Kiki's Family Blog: Viva La Mexico!

I apologize for neglecting my blog...my heart has been heavy and my mind racing.

(future blog)

Our Mexico Vacation was filled with Don Julio, Yummy Food, Lots of Dancing & Many Adventures!

Day 1: We arrive in the late afternoon, ready to put our things in the condo, make our Wal-Mart run for groceries and hit the beach! However, we were slightly delayed.

Lesson 1: Don't eat at the restaurant connected to the condo. Yuk!

So, we head to Wal-Mart for supplies for the condo and one of our disgruntled friends was not as excited about the Wally World Run as the rest of us. So, we agreed that Rob could get a haircut and shave in the front of Wal-Mart while the rest of us went grocery shopping. "Don't leave me here" were the last words we heard from Rob. We only went in the grocery section of Wal-Mart, so I am not sure how he missed us when he walked through the store trying to meet up with us...plot or no...you be the judge. so when we were finished shopping, we looked all over for Rob, with no success. So, we sent Karle back into Wal-Mart to find him. Two laps later and still no Rob. At this point, we figure he got bored and headed back to the condo to hit the beach. So, we go down and get in the taxi line. Feeling the burn of Rob's last words in our heads, "Don't leave me," Keith decides to make one more lap around Wal-Mart in search of our clean cut friend. "DO NOT MOVE from here and if someone tries anything, lay down on the ground and scream!" Those were our orders from Keith as headed back into Wal-Mart. He is not a fan of individual travels through the streets or stores of Mexico...even the tourist areas. Still no Rob, so we give up and head back to the condo.

Lesson 2: MAKE AN ASSEMBLY STATION LOCATION AT ALL TIMES for ROB!

We all get over the little tiff that was created in our moment of separation and agree to stick together as a group, moving forward. Done deal. Now, we all get ready to go out for dinner as we agreed that eating "on campus" was NOT an option! We take our first shot in the condo and it was on...for some of us...I was not feeling all that peachy keen, so my kick off to the vacation celebration would come on another night. We hop in a Cab and quickly remember...

Don Julio!!

Lesson 3: It's a $5 cab ride, almost anywhere!

All of the waiters at the various places we visited on night 1 should love me because they all got to take my shots! Shots...Shots...Shots Shots Shots Shots! We of course, learned to customary toast...

"Arriba...El Bano...El Centro...El Dento"

Lesson 4: Sometimes TIP is included...check your waiter!

We finish dinner and move on to dancing and MORE shots! (well some of us) We see the Blue Parrot and remember hearing or seeing something about it...of course, it was the airplane flying around all day advertising a fire show at 11 and 1 at the Blue Parrot. That's it...we're in. We know it is only 9:00 and we have lots of time before the party gets started, so Karle starts her bartering for "Free" or "Discounted" drinks and yet another waiter takes my shot!

We hang out for what seems like a while on the cool "swing" bar stools!

~Karle got her GROOVE on with the locals ~

We watched the FIRE SHOW!!!

We moved down the beach to a quiet relaxing joint, FUSION, where we sat in low tables and chairs right on the beach, with candle light and good music. Then, we called it a night...I needed to feel better for the rest of the trip!

We also decide to name the creepy statue that sits in a nook outside our Condo door, because we feel it is best to name her and address her when coming and going...it made her a little less frightening as we would walk around the corner from the steps and run into her!

"Hola Rosalita...Adios Rosalita"

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Day 2: Beach Day & Adventure #1 - SKY DIVING!

After sleeping in, we all finally make it to the beach and we lay, relax, float and talk. And to my surprise, just as I mention that we hadn't seen any sky divers and the SkyDive Playa outfit is at the entrance of our condo...we see two sky divers landing on the beach, just down from our Condo. That's it!!!! Everyone out of the water...get dressed...we are going sky diving!!! Really?!?! Yes, really!!! It is past noon, you should all be over your hangovers, if not, then lets hope you are still drunk enough to not care!

We let Keith go FIRST!!! It was a small plane, so we could only go one at a time if we were also getting video or pictures and Keith was a little more anxious than the rest of us! While waiting for our turns to Sky Dive, we conveniently hung out at Senor Frogs...such a FuN joint! Especially when you aren't afraid to dance!

Can you see the anxiety in Keith's leery smile?

He LOVED it and was grateful to me for my spontaneity!

I was up next! I was NEVER scared. I had wanted to do it so bad, that I talked myself into it being ok. The only scary part was stepping out on the wheel of the plane and THEN jumping, versus just sort of falling out of the plane!

A good time was had by all and we all wanted to "GO AGAIN!"

The rest of the trip would now be in comparison to SKY DIVING!!!

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Day 3: Adventure #2 - Cozumel for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling!!

Before we headed back from Cozumel...while waiting for the next Ferry...we had a little FuN!

(Can you Imagine...us having FuN?)

It was too easy!!

After Scuba, Dinner and a little FuN, we took our dreaded Ferry ride back to Playa...we heard a ruckus coming from Senor Frogs and it was ON...I got my second wind and was ready to kick off vacation...3 days late! So, bring on the Don Julio and Dancing!!

No one knows who "Random" guy is on the left or why he had his arm wrapped around Karle's waist...Creeper! Oh, and Where's Keith?!?!

We LOVE our Senor Frogs hangout. WE were the party every time!!

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Somewhere in the middle of vacation, we ventured out to a breakfast place, recommended by the Condo owner and much to our surprise, it was our NEW favorite place...

La Cueva Del Chongo

(Cave of the Monkey)

OR, as we like to refer to it...MONKEY breakfast!!!

No, we were not eating Monkeys...it's just the name of the place and we LOVED the Mexican breakfast...skillets filled with homemade tortilla chips, topped with green chili sauce, avocado, onions, and fried eggs...DE-LICIOUS!!! Mmmm, it's making me want it for breakfast!

Lesson #5: Don't turn down new experiences, they may turn into your favorite food!

A Healthy debate about floor fan positioning never hurt anyone!

No debate here, we were there to enjoy the FOOD!

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We stopped at Redneck Steve and Big Al (From 106.1) Bar

The Beer Bucket

And of course, took shots!

Shots...Shots...Shots Shots Shots Shots!

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We sailed a four person catamaran...no waterproof camera, so no pictures. Sorry!

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Some of us fraternized with the local law enforcement at 3am...they didn't seem to mind, but I guess you wouldn't when you are carrying a M16 gun!

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We had dinners on the beach, at yummy restaurants and even dirty taco stands!

(Although this taco place was not so dirty...but very authentic!)

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We powered through Hangovers with "Monkey Breakfast" and SMILES!

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We did our fair share of tourist shopping!

Can you tell who is who??

Rob (Turtle) he moves at his own pace and to the beat of his own drum!

Karle is the octopus because she is multi talented at multi tasking!

Keith is the monkey because he had a great week, letting loose!

I am the piggy because that is the way I felt after all that Don Julio and yummy Mexican food!

(Yes, we chose our own shirts...no one was mean and called me a piggy but myself)

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Some and when I say some I mean KEITH...didn't come back unscathed...attack of "Medusa de Agua" or Jelly Fish again and a broken toe!

Lesson #6: Don't underestimate the Jelly Fish or Rob's competitive nature!

But some of us were NEVER bored...

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We played at Xel-Ha in the RAIN all day...back and forth we rode on the bicycles to and from the entertainment of cliff jumping, rope climbs, river floating and snorkeling!

Lesson #7: Don't let a little rain storm slow you down!