Mexico 2013: Snorkeling

While my husband took about 500 pix of underwater creatures, I prefer to take underwater pix of other creatures...

My husband in his "Luck Be a Lady Tonight" swim trunks. Me-ow. That large black shadow out in front of him?

It's this guy, or one of his brothers. Barracuda. Or sustantivo en espanol.

Me! In my new rashguard that I love.

It looks like I'm dissolving in the water.

My husband is the most hard-core snorkeler of all of us. Not a shocker there, since he's been an advanced SCUBA diver since college.

How hardcore? He wore a hole in his new snorkeling gloves in under two weeks.

Mexico 2013: Lions and Eels

The majestic lionfish. They aren't native to this area, and have no real predators here, so were taking over. There were many more last time than this time, so that's a good thing.

But we still saw a couple.

And even angered them a bit.

EEEEELS! The anguila (eel)  is probably my husband's greatest underwater find, save perhaps an octopus. I think for some reason he has a kinship with eels. Perhaps because they actually look you in the eye.

And want to bite you with their sharp teeth.

I cannot abide those weird protruding nostrils. Blech!

Spotted anguila!!!

Yeeee! They always look like they are smiling to me.

Mexico 2013: Random Groupings

One of my favorite things about vacationing together is leisurely time spent hanging our with each member of Travel Club. I call these random groupings, but I suppose they aren't that random. Stacey and Kristin. OK, my husband is in this one too, though not participating in Quiet Magazine Time.

Kristin and my husband. Though it's almost hard to see my husband in this one, his pale flesh beginning to dissolve in the sunlight.

My husband and Tim snorkeling. You'll just have to trust me on this one.

Just the ladies! We tried to do a different seating arrangement each night. Someone quipped that they were shocked I hadn't done a seating chart for each night to make sure we hit each  possibility. Don't challenge me. ;)

Me and my Kristin at the Not Sandwicherie.

Chris giving me that "Why the hell would you order beer and Clamato with lime and salt on the rim?" look. It's medicine, CR.

CR flanked by lovely ladies.

My husband and...Kris..tin.. hey wait a minute..!?!? Is there something going on here that I need to know about...?!?! Hee hee! That's what I get for leaving my camera behind on the beach bed. ;)

Mexico 2013: A Cup For Coffee

MENEHUNE!!! Hehehe! When we lived in Hawaii we were quite smitten with the "menehune" -- the race of tiny Hawaiian dwarfs who were excellent craftspeople. Think smurfs except tan instead of blue. They were mischievous and clever. So when we returned to our room, and found this guy, Jon yelled "MENEHUNE!!!" Whenever I left the room, I would return to find the menehune had mysteriously moved to another spot in the room. This made me giggle every time.

Our maid for this vacation was Pedro, who did an excellent job, except for a couple of incidents. He even did turn-down service a couple of time, placing my slippers right by my nightstand. So luxurious.

Plus he left us this super amazing display of love on our last evening at the resort!

Including this note and smiley face that killed me! The problem was that we were leaving on Sabado, not Domingo.  So we were hoping he knew something we didn't know.

Incident No. 1: Not so much an error, as a hilarity. Pedro left us housekeeping corners on our toilet papers, like was listed on the room-cleaning checklist. But SERIOUSLY Pedro. Can I just be a sexist pig and make brash generalizations? Only a male maid would go to this much trouble to keep from CHANGING THE ROLL OF TOILET PAPER!!! Ahem.

Incident No. 2: (Incident No. 2 does not involve the adorable towel pato. Go Ducks!) Our coffee service was hidden in the cabinet under the TV. One day Pedro gave us more coffees and whatnot, but only gave us one fresh coffee mug. As i got up every morning and made coffee for two, this was a bit of a pickle. So the next time I called room service, I ordered nachos, a quesadilla, and a fresh fruit plate..."oh, and could I get another cup for coffee brought to our room? Thanks so much." They brought me a fancy tea cup and saucer!

These two were were housed  in room 2716 and we were in room 2714, and were often calling room service around the same time (after we returned from the beach). Apparently the Arnolds received a call from room service moments later asking, "Did they order a cup of coffee, or a cup for coffee?" They indicated they ordered neither. And then, as if in scene from a sitcom, Chris asked aloud, "Who the ?$^!&* calls room service at an all-inclusive and orders a cup for coffee?"

A day or two later over dinner I was explaining about how we had this extra fancy tea cup sitting on the counter, and it quickly became evident what had happened, and we laughed and laughed. I could imagine the kitchen wondering why the standard mugs weren't fancy enough for the broad in 2714. Or 2716, depending on your perspective. Probably a safe guess that the menehune was involved in this little sitch.

Mexico 2013: Coral and Anemones

I love corals. Even though our resort's reef is pretty beat up, there are still a ton of cool things to see.

Like this majestic purple fan.

Eww! Looks like a pile of pulpo (octopus).

A weird anemone.

This guy was pretty sturdy.

So many anemones! Reminds me of my days at Hug Point.

I don't know what kind of coral this is, but it will always be green brain coral to me. [Editor's note: My husband informs me this creature's official name is: green brain coral.]

Mexico 2013: Bones!

We came up with a great idea this trip: Dominoes! Who doesn't love a nice game of bones? And in Mexico? Even better!

As we have six players, we need a  big set. The Arnolds graciously packed theirs. Thanks Arnolds! We didn't play as much as we thought we might, and had trouble finding an appropriate spot to play when we did play. Still super fun!

It was chilly this night of bones, so a bathrobe was warranted. This wouldn't fly at some resorts, but worked just fine here.

 My photo test subject. I love this pic.

Yay! Post-bones group shot!

Mexico 2013: Tim Goes for Drinks

Occasionally you can't find a waitress to bring you what you need. Or you were in the water and no one placed an order for you. Or you just wanna wander the resort. So Tim was off to get drinks, and asked if anyone wanted anything.

A couple of us placed orders with Tim. I soon realized we ordered more than he could carry, but he said he could handle it.

Soon, he returned. With our Drinks. With a manservant in tow.

Which made us all laugh and laugh. Ahhhh, to have a manservant follow us around all day...

Mexico 2013: Back to the Beach!

So after our big adventure day, we're back to the beach! This pleases the Emperor greatly, in his Empire of the Sun swim trunks.

To take in all the tropical blue your eyes can handle.

 Enjoy the shade...

Or sun, as you see fit...

 Listen to the waves...

 Get engrossed in a book...

 And then dine with friends. :)