quick (much delayed) trip report in photos

[Grasshopper]

sorry life certainly gets busy and other things have distracted me from posting so here are some pics from our trip (18 days 5 at Xamach Dos, 12 in Tulum at Villas Geminis, and 1 in Puerto Moroles)

Solbound - this is for you bud!!!

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almost a Danwich!

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The MCBBA Tourneo in the raw...it was a brutal experience for some!
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Hot game for the final too!
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DA - CANADIAN CHAMPION - SOLMAN2

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Benenzio and Francisca - part of our XD Family!

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One of my favorites...

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New Fishing Friends

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His Catch

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My Catch

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this will be Solman2's catch later in the trip

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The beloved miss Meow Meow!

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I never, never get sick of the sunrises at Xamach!

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doing their part to conserve the reefs of the Sian Kaan!
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Solman2 had much success!
MakinHay on the other hand not so much...
he shot, missed and the spear lodged in the log!!!
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I want to pause here and say that we met two most wonderful people who decided to take a quick 5 day trip to Tulum (before their upcoming wedding) and on their last day they drove down to XD to come and play. My camera was dead so it was on the charger most of the day. By the time the battery was charged...well my battery was dead. Cold shower didnt even wake this chiclette up. I should know better than to try and keep up with my Canadians. Anyway Tom and Sue you two ROCK and so enjoyed hanging out with you both. YOu fit right into our little family of Mexico Peeps and so cannot wait until we meet again! LOVE YOU BOTH!

Okay moving on...

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My handsome hubby MakinHay

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Proof to my boss and coworkers I actually worked every morning

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not sure if there is a limit...so I will continue on another post

[Grasshopper]

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My bestest Amiga EVER... glad you are in my life lady!

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Makinhays birthday dinner

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love this one of my bestest bud!

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since we have been to the Villas Geminis 3 times now...we are getting to know the owners Catherine, Hernan and Emma. Hernan paints and so I asked him if he wouldnt mind painting something for me so I can take it home. I told him I showed horses and loved the color orange...this is what he made. LOVE IT! It proudly is hung in our dining room

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This is Peter and Janet. Met them the year prior at Xamach...just happened to run into them as we were leaving Ziggy's for the day...what a fabulous couple.

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LBV in Akumal Still love this bar! It was nice to go back, the four of us have some great memories from this place!

and last on the trip PM (sorry no more pics cause PM was not really my favorite place)
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[Westybchbum]

I'm so happy you posted, late or not- AWESOME!!!!!!! Damn you got some tan chica!! XOXOXOXOXO to you guys, miss you lots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[minniemex]

Thanks for sharing your pictures!!

Happiness just shines from them.

[TortillayTortuga]

Looks like you guys had a blast!!!!! We certainly did when we headed down to Xamach and met you all!

[Grasshopper]

couple things i learned this trip.

The hood is a nice place to live.
there is no OSHA in Mexico
carnival rides are more fun when there is no safety involved
Canadians are still the best peeps to play with
But Canadians are allergic to clothing
Xamach is still one of my most favorite places on earth
Xamach's family well they are FAMILY
Mateo's does have great tacos and the atmosphere is fabulous on a rainy day
I am now a tequilla snob
I am not allergic to work as I once thought (as long as I had a bloodymary to do it with)
I have Mexico Muppies Coco, Olivia and Ella
coolers are always much lighter heading home but the feet are heavier
birthdays are better celebrated in Mexico (even if they are not yours)
peeps from Westport CT are fabulous and not just cause we were all in Mexico
Akumal is crowded and busy but LBV is still a cool place to chill
Lionfish are not ferocious
street meat does not kill
Tulum is getting small enough that we run into people we know
Massages are better in Mexico
Ziggy's beach club is still the best place to sun the girls
18 days is still not enough play time in the sand!

[Westybchbum]

GH that is one awesome list and I can totally relate to many of them! Wonderful things to contemplate from chilly New England on this Cinco de Mayo! Tyt and I will toast all our Tuluminary friends later with a margarita!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[beachreader]

What great pictures!!! You guys had a wonderful trip, thanks for sharing it with us.

The lionfish thing--I remember reading somewhere about people down in Punta Allen gathering together to go hunt them but I don't remember why. Are they not native to the area, and hurting the other fish on the reef?

[MexicanVirgins]

Great trip report Grasshopper(finally)...I love all the pictures and I agree with most things on your list...not all Canadians walk around Nekkid..But we still have major places and things to discover in Tulum...and I agree..its nice to have friends and family in Mexico and even nicer when they are just as excited to see us and we are them...2012 TRIP TO TULUM can't come soon enough for this freezing Canadian Chica...<3

[Dale]

What great pictures!!! You guys had a wonderful trip, thanks for sharing it with us.

The lionfish thing--I remember reading somewhere about people down in Punta Allen gathering together to go hunt them but I don't remember why. Are they not native to the area, and hurting the other fish on the reef?

No, lionfish are not native to this area. They are native to the Indian Ocean and I beleive the South Pacific area. Now in this part of the world there are organized lionfish hunts to try to reduce the population.

Last year in the Abacos, they had a lionfish rodeo out of Marsh Harbour and the winning boat had speared 206 lionfish for a prize of $2000.00.

They can be eaten and I understand that they are pretty good. Tastes like...........(not chicken) grouper.

If you are interested, HERE (http://www.brendal.com/video-gallery.html) is a link to a video by CBS news about the history of the lionfish and the rodeo in the Abacos. Click on the video titled Abaco Lionfish Rodeo on CBS news. (Imagine that!!) It takes a minute to load but is interesting.

[Grasshopper]

Yes Jules we got lots to discover yet don't we!

Dale glad we didn't have to wait for the guys to get us two grAnd in lionfish we would starve!

[beachreader]

Cool, thanks!

[Solbound]

Thanks GH....I guess I can't harass you anymore! Love the"flock of birds" pic as well. You are right about the XD sunrises and 18 days is not enough!! Maybe next time.....:cool:

[beachreader]

Wait, SIX fish washed into the Atlantic and caused all this problem? Holy cow!

So they didn't say how the population in the Asian Pacific is kept in check? Is there a natural predator over there?

Do any Tulum-area restaurants have lionfish on their menus (even daily specials)? Or do the fishermen just kill and discard any that they find in their nets?

[ilovewyoming]

Love the pic's and the TR...I thought I heard somewhere that Lionfish were on the menu somewhere in Akumal? Could be a new specialty at XD!

[utmck]

Wow somebody spent 18 days tanning!! Very cool TR!!!

[solman2]

Very nicely done!! I almost feel like I was there!!!!.....Can't wait to get back down and defend my title and find more new places to eat in Tulum!!! Thanks for the memories.....

[utmck]

And Sue thought she was dark..... GH wins the award for darkest tan!!!!

[Westybchbum]

And Sue thought she was dark..... GH wins the award for darkest tan!!!!

Yes she does, though Tom may have been just as at the end of our trip!!! :)

[jerry0503211]

Wow somebody spent 18 days tanning!! Very cool TR!!!

[Margoinmexico]

:wave:I sort of feel like the camp counselor....I just get used to having someone around, then tearful good byes, promises to write and one last photo and then they are gone. Boo hoo, but then off to get ready for the next bunch to arrive!

Miss you guys and so glad to be a big part of your home away from home!...next year, STAY LONGER!

Besos! :beerchug::eat-drink::beerchug:

[dorado dave]

Hola Margo,
Maria still needs a massage, maybe next week. Sometimes,yes, maybe the dog he bites. Are you around June 14th,?

[MakinHay]

Anymore pics Grasshooper , I know there is more! Can wait for the M.C.B.B.A. in Feb. (in 2012)@ Xamach Dos !! Who is all coming!?!?

[Solbound]

Anymore pics Grasshooper , I know there is more! Can wait for the M.C.B.B.A. in Feb. (in 2012)@ Xamach Dos !! Who is all coming!?!?

Feb 2012...hmmmm...would be nice.....hmmm...very busy time for my work.....hmmmm....on second thought I am busy all the time! Might have to work on it.

[Grasshopper]

yes there are more pics...so now that things are quieter at the office (ssshhhh dont tell anyone) I will see if I can get some more up.
Oh and SB - Yes February is a great time, I do end up taking a laptop which helps me keep sanity knowing I dont have PILES to come home to, but there is never a GOOD time to get away, unless you MAKE time to get away!