Hello Everyone!!
We are back!!
We had a wonderful time in Mexico. We spent muchas horas en la playa and got nice and tan. (Then we had to come home where it is only 40 degrees outside. Oh well.) This was by far the most relaxing vacation we have had. John played golf one day, and we went shopping, but otherwise we didn't leave the resort.
The resort had a set of infinity pools looking out over the ocean. This is how it looked at night.
On Tuesday we went shopping in Puerto Vallarta. It is a beautiful city, very clean with cobblestone streets. We decided to take the bus into town from the hotel. It takes about an hour. I thought it would be an adventure and let me tell you it was! First of all, it was very crowded, standing room only. Also we were the only non-Mexicans on the entire bus. We towered over everyone and we are not tall! Thirdly, bus drivers in Mexico are crazy! The police in Mexico have other things to worry about (like the drug war) and so they don't have time to pull anyone over for traffic violations. So everyone pretty much just does what they please. I am still somewhat surprised that we made it there and back in one piece. Although as scary as the bus trip was, it was nothing compared to the taxi we took back! The driver was literally making lanes out of the sidewalk. It was one of those times where you want to close you eyes, but you can't. For some reason, if I'm going to die, I want to see it happen. Fortunately we are both still alive to tell the tale.
This is John at Los Arcos (the arches). It's part of the Malecon which is the main shopping district. There are little flea markets and shops everywhere along this mile long boardwalk. And in the evening there are free shows and acrobats here.
This is the cathedral of 'Our Lady of Guadeloupe'. It's in the main square of town overlooking the ocean
One of the coolest thing we did while we were there, we found out about on the first day. We went down to the beach and turned left. About a quarter mile down the beach there is a turtle preserve. It is one of only 3 nesting sites for the leather back sea turtle and also the Olive Ridley sea turtle. The best part though is that if you go to the preserve at about 6:15 you can hear the volunteers give a presentation about turtles and then, if they have baby turtles, you can help release them into the sea. So on Monday, John, Brian, Alec and I walked down to the preserve to see and they had turtles! I didn't get to release any turtles that day because in order to hold the turtles you need to get you hands dirty with wet sand, and I needed to hold the camera. It's important to have sandy hands because it helps the turtles to be able to find their way back. They will come back to this same beach in 7 years and lay their own eggs.
The boys and their turtles!!
Go, Baby Go!
They made it!!
We went back on Friday so that I could have the experience too.
The reason they release the turtles in the evening is that they are light sensitive and head toward the sun. It was funny, because when you were holding them, if you faced them towards the sun they would start flapping, but if you pointed them the other way they would become still. Also birds and fish feed on baby turtles so by releasing them after the birds and fish are done eating for the day, you give them a better chance of survival.
We had a marvelous time and came back refreshed and ready to see our kids again, (who by the way did not miss US one bit!)
We had a wonderful time in Mexico. We spent muchas horas en la playa and got nice and tan. (Then we had to come home where it is only 40 degrees outside. Oh well.) This was by far the most relaxing vacation we have had. John played golf one day, and we went shopping, but otherwise we didn't leave the resort.
The resort had a set of infinity pools looking out over the ocean. This is how it looked at night.
On Tuesday we went shopping in Puerto Vallarta. It is a beautiful city, very clean with cobblestone streets. We decided to take the bus into town from the hotel. It takes about an hour. I thought it would be an adventure and let me tell you it was! First of all, it was very crowded, standing room only. Also we were the only non-Mexicans on the entire bus. We towered over everyone and we are not tall! Thirdly, bus drivers in Mexico are crazy! The police in Mexico have other things to worry about (like the drug war) and so they don't have time to pull anyone over for traffic violations. So everyone pretty much just does what they please. I am still somewhat surprised that we made it there and back in one piece. Although as scary as the bus trip was, it was nothing compared to the taxi we took back! The driver was literally making lanes out of the sidewalk. It was one of those times where you want to close you eyes, but you can't. For some reason, if I'm going to die, I want to see it happen. Fortunately we are both still alive to tell the tale.
This is John at Los Arcos (the arches). It's part of the Malecon which is the main shopping district. There are little flea markets and shops everywhere along this mile long boardwalk. And in the evening there are free shows and acrobats here.
This is the cathedral of 'Our Lady of Guadeloupe'. It's in the main square of town overlooking the ocean
One of the coolest thing we did while we were there, we found out about on the first day. We went down to the beach and turned left. About a quarter mile down the beach there is a turtle preserve. It is one of only 3 nesting sites for the leather back sea turtle and also the Olive Ridley sea turtle. The best part though is that if you go to the preserve at about 6:15 you can hear the volunteers give a presentation about turtles and then, if they have baby turtles, you can help release them into the sea. So on Monday, John, Brian, Alec and I walked down to the preserve to see and they had turtles! I didn't get to release any turtles that day because in order to hold the turtles you need to get you hands dirty with wet sand, and I needed to hold the camera. It's important to have sandy hands because it helps the turtles to be able to find their way back. They will come back to this same beach in 7 years and lay their own eggs.
The boys and their turtles!!
Go, Baby Go!
They made it!!
We went back on Friday so that I could have the experience too.
The reason they release the turtles in the evening is that they are light sensitive and head toward the sun. It was funny, because when you were holding them, if you faced them towards the sun they would start flapping, but if you pointed them the other way they would become still. Also birds and fish feed on baby turtles so by releasing them after the birds and fish are done eating for the day, you give them a better chance of survival.
We had a marvelous time and came back refreshed and ready to see our kids again, (who by the way did not miss US one bit!)
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