* There are little black birds everywhere here. I suspect they are some sort of magpie. the are slender, sprightly, and incredibly clever. Very beautiful - such a glossy black that the relentless sunshine is reflected from their feathers as a lovely emerald blue. Their beaks and tails are so long and elegant, they seem to have the style of film-noir mobster molls, with their cigarette holders and their stylish, sharp hats.
* The only multigrain bread in the stores is "Wonder Wheat". It sticks to the roof of your mouth. I will venture into town tomorrow to find real bread. A little cafe we ate at the other day advertized the sale of its own delicious bread. (Of course, I think that most folks around here eat masa-based breads - tortillas, tostadas, etc. - which I am thoroughly enjoying.)
* This is the land of the salespeople. Every little shop has folks eager to sell you their wares. Some of them are downright cheeky in their efforts to get your business as you walk by! Last night, while walking back from dinner, one male shopowner cries out to us ladies "Hey, Barbies! Let's dance!" (I suppose a trio of blonde Gringos might look like an army of Barbies - though I was thoroughly unflattered with the comparison.)
* The local kids are so CUTE! The sounds of their play in neighboring homes (and the daycare right next door) is a pleasant aural backdrop. Clothing is quite gender-specific. The little boys tend to wear shorts that go below the knee, making them look like "mini-me's". The little girls always seem to be taller for some reason, wearing similar length skirts, always long and bouncy braids with all sorts of whispy tendrils escaping around their crown. They play into the night - the sounds of which my mother finds annoying ("Shoudn't they be in bed by now?")...but which I find to be quite lovely.
*There is always a lusciously cooling breeze off the ocean that tempers the thick, moist heat that blankets everything. I thank my lucky stars for it every moment.
*At the moment, I am alone in the condo. I went down for a "siesta", and it appears everyone has toddled off somewhere. I love it. Ah - peace.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
The Seventh Wheel: Day 3.
Hola, Amigos e Amigas!
It's day three of the Fam Damily Vacation to Mexico, and I'm feeling fine.
The flight down was LOOOOONG. I woke up on Saturday morning at 4:30am, and didn't arrive in Playa del Carmen until 9:30 Victoria time. Yes - exhausting. Since then, it's been a struggle to get consistent internet connection, so I couldn't update my blog until now.
Conditions: high of 34 degrees, low of 26. Extremely humid. Sunny, some overcast, a smidge of rain now and again...but not expected for a few more days. Our rented condo is on the outskirts of the major tourist trap/hotel zone. My mother despises this fact, and has made it known roughly every hour on the hour since our arrival late Saturday night. Myself, I think it's A-OK. There's life everywhere, the phenomenal white sand and turquoise water beaches are but a couple of blocks away, and the best little beef taco joint around the corner (where the folks who run it are crazy friendly, help you with your horrible Spanish, and make amazing shredded meat delicacies for roughly a buck Canadian. Yay - and Yum!).
This morning, I went for a run along the water. It would have been totally gorgeous, save for the hoards of tourists littering the whole area. But the scenery, and the warm ocean breeze...nothing like it. (I will say - thank god for sweatproof SPF 30! I was out for an hour, and only got a slight bit of bronze. :) On my way off the beach heading for the condo, I see the most adorable, TEENY little latino boy crying, saying "Papa!" He barely came up to my thigh, and couldn't have been more than 3 years old. I bent down to talk to him, and saw nearby a lady laugh and nod at me, pointing to herself as she continued to bury another boy in the sand. His Mom? It was as if he was thinking it too far to walk to her alone. So I took his hand and lead him back to her, at which he seemed relieved and I left. So far, I'd have to say that was the hilight of the trip.
But there's more to come. I am eager to check out the local archaeological ruins - Chichen Itza, Tulum. The Cenotes, huge underground sinkhole caves. And the neighboring islands of Cozumel and Isla de Mujeres. Besides this, just do some snorkelling, some exploring of the townships, and enjoying the beach.
Now, if I can only stave off the urge to do "work" I foolishly brought with me (thinking I might get bored at night - which is entirely possible, seeing as I am the Seventh Wheel). ;)
That's it for now. Until tomorrow.
Hugs to all my friends at home. I miss you!
It's day three of the Fam Damily Vacation to Mexico, and I'm feeling fine.
The flight down was LOOOOONG. I woke up on Saturday morning at 4:30am, and didn't arrive in Playa del Carmen until 9:30 Victoria time. Yes - exhausting. Since then, it's been a struggle to get consistent internet connection, so I couldn't update my blog until now.
Conditions: high of 34 degrees, low of 26. Extremely humid. Sunny, some overcast, a smidge of rain now and again...but not expected for a few more days. Our rented condo is on the outskirts of the major tourist trap/hotel zone. My mother despises this fact, and has made it known roughly every hour on the hour since our arrival late Saturday night. Myself, I think it's A-OK. There's life everywhere, the phenomenal white sand and turquoise water beaches are but a couple of blocks away, and the best little beef taco joint around the corner (where the folks who run it are crazy friendly, help you with your horrible Spanish, and make amazing shredded meat delicacies for roughly a buck Canadian. Yay - and Yum!).
This morning, I went for a run along the water. It would have been totally gorgeous, save for the hoards of tourists littering the whole area. But the scenery, and the warm ocean breeze...nothing like it. (I will say - thank god for sweatproof SPF 30! I was out for an hour, and only got a slight bit of bronze. :) On my way off the beach heading for the condo, I see the most adorable, TEENY little latino boy crying, saying "Papa!" He barely came up to my thigh, and couldn't have been more than 3 years old. I bent down to talk to him, and saw nearby a lady laugh and nod at me, pointing to herself as she continued to bury another boy in the sand. His Mom? It was as if he was thinking it too far to walk to her alone. So I took his hand and lead him back to her, at which he seemed relieved and I left. So far, I'd have to say that was the hilight of the trip.
But there's more to come. I am eager to check out the local archaeological ruins - Chichen Itza, Tulum. The Cenotes, huge underground sinkhole caves. And the neighboring islands of Cozumel and Isla de Mujeres. Besides this, just do some snorkelling, some exploring of the townships, and enjoying the beach.
Now, if I can only stave off the urge to do "work" I foolishly brought with me (thinking I might get bored at night - which is entirely possible, seeing as I am the Seventh Wheel). ;)
That's it for now. Until tomorrow.
Hugs to all my friends at home. I miss you!
Saturday, February 24, 2007
The Seventh Wheel!
Hello, All!
I begin my journey in Blogland with a milestone that many others have surely braved before me, but to date has been a mystery to me: The Family Vacation.
You see, growing up we never had much cash to take off as a familial unit and do random recreational things. We pretty much spent our seasons and holidays at home. Not that I am complaining. I always loved cycling to the beach with my friend Kathy, hiking around the forest with the dog, and drawing on my bed when it was miserable out. And holidays were always a mix of food-centred celebration and expectation-based dread. But we didn't really know any different. Go away camping? Who did that? My first camping excursion was with a boyfriend after I had graduated from highschool.
Anyway - my Mom decided last year to take all of us to Mexico. Playa del Carmen, to be exact. I've been already. It's a lovely part of the world. Breathtaking land, resilient people, troubling social injustice to brace the americanized glamour. My family will have their partners. Christina has Chris there. Jon has Jamie. Mom has Norm. And I - well, I have my stuffed animal Mr. Bojangles, the pull-out couch, and the blessings of luck and curiousity.
So, tomorrow at 5:50am, I shall start the journey south, where I shall spend ten days with my family in a rented house on the beach.
Wish me sanity!
I begin my journey in Blogland with a milestone that many others have surely braved before me, but to date has been a mystery to me: The Family Vacation.
You see, growing up we never had much cash to take off as a familial unit and do random recreational things. We pretty much spent our seasons and holidays at home. Not that I am complaining. I always loved cycling to the beach with my friend Kathy, hiking around the forest with the dog, and drawing on my bed when it was miserable out. And holidays were always a mix of food-centred celebration and expectation-based dread. But we didn't really know any different. Go away camping? Who did that? My first camping excursion was with a boyfriend after I had graduated from highschool.
Anyway - my Mom decided last year to take all of us to Mexico. Playa del Carmen, to be exact. I've been already. It's a lovely part of the world. Breathtaking land, resilient people, troubling social injustice to brace the americanized glamour. My family will have their partners. Christina has Chris there. Jon has Jamie. Mom has Norm. And I - well, I have my stuffed animal Mr. Bojangles, the pull-out couch, and the blessings of luck and curiousity.
So, tomorrow at 5:50am, I shall start the journey south, where I shall spend ten days with my family in a rented house on the beach.
Wish me sanity!
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