Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Akumal Meanderings


While I'm thinking about Akumal and all the fun we had there, I decided to use some photos to jog my memory and tell a few stories.

One difference between Akumal and Isla Mujeres seems to be the animal situation.  I can only remember seeing one or two wandering dogs during our entire stay in Akumal.  The piles of dog doo were noticeably absent, so I'm guessing it's the norm for people to keep their pets on leash and pick up litter.


Several mornings, we saw this man driving a cart exercising this German shepherd.  Maybe someone should tie me to a cart!


Many Akumal residents obviously love dogs and cats . . . 



Others -- not so much.  Hope the perros y gatos can read.


Don't try to rein in these free rangers.  They wander where they want.  They don't need no stinkin' rules!


Large estates like the one above line the road along Half Moon Bay.  The road's very dark walking to and from town at night, but most properties have security guards on duty day and night.  We always felt very safe despite the dark road.


I did notice this guy lurking in the play yard by the local library.  He seemed an odd choice for the playground since he looks like Stranger Danger, but it appears he's some sort of billboard for reading.  Leer mas?


We did carry flashlights on our walks to town at night.  This is reason number one!  They were digging a trench alongside the road during our visit.


Rental bikes in Akumal are less than half the cost per day compared to Isla Mujeres, and the roads have much less traffic.  It's a great place to get around on bikes.  Just be sure to check the handlebars to make sure they're tightened lest you're pitched off the bike onto the hard asphalt.  I think I've already mentioned my fall from grace/public embarrassment about 20 times on this blog since November.  


Here's a strange story I'd almost forgotten until I saw this canoe.  We ate at this restaurant one night -- Cueva del Pescador.  It's located in the same general area of the village as Turtle Bay Bakery.  We sat down at a table in a quiet uncovered area in front of the restaurant, but decided to move to a table on the side porch when the sprinkles started.  That's when it got interesting.  A loud argumentative guy at the table next to us kept picking up a chair and swinging it at his waiter. Since the waiter had to get past the gatekeeper with the flying chair, service was a little slow.  I'll admit to being worried that we were going to take a chair upside the head before we could scarf down our fish entrees, but the restaurant staff seemed unconcerned.  The fish was very good, but we kept one eye on the drunk while we ate.  I'd definitely recommend the restaurant, but try and get a seat out in the garden area away from customers hurling chairs.  : )


I'll end this post with a pop quiz for my fellow travelers to Mexico.  What day of the week was this sunset photo taken?  (Sunday's in Mexico are the day when all the locals hang at the beach.)  I love it that everyone's there to enjoy the last light of a spectacular November day.




Sunday, February 24, 2013

La Buena Vida -- A Sampling

Recently a friend asked for info about our Akumal trip and I remembered I never finished what I started!  I've been sidetracked by Christmas and life since our trip to Isla Mujeres and Akumal in November.

The good life!  It was muy buena, especially when we took a short walk down Half Moon Bay road to eat at La Buena Vida, the neighborhood oceanfront palapa bar.  I will admit to eating here at least five times in six days.  We hit a rough patch in weather and health while we were in Akumal and this place was tasty and very convenient! 




The burgers and fries were wonderful!


Mango chicken empanadas from the appetizer menu.


Craig's always the life of the party!


Burrito Santa Fe


Enchiladas with red mole.


The bar.


Craig enjoying a beachfront cerveza under the palapa.


Tasty fish tacos and the huge plate of nachos!


Seriously, everything we sampled from their menu was wonderful, including the salads and baby back ribs not pictured here.



If you're in Akumal, check out the good life on Half Moon Bay!


Thursday, February 21, 2013

Arizona Snow Day!

Yesterday, we got snow in places in Arizona where we don't normally see it.  Traffic slowed down on 101 in Scottsdale when the white stuff started covering the freeway.  Today, we went in search of snow and here's what we found!  Crazy!


A dusting of snow on the roadside cacti.
 




Have a seat on the patio!
 

Dust the snow off that beach towel for the polar bear swim!
 

Snow covered roofs and mountains in the distance.
 

And my favorite pic of the day!  Some roofers decided to take advantage of the snow day.





Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Same Time Last Year

On Valentine's Day as I was headed to a periodontist (we're still trying to solve the problem created by the Mexican crown), I asked Craig if he knew where we were same time last year.  We were on a flight headed to Belize!

I'm busy with a friend this week, but thought I'd post a rerun from that February 2012 trip.  It's rainy and cold here today, so I'm loving remembering the sun and warmth in this slideshow!



Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Isla From On High


A view of the cemetery from above.


Rainy day on Hidalgo.


Hidalgo by night.


Rainy day on Playa Norte.


Zoom of a sunset wedding.


Sunrise over El Centro.


The end of a beach day.


Saturday, February 9, 2013

Cloudy and Shabby Chic'd

Ugh.  It's a cloudy day.  When it's cold (in the 50's) and grey here in Arizona, I switch into slug mode.  I have zero desire when the sun's not out to take the daily walk or bike ride. 

When we first moved to Arizona, friends back home warned me we weren't going to like it!  They told stories about acquaintances who'd moved to the Valley of the Sun and gone crazy from the endless days of looking at the big bright orb.  Those people had chucked in the dream after a year and run back to Seattle with tails between their legs.

Seriously?  It only takes one cloudy day now to depress me.  I don't think I could ever move back to the gloomy Northwest!  Yes, it's hotter than hell here in the summer, but that's the price you pay for a warm sunny winter.

Earlier in the week when the sun was shining I busied myself  repainting an old antique table for the den and creating another seaglass lamp to top it   I took a few photos of my handiwork and thought I'd post them today.


I bought a cheap cork-topped jar at Hobby Lobby and filled it with some eroded conchs and big chunks of green, brown, and black seaglass from the shores of Isla Mujeres.


Add a light kit from Walmart and a burlap shade from Target and it's a lamp!


Then I found a can of black satin paint in the garage and shabby chic'ed an old oak table with it.


And now, I'm going to sink back into this cloudy gloomy afternoon on the sofa and read my new book -- The Weird Sisters.


Thursday, February 7, 2013

Where Is Mike?

One of the marvels of Facebook is that a parent can follow their child around the world even if they don't see them in person very often.  Sometimes I feel like I'm looking at one of those Where's Waldo books.  Today is Michael's birthday.  His 33rd to be exact!

So Where's Mike this birthday?  He's at the AT&T Pebble in Carmel enjoying his birthday with friends, playing and watching a lot of golf.



 I tried my damndest to addict this child to the beach at an early age, but it just didn't take.  


The only beach he likes now is one next to a golf course!
 




I think this photo was taken at Bandon Dunes in Oregon.  Since it's a Scottish style course, I'm sure the Guinness was a requirement.


Following a son on Facebook can also be a scary adventure.  Mike no longer needs a permission slip.



Last year was what he termed his best birthday ever.  He jumped out of a plane (OMG).


And got Bill at his birthday party!


Happy 33rd Michael!  Hope it's the best year ever!






Monday, February 4, 2013

Magic Monday!

Take a jumble of photos from an Isla Monday, mix in a little magic from PicMonkey, and taa-daaaa!  We've got Magic Monday!



I tried to pick some murky photos I've passed over because they weren't obviously pretty pictures.  Why'd I take this one?  It must have been the Mexican blankets on the clotheslines.  If only they'd raise that clothesline a little higher so I could get a better shot.


Roof dog alert!   You're just innocently walking down the street and all of a sudden you're wetting your pants.  Roof dogs love to play the Gotcha Game!  Now I got you buddy!  On film!  Ha!
 


This malatero's got soul.  Literally, he's packing SOL!


Now this is one of my fave clotheslines!  Love all the embroidery!


Navy troops walking the malecon on a Monday morning.


A one trick Talavera pony.  I'd never noticed him before.  He's on the ledge above M&J's Cazuela.


Craig has a magical Monday planned with an afternoon tee time.  What shall I do to make my Monday magical?   Hmmmmmm.