Trip Report: Kaki and Family Do Playa

[kaki321]

Kaki and Family – Trip Report 2006<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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First, let me preface this trip report with a huge disclaimer…I am not a “good” writer…not particularly clever, funny or detailed - so please don't expect too much. But if you love seeing pics of Playa (even if every single one includes pictures of other people’s kids), love hearing about the sights and sounds of Playa, love reminiscing about the food and drink of Playa, then you might just enjoy my report a lil’ bit. <o:p></o:p>
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Day 1 – Friday: Arrival in Playa<o:p></o:p>
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I won’t go through all of the getting up early (5:00 am), getting to the airport shananagins - - I will just say that with 2 kids (one is almost 3 (<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Jackson</st1:place></st1:City>), and the other is almost 6 (Grant)) as well as my teenage niece (Angela)…well, it was full of drama and stress . But, we made it in, and were so happy to see our driver from Playa.Info (whose name now escapes me). As an added bonus, he had some Sol waiting in the air-conditioned van for us! Yay, it finally feels like vacation! After a quick stop at 7-Eleven (for even colder beer and some snacks), we were off to the Villas Sacbe.<o:p></o:p>
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Check-in with Fernando was a breeze and within 5 minutes we were in the Villa checking everything out. For those of you who haven’t been there or heard about it, let me just say that between the ideal location (<st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">1<SUP>st</SUP> Avenue</st1:address></st1:Street> between Calle 12 and 14), and the amenities, it’s really a beautiful property. One word of caution though, if you have small children ask lots of questions about safety…we booked unit #6 that had 2 marble-like staircases that led up to the 2<SUP>nd</SUP> and 3<SUP>rd</SUP> floors, but were not “railed” in and presented us with many stressful moments when the kids went up and down the stairs. One slip on the step and plummeting down into the waterfall and rocks was a very real possibility. So, needless to say, the stairs were off limits, which meant we all had to take lots of trips walking them up and down. <o:p></o:p>
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Here are some pictures of the unit. I didn’t get bathroom or bedroom pics, but here are the rest. The first floor has 2 bedrooms and a full bath and shower. <o:p></o:p>
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Here is the staircase leading up to the 2<SUP>nd</SUP> floor – notice the waterfall on the wall (and my son Grant)
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Here is a shot looking down that same staircase, Grant and Jackson dutifully waiting for me to “chaperone” them upstairs


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Here are some shots of the 2<SUP>nd </SUP>floor, living area, kitchen and the patio

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And a shot of the rooftop wet bar area. We LOVED it up here! (Even spent some time one day drinking beers with A’ndrea (angelhouston) - - MUCH more on the crazy times with her later. Here is also a shot of the view from above. So much construction going on in Playa, it’s unreal.





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So after getting a little bit settled and a few more Sol’s in our bellys, we decide we should try and eat since it’s about 4:00 and we haven’t eaten all day. Plus, Heather is coming by at 6:00 pm to pick up some muled goodies, so we need to head out and be back by then. <o:p></o:p>
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Off we go in search of Carboncitos! I look on my notes and it says it’s on 5<SUP>th</SUP> down near Calle 4. Easy enough. Nope. Couldn’t find it. By this time I have 4 other VERY hungry people with me so we plop down at Karen’s. This turns out to be a very good idea indeed! Miles (husband) loved his fried fish and Angela and I had some fabulous shrimp dish that they actually sauté right at your table. What a great start to the trip! We are all happy and full as we walk back to the Villa to meet Heather.<o:p></o:p>
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Heather shows up right at 6:00 on the dot and is taller and even prettier that I imagined! That goes for all of the Playa ladies though, and it must be something in the sun, air and water down there…they are all so pretty. She hands off the Playa Deal Card and we give her the suitcase from her mom as well as a few other muled items. Her boyfriend is double parked, so we say our goodbyes and say we will see eachother at the peep meet the next night. <o:p></o:p>
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After relaxing at the Villa a bit longer (translation – more beers) , we decide to take a walk down 5<SUP>th</SUP>. However the boys and my niece are beat, so just Miles and I go…and now I am finally feeling relaxed as I walk down 5<SUP>th</SUP> with Miles. Walking by Posada Freud I hear someone yell “KAKI!!!” and it’s my good buddy A’ndrea (angelhouston). We bond over a few…ok SEVERAL Margaritas (Jose makes the BEST!), while Carlos is relentlessly proposing marriage to A’ndrea. I don’t blame him at this point, she is gorgeous and sweet and I am seriously thinking of asking her myself. Seriously, we had a great time getting to know eachother that first night.<o:p></o:p>
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Not too long after (translation – about 3 Margaritas and 3 shots) JimmyMN shows up to go on their bar crawl research for Peep Fest. They invite us to come along, but Miles is looking kinda green so he goes back to the Villa. I try to tough it out, but make it over to one bar with them, as well as a quick stop at La Tortuga to see Anna (who is also beautiful!) and I tell them I gotta go to bed. It's probably about midnight and I have now been up a very long time and I am very sleepy.
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There ends Day 1 - - tomorrow we have a beach playdate with PortlandNative and family then the Peep Meet!! Also, stayed tuned for some of this some of this and unfortunately, some of this

[kaki321]

And here is just a little teaser - even though this was several nights later...this is what happens when tommy gets a hold of your camera and gets all van-gogh (self-portrait) with it!

[Donna]

Great job so far... Can't wait to see more pics. haha ! but not those kind.

[kaki321]

Originally Posted by Donna

Great job so far... Can't wait to see more pics. haha ! but not those kind.

we musta been posting at the same time. check out the pic of your hubby

[Donna]

Originally Posted by kaki321

we musta been posting at the same time. check out the pic of your hubby

he makes me so proud... silly man...

[kaki321]

Originally Posted by Donna

Great job so far... Can't wait to see more pics. haha ! but not those kind.

LOL, I have one where I think you can actually see into his sinus cavity

[alwaysmissinpdc]

Nice start! Your kids are so cute! And you are funny.

[debk]

Wonderful start to your report! You're doing a great job, my expectations are high!!

[Dijo]

finally someone who knows how to scale their pics down to a manageable size! Yes, yes, yes. Thank you!

Your kids are gorgeous! I'd have been concerned with the staircase as well. Even with a handrail, it's one heck of a long way down if you slip.

It looks absolutely gorgeous!

[timbit]

[quote=kaki321]
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First, let me preface this trip report with a huge disclaimer…I am not a “good” writer…not particularly clever, funny or detailed - so please don't expect too much. quote]

Au contraire------- you are a "GREAT " writer.

[kaki321]

Day 2 – Saturday in Playa<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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I slept pretty well last night, except I started waking up about every hour starting at about 3:00 am. Not sure if it was the music I heard from the ****** or <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on">OM</st1:place> bar that was keeping me up or the excitement of being in Playa and wanting my first real full day to start. Finally about 7 am I got up and located the coffee maker and coffee (bonus!) upstairs and made myself a cuppa Joe. It was great relaxing all alone. This was one of the few and far between times I was by myself all week. Don’t get me wrong, I love my family and my kids to death, but it’s usually “momma, momma, momma” all day long. Even with my niece here, they are VERY clingy to me and it gets a little exhausting sometimes. <o:p></o:p>
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So, everyone got up and I ushered Miles out to Las Mananitas to bring back some breakfast. On his way back, he was actually “stopped” in the street by a Peep who happens to recognize him from the board! It’s Eric (PortlandNative), the very same Eric we are meeting later that day at the beach. Now Miles isn’t a forum member, doesn’t know much about the board, so he is a little surprised to be walking down the street in Playa and be recognized. I spent the next two days explaining the board and the site to him…again…but I think he gets it all now, and might actually join!! I am also close to talking him into an adults only trip for Peep Fest! <o:p></o:p>
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Breakfast from Las Mananitas was AWESOME! We had eggs, pancakes, crepes, sausage, bacon, toast and juice. I highly recommend this place for breakfast.<o:p></o:p>
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(I will also say right now I failed to get any food pics this time – sorry!!) <o:p></o:p>
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It’s going on 10 am and it’s time to head off to Mega to stock up on groceries for the week. So, my niece Angela and I are off to find a taxi. We locate one easily and take the short trip over to Mega. This place is really cool. We pick up lots of staples and “kiddie food” (beer, wine, milk, pop, bread, peanut butter, hot dogs, snacks), as well as some play doh, mr. potato head and other things to amuse the kids with at the Villa. I am shocked when our bill is only $120 USD when the same cart load would have easily been about $300 here in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chicago</st1:place></st1:City>. So after paying and about 4 language barrier issues (every try finding maple syrup in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">mexico</st1:country-region></st1:place>?? ) we are back to the Villa with a trunkload of groceries. <o:p></o:p>
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Our next task is to get everyone ready for the beach. With two young kids this is a large undertaking. Even though my kids are naturally brown already and tan easily, I am vigilant with the sunblock so getting them lathered up and dressed for the beach is exhausting to say the least (notice the “exhaustion” theme starting to surface). Where is my niece at this point you might ask? The niece I brought down to help? Doing her hair and make up to go to the beach of course! Grrr. It’s a good thing we are meeting Eric and family only a block away at the ****** because between the grocery shopping and the sunblock and swim diapers I am EXHAUSTED already. It’s only noon.<o:p></o:p>
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It’s great to see the Playa beach, finally!! Here is what we saw when we first stepped into the sand - - looking south from the ******<o:p></o:p>
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Here is Eric and Miles bonding - - they talked for at least a few hours, then went over to the bar area and talked at least another hour (with a few additional locals - - the details I am sure Eric will get into in his report). As you can see, they were setting up for a wedding on the beach. It was a beautiful day.
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As far as the beach down by ****** and El Pirata - - I will say that there are some huge rocks down here, and you really need to hunt to find a good place to swim. We did find a great smooth sandbar though, just south of the ****** and the Massage table. It was great once we found it. <o:p></o:p>
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Spent some time chatting with Eric’s wife Pattie while my boys and their girls hit the beach - - well all of the kids did except Jackson (the 3 year old) who was in “momma, momma, momma” mode and just kinda layed down on me. That’s ok, I like snuggle mode. <o:p></o:p>
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Before I knew it I hear “HEY KAKI!!!” and it’s my good buddy A’ndrea (angelhouston). I wasn’t sure she was going to make it down to the beach today after her bar crawl research with JimmyMN, but she did. Here are a few candid pics I took of her and my boys. In this first one, she is asking <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Jackson</st1:place></st1:City> to show her his muscles (don't you love they way her bathing suit matches theirs?!)
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Here is Grant sitting on the ****** bar swing, and then the security guard playfully removing him

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We decided to get some shade, and then take the party over to Posada Freud (this becomes a theme too), where Eric, A’ndrea and I have a few Margs and a few shots. Honestly, we did this so many times, I am unsure of what day or time it was when we did it, but I think it was this day (I think Miles and Angela took the kids back to nap). <o:p></o:p>
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A’ndrea and Eric at ******<o:p></o:p>
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A'ndrea and I at Posada Freud<o:p></o:p>
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Honestly, I can't remember if this was the day A' and I also went and had mid-afternoon shots at the Tequila Barrel or not (I think it was tomorrow). But regardless, it was a blast.

It was getting kinda late, so we wrapped the afternoon up...After a shower and a change of clothes it’s off to Carboncitos (yum!!) and then the Peep Meet! But right now the kids are in “momma, momma, momma” mode so I have to wrap it up for the day. More later <o:p></o:p>

[kaki321]

Originally Posted by Dijo

finally someone who knows how to scale their pics down to a manageable size! Yes, yes, yes. Thank you!

Your kids are gorgeous! I'd have been concerned with the staircase as well. Even with a handrail, it's one heck of a long way down if you slip.

It looks absolutely gorgeous!

Thanks, I had to play around in photobucket to do that, but if you choose "message board" picture size, that is the size you get. Believe me, I have some extreme close ups coming up, and you don't want em any bigger

[angelhouston819]

oh, Kathleen. reading your post makes me miss you even more. one of the sad things that i encounter when going to Playa is making good friends with someone that lives so far away. i told you that Chicago is on "my list" of places to visit and i expect you to give me a grand tour!! now, if i can only manage to go somewhere else other then Playa!!

still think you ought to come down for Peep Fest 07. talk about wild!!


A'

[angelhouston819]

Originally Posted by kaki321

Honestly, I can't remember if this was the day A' and I also went and had mid-afternoon shots at the Tequila Barrel or not (I think it was tomorrow). But regardless, it was a blast. [/size][/font]

yes, it was the next day that we hung out at the Tequila Barrel. we drank Jose out of the Don Julio Reposado, so we moved the afternoon shots down 5th. it was soooo much fun hanging with you.


A'

[jamesblonde]

This is a great report! Your boys are adorable.