No Bad Days

[todo bien]

This saying became our motto for our trip. We had a great time.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010187.jpg

This was the view from Snowbird (where we work) several days before we left. We try and go every year before the snow flies in late October and early November. It is one last trip before work gets crazy. And more importantly for our anniversary, number 33 this year.
http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010008.jpg
Trip planning for an extended trip is not that easy when you have to worry about your dog sitter/house sitter, kids, grandkids and an aged parent and uncle with no family. But we did it. We had a non stop out of SLC to Cancun. The flight went great. The only minor hiccup of the the first day was when went to pick up our rental--a Jeep Liberty. We reserved the Jeep but they didn't have it. It was broken. I remember a Seinfeld episode about this happening. They wanted to give us a minivan. No, no, no that won't work. After three weeks of steady rain we heard that the Boca Paila road was not minivan friendly and we didn't think we were either. IloveWyoming was freaking out. She said I am NOT riding in a minivan down the Boca Paila road. Anyway I looked out the window and there was what I thought looked like a Jeep Liberty. I said in Spanish to the agent, isn't that a Jeep Liberty. No, he told me that is a Jeep Patriot. I said great we want the Jeep Patriot. He said the Patriot is not an automatic. I said no problema, it is not a minivan either. We went out to load the Jeep and do a walk around. All of sudden it started to rain. I should say dump. It was pounding down. We took a quick look from under the canopy and told the guy to put down that there were dents all over the Jeep. (There weren't any really.) He said sure, helped us load our bags and we were off. The rental guys at Avis.were very helpful.

Out of the airport and onto the 307. The rain started lettin' up (that will be my only Sarah Palin imitation I promise) just after Puerto Morelos. We made a quick stop at the Soriana for goodies-beer, tequila, roasted chicken, tortillas and everything else we needed for the next few days. There is a money exchange now just inside the mall where Soriana is located. I think the rate was around 12.5 and we got 13.7 in Tulum at the HSBC. The airport was ten. So it is a good option if you are getting in late.

On to Soliman Bay and Casa de Canciones. Just past Puerto Aventuras it started raining again. Torrential rain. I couldn't see a thing. I was creeping along in the right lane and no one was passing me, not even the crazy taxi drivers. That's how bad it was. Finally we see the road into Soliman Bay straight across from Oscar and Lalos. Five more minutes and we pull into Canciones. We unloaded our bags in the rain. We were soaked! No worries. We were home. We opened the tequila, cracked some beers and ate our chicken. Todo bien. The first of fifteen great days in places we love.

After a few more shots of tequila we sat out on our deck and looked at the bay. It was beautiful. The silence was broken by laughter coming from the water. We walked down to investigate. Crazy, drunk and naked wedding people swimming. Sounds like fun I said. I asked ILW if she wanted to go for swim. She said I don't think soooooooooo! Do you know what hangs out in the water at night besides naked drunken people. I told her no worries, but I couldn't convince her. We chatted with some of the other wedding guests that were not aquatically inclined either. They said that they had manged to dodge the rain under the wedding canopy and the wedding was beautiful. Here is a picture of what we woke up to the next morning. More to come later.
http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010064.jpg

[PhyllisB]

Hey Dave! Great job so far! Don't worry about moving it. Minnie can move it over for you when she sees it.

Love that shot of the mountains... gorgeous! What a contrast with the picture of the bay!

[TnTWalter]

Fantastic start!:beerchug:

Looking forward to more.

[BP.]

Love that glorious mountain shot, and enjoying your report so far! Glad your trip had "No bad days!" :)

[minniemex]

How do I move this to the trip report section?

I can do that for you!!!









http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k83/Minniemex/GLITTERS/congratulations-1.gif

ON 33 YEARS!! WHOO HOO!!!


GOOD START ON THE REPORT TOO!!

[marjan]

Fantastic trailer for your TR.... love the shot of the mountains/valley, immediately following up by the contrast to where you vacationed. When we were in Cuernavaca, we created our motto - "Su actitud es su karma" - because we had an all-embracing, welcoming attitude towards what a great place we were in and found that embracing, welcoming things were constantly happening to us. Mas y mas, por favor.

[letele]

Wow! 2 great shots to start things off...can't wait for more! :)

[BinkyLover]

Man...I would love to be in either Snowbird or Tulum right now!

[todo bien]

Back to the trip report. It is snowing today. So the pictures are a nice reminder of the warm, sunny beaches we spent our trip on. We slept really well that night. It was cool enough that we needed a blanket. We had a great breakfast, huevos mexicanos, refried beans, warm tortillas, kiwi, and mango juice. We went down to the beach for a little reading and relaxing and were met by Mimi, Bali, Chapo and Luna and a couple of others. They wanted to go for a walk so off we went.

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Soliman Bay is great for walking. Casa de Canciones is right in the middle of the bay next to Casa del Corazon, another favorite place of ours to stay. They are both managed by Rosa of Andy and Rosa fame. Andy and Rosa own Casa del Corazon and spend weekends there. Anyway back to the walk. You can walk north towards Paradise Bay where Oscar and Lalos used to be or head south towards Tankah Bay. We headed south. Here is a photo of our guide Luna at the south end of Soliman Bay where it turns to ironshore.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010040.jpg

And then back for a little reading, kayaking, snorkeling, drinking and enjoying the beautiful surroundings. Photos of everyone relaxing.

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Our days were spent at Soliman Bay relaxing. We can go days without starting the car. We were literally the only ones in all of Soliman Bay other than a couple of owners and the wedding party which left the day after we arrived. Soliman Bay is protected by the reef. It is usually very calm and is ideal for kayaking and snorkeling. We take the kayaks out every morning and afternoon. There are buoys out by the reef where you can tie off, get out of the kayak and snorkel. The reef is beautiful. We run into Tulum to stock up on groceries at the San Francisco and fish at Pat and Pats. There is a nice outdoor propane grill at both Canciones and Corazon to grill fish or meat and they both have great kitchens. Tulum is only about a fifteen minute drive if you are inclined to drive in for lunch or dinner. Next installment Xamach Dos

[minniemex]

Wonderful job!! I am really missing the beach today. Snow forecasted for rush hour!! Whoo hoo!!

[susan]

Snow forecasted for rush hour!! Whoo hoo!!

I'm with you there Minnie- this afternoon and tomorrow morning. The beach is always better.

Todo Bien- is the snorkeling good in Soliman Bay?

[ilovewyoming]

The best snorkeling is at the Reef. which isn't too far....It is pretty shallow from beach and beyond.
Soliman bay is peaceful, with clear beautiful water, somewhat shallow in areas, and this time: not that much turtle grass.
As Todo Bien would say:
NO BAD DAYS

[Lynnette]

We love Soliman....even with turtle grass. Is there any more "talk" about Lalo developing the northern end of the bay with expensive houses?

[ilovewyoming]

Seems it is still being talked about. As you drive in, there is now a fence and a guard where you would drive to Oscars..No ENTRADA! (is that the right word? I need Todo Bien and his expertise in Spanish) :)

[heenan]

Excellent report and pics!

[Tranquilo Tomas]

Congrats on your 33rd! My wife and I just celebrated our 33rd this past July. Bahia de Soliman used to be our old hang out. I think we celebrated our 30th at Casa de Corazon. We've known Andy and Rosa and their pups for a long time. Tell them Tom and Susan from Colorado say hola!
Glad you got to enjoy the tranquility of Soliman Bay. We've seen some cool sea creatures out on the reef break. Have a great time at Xamach Dos. On the way back in to Tulum pueblo eat at La Nave and tell Ferdinando hello.
Saludos y Feliz Navidad,
Tom in Colorado

[ilovewyoming]

There ARE bad days if:
You have surgery and you are miserable!!!:eek:
Todo Bien had surgery last monday, and is the author of the trip report/with my help.. Really want you to hear about our trip on the boca paila road, xamach dos, hamaca loca, and akumal..but it has to wait a day or two... It wouldn't be the same if I just took up being the author! We are a team, and have been for more than 30 years!!!!!:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:
Every trip report we read makes us want to be there even more!
Keep them up...and we will get back to you all soon!!

[minniemex]

Sorry Todo Bien is feeling poorly.:o Here is wishing he gets better real soon!!

I want to hear about the rest of you trip!!

[ilovewyoming]

Hey Minnie...we have been enjoying YOUR trip report.. and the pictures are GREAT..... We have been on many trips, but i have to say..This year, besides the FIRST TIME there, was just great...some bumps in the road, and not just the boca paila:p but we really have nothing but GOOD memories. Dave/todo bien will be informing and entertaining you regarding our trip very soon. Thanks!

[beachreader]

Sorry to hear Todo is laid up, hope he's better soon. I guess I'll just have to step it up and actually start writing my report tomorrow! :)

[BP.]

Feel better, Todo! Looks like I'll have a barca-load of trip reports to catch up on when I get back . . . and you know who you are . . . :wave: ;)

[PhyllisB]

Oh, just give him some tequila, he'll be feeling better in no time! hahaha! :D

Seriously though, give Dave our best. We'll be patiently waiting to hear the rest of the story!

[todo bien]

We are back. Thanks everyone for your get well wishes. I had some surgery on my sinuses and a deviated septum. Nothing life threatening. But I have been miserable and Laura (ILW) tells me I have also been very grouchy. I think she even used the B word to describe me.

This trip report will take me back to happier times. Off to Xamach Dos.
But first one last sunrise shot in Soliman Bay.
http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010073.jpg

We drove into Tulum to pick up some snacks, beer, and tequila. First stop the arch. We paid our fees and they told us the road was in the process of being graded. Todo bien.

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Off we head down the Boca Paila. We just follow the grader until

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010079.jpg

he breaks down. OK this is going to be fun. They tore the road up so they could grade it but then the grader dies.

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Fortunately the road was only torn up for 200 meters and then it was just potholes and washboard, known around our parts as Navajo freeway. You just had to go slow and you were fine. We didn't even run into any Jeep tours on the way down. Another story on the way out.

We were met after our bumpy ride by Margo, Sally and Meow Meow.

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Benanzio helped us to our room, the Treetop annd we quickly settled into our routine-eating, drinking, walking and chatting with Margo, Bennanzio and his wife Francisca who also does the cooking. It was really cool and windy the whole time we were there. The water was really rough.It was an el norte. It seemed like we had on long pants and long sleeves most of the time we were there. At night we were glad for sweat shirts and jackets. Here are some pictures of our stay.

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Notice how windy it is.
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ILW was impressed with Margo's early morning rememdy for the common cold. Tequila, lime and habanero.

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This is a shot of the ruins just across the street from Xamach. I was reading Michael Peissel's "Lost world of Quintana Roo" and he has of picture of these ruins in the book. It was very cool to be reading the book and being in the heart of where he wrote about. I had read the book before, but it was much better this time actually being there.

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The beach past Xamch Dos both north and south is not maintained so you run into a lot of trash. It is not like walking the beach in Tulum.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010141.jpg

The food was great. Francisca does a great job. We had chicken mole one night, shark another, and I forget the other night. Breakfast and lunch were also very tasty. Margo eats meals with you. She has some great stories and will keep you entertained.

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Some Halloween fun

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We made Margo an honorary member of the Snowbird Ski Patrol prior to leaving. Check out the hat.

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Next stop Hamaca Loca

[NWCreoleLady]

Enjoying the trip report todobien! Thanks for sharing such great photos too! It's a good thing you didn't take that mini-van. I've not been down that road yet, but seen lots of pics of it and knowing how much rain was had this season, it sure did take a beatining didn't it!
Looks like it was all a great time! Can't wait for these last 8 days here in the cold Pacific Northwest to go by and quickly, please.

[minniemex]

Great report on Xamach!! I think it has been cold down there period. We traveled for 10 years without hitting bad weather, and now we have had a string of less than stellar weather, but I still love how I feel when I am down there!! It can't be beat!!

[beachreader]

Great pictures, nice to see XD again.

And that completely torn-up road is what I was met with (completely unexpectedly) as I was leaving XD last December. Just north of their property, like I turned right, went a few hundred yards and bango. The grader was coming in the other direction. I had a crappy little car, too, like the ones in your picture. That was big fun! :D

[minniemex]

Oh, I forgot to say how stunning I thought this picture was. Just can't get enough of those sunrises!!

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010073.jpg

[PhyllisB]

Wow, that is such a great photo! We're going to have to start a new sunrise photo thread now that folks have new sunrises to post. That's just amazing...

How was the treetop cabana?

[todo bien]

Time to say goodbye to Xamch Dos and hello to Hamaca Loca. The drive from XD back to Tulum was smooth most of the way. Past the Boca Paila fishing lodge the road had been graded. Here is a shot of one of the beautiful beaches on the way back to Tulum.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010167.jpg

And another

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010171.jpg

We stopped at Cesiak to check it out. This is a beautiful place. There are cabanas with canvas walls, sort of like a tent but with a wooden floor, and also cottages. A couple pictures from the lookout deck above the dining room.

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From Cesiak it was a quick drive to Hamaca Loca and Tulum, Laura's favorite place and one of mine too. We were met by Luciana and Claudio, a young couple from Italy. This is their second year there as managers. They do a great job as managers. Everything was very clean and well kept up. A shot from our deck.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010180.jpg

This trip we really got to know Claudio. He does not speak English nearly as well as Luciana, so usually leaves all guest interaction to her. This trip Luciana had to go to Cancun for the day so we hung out with Claudio. He speaks Spanish very well so he and I could chat and I could translate for ILW. Actually I think I did more translating between ILW and Claudio then I did talking to him.

ILW and Claudio

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010273.jpg

We had some friends staying at Suenos so we walked down the beach. Their flight did not arrive until later in the afternoon, but we wanted to go see Jorge and Elizabeth, the owners of Suenos. We stayed at Suenos before the ejido problem. We hadn't seen them in three years. They were just getting back from a run. It was fun to catch up. The ejido case had gone all the way to the supreme court, but everything is now resolved. Suenos is a great place to stay. Everyone is so great. Everything is just how it was before it sat vacant.

A couple shots of the dogs that some of you may recognize that have stayed there in the past.

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After Suenos we went back to HL and walked down the beach to the south.

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More to come tomorrow.......

[susan]

fabulous pics, the color of the water really came through. Looks like you had the beach to yourselves- perfect.

[ilovewyoming]

Wow, that is such a great photo! We're going to have to start a new sunrise photo thread now that folks have new sunrises to post. That's just amazing...

How was the treetop cabana?
Phyllis: The tree top was GREAT..it is the only room/cabana/etc
that has a bathroom..others: you go outside..
It was windy, which was a blessing if the bititng bugs love you, which happens to be me!! All bugs that bite: Head my way... I am STILL scratchig scabby things and it has been 2 months...but: I really wasn't suffering there, it was much later...LOVE Tree top, good view etc. THey do not clean the room or make the beds every day...at least when we were there...the deck is SMALL...the view: Glorious.
Far removed from the beaten path...peaceful and a place to go and just chill. If you are there when the surf is calm, you can take the Kayaks out etc. which we could not.

[beachreader]

I am SO loving this trip report, mine is going to be totally boring in comparison. I literally did nothing but sit on my fatasss and read. Next time I'll be better, for sure!

I loved Hamaca Loca, but was completely in envy of the Tortuga unit; I'm guessing that's the one you had? I was in Caracol, which was a lovely unit but not quite what I saw in Tortuga. I must have that porch! :)

I never really spoke to Claudio, other than an "Hola", or "Buongiorno", depending on how awake I was at the time. He also wore much less than the board shorts you show him in while he was mostly planting palm trees around the property. :p

[ilovewyoming]

Beachreader:
I must agree, i have seen him in less... as in: speedo type attire..;)
We did stay in Tortuga.
Stay Tuned!!! We have turtle stories, etc..
Didn't see them, as they are VERY FAST little critters, but we do have some good pictures and stories...
The PORCH is GREAT, i agree.
They are talking of a restaurant or something....
we will see. Hate to see the tranquil and peaceful and private experience there get ruined.

[heenan]

You guys are doing a great job on your report and the pics are fantastic.
I think I recognize one of those spots on the beach!

[TnTWalter]

:beerchug:

Great report! Sunrise incredible!

Cesiak looks so cool too!

Thank.

[minniemex]

Didn't that treetop cabana rock!! I loved that room!! I like the view from the Hamaca Loca cabana too!!

[letele]

Gorgeous pictures! The color of the water is completely amazing. ILW....do you have any pics of Claudio in his speedo? :p

[ilovewyoming]

Didn't that treetop cabana rock!! I loved that room!! I like the view from the Hamaca Loca cabana too!!
I have to say: Hamaca Loca was my favorite, but both views were spectacular.

[ilovewyoming]

Gorgeous pictures! The color of the water is completely amazing. ILW....do you have any pics of Claudio in his speedo? :p
Just the one imprinted in the back of my brain from last year;)
Claudio was so nice, and once he realized that Dave spoke spanish, he relaxed a bit and filled us in on lots of happenings around the area.

[todo bien]

That night we drove down to Suenos, picked up our friends and went into Tulum pueblo for dinner at Don Cafetos. We got a table by the sidewalk. Everyone ordered something different and we did a taste and share. The chicken mole was voted the winner, but everything was delicious. Sorry no food pictures. Our friends had never been to Tulum so we walked around town for a bit before heading back to HL and Suenos. We were lulled to sleep one more night by the waves. The next morning we woke up to another beautiful sunrise.

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We had a hearty breakfast before heading south down the beach.

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On our walk, south of Hamaca Loca we saw markers for turtle nests.
It was obvious that some had hatched and made their way to the sea, as their imprints were on the sand. We wished we had been able to see them make their journey to the ocean..but it wasn't meant to be. It was cool to at least see where they STARTED...and then look out to the sea and know, that hopefully, most of them made it, to someday come back and continue the cycle of their life.. on a beach that we love.
Here are a couple of pictures of the turtle nests we saw on our walk south of Hamaca Loca...

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010196.jpg

Here are the baby turtle "footprints" of their journey to the sea...LOTS OF THEM!!!

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[beachreader]

Oh my God! I didn't realize it was still turtle season! I thought they were long gone by now. Now I'm bummed I didn't realize this and go hunting for them. I think my friends would have liked that as well. Darn it, we should have asked the guys at La Luna. :(

[ilovewyoming]

whatever it was i wrote, i didn't like so consider this to be a
PAUSE :o

[Lynnette]

I love your sunrise pictures! We would get up every morning to see the sun rise on a calm Soliman Bay!! Did you ever kayak out on the glassy water as the sun rose...it's a beautiful experience! Your shot of the baby turtle tracks is very cool!!

[mayaflya]

The next morning we woke up to another beautiful sunrise.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010244.jpg

Man, I LOVE this shot....the tiny drops of dew on the palm fronds...with this board specializing in sunrise shots, I thought just about every "angle" had been done, and it was just up to mother nature to provide the infinite variety, you've raised the bar! .....hat's off! :eat-drink:

[letele]

Yes, that is a truly stunning sunrise shot, holy cow!

More, please. :)

[Dale]

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010254.jpg


Hey....I know that piece of driftwood!!! It's right in front of Casa de las Olas. Would you believe you can see that driftwood on Google Earth?



Oh my God! I didn't realize it was still turtle season! I thought they were long gone by now. Now I'm bummed I didn't realize this and go hunting for them. :(

I'm with you on this one. Before we left, I looked it up to see if the turtles would be hatching and everything I read said they would be long gone when we were there in the middle of Nov. I'm ticked I didn't go looking for them.:mad:

BTW, I'm enjoying the report.

[PhyllisB]

Great report guys!!!! I too love that photo with the dew drops. Fabulous!!!

Ah Suenos. We're definitely staying there again on our next trip!

[ilovewyoming]

Phyllis!!! We want to stay there next year too...they totally took care of our friends...cocktails et..don't remember it being that much fum..anyway they had a special dinner also. LOVE LOVE LOVE SUENOS They are planning to upscale with a yoga center..fine, but i just like to hang out where there isn't too many extras... Suenos has a great aura.. and you can relate as you spent your honeymoon, there.. and we lucked into it because of that damn hurricaine...Can you believe how Big that puppy/pink /hairless/wonderful dog is NOW?

[PhyllisB]

I know! I loved those pictures of all those guys!!!! So glad the trio is still together!!!

[ilovewyoming]

Man, I LOVE this shot....the tiny drops of dew on the palm fronds...with this board specializing in sunrise shots, I thought just about every "angle" had been done, and it was just up to mother nature to provide the infinite variety, you've raised the bar! .....hat's off! :eat-drink:

Thanks..definitely one of the favorite pictures we took of the trip....it's all about timing:
just being there at the right time....I LOVE waking up early there, and taking it all in with the camera ready to take some pictures...
You just never know..Maybe if i had been out there an hour earlier, i would have seen the turtles hatch..OOOOOPS...there is a picture or two of a newly abandoned nest..right outside of the deck i took that picture from..Just waiting for todo bien to get a second wind, and come on down to give you all more info on our trip and post the cool pictures..
We will finish our stay at Hamaca Loca with friends that visited us, then off to Akumal..That will be our FINAL report until we hopefully return in April...fingers crossed!!!

[dionski]

The next morning we woke up to another beautiful sunrise.

Yea but that picture is even better:sun:

Great report I have loved reading about your trip. What a great combo of places to hang.

It sure must be tough to come home from work and try to write about Tulum:rolleyes::rolleyes:

It is good to see that we are back in the cycle:surfing:

d2

[todo bien]

Ok so this is ILW continuing with the report : SO you just saw all the turtle tracks..which was down the beach from us. WELL....I get up early one morning, to take pictures of the sunrise (the one you all like with the dew and the palm fronds and the sea) Anyway,i look to the left of the porch and this is what i see:

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010238.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010239.jpg

This was literally 5 feet from our deck..in a sand hill with quite a bit of vegetation. We were soooo not happy that we again, missed a turtle hatching. We went to get Claudio to show him, and he had been up early that day and had missed them too.
He told Todo Bien/Dave that they are really quick to make their way to the sea. Despite the fact we didnt' see them...we were stoked that we at least got to see where they started and follow their tracks to where they ended: the beautiful Caribbean sea in Tulum..We both walked out as far as we could to make sure there were not any stragglers. FYI: Turtles do NOT always hatch at night..sometimes: in the afternoon..Claudio and the owners of Suenos told us of hatchings in the middle of the day. There were people that actually took the hatchlings in and kept them until the darkness of night so they would have a better chance of survival...SHARKS and BARRACUDAS and OTHER Turtle Eating critters..OH MY!!
We had some friends that stayed at Suenos, and they walked down the beach to hang out with us at Hamaca Loca:

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010234.jpg

JUST KIDDING!!! Just the guardia/federales keeping it safe.. OK NOW to our REAL visitors:

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010212.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010213.jpg

Here are pictures of Kim and Dave and Sean at Casa De Corazon, Solimon Bay. We took them there to introduce them to another of our Favorite Places to Stay. We took the Kayaks out, and just chilled on the beach with Andy and Rosa.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010218.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010219.jpg

We left Kim and Sean in Tulum and we headed to Akumal and Luna Azul.
Luna Azul is right in the middle of Half Moon bay. It is a great spot to snorkel. Snorkeling directly in front of the condo you see turtles, flying rays, large angelfish, octopus and other cool things. It is an easy walk down the beach to La Buena Vida for happy hour and nachos which our friend determined were the best. She devoured nachos everywhere we stayed. I think there is a book forthcoming. Other good places to eat in Akumal are the Loncheria (always busy) and Turtle Bay for lunch and in the pueblo at Jafet and Hamed. We had a really good dinner one night at Que Onda with Andy. We were also joined by Bart the owner of Turtle Bay and Maribel who owns Que Onda. Good food and good conversation.
We went back to Que Onda another night with Sean and Kim. Highly recomended.......

Jafet and Hamed's in the pueblo

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010289.jpg

Dinner in the condo at Luna Azul with our friends the newbies to QR

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010295.jpg

Luna Azul

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010320.jpg

Looking south from our deck at Luna Azul

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010304.jpg

Luna Azul

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010320.jpg

Last minutes before heading to the airport for home, another great trip.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010334.jpg

We hope you enjoyed our TR. It was fun to go through the pictures and remember the trip. It makes us want to go back sooner rather than later. Hopefully in the spring.

Our wish for everyone this coming year is.................

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo226/todobien1/Mexico%202008/P1010271.jpg

No Bad Days....

[PhyllisB]

Wow, great job guys! I'm so sorry to see it coming to an end! :( Probably not as sad as you were, though.

How cool about the turtle nest. Personally, I think the less human interference in the whole process, the better. I am sure it would be incredible to see, but it's not my place, you know?

So I see you with a book in your hand there before you went to the airport... what did you read on the trip?? Anything good????

[beachreader]

OK, I'm tearing up a little at the end of your story! How sad am I? :o


What an awesome trip report, thanks so much for doing it.

I NEED to stay at HL's Tortuga unit one of these days. It's just so cool. Last December I was literally drooling over it as I schlepped ALL that way from Caracol down to the beach. Just kidding, Caracol was lovely, but I wanted that porch, especially since it rained like three days and I had no place to hang out but inside my room. :(

Just jealous, that's me.

Guess I need to start planning another trip!

[susan]

Wonderful reading, great story telling ,and beautiful photos- thanks

[ilovewyoming]

Wow, great job guys! I'm so sorry to see it coming to an end! :( Probably not as sad as you were, though.

How cool about the turtle nest. Personally, I think the less human interference in the whole process, the better. I am sure it would be incredible to see, but it's not my place, you know?

So I see you with a book in your hand there before you went to the airport... what did you read on the trip?? Anything good????

Phyllis, Dave read Lost World of Quintana Roo, Lalo of Chemuyil, Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks, Double Whammy by Carl Hiassen, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Promise by Chaim Potok. More later. Hasta manana.

[ilovewyoming]

I think i am having a hard time not doing a trip report!!
It just kept our trip there so: Recent!!!!
Oh well, 2009 isn't that far off. We are planning the next trip there, and will probably just stay at 2 places: Casa De Corazon and Hamaca Loca! (Not that we didn't like Xamach and Akumal..we LOVE them ALL. Anyway: Looking at 10 days vs the 15 we were gone this time... Hope Santa is good to us this year! :D

[minniemex]

Thanks for the wonderful report!! It is really fun to read and write them!!

Gracias!!

[ilovewyoming]

I love your sunrise pictures! We would get up every morning to see the sun rise on a calm Soliman Bay!! Did you ever kayak out on the glassy water as the sun rose...it's a beautiful experience! Your shot of the baby turtle tracks is very cool!!

Never Kayak'd in the early morning and now we plan to do that the next time we are there. There are really no bad times to take the kayak out there unless the weather is windy, stormy and rainy..
I have been up early and seen those early risers out there in their kayaks,and in the future will do the same.. I would go alone,BUT i have this fear of being alone in any body of water, even a shallow one. Thus: my snorkle vest and life vest!!!:D If i could get Todo Bien up early then I would go. (maybe) As I said: I don't like the solo thing on any body of water :) Seeing The turtle tracks and where the turtles were laid, and hatched was: GREAT. After hearing how FAST they are, and then learning that they don't just hatch at NIGHT..and other cool turtle stories from those that live there, we just felt very honored to have been in such close proximity to where they were laid, hatched and ventured to the ocean. Life is all about timing, isn;t it? I guess it was't meant for us to see the turtles journey to the ocean and beyond...but it was good to see where they started, sit on our chairs, look out to a beautiful sea and hope that the majority made it

[AdGuy]

Excellent job, TB & ILW!!!

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