Homework vs fun

This week we went through the homework drama, but finally they got done with whatever means were necessary: no homework…no swimming pool, no homework…no trip to the “big store” worked also. Saturday we were all relax and ready to go but the car indicated problems with the batteries. We went to a pilgrimage from Volkswagen dealership to a “big” garage to the pap and mom repair shop were actually the job got done the same day. Clearly the wife was in charge of money and communication, the men were just doing the job silently and obey the wife’s order to give us a lift back at home. I love this country! They are no argument and no “but” and “why me and not you”…everyone knows his role: wife talks husband executes.

So here we are on our way to Paamul to join Vito, Julieta and the kids. The beaches was beautiful, we did some snorkeling and only 15 min. away from Playa. we will definitely go back. On Saturday we were on out way to Puerto Aventuras, a new build town/resort/community I don’t even know how to defined it. It’s built around artificial lagoons and then there is a beautiful semi-deserted beach of white sands. In a way the place is totally artificial but pleasant to walk around with little stores and restaurant.
The big experience of Puerto Aventuras was to be with the dolphins. On our way there, Oscar had to do his usual drama but once we were in the water with dolphin "Valeria" everything got to be so much better. The kids were totally into it and I have to say that the animal is not intimidating at all. We got to do the real tourist stuff like buy the video and the picture of us with the dolphin.

Aktun Chen

We have been talking to the kids about going to see a "cave with no bears" all week so, here we are, Saturday 9.30 a.m. ready (finally) in the car on our way to this eco-park south of Akumal.

It is about 3 km off the main road in the middle of the jungle and we got to see 3 enormous cenotes full of stalactites and stalagmites. For details check http://www.aktunchen.com/. The kids loved it and of course the animals in the small zoo right outside the caves were the best part.

In the afternoon, we stopped at Akumal and relaxed on a beautiful beach with palm trees. It is an incredible bay: the water is super calm protected by a coral reef. It is Alain’s favorite beach so far because he has some shadow, and snorkeling is right there. Plus the kids can entertain themselves in the shallow water.

We had lunch by the beach and eating with your feet in the sand always feel like a vacation.

Yoga... for stress release (yeah right!)

I started my first yoga class with Antonella. The atmosphere is very pleasant, people take it seriously but they have no attitude. I like because there is a minimum chanting and maximum workout. I just drop the kids at school at 8AM and 2 blockd away there is a mini mall where the classes are. Now I have to find a Spanish language class and then I will be set.

Crococun Zoo

We went to see this incredible petting zoo nearby, not to be missed by anyone who has kids! You get to pet crocodiles, snakes, iguana, deers, monkeys, Mexican dogs (a sort of dog with no hair). M & O were super excited, as you can imagine.

Of course we had to put the snakes around our necks, which I hated but I had to do it to show the example!

After the zoo, we went exploring Puerto Morelos, a town with little tourism but still a small beach club. We ate on the beach and it was a first for the kids.

In the evening, I went with Julieta (Vito’s wife) and Eli (Lorenzo’s wife) to THE social event of the week: a competition of bartenders for the best new cocktail.

The event was on the beach at Mamita’s and they were presenting all kinds of very colorful and interesting looking drinks, I had to take some pictures for Vito’s paper and take some notes. The VIP of Playa del Carmen were all there!

First week of school

The first week of school ended with no drama and I still can't believe it!

Today, I discovered a little one-man garage sale/flea-market close to the school run by Ronny. He is an Englishman who has been living here for 10 years and does not speak Spanish but his wife speaks seven languages so she compensates. So every Fri-Sat-Sun, he organizes his little business across the street from his house. We bought for 300 pesos ($30) a piece of furniture that can be used as kids shoe storage that I really like so we will carry it back to NY.

Second day of School

We have our new 6:30 a.m. routine: Oscar has to wear his sport uniform and Matthias his regular one, so we have a crisis because M. also wants to wear the white shirt, white pants, white shoes, white sox. A chocolate egg kind of solved the issue today.

No probems at school today either. They said they liked school so they deserve to see a movie… we went to see Bully Ant… the positive message of that movie was: bullies end up with no friends.

First day of School

We survived! Oscar left the classroom a couple of time to explore the courtyard, but Matthias was more in line. The parents are not allowed beyond the entrance, so I just drop them there, and after that, they are on their own. I don’t really want to know more than I have to. When we went to pick them up, Oscar wanted to stay in class, I guess he was mad that for leaving him an entire morning.

Cozumel

Finally we made it to Cozumel, the island that we see from Playa. It took almost two months to decide to take the ferry. The night before, we were walking on the beach and Oscar wanted to go to the boat, we went through a small crisis and we promessed we would go next day.

The island is wild comparing to Playa. There are some hotels, a main square in the center with shops and restaurants, but half of the island is a natural reserve. I have to say, some of the hotels, probably built few years ago, are kind of ugly. They are so tall, you even see them from Playa.

We rented a car and decide to drive around the island. We stopped for horse back riding at the Mr. Sanchez Beach Club. We did a tour in the forest and on the beach, my horse wanted to eat all the time, and Alain’s did not want to walk…but the kids loved it.

After horse back riding, we continued our tour until Punta Sur where there is an ecological park with a large lagoon on one side and the beach on the other side. We toured the lagoon with a boat and we spotted two lazy crocodiles. The trees around the lagoon were destroyed by a recent hurricane. The tree were literally burned by the excess of the sea water.

After the lagoon tour, we went to the beach which had clear water and more clear water!

Bye Bye Dengue

Finally the Dengue Fever is over! These are the times when you wish men would go through child birth.

Yesterday, we all went to Mamita’s beach again. There was little waves and the kids had a lot of fun with the buggy boards.

It felt like being in Italy, the conversation were about which cell phone to use, which restaurant to go and of course who has the better tan! Sorry to make fun of my compatriots but sometimes the stereotype fits…

Mamita’s Beach

Today Vito’s paper and other local businesses were sponsoring a beach volley ball at Mamita’s , a beach club on the northern tip of the Playa del Carmen main beach.

Finally I got the kids interested in the beach! The water was transparent, no algae, no rocks, no waves…. I think they did not see the difference with the swimming pool. They had a blast!

I think Mamita’s will be my beaches of choice… by the way located very close to the kid’s school.