MEXICO!!

We are back to 60’s and early spring again here. At least the days are considerably longer. While we were in Tulum, our time was measured from one gourmet meal to the next, so we did not keep too much track of day lengths. After these daily gorges, Jane and I would try to swim it off as best we could. I walked the beach a lot with Steve or Jane, and collected lots of shells which I smuggled back successfully, even though I watched a baggage handler go through all of our suitcases. Those guys just do not go too far into the dirty clothes bag! 12 days of beautiful weather and fun times is hard to leave. These pictures just do not do it justice.
Our hotel time share is just beautiful, and the plantings and plant holders displaying bougainvillea were incredible. The 24 hour room service and previously mentioned gourmet meals were just such a great treat, and the service was excellent. There was entertainment 3 nights a week that featured song and dance and costumes that were quite professional. Of course we made our own entertainment with euchre and hearts played almost nightly. We got friendly with the two young girls from Amsterdam doing their internship at the resort for five months, and we even got chummy with the General Manager, a very young guy who got cut up on the reefs while snorkeling the same day that I did.
We took a ferry to the island of Cozumel and rented motor bikes to drive around the island (the last 2 pictures in row 2). However, I have never driven a motor bike. I thought I would teach myself quickly so I took a “crash” course and did not do too well. The owner of the business pleaded with me not to rent the bike but to ride on the back of someone else’s. However, I told him that I wanted to do this thing and I would be ok. Well, everything was fine till we got to the middle of town-dead center, in fact. Somehow in the process of slowing down and then starting up again, I forgot to take my hand off of the hand brake. My balance has never been great to start with, so there I was, swerving and trying to straighten out when…the police on the side of the road waved for me to pull over. They asked me for my license, and while they were checking it (first the laughed at it-honest!), the bike shop owner came running up and again pleaded with me not to go off again. Then Woody showed up, and the police got into it, saying lady, be careful, are you sure you know how to do this? Well, I was NOT sure, so I gave in, the owner took the bike back and promised a refund, and I got on the back of Woody’s bike. The island of Cozumel is lovely, and we found a great spot for lunch and Jane and I had another good swim.
But we spent most days lying under the palapas and palm trees on the beach and reading, taking the occasional swim. I finished Sewer, Gas, and Electric (finally!) as well as the three Inspector Montalbano mysteries by Andrea Camillieri that are in English. They are set right near us in Agrigento and are full of interesting local color, and most importantly, about food and the process of enjoying it.
We met some neat people, including 2 couples from Alberta, Canada who were farmers and spent 3 weeks a year in the tropics. Steve surprised them with thre gift of a Canadian flag "pareo" which they promplty hung up (see photo). We snorkeled several times and saw some really colorful fish, found conch shells and farther down the beach, found a new cenote (underground fresh-water spring) in the water, and we almost attempted to walk to the ruins at Tulum, which we could see from our beach chairs. Later we found out it was impossible because of impassible cliffs, but it sure looked “doable” and inviting. Jane and I each had 2 massages at the spa, and Woody and Steve re-negotiated the time share deal. We shopped for some great bargains at Cozumel, Tulum and Playa Del Carmen, but we know we got ripped off some too. Isn’t that part of vacation? All in all, it was a lively but relaxing time,