Vacation Time!

Andy and Family got up at 2 am.  Left for hotel by 3:30.  Could have gone later, they found out as the airport, surprisingly was pretty void of people at that time!  They flew out at 6. We got up at 8 and hit the pool.  Returned to the room for showers and packing at 10.  We left the hotel at 11. Got to airport and everything went fine.  Flew into some rain in Atlanta.  Andy was in Chicago. We crossed when Andy was in Lebanon, we hit Indy.  But we went back to the gate because the airplane radar would not update the weather.  We arrived an hour behind schedule.  That's when we found out that Andy's car had a dead battery.  Not sure how they got it started, but they did. We stopped in Lebanon for some late dinner as we had a full lunch at Guy Fieri's in the Cancun airport. We got home at 11:30 pm.  Long day, but home safe and that's all that matters. Back again in six weeks!  It's good to be us!

If I recall correctly, I updated this blog last night BEFORE we all played some cards.  Let me give you an update on that: Austin, who has just learned how to play Euchre, and I smoked Sandy & Andy in Euchre 10 - 2. Everyone had an opportunity to win and also lose at UNO. Rolled out at 0800 this morning.  Michelle was already on the deck reading a book.  The three of us (Michelle, Sandy, and I) went to breakfast downstairs while the other two (Andy & Austin) slept some more. After breakfast, we three laid by the pool to collect more Vitamin D.  The boys went next door to paint some pottery. We all met up at about 12:30 for lunch here at the hotel.  Andy "finally" saw the menu for Paco's Taco's - or what he calls "real" Mexican food.  The best meal he has had all week and he wants to go back for dinner tonight. After lunch we headed for the beach.  The boys swam - the girls?  Well they got their feet wet & then they retired to one of th

At Tulum today, there were all kinds of animals. Michelle and Austin picked Monkeys... Sunrise in Cancun, Royal Islander, 17 OCT 2019

Sandy and I slept in until 10, when we hit the pool.  Lunch was here at the hotel.  The rest of the clan returned about 2:30. Austin's review of Today: Got out of bed at 6:30 am, which is early for me.  Took a tour bus to Tulum.  Saw all the ruins around Tulum.  Saw the beach.  Guided tour.  Saw lots of unique animals and even had a monkey on my head.  Learned how the buildings were painted.  Learned why the buildings were shaped the way they are.  Very hot there.  Returned to swim in ocean and pool.  Dinner at Puerto Mudero.  Took photos of sunset.  Still saw no fish in lagoon.  Looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow. We stayed by the pool until 6-ish.  Went out for a wonderful steak dinner. Played some Uno and Euchre before bed. Photos today courtesy of Austin: Photo of Tulum The beach at Tulum - roped off to protect the turtles nesting Ruins at Tulum More ruins at Tulum Sunset over the lagoon at dinner tonight

It's camel day.  We are mid-way through our vacation.  We took it easy today.  I slept in until 10.  We loaded up and went to La Isla to shop.  Austin wanted some new shirts and to visit the Gucci store - he wondered about the outlandish prices.  Of course me and DramMa got stuff for the babies back home. We ate lunch at Johnny Rockets - nice break, American food - hamburgers, fries, and milk shakes. We came back and hit the pool, sun deck, and ocean. After showers we split up.  Andy and his family stayed here and ate pizza / pasta night.  Grandma and I took the shuttle down to The Sands.  It was sushi night, but we passed and ate at Hasienda Sisal.  Excellent meal. Tomorrow holds a trip for the Albitz family to Tulum.  Sandy and I just relax about the pool. Some photos to enjoy. View from dinner table - NICE! Shopping at La Isla.  Furnishings for Dia del muerte. Photo to share with Michael, Nick, Alex, Davey, and Phil. Sipping some fine tequila ($30

Actually slept better last night.  Lots of ups & downs by everyone, but more restful.  Out again by 9.  Hit the pool and then the buffet breakfast.  Then Michelle and Andy signed up for some tours. The boys all left at 12:45 for a hike to the Parque Maya Zipline & museum next to the Captain's Cove.  It was a blast and everyone should give it a go.  We have done Selvateca before, and it is awesome.  However, this one is local and takes less than 4 hours.  Here's how it went down. Arrive, pay additional $12 park fee for protecting the reef.  Change into  swimming suits.  Watch an introductory video about the Mayans and the ruins.  Go do zip lines and rope bridges.  Not quite like we did in KY with Tree Top Adventures, because in this event, you are not tied off but there are safety nets for every bridge.  This one is also about 3 stories above water, where the other was about one story above the forest floor.  This version also had much longer zip lines.  We flew upsi

Michelle was the first one up this morning and she made a pot of coffee. Sandy and I were out by 8.  Andy got up and the four of us went downstairs to breakfast. We stayed at the pool and ate bbq lunch here.  We hit the pool and the ocean multiple times.  Enough times that Austin and Andy felt like they'd been in a washing machine. We took showers and then rode the shuttle bus over to the Captain's Cove for dinner. We are back in the room now, it's 9 pm local, 10 pm at home. We took a few opportunities to haze people at home.  Enjoy the photos! Sent in reply to Eric Myers who was complaining about work - me too! Texted to the kids, letting them know that we are hitting it hard this morning! Dinner tonight was at the Cove! We are in paradise?  Damn teenagers! Austin's photo of the sun set tonight. The lagoon before the rain.

We crashed last night at 8:30 and slept for 12 hours.  We attempted to watch some college football, to no avail. We got up this morning and met with our concierge to learn about changes.  We grabbed seats by the pool and then ate breakfast at the restaurant here. Andy, Michelle, and Austin pulled in at 1 pm.  We got them to the room and then we ate lunch downstairs - effectively skipping the Welcome Party. We moved to the sun deck, where the women held down the chairs.  The boys, we went to the ocean for a swim.  Then we all went to the pool.  Then the boys went to the ocean again. After showers we went down to La Distilleria for dinner.  Back to the room by 8 pm. The beach at The Islander Looking back at the hotel from the sun deck Dinner at La Distilleria The mariachi band at La Distilleria A simple $5 bill brings the band over to play for Austin

We roll off the slumber at 0300.  Our flight out of Indy is at 7 and we have to be there 2 hours early for international flights, adding a 1 hour drive time, that means we leave the house at 4 am.  And that's why we got up at 3 am...  A small price to pay, mind you, for we get to spend the next 7 days in our home away from home - beautiful Cancun, MX.  The best part?  We don't have to answer phones, return emails, or speak with anyone we don't want to!  Which may or may not include some of you reading this right now! There was a line of about six vehicles to get into the Park N Fly, but the trip from parking to airport was simple.  The check-in at SW was quick.  Getting thru the drug dog and security was a breeze.  We had plenty of time for coffee, reading, and people watching before boarding the plane to Atlanta. This is our first foray back into the cattle cars that are Southwest Airlines.  But, we upgraded and were in the first 20 to board the plane.  Thus, we sat cl