Xcaret, Mexico--"Day One: Just Do Eat!"
Well, there is one good thing about today--my anxiety about flying with my 1-year-old is now over. Been there, done that, and lived to tell about it without too much agony or long-term trauma! It wasn't perfect, and she didn't sleep, but she didn't scream the entire time either. She had her moments and the next time we fly I don't think I will go without her having her own seat. But, now we just have the flight back and, no matter how awful that goes, at least we know that's it.
The plane ride in was your standard flight, aside from the fact that my 5-year-old son had never flown and it was really neat getting to watch him experience lift-off for the first time. He was an excellent traveler.
The shuttle from the airport was another story. The ride seemed to be endless, as we drove through the bumpy and worn streets. I was amazed by how we'd see extreme poverty butted up right next to these amazing condos and hotels. How must it feel for the people just getting by in those shacks to get up every morning and watch foreigners arrive to cool washcloths on a silver tray greeting them at their destination?
We met an interesting couple from New Jersey on this ride. He had just had a quadruple bypass surgery, and she was full of information about it. She said she was surprised to hear we were from Texas, proclaiming that she was sure we were from New Jersey, like they were, because we didn't have accents. What was more amusing than the fact that she didn't catch my Texas drawl, was that I instantly knew she was a Jersey girl by her thick accent!
Along the way, we saw some interesting things. The road was studded with huge billboards that were obviously geared toward tourists. One Burger King sign said, "Just Do Eat!" We got a chuckle out of that one. (I also think subconsciously we took their advice this vacation, because OH MY did we JUST eat and eat and eat!)
During a moment when we were certain the driver was lost, the Jersey couple joked about a small building that housed a daycare, grocery and gynecologist office all within its decomposing two floors. Why, you could drop your kids off, get your pap smear, and pick up papaya all in one fell swoop! Of course, seeing the general filth around this place, I wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy!
Dump trucks were all over the freeway, hauling loads of broken concrete and then unloading them just randomly along the road in any open spots. I kept thinking, if they did that where we lived, they would find themselves in serious legal trouble or at least ticketed or fined. It made it hard to find where the new things were being built and where there was an open area. Basically, it looked like a war-zone--like a bomb had been set off.
And, then you'd come across a little road with a fancy entrance and know that's where a sleek, high-class resort was a few miles down the road, closer to the beach. I had a hard time understand how the all money that comes from all this tourism (our hotel was crowded and business was booming), could not be spent to clean things up, help the poor, and fix the road construction disaster that was going on. Where does all the money made from tourism go? That is the big question I left with.
After finally reaching our resort, which was massive and included a convention center within it, we walked around and checked out our surroundings. The property was breathtaking, with its natural foliage and wildlife. Just in the lobby, there were several brightly-color macaws on perches all around, there not for show but because it was their home. As we walked inside the resort, there were lazy river pools built with natural stones all around, bridges, and waterfalls scattered between dense islands of trees and tropical plants.
Red Macaw in our Hotel Lobby
Signs along the pathways, noted where wildlife lived in the patches of forest that enveloped the resort buildings. We immediately saw live deer in one and a lot of birds as we walked along. We located where monkeys were supposed to be in the trees, but never found them. Later we'd find a few lemurs who lived in one area, one of which decided to take a stroll on the sidewalks off the main lobby where tourists shopped.
Deer Living in Forest Area Near Our Room
It was close to 4 o'clock by the time we got to our room and we'd had NO food aside from a tiny bag of peanuts on the plane since 8:30 that morning.) My kids had some small snacks along the way, but nothing substantial and I was amazed that they were both holding up so well.) So, we grabbed something to eat at a snackbar/swim-up bar next to our building. My hubby and son got in a quick swim while I unpacked and let my daughter explore the room. We hit the buffet that night for dinner, then crashed in our beds early, exhausted from our flight and the wild shuttle bus ride.
Stay tuned tomorrow for "Day Two: Attack of the Crabby Patties!"
The plane ride in was your standard flight, aside from the fact that my 5-year-old son had never flown and it was really neat getting to watch him experience lift-off for the first time. He was an excellent traveler.
The shuttle from the airport was another story. The ride seemed to be endless, as we drove through the bumpy and worn streets. I was amazed by how we'd see extreme poverty butted up right next to these amazing condos and hotels. How must it feel for the people just getting by in those shacks to get up every morning and watch foreigners arrive to cool washcloths on a silver tray greeting them at their destination?
We met an interesting couple from New Jersey on this ride. He had just had a quadruple bypass surgery, and she was full of information about it. She said she was surprised to hear we were from Texas, proclaiming that she was sure we were from New Jersey, like they were, because we didn't have accents. What was more amusing than the fact that she didn't catch my Texas drawl, was that I instantly knew she was a Jersey girl by her thick accent!
Along the way, we saw some interesting things. The road was studded with huge billboards that were obviously geared toward tourists. One Burger King sign said, "Just Do Eat!" We got a chuckle out of that one. (I also think subconsciously we took their advice this vacation, because OH MY did we JUST eat and eat and eat!)
During a moment when we were certain the driver was lost, the Jersey couple joked about a small building that housed a daycare, grocery and gynecologist office all within its decomposing two floors. Why, you could drop your kids off, get your pap smear, and pick up papaya all in one fell swoop! Of course, seeing the general filth around this place, I wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy!
Dump trucks were all over the freeway, hauling loads of broken concrete and then unloading them just randomly along the road in any open spots. I kept thinking, if they did that where we lived, they would find themselves in serious legal trouble or at least ticketed or fined. It made it hard to find where the new things were being built and where there was an open area. Basically, it looked like a war-zone--like a bomb had been set off.
And, then you'd come across a little road with a fancy entrance and know that's where a sleek, high-class resort was a few miles down the road, closer to the beach. I had a hard time understand how the all money that comes from all this tourism (our hotel was crowded and business was booming), could not be spent to clean things up, help the poor, and fix the road construction disaster that was going on. Where does all the money made from tourism go? That is the big question I left with.
After finally reaching our resort, which was massive and included a convention center within it, we walked around and checked out our surroundings. The property was breathtaking, with its natural foliage and wildlife. Just in the lobby, there were several brightly-color macaws on perches all around, there not for show but because it was their home. As we walked inside the resort, there were lazy river pools built with natural stones all around, bridges, and waterfalls scattered between dense islands of trees and tropical plants.
Red Macaw in our Hotel Lobby
Signs along the pathways, noted where wildlife lived in the patches of forest that enveloped the resort buildings. We immediately saw live deer in one and a lot of birds as we walked along. We located where monkeys were supposed to be in the trees, but never found them. Later we'd find a few lemurs who lived in one area, one of which decided to take a stroll on the sidewalks off the main lobby where tourists shopped.
Deer Living in Forest Area Near Our Room
It was close to 4 o'clock by the time we got to our room and we'd had NO food aside from a tiny bag of peanuts on the plane since 8:30 that morning.) My kids had some small snacks along the way, but nothing substantial and I was amazed that they were both holding up so well.) So, we grabbed something to eat at a snackbar/swim-up bar next to our building. My hubby and son got in a quick swim while I unpacked and let my daughter explore the room. We hit the buffet that night for dinner, then crashed in our beds early, exhausted from our flight and the wild shuttle bus ride.
Stay tuned tomorrow for "Day Two: Attack of the Crabby Patties!"
posted by Crazy MomCat @ 11:07 PM
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