Cozumel

5.30.08

It was yet another early morning for us. WE drove to Playa del Carmen and attempted to catch a Ferry to Cozumel. After wandering the streets of Playa del Carmen for quite some time, we found our Pier for the Ferry and caught it just in the nick of time.
Justin placed a motion sickness patch behind his ear well in advance for our Ferry Trip, so he was very eager to board the Ferry. Justin and his dad had planned to snorkel in Cozumel when we first arrived, but with the grey skies, Justin wasn’t too sure he was ready for the adventure. We sat next to some scuba divers on the Ferry and they informed us the colors of the reef may be jeopardized due to the murky waters, so Justin was pretty disappointed. After a rainy ride (we purposely sat in the open air at the back of the Ferry to hopefully rid us of motion sickness and seemed to do the trick. It was still very warm; there was quite the breeze and some precipitation which I enjoyed. Trey enjoyed watching the waters behind the Ferry, and one time he pointed to the “wake” the Ferry was making and said, “Nasty water!” He knows at such a young age, Mexican water is NASTY!) we arrived in Cozumel and the men were off making plans for their snorkel adventure. Before their departure, we went to a little restaurant and had breakfast! Mine was a banana flavored pancake with caramel topping instead of syrup. Trey and I shared a VERY watered down “pineapple” drink which Trey LOVED! As we sat and ate, two older gentlemen came and serenaded us, for a small fortune of course!
As the men went snorkeling, Marie and I were left to go shopping! We found a really nice woman who sold very inexpensive jewelry. We were told she was the cheapest in the town, and it was the truth! This was my first experience bartering, it kind of made me nervous, but then I figured, “What do I have to lose?!”
We pasted a man that made personalized “friendship” bracelets with your loved-one’s names woven into the threads of the bracelet. I had him make some for Miss Michelle’s kids (Trey helped me pick out the colors of the bracelets), for Trey, and for Justin.

Trey standing in the streets of Cozumel, wearing his friendship bracelet

We also passed a temporary tattoo stand where Marie tried her hardest to talk me into getting a tattoo to cover my growing belly. First of all, I was in a dress and I wasn’t about to hike it up for all of Cozumel to see. Secondly, I really don’t think I would have liked it. So, I told her I wasn’t too interested. THEN, we passed a woman who swore she could braid your hair in 10 minutes for $20. I just passed her and said, “No thank you,” but Marie stopped and started to talk to the lady. She got the sweet lady to cut her price in half and handed me her book to look at all the different designs and styles she could do on my hair. To be honest, I have a bit of anxiety when it comes to my hair. I love cutting it, coloring it, but when it comes to braids and different styles, I get a little nervous! (Ask my friend Abbey! She saw me freak first hand at our first football game for Cheerleading. We were told to have French braids in our hair for the game and I just about died. I know, weird.) So, I wasn’t about to let Marie see me get nervous, so I said, “What the heck.” So, instead of a tattoo to cover my belly, I had some serious braids put in my hair. After it was done, I ended up really liking it. Trey was so good watching me get it done, and she WAS done in 10 minutes!


Notice Trey behind me and off to the left, he was taking the marketplace apart! Just kidding!


You can see by the looks of my face that this was a little uncomfortable, but I had to add this picture. The backdrop was so beautiful with the palm trees!


We then found a covered mall, which was a good thing because it began to rain. Trey and I found a wildlife exhibit which contained monkeys, snakes, “Iggy’s,” spiders, scorpions, birds, and lizards. I knew Trey would LOVE to see these animals, but little did I know how brave he was! He let a monkey sit on his shoulders and he touched a snake.


I love the look on Trey's face in this picture. Isn't he brave? I am so proud of him!


You can see this was NOT his favorite animal to touch, but he still did it!

Of course the only thing he REALLY wanted to see up close, but they were never able to CATCH was the “Iggy!” He is so brave. I took a picture of him with the monkey on his shoulder and then him touching the snake, I was so proud. THEN I hear the animal trainers say to another spectator that it would be $10 for any pictures taken. At that point, whether it was dishonest or not, I snagged Trey and ran! Ten dollars for two pictures? You have GOT to be kidding me! I couldn’t believe it!
I was on a mission to buy an authentic Mexican dress shirt for Trey and one matching for the baby. I asked an older salesman how much he would take for the shirts. He told me $35 a piece and I about croaked. Just as I was about to walk away, Justin and his dad found us and I turned the Bartering King, Justin, over to this man. He was able to talk the man down to $10 a piece. I am so proud of my man, and I can’t WAIT to put our two little guys in their matching shirts!


Trey, after enlightening us with his Spanish Skills

As we were walking the market streets, we let Trey out of his stroller to run a bit. Justin and I were looking at some jewelry and Trey was up ahead of us with Larry and Marie. I guess he had gotten tired of waiting for us, so he turned around and said, “Hey, come on Amigos, let’s go!” I couldn’t believe my ears. I had to ask Marie if I heard him right, and she was too busy laughing to answer. I then knew I had heard correctly. Our little guy picking up Spanish? Who’d ever thought?


Sculpture in the heart of Cozumel

After a bit more shopping and some picture taking, we headed back on the ferry to Playa del Carmen. This trip back was much more sunny and warm! (We still sat in the back on the top in the open air JUST IN CASE it was a rocky trip!)

On our Ferry Ride back to Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen ended up being one of Marie and Larry’s favorite spots! They found a really quaint but beautiful hotel that they took a business card from. If they ever venture back to Mexico, they said they would love to stay in that hotel.
We had an authentic dinner complete with guacamole (which I had been wanting for 5 days now!) and the nicest waiter EVER! He was so sweet and great with Trey. Trey was LOVING the guacamole AND the shrimp kabob I had ordered, and I think it was thanks to this waiter. The waiter kept telling Trey how big and strong he was going to get from eating all of that healthy food. I said to Trey, “I bet the waiter ate shrimp when he was young like you, and look how big he is now!” And the waiter corrected me by saying, “I grew up on Iggy’s.” Thankfully, I don’t think Trey understood the waiter’s statement because I think he would have been a little sad for his friends, the Iggy’s. To this day, Trey asks regularly, “Is this food going to make me big and strong” when we are at a meal! Trey also ordered a “Pineapple” drink all by himself. We decided that was the nicest service and the greatest food we had had yet!
We called it a day in the late afternoon as we drove back to Cancun to pack up our belongings. We were leaving very early the next morning and were hoping to get everything organized that night!


View from our hotel balcony

Flight Home

5.31.08
It was time to leave paradise and return to the United States.
Our morning began at 5am (4am Idaho time) to reach the airport by 5:30am. As we neared the airport, we realized we didn't remember where to return our rental car and just about freaked. Justin thought about dropping Trey, me, and our belongings off at the front doors of the airport and I just about screamed. "NO WAY" I said and it was off to find the rental company. Luckily we found it in the nick of time, no problems with the car, and we were free from any charges! (We did have a water leak within the car, coming up from the floorboards, (we never did find the reason), but the rental company didn't see it! Oh well!)

Justin's parents left at least 30 minutes before we did, and it seemed to have not made any difference. The only time it was a perk to have a child at the airport was at this airport. They took us immediately and began to check us and ALL of our luggage in! By the time we were completed with our 6 check-in bags, our stroller, car seat (which by the way I doubt we EVEN needed by Mexican laws. I saw ONE infant carrier, and that was laying on the side of the road (now that I think about it, I surely hope there wasn't a baby lying inside of it. That is a terrible thought!) I never saw one car seat installed in a car.) and Baby Kelty Backpack, it was Justin's parents turn to check in.

I quickly took Trey to the restrooms, which I have to admit I loved. They had fogged glass doors on every bathroom stall and were as clean as a whistle. If I wasn't thinking clearly, I could have drunk RIGHT OUT OF THE TAP but didn't dare, that would have only irritated my stomach even more then it had already been!

We tried to use up all of our Mexican money in the airport shops and then it was time for us to board. This flight was to take about 3 hours and we would land in Dallas/Fort Worth.

On our flight I got a coke from Russia (the only way I knew it was from Russia was the label said, "Kona Kola" and at the top it said "Russia Coke.") and we shared two huge cookies.

Trey got about an hours worth of sleep on this flight. I quickly filled out our Customs paperwork, listing all of our items we purchased in Mexico.

We approached Dallas/Fort Worth and had to go through Customs again. Poor Marie. She was searched very thoroughly; the airport employee questioned her mascara, her creams, etc. She was the one who followed the rules of the air to a TEE, and she was the one who was stopped. I was questioned twice as to what was in Trey's water bottle and ended up just dumping it to make everyone happy. They didn't even question what was in my SIGG water bottle. I would have thought the x-rays couldn't penetrate THAT steel bottle.

Marie watched two women try to bring vanilla in their carry-on bags but were sent away to put the vanilla in their check-on bags. Poor women, they probably missed their flight for 3 bottles of Mexican Vanilla.

We made it to our flight with a little time to spare, and then realized we were headed to Orange County. WHAT? I had no idea and thought maybe we would be arriving into Portland in no time. NO SUCH LUCK. I found out there would be a 2.5 hour flight to Orange County, about an hour layover, and then to Portland.

On this flight we watched The Bucket List. The saddest movie I have seen in a while and it was VERY hard to mask my sobbing. Trey kept asking me what was wrong, and with my headset on, I tried to tell him in my quietest voice (which probably wasn't very quiet considering the headset. I wasn't about to miss a moment of the movie!) that I was watching a very sad movie. Thank heavens I wasn't wearing an ounce of make-up because it would have been ALL over my face. (Hey, if YOU had to wake up at 5am and get yourself and a 2.75 year old ready for a day of flying, you wouldn't be concerned about your mascara!)

Once we landed in the O.C. airport, I was able to call my mother. I think a week had been the longest time we have had without a phone call. It was 20 questions and then some all at once!
I ventured into the restroom and was disgusted by the sight I saw. So sad, the Mexican airport was spotless and THIS airport was a disaster. So nasty, I just wanted to barf. And, I have to say, the O.C. fashion style is MUCH more different then Idaho. I am sure they have some fantastic shopping, just by the looks of what people FLY in!

Trey ran, and ran, and ran the entire layover. He was so happy, I on the other hand was happy to talk to my mom instead of watching him dodge the wheelchairs and the luggage carts. STRESS ME OUT! Thanks Justin for watching him the entire layover!

During this layover, we found out that Justin's uncle Lloyd, who just lost his wife in a tragic car accident around St. Patrick's Day this past March, was getting married in one day. What a shocker! We couldn't wait for Larry to get off the phone with his brother to get the scoop on the new woman in Lloyd's life. Seems so sudden and quick, but Lloyd seems very happy and at peace.

Our airlines switched from American Airlines to Alaskan Airlines, which was a great change for most of us in our group. The seats were leather and a little more spacious. I on the other hand could care less what the chairs looked or felt like at this point. I wanted to be DONE with flying and would much rather be laying in a horizontal position in a nice, comfy bed. My back and stomach couldn't take it any longer. Onward Portland, Oregon!


Trey enjoying some American water, wrapped in his Blanket because it was so chilly compared to the nice weather we were used to!
We arrived in Portland, Oregon at 5pm, and were met by Megan, Justin's sister. Poor Justin spent quite a long time searching for our car that was parked in the "Economy Parking" garage. Justin had failed to notice what color the garage was marked with and stood in the wrong line for a shuttle bus. That was okay though, it gave us time to find 2 pieces of missing luggage! For some reason, 1 piece of our luggage, 1 piece of Larry and Maries got separated from the rest of our luggage and arrived in Portland before us. STRANGE!

We stopped by Megan's home, dropped our cars off and walked to VITA, a neat little eatery which I swear was Vegan. (Justin says they just specialized in Vegan meals, but I swear, I think they were KNOWN as a Vegan Eatery. Is Skippy peanut butter Vegan? I noticed that is what they made Trey's Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich out of! Just wondering!) The appeal of this eatery is that they claimed to have a Bocci field on their patio. They had a nice little sandy area that was used for Bocci, along with a chalk board painted on the side of their building for kids to draw, but 15 minutes into enjoying each other’s company outside on the patio, it started to storm and we were moved inside.

Besides the SLOW service, the food was great. I had a Caesar salad and a Thai Coconut soup which I thought was delicious! There was a wide variety of people in the eatery. Young, old, couples of all sexes, not too many young families like us but it was very enjoyable.

Megan's apartment in the Alberta area of Portland was so nice. She had just pulled up her carpet and sanded the wood which was found underneath. She had some great paint colors on the walls and decorated so nicely. After saying "good-bye" to her, we made our trek back to my father's condo. WHAT A TREAT it was, wandering around the streets of Portland, trying to find the freeway to my fathers. Poor Justin, he thought traveling in Mexico was difficult; the freeways in Portland are not that much better!

All I can say is I was glad to be home, my feet planted on American soil, with my family all in tact!

Arriving Home, Safe and Sound!

6.1.08
We had an eventful evening, being back in the states and into the cold of Portland. We slept at my father's apartment in Beaverton, Oregon. He was kind enough to let us do laundry, sleep in his bed and wake up to a yummy breakfast. Over night, Trey had his first bloody nose, and I caught up on all of my E! Entertainment shows while I did about 4 or 5 loads of laundry (the pillow cases and sheets were done in the morning upon realizing what had happened to Trey during the night, poor Trey!)! It was so nice to travel home, knowing I had almost all of our laundry completed.

While on our way home from Portland, we stopped in LaGrande, Oregon to say "hello" to my brother Taylor who is attending college there. Trey was so excited to see his "uncle Taylor" (not to be confused to Miss Michelle's daughter Taylor!) and couldn't wait to tell him about his adventures. We met Taylor at to neatest park in LaGrande. It is right next to a river and the play-structure is quite the sight.

Taylor and his dog looked very healthy and we were able to meet a friend of Taylor's named Alex who was really sweet and personable.

Trey had somehow contracted our stomach virus and unfortunately we had to make several stops along our trek home. One stop ended landed us on the side of the highway, in the middle of a huge rainstorm. It would have been Trey's first experience "doing his business" outside, on the side of the road, but he got stage-freight, and decided he didn’t need to go. I knew he did, so I told him he would have to wait about 10 minutes. I prayed the whole way, I didn't want to clean up a disaster in his car seat!

We listened to a John Grisham book on CD, I think it was called, "The Painted House." Pretty sweet but so sad. The CD made me realize how blessed we are to live in a time where we didn't depend on a years crop for our future.

We arrived home, safe and sound. Cooper looked very healthy and happy to see us, our home was cool and our mail was piled on our kitchen table in a neat little heap. Thank you Zach Jones for taking such good care of our home, our dog, garbage and mail. We can always count on you.

Thank you Dad for letting us stay in your condo. We really appreciate your hospitality, your kind notes and the groceries you bought just for us! We love you!

Things I will miss about Mexico:
1. The nice, warm climate, no matter if it is raining or storming
2. The friendly Mexican people, always wanting to please you and make you smile
3. Spending time with family
4. Not caring about the time or day
5. The warm ocean water and the bright white sand
6. Housekeeping!

Things I will NOT miss about Mexico:
1. Having to drink bottled water, brush teeth with bottled water and wash dishes with bottled water. (Yes, I was paranoid about the "bad water", and I STILL got a stomach virus!)
2. Tipping EVERYONE for EVERYTHING! The woman in the restroom who handed out papertowels, or on the Island of Cozumel, the woman who STOOD next to the pile of paper towels that she probably didn't even fold. The men who flagged you out of your parking spot, EVEN at the local Wal-Mart. (We have door greeters at our Wal-Marts in America, they have flaggers in their parking lots!)
3. The speed bumps that came in ALL shapes and sizes. From the road reflectors to the HUGE Speed Bumps they call "Topes" that even a 3 year old would have to CLIMB over.
4. The military men that seemed to circle our hotel grounds. Kind of scared me a bit. 5. Having to convert American currency to Mexican currency. Thank heavens for Tithing and the 10% rule, it helped out!
6. Putting ALL USED TOILET PAPER IN THE WASTE BASKET INSTEAD OF THE TOILET. DISGUISTING! (I AM SURE THE CREW ON THE SAILBOAT “LUPITA” WILL BE HAPPY TO KNOW I AM SAFE IN SOUND IN AMERICA AND OUT OF THEIR COUNTRY!)