Hola from Mexico

Hola from Mexico!

I am outside before dawn breathing beautiful tropical air while I write this. <the birds are just starting their morning noise. We are having a great trip! The trip here was smooth although we did learn perhaps our first lesson about trips like this with kids: 1. Direct flights from Halifax are likely worth a small additional amount! Jason did well but was pretty anxious until we were happily settled onthe flight to cancun. Keira had a blast. I don't have any photos but she had her earphones on, watched movies, drank juice and coloured with her surprise craft items in her bag and was thrilled with it all.

We got to Cancun and got through the airport and got our car no problem. Heather and i have prefected our system over tehyears. I talk, she drives in different countries. The highway was relatively easy to navigate and we arrived in Akumal at about 5 p.m.. playa caribe is great - very well maintained, our apartment is nice, and we are enjoying the bayfull of sea turtles and the pool. i think almost everyone was asleep by 7 p.m. on the first night.

On Day 2 we were all up very early (Jason at 3 a.m. - thank goodness he reads), and headed to akumal playa (we are on half moon bay) very early in search of teh supermarket. We spent hours on that beautiful beach (it is has a path through the coral for swimming whereas our bay doesn't). <there is a little loncheria just off teh beach that serves up Jason's favourtite sandwiches in the whole world and decent chicken tacos. Later that morning (actually only 10 a.m. but remember our day started early), we heaed t yal-ku lagoon. This is a place where the sea water empties but is very protected so great for little snorkellers. So many fish!! like swimming in an aquarium. Keira put on her mask and started trying to catch fish. Luckily, they and the numerous iguanas who lounge near the pool and all the feral cats are too quick for her. The lagoon is where Jason first spotted an iguana and I think he was horrified but is doing so well - within in minutes he was following his sister following them. After that we had some pool time, and then walked back into akumal playa for some swimming.

Day 3 unfolded in a similair fashion - Akumal bay for the morning and finally saw turtles and rays while snokelling. Again I think i pulled jason out of teh sky when he saw his first ray while the two of us where out in the middle of the bay but then was able to look and enjoy. We are happy howeever that he only saw a little ray not someof the giants we have seen!!! After the bay and lunch by the pool we headed to Tulum in search of groceries. We all had fun at the mexican supermarket. Heather was so thrilled to find fresh hot tortillas she bought enough for a fiesta en el pueblo! Speaking of the spanish the kids are doing great at using what they know with people and Jason is soaking up a lot of the language. I think he has a real gift. we also went to Tulum beach which words can't describe. Definately one of the best best beaches I have ever seen. <the kids loved the waves. <keira has started to pout if she learns we ar egoing tp any other beach - she has good taste.

Yesterday we spent the morning at the beach and finally got Keira out to see turtles. She liked snorkelling in our little shallow bay and the lagoon but found the turtles and corral in akumal bay alittle much. I doubt we will get her out again as she says " I told you that I would see one turle and I did." We ha d some pool time and keira had a playdate with another Canadian girl here and then we headed off to explore and went to the beach we will be near in our last week. Sobeautiful and a cenote too. I don't what Jason or Heather thought as we went through the jungle and arrived at a translucent freshwater pool full of little fish but H hopped in and so did K. Jasonw asn't so sure but once he got in he wouldn't get out and declared cenotes were his favourite thing.

Dawn has broken so I am going to help with breakfast. it looks slightly cloudy so I think we will go to tulum ruins today. I am not sur ehow jason will manage the heat once we moveaway from the coast. apparently it is hotter than usual.