Mexico V ~ Parasailing

Ryan wanted to go parasailing this time, and since I had so thoroughly enjoyed it when Darrell and I went in 2006, and had no motion sickness issues with it, I gladly volunteered to go with  him!

Here we are signing our lives away.....

On the boat and getting hooked up to take off.  Love the happy face!

High above the buildings.....

High above the clouds.....

On our way back to the boat, they briefly dip us into the ocean.....

They ferried us to and from the boat on a jet ski.  Notice how I am draped all over this young, handsome chap...... only because.....

.......I got sicker than a dog this time!  Not sure why, but it took hours to recover enough to stand up.  Weeks before I could say I was no longer dizzy beyond my norm.  It came on as soon as we were out, and as Darrell said (from the ground), it was the longest ride he's ever seen.  Like 45 minutes.  Seemed liked hours and hours to me!  I am so glad that Ryan enjoyed it for the both of us, because my eyes were shut and I was struggling not to vomit the entire time!  BUMMERS!!!!!  Won't be doin' that anytime soon again!

Mexico IV ~ Sailing

Ryan and Darrell tried their hands at sailing again this year.  They had a quick review lesson, then they each went out on their own.  At the right side is Darrell and the instructor heading out.  The reflection is what prompted me to snap this shot, though.

Darrell out on his own. He did not capsize this year, but it wasn't super windy like last time either!

Ryan going out with the instructor and then on his own

                Ryan way out there                            Both Darrell and Ryan

  Darrell.  The reflections were so pretty........

While I was waiting around on the dock for them, I was playing with the camera taking pictures of the life forms under the water alongside the dock.  I thought these were pretty.  So delicate.

Mexico III ~ Puerto Morelos

Puerto Morelos is a small fishing town about a half hour south of Cancun.  It is here that we took a taxi to for our cooking class. We arrived early this year so that we could walk about the town for a bit ahead of time.  We had hoped to snorkel here after class aw well, but did not have time.  Pto. Morelos is supposed to have great snorkeling.

We enjoyed seeing the town, though even arriving as early as we did in the morning, it was terribly humid and hot.  By time we arrived at the cooking school we were sweaty and drooping.

Mexico II ~ Little Mexican Cooking School

This year the school was in a much larger building.  Instead of a private home, it is now held in a leased Bed and Breakfast Hotel. Much of the instruction is given on the outside 'patio' where a breeze blows in off of the ocean to help move the air around.  Believe me, that is a real plus!

The indoor kitchen is likewise much larger.  They have a cool stove with a big mirror over it so that one can see what is cooking without having to put faces up close and personal :-)

First on the menu was making sopes.  We made these the last time as well, but since this was a different chef we learned a few new things.

Five different salsas were then made for the sopes as well as for the tamales we would be making for the lunch.  Ryan got to make the Guacamole because I told the chef that he made the best G. in the world :-)  And it was, too!

While we were busy cooking and learning, we were served some Jicama that had salt, chili arbol and lime mixed with it.  It was okay.  We also were offered several types of whiskey.  This area is, of course, well known for its whiskey making.  Actually, they grow the guava plants here, and ship it to the west side of Mexico where they make it into whiskey. The woman who owns this cooking school really, really seems to love her whiskey.......   The upper right picture shows Ryan grating some raw sugar that went into the tomatillo sauce.

Here Darrell is working with the poblano chilis that went into the Sopa de Poblano

The making of the salsa de tomatillo for the roasted chicken

Chili pasillas along with black beans, onion, garlic avocado leaves and avocado oil made up the filling for the tamales.

Making the tamales

Torta de Chocolate

The kind women who cleaned up after us and assisted the chef at times.  Love the colorful dresses!

Our lovely lunch :-)

Mexico I ~ Isla de Mujeres

After an evening and a day of relaxing by the pool and on the beach, we headed off to explore the Isla de Mujeres.

 We took a taxi to the GranPuerto on the north end of Cancun and caught a passenger ferry to take us across to the island. The ocean was beautiful and we were serenaded along the way.  Of course passengers were expected to tip him, especially if you took a photo ;-)  I didn't mind. At least he was offering something for the money - his talent.  And he was good, I thought.

 Once on Isla de Mujeres, we rented a golf cart to explore the entire island on.  Everyone there has a golf cart or a motor bike to scoot around. 

First we drove down the west side of the island.  It had some of the older buildings on it.  The middle picture is a zip line over the water.  We hope to have the time to do that on our next visit :-)

 We stopped for a morning snack of empañadas at a little roadside stand.  They were delicious.  But let's be honest here.  What Mexican food is NOT delicious?!?!

 At the southern end of the island there are some ruins.  Not sure if it was the original lighthouse, or something else, as there wasn't much to them.  In the above photo is the modern lighthouse.

 According to this, the southern tip of this island is the easternmost point in Mexico, the first to see the sun rise in the early mornings.

 Here are the ruins.  Definitely the island is nothing but a jagged cliff at this end.  Very rugged and pretty.

 We encountered iguanas sunbathing here as well.  In town they have these Iguana Xing signs!

 Traveling back up the windy eastern side of the island are some isolated homes. Some have blown away in hurricanes, some are modern and strong, while others are not much more than cardboard and metal.  Probably rebuilt after every hurricane or tropical storm.
 

 Somewhere in the middle of the island we came across the Mango Cafe, highly recommended by someone Ryan knows.  There we ate our incredibly delicious lunch!  By far and away they serve THE BEST fish tacos that you will ever find!!! Clockwise: Cafe, Jamaica drink made from the hibiscus flower, burrito, cafe again, chicken quesodillas and the fish tacos.

 A few of the pretty flowers along the way

 Some of the locals pedal their food or good around the town using these bicycle carts

Shots around the town

 I absolutely love the bright colors so many of the buildings are painted with!

 At the northern tip of the island we trespassed onto a beach for those who were staying at some wonderful Hotel there and enjoyed a bit of beach and ocean time.  The radiating warmth of the sun was so nice.  No words can describe that.  Such a treat.

In the late afternoon we headed back for the mainland and dinner at La Hacienda Sisal, one of our favorite places to eat while there.  The food is just so dang good :op

Here is one of the several gorgeous sunsets we were blessed with while there.

Elephants and Aprons

My friend Mary sews many, many aprons.  She loves sewing aprons.  A stress reliever, she claims. She sells them and gives them as gifts.  She even will sew this style of apron in custom material that the buyer brings to her.  Wanting to make sure that this grandma had plenty of supplies on hand for Emerson, she has sewn several items for me to have at my house, among them these three aprons: one for grandma, one for Emerson and one for favorite dolly or stuffed animal!  This way, we can all don the aprons while she is at my house and bake up some goodies!  I guess I have to wait until she is a bit older, however.  And eating real food. Sugar and all. And BTW, Emerson's animal is Elephant.  Emerson Elephant. Can't wait to cook with her and these..........  :-}

Please Identify This Creature!

Amazing BIG spider sitting on the door to my garden shed!  Hope it didn't lay a sac of spiderettes inside the shed!