Playa, Akumal and Beyond----

[leedsb]

Ok, so I was really lazy this year. No daily notes, almost no food shots, lots of "look at that", but whatever I do, don't be pulling anything resembling a camera out of my pocket to shoot it with.
However, We did manage to get some pics, so with my faulty memory intact ( :roll eyes: ) I'll try to post something that is at least sort of chronologically correct. Mostly pics, not so mostly words, but that's probably a good thing.

It all started at 3:00AM on Wed, March 14, 2012. Friend Lauren, herself a Playa visitor from past trips, picked us up for the drive to the Burlington VT airport. No snow, no ice, on time take off.

The sun was just coming up as we arrived at JFK



The flight, ADO ride to PDC and check in at Club Yebo were all uneventful, and the camera never made it out until day 2 at Amaranto on the beach end of Ave 14.





We spend most of our time on the sand, under an umbrella, reading. Certainly, this was the activity until Carboncitos.









These are the only food pics I managed to remember.


So we're sitting there at Carboncitos and CB1 is looking at the hat display across the street. "You should buy a hat." sez she. "Why?" sez I. "You really need a new hat." sez she. Grumble, grumble. "I don't need no stinkin hat!" "Oh I think you do."

Not only does she make me buy one, she makes me wear it.



So I return the favor.

[Uno]

Originally Posted by leedsb

Ok, so I was really lazy this year. No daily notes, almost no food shots, lots of "look at that", but whatever I do, don't be pulling anything resembling a camera out of my pocket to shoot it with.
However, We did manage to get some pics, so with my faulty memory intact ( :roll eyes: ) I'll try to post something that is at least sort of chronologically correct. Mostly pics, not so mostly words, but that's probably a good thing.

It all started at 3:00AM on Wed, March 14, 2012. Friend Lauren, herself a Playa visitor from past trips, picked us up for the drive to the Burlington VT airport. No snow, no ice, on time take off.

The sun was just coming up as we arrived at JFK



The flight, ADO ride to PDC and check in at Club Yebo were all uneventful, and the camera never made it out until day 2 at Amaranto on the beach end of Ave 14.





We spend most of our time on the sand, under an umbrella, reading. Certainly, this was the activity until Carboncitos.









These are the only food pics I managed to remember.


So we're sitting there at Carboncitos and CB1 is looking at the hat display across the street. "You should buy a hat." sez she. "Why?" sez I. "You really need a new hat." sez she. Grumble, grumble. "I don't need no stinkin hat!" "Oh I think you do."

Not only does she make me buy one, she makes me wear it.



So I return the favor.

Nice! Leeds. Oh Carboncitos. Color me, 5 flavors of envy, with a side of chips.

And she was right. You look good in that hat.

[leedsb]

One of the morning activities has historically been a game of cribbage over morning coffee. It seems the hat was going to be required for this also.



Believe it or not, this is a picture of a fish.



We did make it to the PAR, formerly PPS, benefit at Wah Wah's.







There has been a bit of commentary about the reconstruction of 10th ave, all of which seems to be accurate. Sections of it are a continuous mess, which mess changes a little every day, but not seemingly for the better.



Although those are not narrow gage tracks, at least I don't think so, I'm a little confused bout their propose. I suspect some kind of curbing, but who knows-- they may not even still be there.

The next big event was the Bomberos 3 legged race. The Bomberos themselves were wise enough to avoid participation, but other staggering hordes were not.







Ready---3 2 1



DRINK and GO!





Throughout the happy evening, ever more spastic 3 legged attempts at locomotion were evident throughout PDC. It all got pretty funny after 3 or 4 stops.

Sue and Rick were all smiles with Lennie at Luna Blue



But then it all got weird



So after a hard day of sitting on the beach, reading, laughing, eating and more laughing, we got the hell out of there and went to bed.

[leedsb]

Originally Posted by Uno

Nice! Leeds. Oh Carboncitos. Color me, 5 flavors of envy, with a side of chips.

And she was right. You look good in that hat.

Thanks. Yeah - It's always fun to have a haton.

[Ranger]

Originally Posted by leedsb

Ok, so I was really lazy this year. No daily notes, almost no food shots, lots of "look at that", but whatever I do, don't be pulling anything resembling a camera out of my pocket to shoot it with.
However, We did manage to get some pics, so with my faulty memory intact ( :roll eyes: ) I'll try to post something that is at least sort of chronologically correct. Mostly pics, not so mostly words, but that's probably a good thing.

It all started at 3:00AM on Wed, March 14, 2012. Friend Lauren, herself a Playa visitor from past trips, picked us up for the drive to the Burlington VT airport. No snow, no ice, on time take off.

The sun was just coming up as we arrived at JFK



The flight, ADO ride to PDC and check in at Club Yebo were all uneventful, and the camera never made it out until day 2 at Amaranto on the beach end of Ave 14.





We spend most of our time on the sand, under an umbrella, reading. Certainly, this was the activity until Carboncitos.









These are the only food pics I managed to remember.


So we're sitting there at Carboncitos and CB1 is looking at the hat display across the street. "You should buy a hat." sez she. "Why?" sez I. "You really need a new hat." sez she. Grumble, grumble. "I don't need no stinkin hat!" "Oh I think you do."

Not only does she make me buy one, she makes me wear it.



So I return the favor.

Here we go, two wonderful, fun people, looked forward to this...... There she is!!!

[Playapup]

Great report and terrific pictures. A real pleasure to meet the two of you, fellow New Englander's, at the Playa Animal Rescue fundraiser at Wha Wha!

[leedsb]

The next motivational activity was a visit to Bad Boys for the Brent Parkins goodbye concert.



Brent was his usual excellent self, and his base man was one of the best I've seen. That man could really make a base sing. It was a great and memorable evening of music.

During our wanderings we passed this empty lot of illegitimate local housing. Makes one stop and think about their own over inflated problems.



This is Romy (hard "o"), and CB1. He works at Amaranto. He was a great guy who spoke quite good self taught English, always had that smile on his face, and seemed to have access to a never ending supply of Sol with a lime. Good man to know.



After 7 nights at Yebo, we rented a car, packed up and headed for Akumal.

The gate to heaven, or a reasonable facsimile thereof.



A few beach shots





Our room is the third from right, ground floor.



Apres Cribbage, sitting a little closer to the water occurs. We were so exhausted by days end, particularly with all that snorkeling and turtle watching.



The luncheria is convenient, close and real good.



Found this Square Pants style crab on a morning walk. He would dissapear down his hole at the slightest motion, but soon reappear with a claw full of sand from his excavation.



Walking by the Casitas





Well fortified, with modern gunnery and a witch tree





And decorated with bottle art





Lunch at Gynn'Ak. If you are in the area, eat here. It's down the road about a mile or so and well worth the trip.





Just for the sake of extreme change, we spent a little time at Playa Parasio on the day we left, before picking up a chicken at Pollo Bronco in Tulum.









Future architect at work.





Back in PDC, we moved into Plantation House





The Martinique was roomy, bright and breezy on the second floor. A great place to stay.

Living Area





Well equipped kitchen area





Bedroom





And a private porch for guitar playing in the evening.



You could live here for a number of weeks and be quite comfortable. There is even a self operated electric lift to get your luggage to the right floor.

Once back in PDC, we struggled to spend more time on the beach.

A bird for every post, a post for every bird (almost. I did see frequent squabbles over appropriate post times; and a little racing to go with those, although most of the racing was related to food and who should get it).



Just to make sure our vacation was properly varied, and since we did still have a car, we went to Xpu Ha for the clearest water yet.











This was another place well worth the visit. Thanks, Rick and Sue, for the posts about it.

Back in PDC, we found a few more subjects of interest.

Soon after I took this picture of a total bird congregation on the "Rustic" (I have to assume it's rustic because it's no longer accessible from the beach without wading) Pier, people were wondering about on it in bare feet!!



I was glad to see that religion is still healthy and present. Their nuns sure have it over ours. (Now don't be jumping all over me for that one.)



The flesh eating fish spa



The famous blue house



The Soriana store mall.





And these two young women who CB1 met at Starbucks. She asked them if she could use a chair, and they wound up interviewing her for a school report project. They wanted to know how she felt about the baby wild animals that are being used for photography on 5th Ave. They also agreed with her poor opinion of that use of animal life.

The one on the left reminded CB1 of our granddaughter



All things must eventually end, so we finally said good bye and flew home to the cold. Not too cold though. The Forsythia is in bloom and it's not yet April!

[leedsb]

Originally Posted by Playapup

Great report and terrific pictures. A real pleasure to meet the two of you, fellow New Englander's, at the Playa Animal Rescue fundraiser at Wha Wha!

Wha Wha, Wah Wah--same thing Stupid spelling.

[leedsb]

Originally Posted by Ranger

Here we go, two wonderful, fun people, looked forward to this...... There she is!!!

Ranger you old dog! How the hell are ya. Glad I could oblige with a few pics.

[Playapup]

Originally Posted by leedsb

Wha Wha, Wah Wah--same thing Stupid spelling.

Yea, my stupid spelling. Long live Wah Wah!

[snappysammy]

can't believe nobody asked:
where is the flesh eating fish spa??

thanks in advance

[roni]

Very nice. More please

[Hostamamma]

Originally Posted by snappysammy

can't believe nobody asked:
where is the flesh eating fish spa??

thanks in advance

It is at the Wayan's store across from the Ado bus station on 5th. They have one right out front to draw people in and then 2 more in the back, we did it when we were there in Feb. They also have a "full body" fish spa.

[leedsb]

Originally Posted by snappysammy

can't believe nobody asked:
where is the flesh eating fish spa??

thanks in advance

Originally Posted by Hostamamma

It is at the Wayan's store across from the Ado bus station on 5th. They have one right out front to draw people in and then 2 more in the back, we did it when we were there in Feb. They also have a "full body" fish spa.

Yeah - what Hostamamma said. CB1 was a little creeped out by the thought of fish gobbling dead skin off your body, so we didn't try it. (Notice I blame it all on her!)

[queencityfan]

Great pics, fun report, you can get the fish spa treatment at Cenote Azul too!