Mexico 2010

I have been horrible about blogging this summer what with all the fun I've been having.  So I am going to try to "catch up" a little over the next few days, starting with my annual vacation with friends that I took to Troncones, Mexico in June. 

My friend Heather wrote on my Facebook page recently, "What no blog about our MX trip? Not up to par? You don't think people want to read about sweaty yoga, late night peril filled walks to the outdoor kitchen, hot soup on a humid day and Andrea's infamous ocean somersault? Guess I should have added a spoiler alert!"  This about sums up the trip...but I'll fill in some of the blanks. 



Day 1:

Heather and I found ourselves taking a little mini-vacation to Phoenix due to the fact that there had been a storm in Chicago the night before and the flight crew had to catch a few extra winks of sleep.  There was nothing we could do but make the best of it.  However, US Airways probably won't be getting much business from us in the future not because of the cancelled flight but because their customer service was ATROCIOUS. 

However, the Embassy Suites near the airport made our little layover a pure delight with their lovely pool, manager's reception, free shuttle around town, awesome free breakfast, and colorful staff.  Heather, of course, has an obsession with Indian Taco's and since we were in Arizona we felt we should be able to find one.  Not only did the front desk staff look it up for us, find us a restaurant, and offer the hotel shuttle to take us there for free, but they thought the tacos looked good so they came with us to grab supper.  The next morning a tiny little man made us delicious omelets and then we were off to Troncones!

Days 2-6:
After being verbally accosted by a flight attendant due to a seating fiasco (read, we won't be using US Airways again) we arrived in Troncones and were welcomed to our little bungalow at Casa Ki by our friend Andrea, whose flight arrived as scheduled the day before. 

And commence the relaxation.  Our non-air conditioned bungalow was directly on the beach looking out over the mighty Pacific.  We sat on our porch and talked, and read, and talked, and napped, and talked, and listened to the waves.  I don't know if I've ever had such a relaxed vacation.  I did not open my make-up bag and never once touched my hair dryer.  That, my friends, is way more relaxed than I've EVER been on vacation!

Here's the view from our bungalow.  The gate is meant to keep wandering dogs, cows, pigs, from entering the property.

It doesn't really stop the local herd of wild dogs from entering at will though.  They liked to come around in the late afternoon and we watched them jump right on over.  There were other run-ins with wild life.  It was the season for the crabs to come down from the mountain and lay their eggs on the beach.  This meant in the evening when we walked the paths to our community kitchen for beverages or to use the wi-fi, one had to exercise caution.  Heather and I nearly had our toes taken off by a large, clickety-clackety, red crab.  And unfortunately, I took the life of a small hermit crab trying to reach the beach. 

Here are Andrea and Heather who, oddly enough, both picked up "Mennonite in a Little Black Dress" to read on the vacation.  Reconnecting to the old Menno roots I guess.  It led to many interesting conversations though!

The Pacific was a little too mighty for us to enjoy a leisurely swim but we did find a few tide pools that we lazed around in quite a bit to cool off from the oppressive Mexican heat.  Twice we were referred to as mermaids by passers by.  I guess mermaids must hang out in tide pools?

I will say that the waves still got us a few times.  Notice Heather clinging to a rock.  And the aforementioned somersault was a result of a taking poor Andrea for a spin.  Luckily no major injuries were reported.

Also mentioned above was sweaty yoga.  We ventured down the beach twice to a lovely resort called Present Moments to take in some yoga on a platform overlooking the ocean.  Morning yoga was a bit more rigorous, lasting two hours and involving immense amounts of sweat.  It can be a little difficult to hold a pose when your legs and arms are slick with sweat.  Afternoon yoga was more relaxed and included some two-person yoga poses which may have broken the mood just a bit since Heather and Andrea made me giggle. 

Present Moments also hosted a movie night on the beach which we took in, watching "Blue Crush," a surfing movie.  How appropriate.  It was the only thing we watched all week, save some FIFA World Cup soccer games that were being aired at restaurants.  Literally, work came to stand still when there was a game on.  (Notice the taxi drivers at the airport glued to the soccer game on T.V.)

Mixed in to the sweaty yoga and the relaxation was a massage that we had on the patio outside our bungalow.  Despite the fact that Heather was having a "modest day," we all enjoyed the massage utilizing hot cups to pull the toxins out of our systems.  More about toxins later. 

We also walked down hot dusty roads to eat at delicious local eateries in town - places with tin roofs and dirt floors but with super tasty authentic Mexican food.  I knew that we were staying in a town geared towards surfers and a little off the beaten path, but WOW we were staying in a town where there were few snacks available (Heather nearly starved one day) and the local restaurants knew NO English.  Thank goodness Heather knew enough Spanish to get us by.  We ate guacamole every day but one.  Heather and I enjoyed a delicious hot bowl of soup on the hottest day of the year.  And we were able to partake of some elusive quesadillas from a lady who had a tragic story.  Mmmmmm.....

We went kayaking one day.  Kayaking is a whole lot of work and really, no fun at all.  Andrea was not feeling so well that day so we tried to heal her with hot rocks.  And Heather and I nearly had a run in with a large Mexican cow who was crossing the lagoon.  In the end Alejandro, gave us a local coconut to drink to restore our fluids and then we were well enough to go back and continue our relaxation.

 

We saw some federalis storm through town.  The locals didn't act nervous so we just kept eating our quesadillas.  The picture isn't so great because Andrea was trying to do it on the sly.  We didn't really want a direct run in after all.

I attempted to teach Heather to knit.  Nothing like holding a bunch of yarn when you're all hot and sweaty and there's a bunch of sand blowing in your face.

And we laid around in hammocks pretty much everywhere we went including all the local restaurants.

Day 7 and beyond:

After a mad dash around the Mexico City airport where moments of panic were upon us so greatly that I'm still having nightmares, we arrived home safely.  However, I brought back a little friend.  A bug of some sort.  I made it through the entire vacation with not so much as one digestive issue.  Ah, but Montezuma shall have his revenge.  Within minutes of getting home the bug hit.  I named my little parasite Charlie and within a few days were on such familiar terms he let me call him Chuck.  But that's all worked out now.  So I shall leave you with a few more pictures of our lovely little home for the week.