have a big day tomorrow. We get back and ‘le hombre arandra 2’ was on, or as we like to call it Spider-Man 2, which the kids liked which is good. Off to dinner at 5 again, and down to the Asian place. I had tuna over rice, an appetizer, and then proceeded to eat the kids chicken on a stick or some of it. I managed to get Lawson to eat more bits by telling him to guarantee his ice cream from being eaten by me, sister, mommy, the waiter, and the ice cream monster (5 pieces more) which was pretty good. You are welcome to talk about the ice cream monster as he is very small, the size of a smurf, when good boys and girls eat their food otherwise he gets big and fat when boys and girls don’t eat their dinner, he also lives on the beach and sleeps on the sun beds they leave out for the guests.
We get back and Hanna Montana was on which both kids fell asleep too. Alarm set for 7 in the morning.
6/29/2015 – Monday
And we are up. A bit of a side note is that I didn’t feel like gnawing off my feet during the night so am on the mend from the bites. Put on suits except for Lawson, bring the go pro, the SLR, bring the swim shirts, go down for towels, and the into the buffet to grab 3 fruit loops to bring with us. Niamh has her slice of white bread, my omlette, fiona her fruit, and Lawson his grapes and circle bread. We check how long it will take, and yes it will be 15 minutes by taxi to get the boat back to Isla Mureres. 180 pesos later, which is around 15 bucks. We stopped by a cash machine since most things are cheaper in pesos. Anywho, we arrive to the dock and I give the friendly driver a 20 for stopping by the bank. Fiona is off to get our tickets, oh it turns out they need cash, good thing we stopped by the bank.
We find some shade and wait, the call for Garrafon, which we had already been a few days before. I don’t think we are in the right spot, uh oh, as everyone waiting left. A guy calls out, you guys going to dolphin discovery? Why yes, yes we are, as a matter of fact. Yeah, they didn’t to leave us. Across the road we go (which is the same group we saw leaving when we arrived) but didn’t hear them since we just stepped out of the taxi. Last on, but we are on, but in horrible seats. None are in the shade on this 3 story boat with 300 people. However there are some seats against the front of the boat below 3 very large speakers, oh well it is shady. The kids dance around and 20 minutes later we arrive. The dolphins are already jumping and doing their thing with groups in the water.
In we go with 300 of our closest friends. Get a locker, change into our swim stuff, put on sunscreen, grab to go pro, shove my backpack in, and meet at the meeting point. I talk to a guy and for only 221 US dollars we can have as many pictures of 3 people as we want, Lawson is free as he is 3. I take it. We sign our lives away, and then they break us up into groups of 20. Oh wait, no cameras in the dolphin enclosure. I scamper back to the locker and put the go pro away, feeling better about paying a mint for some pictures. We are at the half past 10 slot group C. We are the last group in the water. You hold your hand out flat shoulder height and dolphin puts his nose in your hand, you put both hands out waist height and you can shake hands, you cup your hands at waist height again and the dolphin puts his nose on your cheek, and the your turn and give him a big kiss on his nose. All the while for each of the posses to look and smile at the camera. Everyone gets a turn even the kids. It is great. We st and against the chain link fence with our hands out and the swim by and we touch them. We do the deaf sign for applause and the dolphins whistle at us, we splash the water and they splash back, the trainer has the dolphins splash their tails which was pretty neat. Then we each hold the dolphin under the chin and in front of their blow hole for a picture, then all of us pose for a family shot. We try a few different ones and luckily one of them turns out, but the kids are not looking at the camera, but at the dolphin with big eyes. There is pretty much a slim to no chance to get the kids to not look at the dolphin. An hour later and we are done. The kids the entire time were flying high, but we convinced the, to spot kicking and flaying around otherwise they would scare the dolphins away. The trainer said the control emir feet and legs otherwise the dolphins would not do the tricks. Luckily they listened. Into a pool for a swim, and a shower, and need some lunch.
We, Fiona and I, still had out VIP wrist bands so got to go into the VIP lounge at Dolphin Discovery. Yeah for wrist bands. We arrived 15 past 12 and lunch started at half past 12. We found a table and plunketed ourselves down to wait, and have a bit of good lunch. An hour later more swimming. Our trainer was taking a survey, and I asked about how they got their pod. He mentioned they raise them there at this place and they had a 1 month old and would we like to see. I ask if I can bring a camera, he says sure. I sprint to the locker, get the canon and met the family and another family how get a private tour of the baby dolphins and the moms, two different types of of seals, and who would haved guessed a manatee. I told some pictures and movies, it was great. Half past 3, the boat was leaving back to cancun. We swam for another hour, and Fiona got a few little things for the kids and some postcards for our people back in the states.
Both kids fell asleep on the boat. Fiona wanted to win a free tshirt and so did 2 other ladies, in a small competition. Fiona said her name and where she was from, sang la coo ca caracha, then had to sing it with tequila in her throat, all the while people cheering for their favorite after each ‘event’. The blonde bimbo beat out the gal from Mexico and the other from New Jersey. We arrived and each carried a sleeping child off the boat and back into a taxi. Another 20 dollars and a small break with a shower and back to the restaurant, el Mexican, with the same waiter from 2 night ago, Andres. Lawson had his hotdog. Niamh her breaded chicken breast, floutas for Fiona, and a shredded beef salad for me. Many Shirley temples, mojitos, and sangrias later back to the room. Just finished up the movie Brave on the Disney channel, and going to bed quarter to 9. I get the boy tonight so let’s see how I fair – I’m pretty sure it will be a struggle all night long.
6/30/2015 – Tuesday
Ah, sharing a bed with Lawson is just as bad as predicted. He will torpedo he head into what inspecting part of you from your waist to you head, his knees like to jam into my arm, back, or side, and lastly he will kick you in that fleshy bit between your ribs and hip bone until you and to flip him back into a parrelel sleeping position of some kind. I think I adjusted him about 6 times or about every 2.5 hours a leg, knee, or head being moved and then sliding one bit of him – the top bit, or bottom bit, or a bit of both into parallel. It is like he is sleeping on a ship, or an incline and he is rolling around like a log. I remember my parents complaining that I used to run in my sleep, but I guess Lawson must swim in his?
Up at cheery 7, and before you know it we are rushing to get our breakfast. We have a 9 in the morning submarine tour across the street. We put a few fruit loops in the backpack, I have my omelet, and Fiona is running around trying to find stamps for postcards. She ends up not eating, and not getting stamps. The gift shop ran out. Lame. No postcard for you dear reader 😉
We walk across the street, get our hooters wristband (I have a fine collection on my right wrist), manage to loose Lawson who ended up looking at fish at the other end of the building, found him, and the waited until 9 to get on a boat with 17 other people. A quick 20 ride through a mangrove to the ‘submarine’ and we hop on. We sit two per seat with windows on either side. Victor is our guide, he wants to feed me to the Sharks when I call him Peter. He has to wait in line behind Fiona. Anywho, looking thru the windows is pretty disorientating, and not meant for any one over 14. The good thing is we actually saw quite a bit of stuff underwater statues, turtles, stingrays, loads of fish and the second biggest reef in the world, and to top it off a real life mermaid. She swam by the windows, who knew. We did see and travel faster then snorkeling, but think snorkeling and scuba is better. As a day before the plane ride home thing for kids pretty good, and a mermaid is pretty neat.
We are back by 11ish. Walk to a store on the street and manage to find stamps? Hallelujah. Walk to the hotel and sit down in the bar for a drink and let Niamh finish writing her cards. We apply the stamp and hopefully they make it. To the room for a change into a swimsuit for some of us (me and Niamh) and down to the buffet for lunch.
Half past 1, and we are on the hunt again for a shadey spot. No luck any place, upper or lower deck. I hang out and Fiona goes back to room to change with Lawson while I’m on the prowl from the covered section of the buffet place. Ah ha! Two people leave near the pool but in full sun. I’ll take it. I’m there putting my stuff down. Still waiting for Fiona and Lawson, still looking at the shadey spots for someone to leave. Damn I’m hot. Niamh jumps in the pool. Someone’s leaving, one chair or two? I see the Fiona. I give the head nod, and I’m off to snag the shadey spot. Turns out there are two chairs! Yahoo!
It is 2 and I’m bored. Why not parasailing? 85 dollars later they take my money and say a 5 year old or older can do it. Niamh is interested in scuba diving, but minimum is 10 years old to be certified. Regardless there is a 40 minute wait, so I go down with the Niamh hand the man my paper, sign my life away along with Niamh and note her age and mine and we wait. We wait. We have 6 people, 2 groups of 3 in front of us. 2 people leave on a jet ski, but only 4 chairs, I’m under a 10×10 canopy And Niamh is in the sand. Boom two people leave their chairs and I’m there. Fiona went back to the room for the SLR and came down, she sits next to me. I chat with two kids from southern CA. I wait some more. It is 3 now. The 2 kids from southern CA get the vests I move into their seats, and the guy says you are next who is your partner. I say the same one I came with the 7 year over there. Sorry sir the ocean is too rough, no kids. Really? I wait here an hour for you to tell me this? This is the same tour company we use for the submarine tour at 9, but what a douche bag move. At least we didn’t give up our shadey spots while we waited. To the pool and I got a refund, and more margaritas. She will appreciate more when she is older anywho 😉
To the room half past 4, for a shower and change. I make Fiona put on fancy clothes in case we want to have pasta. Nope, back to the Mexican place. I have a new thing, chile relleno, which was good. The outer shell was not very crispy, but otherwise good. It might of been the fact I had to keep Lawson to the bathroom again and again. He really needs more than apple juice with a side of sliced apples don’t you think? Niamh gave our server Andres a special note and a piece of he candy from the piñata. We got a picture, and she wanted him to take a picture on his phone. Of course I have no idea how to take a picture on a windows phone. If you ever need to just push on the picture, there is no soft button like on an android or iPhone. I ask for the hot chocolate mix/recipe and they come out with a nestle box. Who knew? In return I wrote a review of the hotel and the restaurant on tripadvisor. Meanwhile, fiona paid a small fortune for the 17 best shots of wild animals and our kids (10 dollars a shot), I guess everyone gets there cut and el stupido touristo pays. What a scam. Back to the room where we watch Pinocchio until quarter till 9. Our AA flight leaves at 15 till 11 in the morning and we get into Seattle (via DFW) around 7. The kids will be cream puffs I’m sure 😉 oh wait I’m sleeping again with Lawson! Good thing we have the digital entertainment.