Favorite Beach Shots

We're booking, washing, packing, shopping -- all in a whirlwind countdown to our next beach trip.  It's chilly here in Phoenix today, so it warms me to look at past beach photos from Isla Mujeres!

Tonto Natural Arch

In a canyon, in a canyon, excavating for a mine . . . .    Well, not really!  We were just taking a walk -- a rather steep one at that!

The first stop before the fun in Pine and Strawberry last Friday was the Tonto Natural Arch.  Friends who've  moved here from the Midwest recently hiked the trails there, and they inspired us to get back out and discover more of Arizona.

After parking the car, we finally located the trail that switchbacks into the canyon below the arch.  The orange sign came with danger warnings for steep trail, loose gravel, slick rocks, etc....   I think that's just Arizona's way of protecting itself (but good luck to anyone who tries to shake the state of Arizona's pockets).

 

After a steep descent (we really should think about getting those hiking poles), we finally saw the arch from a distance!  Kind of cool!

Soon we reached the bottom of the canyon and Tonto Creek.  For us desert rats, a canyon with water at the bottom (as opposed to a dry stream bed) is quite the oddity.

Look at the grass and ferns growing on the rocks underneath the arch!  A waterfall from the bridge above mists the rocks below.

From the view platform, we gazed at the slick rocks underneath the bridge trying to decide if we wanted to risk our limbs crawling over them to get through the arch to the trail on the other side.  An older couple with white hair breezed past us, so we decided we were I was being silly.

Once under the bridge, I looked up.  The natural bridge is composed of travertine!  The rocks really were slick, and we reached a point where we'd have to sit on our butts, slide down a large rock, and wade through the stream to reach the trail on the other side.  Even there, we'd have quite a distance left scrambling over slick rocks.  Bag it!  Having already done knee surgery once, some adventures aren't worth it to me.  

The older couple in front forged on.  You can see the man in the blue jacket on the other side of the stream. 

Notice the slick moss growing on the rocks?  For a moment we felt like we were back in Washington State. 

(But the blue sky quickly reminded us we weren't in the Northwest anymore!)

We carefully picked our way back out of the area over the slick rocks.  No harm, no foul!  A double dose of Advil took care of my knees!

Back on the switchbacks, the vegetation turned to desert once again.  Here's a blue agave. Craig and I vow to hit the trails this winter after we get back from Mexico! 

A friend at dinner last night asked me how we're getting from Isla Mujeres to Akumal in a few weeks.  I think she was shocked by my lackadaisical attitude.  I've been totally unconcerned about the details of our trip.  I booked a couple of condos and our flights months ago, but abandoned planning after that.  We still have three free range nights with no lodging.  I left them free because we weren't sure if we wanted to spend Thanksgiving on the island, or head somewhere else.  We'll cross that beach when we come to it!  : )   And I guess that's why I haven't booked transportation.  I'm not sure what day we'll be leaving Isla Mujeres, or what direction we'll be headed.  It'll all work out!

Now, today I MUST start thinking about washing clothes and packing! 

Down a Country Road

We'd promised ourselves this fall we'd make it to the high country to see some turning leaves.  Friday was the day!

After getting Saby tucked into her favorite spot in the backyard and equipped for the day, we  tiptoed away before she could suspect she was being abandoned.  The highs are down in the 80's now, so it's okay for her to stay outdoors all day.

We headed up the Beeline Highway to Payson and points beyond.

 

We'd thought about staying for a night or two, but didn't want to board poor Saby since we'll be leaving her at Dog Bone Ranch in a few weeks.  I'm betting these housekeeping cabins are pretty rustic, but I like the old sign!

We'd never been to Pine and Strawberry, so after a hike to the Tonto Natural Bridge, we drove in that direction.  The Pine area was very quaint!  We noticed a new view area and thought -- could we live here?  Craig loves to fish, we both love to hike, we've always loved the mountains -- hmmmm?  Food for thought.  Live in a place like this in the summer, and travel to the tropics when the snow starts to fly!  Could it be a plan?

An antique buggy full of pumpkins!

A local stand selling honey and jams.

This rustic old bar stood across the street from Pine Deli where we ate lunch.

After lunch and a visit to a couple of local antique stores, we headed back to the Payson area to Granny's.  I found a small paperback world atlas of  maps from the early 1960's.  The map of Mexico's really interesting because Cancun, Puerta Vallarta, and the other resort areas aren't on it!

I wish we had time this next week for another leaf peeper road trip to the Sedona area, but we'll be busy with dental appointments and packing.

Nine more days until beach bliss begins!

Day of the Dead

Having been on Isla Mujeres a few times for Day of the Dead, I love the way Mexicans honor their loved ones who have passed on.  A friend recently posted this video on a Facebook page, so I thought I'd share it to give an example of a traditional Day of the Dead ceremony.  The video gives me goose bumps.

On message boards, visitors frequently ask what events take place on the island.  In my experience it varies from year to year.  In 2004, I viewed a procession down Hidalgo to the cemetery in the late afternoon, and a ceremony with children and adults in traditional dress in the zocalo that evening.  The photos below were taken in 2006.  In 2009, altars set up in the square were short-lived because they were demolished by rain and wind.  Halloween was almost a no show that year, with very few trick or treaters on Hidalgo and one lone Dracula riding his tricycle round and round the zocalo in the pouring rain.  Every year, families spend time with their loved ones at the cemetery decorating graves and lighting candles.

Locals setting up altars on the zocalo to honor family members.  Notice they include photos and favorite items and foods.

The cemetery's also a very busy place during this time.  During one of my visits in late October, vendors set up stands on the street outside selling flowers, candles, and even drinks.

 A candle left at a grave.

And then we have the Halloween holiday here at home.  People in this neighborhood go all out with the decorations.  I'll try to get some photos today while we're out walking or riding bikes.  Yesterday, Craig insisted on buying a huge bag of chocolate candy bars at Costco to hand out at the door tonight.  I usually buy candy I don't like so I won't be tempted to eat it, but he won the war.  So my goal is not to play the gorging game and eat one every time I hear the words -- TRICK OR TREAT!

A Bug's Life

If you've read my blog for a few years, you realize I'm obsessed with taking photos of Volkswagen Beetles, especially in Mexico.  I even have an exasperating newer generation VW Beetle convertible in my garage.  We call it the money pit, but that's another blog post. 

Check out this cool video of the Vochol Beetle decorated by Huichols.  This Wikipedia link gives more background on the project. 



Wouldn't I love to have this fabulous Beetle!  Here are a few more pics of Isla Beetles taken over the years.

Red bug on Juarez.

Town crier.

He must have run the wheels off this one!

Nice paint job!

Zebra stripes!

Cow theme?

Love this chartreuse beauty!

This one has a trash bag roof?  Must be covering a sunroof.

                                                                              Dolphin Discovery Mobile

And here's a vintage Bug from the liberal enclave of Bisbee, Arizona.   If that was left sitting on a street around here, I shudder to think what would happen to it!

She Sells Seashells Down by the Seashore

Life must be harder than ever now for the vendor who sells seashells down by the sea, especially in tropical destinations where most travelers arrive by plane.  With all the new baggage fees and restrictions, most tourists bypass the big conchs in favor of a small souvenir that can be tucked away into a carry on bag.

 I still have a conch purchased on my first trip to the Gulf of Mexico back in 1958.  (That's my brother and I playing at the beach on that trip in the right margin.)  Back in 2002 on our first trip to Isla Mujeres, I bought two huge conchs from a vendor along Medina and hauled them home.  Once in awhile, I still like to hold one up to my ear to hear the sound of the sea (actually, the sound of blood pulsing through my ear -- LOL).

Remember the magic of holding your ear up to a conch when you were a child? It rates right up there with the first time my parents bought me Mexican jumping beans back in the 1950's on Olvera Street in L.A.  I can't remember the last time I saw Mexican jumping beans!  I bet those wouldn't get through customs!