Peggy’s Cove

August 7th, 2008 by LB, under Here, There and Everywhere. 1 Comment

 

I know, I was not going to be online, but here I am….  We’ve arrived in Halifax and are staying in my Aunt and Uncle’s beautiful Seaside Cottage just south of Peggy’s Cove. I just have to tell you that the Peggy Show, held in the original red school house is not to missed.  We laughed so hard our stomaches hurt.

Apparently the Grape Nut Ice Cream, found only in Nova Scotia is pretty good to.

The Canadian Thing to Do

June 24th, 2008 by LB, under Here, There and Everywhere. 3 Comments

 

Its official.  We’re booked to go to PEI to see the Anne of Green Gables musical and visit legendary Avonlea.   While we’re in the neighborhood, relatively speaking, we’ll take a drive over to Cape Breton and hike some of the Cabot Trail, but not before taking in a visit with my wonderful relatives in Halifax.   Shark says she thinks this will be the best summer ever.  I’m really glad.

Xel-Ha

April 15th, 2008 by LB, under Here, There and Everywhere, Yackadactyl. No Comments

For the last couple of days of our trip we stayed in Tulum, which seemed to us to be incredibly busy,  but the beaches were beautiful, the surf was fun to play in and Shark had some time for some shopping.  She spent a total of about 10$ – she’s so funny.

Anyway for our last day we went to Xel-Ha which is a natural lagoon turned waterpark and despite the fact it is very touristy, it is great fun for kids and Shark loved it, especially the Ice Cream on demand.  We had a hoot, tubing and snorkeling and hanging and swinging from ropes.

Shark made me buy a photo with me in it…

 

And of course my daughter the animal lover needs to commune with all the animals that were there….

 

Xcalak

April 13th, 2008 by LB, under Here, There and Everywhere. No Comments

I think for both of us Xcalak was the highlight of this trip.  Its a tiny little village of about 400 people located on the Mexico/Belize border.  There is no electricity, phone service, gas stations or bank machines.   The offshore area is home to the Chinchorro Reef, which is the second largest reef system in the world.  Consequently, the snorkeling and diving are spectacular, and apparently the fishing is fabulous.  The entire area has been designated an eco park, and so is now preserved by the Mexican Government.

 

There are no large hotels in Xcalak, so we stayed in a little B and B called the Flying Cloud.  I think there were three rooms total, and the photo above is taken right in front as we were right on the beach.   We ate at the The Leaky Palapa for two nights running, and this place is worth the drive.  Owned by two Canadian expats from Toronto, the restaurant is loaded with character.  If its raining and you get wet, they’ll buy you a drink!

 

Aaaand, they even have some maricle spray for apres sun burn, and so as your eating they come over and spray you down.  The two fellas that own the B and B are known locally as ‘the boys’ and the two ladies who own the restaurant are known as ‘the girls.’ 

We also managed to befriend a wonderful couple, both of who are accomplished musicians, and I am confident this is a connection that will endure as we’re already planning a trip to New York to see them.   The four of us embarked on a really wondeful snorkeling trip and boat excursion to Belize, followed by Margaritas and ukelele playing.

 

Then, Jack, Daria, Shark and I were also invited to Easter Fiesta in town which is apparently second only to Christmas, and I can honestly say us, and the other four tourists that were there, stuck out like sore thumbs.  The dance floor, a parking lot, reminded me so much of home, without the hot, beautiful weather, especially when a fight broked out and was quickly dissapated.

We were sad to leave, but had some great CD’s from our new friends for the rest of the drive, and we HIGHLY recommend Xcalak.  

Uxmal

April 13th, 2008 by LB, under Here, There and Everywhere. No Comments

After staying in Merida for a couple of days, Shark and I headed southeast across the Yucatan, but not before visiting Uxmal in the Puuc Hills.  We both loved this site far more than Chitzen Itza.  They are both remarkable, but there are a few things about these ruins that stood out for us.

They are a very different style then Chichen Itza, and more out of the way; therefore, not nearly as busy.  The ubiqutous vendors and crowds are completely absent here.  You are also able walk in the ruins and climb one temple and so you feel like you can really see more.

We highly recommend a visit to the entire Puuc Route in the Yucatan interior.

Celestun

April 9th, 2008 by LB, under Here, There and Everywhere. 4 Comments

 

Were we just in Mexico?  Isn’t it amazing how your life sucks you back in?  In an effort to really savour every bit of that delicious holiday,  I’m reliving some of what we did.   I’ve been finding that having pictures and posts of the trip I took to Argentina last fall has really enabled me to revisit how great it was, and this is especially enjoyable on those cold, wet, rainy or low winter days.  So, I’m hoping looking at these pink flamingos might help spring to finally arrive…..

Okay,  maybe not, but they are pretty stunning, n’est pas?  This picture was taken on a small boat near Celestun on the Gulf Coast of the Yucatan.  We hooked up with a wonderful Mexican family and they happily put us in the front of the boat as we all agreed that’s were Canadians should go on a cold day. 

This is a breeding ground for Flamingos, and so they are everywhere.   We were also able to see pelicans, gulls, and lots of other really pretty birds, but I don’t have a clue what they are called.  Although if you’re doing the Eckart Tolle thing with Oprah, this is apparently a really good thng.  We also toured a mangrove swamp where I was sure an alligator was going to lurch out at any moment.

We survived and were able to stroll on the beach gathering shells.

Chichen Itza

April 1st, 2008 by LB, under Here, There and Everywhere. 2 Comments

After spending a few days on Isla Mujeres, Shark and I returned to Cancun to pick up a rental car and make the drive on the Cuota, or toll highway, to Chichen Itza, or as our car rental guy called it, chicken pizza.  We arrived safely after making a wrong turn, which involved me trying to explain to someone with a machine gun, in limited spanish, that we had gone the wrong way.  (Note to self: attend Spanish Intensive Language Program) We stayed in a hotel right at the entrance to the park so we could see the night time ruins light show, and then visit the next day early in the morning. 

The evening light show is actually pretty funny.  The ruins look amazing alll it up, but for me not nearly as incredible as in the light of the almost full moon.   The next day the thermometer on my clock read 38 degrees C in the shade and a whopping 49 in the sun.  Shark nearly melted and was so glad for a dip in the the pool at the hotel before we set back off on the highway.

Chichen Itza was of course amazing, and I think it may even be one of the seven wonders of the world, but I didn’t like it nearly as much as some of the other mayan sites I have visited; however, its still very much worth the visit.  Just be sure to bring a sun hat and lots of sun screen and be prepared for legions of eager vendors located everywhere.

Isla Mujeres

March 28th, 2008 by LB, under Here, There and Everywhere. 1 Comment

 

After a very brief tour around Cancun the city and Cancun the hotel zone, which to me seems remarkably like a Las Vegas strip on the beach, Shark and I headed over to Isla Mujeres, a small island, a twenty minute ferry ride away.  I have read and heard that Isla is quiet and laid back, and while I wouldn’t describe it that way it is funky and fun and there is lots to do.

Amazingly enough, the highlight for Shark, other than the dolphins which I am not sure I am prepared to talk about yet, was the golf cart we rented.  This girl, who always takes forever to wake up – she will actually quite often ask me if we could just not talk in the early morning, which is absolute hell for an extrovert who loves mornings and wakes up instantaneously – anyway, this same girl was up at 10 minutes after six eating mango on the deck for breakfast (see the photo gallery for pics) asking when we could go pick it up.

We were first in the door at 9 am and ended up with the most beat up malfuntioning golf cart in all of Mexico I am sure.  By the end of the day I am sure everyone was talking about the damn cart that wouldn’t start, stalled in the middle of the road, and backfired loudly, but it made for a day of hysterical laughter.  As you can see my navigator was an essential peice of the success of whole thing.  We also discovered the World’s best nachos and guacamole, and squeezed in some body surfing.

My Favourite Traveling Companion

March 27th, 2008 by LB, under Here, There and Everywhere, Shark Tales. 4 Comments

There were many great things about this trip, but I enjoyed my travel mate more than anything.   When I look at this picture I am shocked how grown up she is, and she was truly a pleasure to hang out with.  It amazing to me how you can live with someone every day, but yet see them in a new way when far away from the stress and distractions of everyday life.

Shark was fun and energetic and she loves traveling vs. vacationing as much as I do.  She was also hysterically funny.  When I asked her to pose for yet another picture she said fine here’s your picture; I’m a dog going pee….

Okay, now I have to get to the nearly two thousand emails I have to wade through.   Heavy sigh.  Do you think its too late to declare I want to live a life free from computers?

Hasta Luego

March 11th, 2008 by LB, under Here, There and Everywhere. 4 Comments

Well dear friends, Shark and I are off to the Yucatan for a little R and R over spring break. Okay, maybe its a little more like fun in the sun.  Shark made me promise we’d at least have two beach days, and so we will.