Mexico 2012

Well it took us 15 years to finally get away on our own again, but we did it. I consider it our 

second honeymoon. We just got back from 8 days in paradise , Riviera Maya. 

We went with three other couples and had a really great time. We will be back. 

      This is my favourite photo from our trip , it sums it all up , we were so relaxed and fell into vacationing so easily. It rained a bunch for the first three days but not constantly. It didn't dampen our fun even a little. After that the weather was incredible.

 This was my first trip to Mexico and my hubby's first trip to this coast . The water is incredible. It was so nice to not have to do anything mundane and to get dressed up for dinner nightly after lounging by the pool and swimming in the ocean. What a life style if even for a week.

We went jet skiing , that was certainly the most fun we had , I would do that again and again, its a great arm workout. My arms are still sore today.

 5th Ave was full of beauty and many surprises around every corner. We saw in a matter of 30 minutes a baby tiger , parrots, a tucan , baby monkey's, baby tiger and baby jaguars if you paid a fee to help care for and to preserve the animals you could take photos. We saw a little girl all of 7 years old with her sibling baby in sling selling bracelets, heart breaking , sweet and shocking all at once. Its a different world.

 The man with the lizards handed my husband these lizards, they are so gentle, crazy right? How could we resist. We learned a little about lizards too.

 Little doggie just hanging out in a shop door watching the street.

 When researching what kind of things you can do in Mexico I came across the fish spa treatment. I had to do it , luckily Todd and our friends were good sports and did it too. Let me just say it was hilarious then neat and I thought it was just a great thing to try. We were brought down to the lower level where the very knowledgeable young man with great English  proceeded to wash our feet and calves with water that flowed from a conch shell. We then gently lowered our feet into the fish tanks where the eager fish began to remove dead skin cells from our feet not with teeth but with and substance they create.It was very cool. Then we ordered Corona's all around, perfection.

Who doesn't need a new mask? The sales pitches were quite humorous. After the vendor of the stand heard me notice the whips she said " romantic whips!!" hmmm let me ponder that "no , I'm good"

We were called honeymooners, and once someone sized me up and called me "Texas" close , Canadian.

 Oh the nights laying on the beach watching the incredibly bright sun was breath taking.

I was almost amazed that I could still fit into this dress for our last dinner in Mexico after I lost 22 lbs to go on this trip. Somehow I didn't gain much back, all those long walks on the beach and in town I guess really helped things not get too far away from me. I'm back on track now and back to reality. 

It was so rough relaxing under palm trees and enjoying the ocean views.

                                                      Even over cast it was beautiful.

                                               Pool , palm trees and endless icy beverages.

The biggest problem was where to enjoy our time , the beach, the pool , the swim up bar or the resorts down the beach , how do you decide... then the mammoth task of where to eat at the many restaurants...so many problems ....

 Rising early and starting the day by the pool in the just the right location.

 This area comes to life at night with live music , it was so romantic and magical, I loved it all.

We will miss the Riu Palace and certainly Ricky Bobby ... couples massages on the beach , jet skiing on the ocean , the ocean , the sand the friends, the pools , not worrying about much of anything, constant delivery of drinks and all the friendly warm staff , Adios..

This was our first visit but not our last.

Next time we go we will bring the kids they will love it too.