#275 - Q is for Quintana Roo

So, Quintana Roo is the state in Mexico that includes the cities of Cancun, Tulum and the island of Conzumel.

I have been here multiple times and have traveled some in the region.

Here are a few of my favorite photos:

Lots of underwater critters...

Friendly reptiles...

The snorkeling pond at Xel-Ha

Serene resting spots...

My husband found these and wanted to keep them...

Deep thoughts while on vacation...

A story about a seagull covered in oil who curses humans...

More friendly neighbors...

One of my favorite shots of the beach south of Tulum...

Tulum ruins...

The white sandy beaches south of Cancun

Tropical splendor...

Fun in Cozumel...

Hubby and I had a great time snorkeling all over the area...

#277 - M is for Mexico

I've been to different parts of Mexico so many times

that I could write a month of blogs just on

the places I've been and the things I've seen.

I even lived in Mexico City for a year.

But, I thought I would share a scant percentage of

the hundreds of photos I have of places in Mexico.

I love fountains, and I especially love

the small plazas you find in most Mexican towns.

My abuelita (Span. grandmother) used to say that

growing up, on Sundays after church, 

the young men and women would walk around the outside 

of the town square while

mothers and grandmothers and aunties would sit

on the inside of the square keeping an eye on the

young people.  Beaus would slip notes into 

the girl's shawls since speaking to a young woman

was frowned upon.  She even told the story of

how a friend of hers was in love with a young

man whom her parents didn't approve of, and

how he rode up on his horse one day during

the Sunday plaza walk and grabbed her up on his

horse and ran away with her.

That she knew of, they lived happily ever after.

This is in Manzanillo, a small town on the Pacific Coast

where life is simple, and resorts haven't taken over

the small town.  It still feels a lot like old world Mexico.

Puerto Vallarta is one of my favorite places.

I love the downtown area and have been here

tons of times.

A new place we went to our last time there was 

the Arch which is south of Puerto Vallarta...

We went snorkeling and ended up eating a fish feast

on the beach afterward, washed down with chilled

Mexican beer... good thing we weren't driving.

And, then there's Tulum.

With its white sandy beaches...

And amazing history and Mayan ruins...

And you can go across to Cozumel...

on a boat,  take pictures of boats

and get on another boat and go snorkeling.

Then drink more cerveza!!

Salud!

My Husband, the Dare Devil

I love to sail, and for a while in residency, I crewed on a J-24 during the summer

races on Lake Erie just off Buffalo, NY.  Almost falling into the drink as we made an

emergency tack to avoid a collision is about as exciting as I want my sports to be...

Unless you count snowboarding, which I did do for several seasons,

the longest being during our stay in Boston from 2004 to 2005.

Nothing like going down a mountain in 30 degree weather

and hoping you don't hit a tree... or fall off the ski lift

in spectacular fashion in front of everyone...

No, I like my sporting life to be tame.

And, then there's my husband.

When I first met him, he was a windsurfer.

Soon, I was learning the language of windsurfers,

and when we finally moved together to Minnesota,

I learned about the windsurfer widow's life:

trips to places to windsurf

hooking up the equipment

tearing down the equipment

etc.

I tried it once.

Fell into the water multiple times.

Decided I'd rather be a spectator.

Then he decided to kick it up a notch.

Kite boarding.

Snow kiting in the winter.

Kite surfing in the summer.

A lot more speed and excitement for him

with less equipment to have to haul around.

And trips like our honeymoon meant kite surfing for him

and white sandy beaches for me.

A win-win.

Then we moved to California,

and he found the next thrill...

hang gliding...

I can honestly say, that there was a lump in my throat

on the first day I saw him voluntarily launch himself off a cliff

and into the air.

I'm a medical doctor.

An ER physician.

I've seen people on their worst days,

so I know what can happen.

Until that moment, I didn't think about it 

happening to him.

And, now, three years and many many flights later,

the lump isn't so bad.

I still hold my breath as he takes off,

and say a silent prayer to the God who protects

drunks and small children that my husband has a good flight

and comes back to the ground in one piece.

Getting my ham radio license has made it a bit easier. (KK6FZZ, btw)

I can now provide ground support with weather reports

and instant communication while he's up in the air.

But still, having taken care of three of his fellow pilots

in the ED while on duty, I know there's always a risk.

Of course, there's a risk getting out of the bathtub,

or crossing the street, or sitting in a parked car.

But, those aren't as fun as flying along with jet planes

and eagles...

or so he tells me....

Here's a link to his first blog post:

Jerry's Lite Air Adventure Blog

which, after I read it made my lump in my throat come back...

along with the video I created from our

Memorial Day Weekend trip to, where..?

Oh, yeah, go hang gliding...