Viva Mexico!

So Brent and I decided (okay probably more me) that instead of going to Italy as we had booked, we would take Trey with us to Cancun. I didn't want to leave Trey again for a week so we decided to spend 10 days in Mexico! Sorry for SO many pictures but it could be worse, I could have put the full 954 that I took!

Merida, Mexico - the capital of the Yucatan

We decided to spend the first two nights in Merida to get a taste of the "real" Mexico! This city was built in the late 1500's/ early 1600's so you can imagine it's rich history! We stayed in this quirky bed & breakfast and enjoyed strolling the old streets!

Trey's first time at the beach since he was 6 months old! He was so anxious to see the beach so we drove up to Progresso which was not the "prettiest" beach we've ever been to but he didn't care! It was the biggest sand box he could play in and that's all that mattered!

Dzibilchaltun

This was a ruin that we hit on the way home from Progresso to Merida. We had the hardest time trying to pronounce it, try it I dare ya! :) What was so great about this ruin is they let us climb all over it! The other "well known" ruins they have restricted tourists from climbing them as of 4 years ago. Trey had the best time playing hide 'n' seek and chasing iguanas! My favorite part was this beautiful "cenote" with fresh, CLEAR water that you could swim in. This was the Mayan's source of water. There were little fish that chased you as you swam and the lily pads were something out of a fairytale!



Chichen Itza - named one of the 7 Wonders of the World
These ruins are simply breathtaking! There are no words to describe how brilliant the Mayan culture was. I am so lucky to have seen these ruins and get a glimpse of past history!

Underground Caves

You are going to think we were CRAZY taking Trey with us but he loved it! We took sky cycles (which are bikes on cables strung high up in the jungle, like a zip line but on a bike) down to caves that are full with water. There are stalactites and stalagmites that are enormous! You swim & snorkel through the underground caves with a guide who has a flashlight! Trey did awesome! There was one part where the cave came together probably about 3 feet in width and only had about 6 inches from the top of the water to the ceiling of breathing room. We had to lay Trey flat in order to get him through so he wouldn't have to go completely under the water. Once we were through it opened into an enormous cavern. Trey did awesome! We even spotted quite a few bats and the guide was so cute asking the other tourists on their way out if they were "Batman". (we told Trey that it was Batman's cave) I guess this cave was featured in a recent IMAX movie that National Geographic did. We didn't have an underwater camera so they gave me a disc of pics.

The second cave, Brent zip lined into and Trey and I were able to walk into. You could zip line right into the water, which Brent took advantage of, and repel into.

At the location, there were 3 spider monkeys. I took Trey to go see them and I held out my hand saying, "Hola mono!" I was caught off guard when he stuck his hand out and placed it in mine!!! I jumped back a little not expecting him to give me his hand then I was quickly smitten! Brent teased he was my boyfriend because it was only this one monkey that would hold my hand!

Xcaret

(reminded me of a combination of Seaworld and the Polynesian Culture Center) This is a site of Mayan ruins and underground rivers/ caves "cenotes" that they have made into a theme park with animals to see, including jaguars, bats (not behind glass... one flew right by me on the way out of the cave), sea turtles, etc... You can swim through underground rivers and snorkel in gorgeous coves. Then they have a gigantic arena where they put on a show portraying the Mexico's history from the Mayans to present.

"It's Crush!" Trey wouldn't stop STARING at the sea turtles and especially did not want to leave the side of all the babies!

Jaguars & Cougars- Trey's favorite attraction! We were so close, the only thing separating us (thank heavens) was a huge drop off (they were on an island).

Cancun Baby!

Our Resort in Cancun - JW Marriott
Playa Del Carmen - A little fun & laughter!

This squirrel monkey stole my heart!

...of course we had to get Trey this Mexican Wrestling Mask! It's SPIDERMAN!

At Senior Frogs...

Tulum

This was fascinating because we went around the ruins with an LDS guide! They showed us the baptismal font and the images of the Godhead on the temple. It was pouring rain (the only day it did rain) on our car ride down and as we started to head our way into the site, but let up right as we began our tour... however I liked sporting the pink poncho!

(looking down from the ruin)

Swimming with Dolphins! - Isla Mujeres

My FAVORITE part of the trip! I have always wanted to swim with dolphins since I was a kid and I got my chance! I was able to hold both fins of two dolphins and let them drag me around and then let them push my feet up with their noses so I flew out of the water! It was amazing!

Trey wasn't to keen on giving "flipper" a big 'ol smooch so he just went for the less personal petting.

THE END

Yep... still here!

You guys have been wondering if we are still here or in Florida... wow that must mean we don't get out much! :) Yes, we are still here and as the weather is getting a bit more chilly and crisp, I am more and more ANXIOUS to get to Florida! With the housing market as it is, we haven't had any offers that we want to take and so our next goal is to find renters. Brent's company is being way cool about not pressuring us to get down to Florida, however, I think I am the one that is putting on the pressure now that the weather has changed! We just got back from Mexico (800 pictures later) so I will post some pics once I go through all of them! That is another reason why I'm anxious to get to Florida because the weather was AMAZING in Mexico!

A Cucumber in the Stream??

Sunday dinners at Ken and Linda's (Brent's parents) are always fun with all of the cousins playing in the backyard! The TO DOs at Nana and Papa's are: 1) play in the stream and pretend to fish 2) get endlessly dirty in the sandbox 3) Knock Uncle "B" out of the hammock and 4) find a cucumber in the stream??? Weird but true! The kids had fun throwing it upstream and watching it float down, destroying it along the way. Never a dull moment at the Bushman's!