Mexico 2013: Leaving Las Vegas

Readers? Meet the most annoying woman in the resort. She's English, and used her iPad to Skype her friends and family 4 or 5 times a day on from the beach. So we all got to witness their conversations. In my best English accent: "HELLLLOOOOWWW CHARRRRRLOTTE! IT'S MUMMY! I'M CALLING YOU FROM BESIDE THE SEA! DADDY'S IN A FOUR-POSTER BED ON THE BEACH....

"WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE BEACH CHARRRLLOTTE?" And would then prance out into the center of the beach and hold her iPad out while spinning in a circle.

Surely her daughter enjoyed this shot. The couple next to us on the beach didn't seem to speak English, but we were both on the same page: this is the most annoying woman EVER.

Over the weeks, we all began to notice this large man in the distance behind my  husband.

He was bloated and swollen, she was wobbly, stick-thin and looked like she could have been introduced to a vitamin or two. We speculated on why two people who could barely walk would come to an all-inclusive beach resort...I suggested they might be attempting to drink themselves to death. Henceforth, they became known simply as "Leaving Las Vegas."

The best part? These three pics were taken on different days, but we never saw either of them in a different outfit. Each subsequent time I saw them in the same outfit I elbowed my husband with "Day 5! Day 5!" People are so weird.

Mexico 2013: Fish

Sometimes I think I prefer looking for the little fish instead of the big fish.

Sometimes the big ones kinda give me the creeps.

This guy was itsy bitsy. A juvenile highhat. Not to be confused with the SO AWESOME old school Chinese restaurant of my youth in Tigard, the High Hat.

Safety in numbers, boys, safety in numbers.

All the better to see you with.

Weird camouflage tactics.

This guy was much, much larger than he looks. He was like the size of a large ham. Except made of feesh.

Mexico 2013: Jewels

This was from an earlier trip to Playa, but you KNOW how much I love jewels.

There's even a jewelry store at the resort, full of lovely baubles.

After a quick trip through one evening, the menfolk stayed outside.

Thinking this would save them many pesos. Hahaha.

On our last trip to Playa we also perused watches. Watches were a big topic of discussion among our menfolk. Especially these two, watch aficionados.

I had acquired this ring and necklace years and years ago when we were in Cozumel off a cruise ship, but never had the remaining pieces. I finally acquired earrings, and my husband bought me this large and very fancy bracelet that I love!

He also bought me this amazing bracelet of many stones and assorted gems. Swoon. I also acquired myself this sun pendant (that may or may not stay on that cord) from a street artist/vendor, and also these wee silver earrings at the airport. Jewelry acquisitions for this trip: Complete!

A trip to a resort town simply to peruse and buy jewels? You had me at "baubles."

Mexico 2013: Last Trip to Playa del Carmen

The rental agency picked up the Jeep Wednesday morning at the resort, but on Thursday we decided to taxi back into Playa to dine, check out the evening scene, and peruse the wares. It's a happenin' place.

You just don't see enough street breakin' in Boise these days.

They are so enlightened south of the border. WOLF ART!!

We found ourselves a second-story, open-air steakhouse.

With a refined tropical theme. It was lovely.

As was the company.

 I could have sat there all night watching the people wander.

Mexico 2013: The Krusty Krab

Despite my husband's keen finds, and appreciation of eels, I love love love this crabby find. The expression on his crab face is so hilarious.

Gah! Attack! Trying...to...get...away...

Must be safe back here...nothin' to see here, nope. D'OH!

Listen buddy, you and I are about to have words. Pinchy words.

Mexico 2013: Stop Being Shellfish

My husband sang me "Sna-il Lov-in...had me a blast...." to the tune of the Grease song. Hahah!

He found this right next to a bunch of floating tourists. Methinks it won't last long in front of the resort.

Pokey.

So pretty.

 Shrimp! One of many assorted "cockroaches of the sea."

Mexico 2013: Creepy Skeletal Fish Toofs

On our way out of Gran Cenote, we noticed this cool map outlining the entire cave system for hundreds of miles.

I loved this phrase, and was surprised I've never seen it before.

I assumed from looks this map was from the 1960s. Nope. 2000.

Then we made our way into Tulum to visit our beloved Mariscos Camel (sorry rest-of-gang who didn't make it to the camel). SUCH good ceviche!! This time we were there during the dinner hour, so it was a different kind of busy.

Still amazingly delicious. We got a huge one and took it back to the resort, ordering additional chips from room service.

We got guac too. SO delish!

Plus we got whole-fish dinners!

SERIOUSLY, what kind of creepy skeletal fish toofs are you rockin', buddy? Yeeee.

We love you, Mariscos Camel!!

Mexico 2013: Gran Cenote

Phew! Two weeks is a long vacation! Thanks for staying with me, readers! On our last full day of Jeepdom, we spent the morning at the resort, as the snorkeling was amazing, but in the afternoon, off to Gran Cenote, our second cenote adventure!

BABY TURTLES!! Ok, maybe not babies maybe just wee. Still ADORABLE!!

This more rustic cenote facility didn't have lockers, so we snorkeled separately, as we didn't think the Jeep was secure, and had a million digital devices with us and a wad of pesos.

Jon went first, while I guarded the peso pile.

We don't know these people, but any fans of the band "Fl0rida-Georgia Line"? A shot from their video for "Get Your Shine On" was filmed right here.

My husband is getting good with his underwater camera.

We've received lots of feedback from folks that this cave snorkeling would be too much for them, but its not as icky as one would think. And I'm not a big fan of either caves or claustrophobia.

It's even weird above water.

Mostly I turned out to not be a huge fan of the cenotes, but not because of the cramped quarters, more so because of the creepy, often blind fish that have no predators, so aren't scared of you! STOP TOUCHING ME!!!