Final Edition of Scuba

We completed our SCUBA Circuit today in Cozumel. It was amazing! Our first dive was in an area called Paloncar Caves. We reached depths of 75 feet for about 50 minutes today. It was like going through underwater canyons. Tall towers surround you at every turn. We saw a lobster that was about 4 feet from head to toe. We also saw a grouper that was about 4 feet long and 3 feet tall. Our second dive was Chancanab Bolones National Park. We were down about 60 feet and lasted about 40 minutes. A surgeon fish led the way for us. It was just ahead of us for about 20 minutes of the dive, we just followed it. We dived with a father/son tandem from Indiana just out side of Odin. They were really nice but made you think that Indiana is a little weird.

Natalie just completing her final dive of our trip. Natalie has really become good at diving. However, she said that she would like to take a break from scuba after today.

Jay in the morning before our dives. You can tell he is really excited.
Jay and Alberto (dive master) discussing our dive. Alberto was a really nice guy. As you can tell, this boat had a lot of cool toys. 3 guys went extreme deep-diving to depths of 170 feet. Again, thanks to Nana and Papa for watching the kids all day so we could have so much fun. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Jay and Nat Scuba Adventure Part 2: Dos Ojos Cenote

In our dive package with ReefQuest Divers, we got 1 Playa dive, 1 Cozumel Dive which is Friday, and 1 cenote dive. Cenotes are the surfacing parts of an underground river system that exists throughout the Yucatan Peninsula. We really were not that excited about this dive. However it was incredible to see all of the different formations, stalagmites and stalagtites. It was really awesome scenery. The first 3 pictures are of Natalie going through the caves and the last 3 are of Jay. Highly recommended!

Another neat aspect of this dive is that we went with a nice couple from Sweden. They were really fun to visit with and they were as interested in us as we were in them. The best story they told us about Sweden is having to smuggle PEPTO-BISMOL into their country from the states because the Swedish Government has not approved it as an OTC medicine. I guess it is like gold in Sweden.

Secret Worlds Cenotes Park

We spent the morning at a cenote park called Secret Worlds and snorkled in a cenote called Dos Ojos (Two Eyes). To get to the snorkel site we first needed to ride in a big truck called a Jungle Buggie on a dirt road through the jungle for 15 minutes. This was actually a cool part of the experience. Papa, on a couple of crazy turns on the way home, almost bounced out of the back!

The cenote was down in a big hole in the earth through which we had to climb down a couple of dozen steps to reach. Can you see the giant tree growing from the bottom of the cave up through the opening?
We jumped into the cool water and then followed our guide through several caverns and caves, some lit up by artificial light, others dark except for our guide's flashlight. Natalie and Jay will scuba the other side of the enormous cave system of Dos Ojos tomorrow. We'll see how this goes.

Back at the condo...

This is Sergio our security guard. He is usually around during the days and keeps things safe at our condo. He is a very nice, helpful guy. Jay just had to get a picture of him.

This was a lady we just met but who was nice enough to smile for the camera. We don't even know her name but Jay took a picture of her today because she is a census worker. He thought it was funny that she asked Natalie to fill out census information. Two weeks in a country was enough to fill out a census questionnaire!

Collin found this beauty at the pool this afternoon. He was so excited to show me that I had to take a picture. Collin and Sydney have held a ton of creatures the last couple of days including an iguana and parakeet tonight. Collin released this butterfly soon after the shot was taken.

Afternoon at the CrocoCun Zoo

On Monday, June 21st, Natalie, Jay, Donna, and the kids went to a small zoo just north of Puerto Morales called CrocoCun Zoo. We went with low expectations but came back having the best time for the whole family. The first stop at the zoo was the birds.

Natalie is talking to Lorenzo. He speaks espanol e ingles.

Marek was our guide for the tour. He was only 25 years old, had a degree in international studies from Mexico City, had worked for the Mexican government and spent three months last year touring the U.S. to improve his English. He was great with the kids and Nana.
Natalie is getting a smooooch from the macaw.
Collin getting a peck from the beak.
Sydney's turn!
When John is gone, Donna will play.
Bays is going to get a new friend when we get home!!!
The croc was bigger than Collin.
Sydney even got into the act of the reptile thing.
Who's better looking the Croc or Jay?
Natalie has the croc by the tail.
Nana terrified of anything that moves got some quiet time with Benito the Croc.
However, at first she was not too keen on this croc thing, especially after he just peed on the guide.
One of the over 200 crocodiles that we encountered at the zoo.
Penelope the Python wraps around Collin's neck.
I can't believe Sydney let the snake anywhere near her. Penelope the snake actually took Sydney's glasses.
Natalie looks like she actually likes the snake.
Don't laugh too hard on this one. Give Nana credit - she did well with the snake.

These are the Mexican Hairless dogs otherwise known as Aztec dogs or Xoloitzcuintles) They are very loyal and friendly.
Sydney would love to take one home for Bays and her. The dog's name was Lola.
Wild monkey were everywhere. This one really took to Jay.

Natalie and Collin staring down an 8 foot croc.
Sydney dared Jay to grab its tail and run.
This is more Nana's speed. Getting to feed the deer was certainly a welcome from the intensity of all the crocs.
This baby deer was about a month old. Of course, Sydney wanted to take this home too.
Again, Nana enjoying the peaceful relaxation of herbivores instead of the carnivore crocs.

Sydney feeding a captive spider monkey that they were hoping to introduce back into the wild.
Wild spider monkey on the side of the tree. They were all around.
This is the most often-seen roadkill. I forgot what the name of this thing is, but he is related to the raccoon family. Isn't he cute?!

Jay and Nat Scuba Adventure Part I

We went scuba diving today while Nana and Papa watched the kids for a few hours. We had a great experience. We saw eels, blue tangs, barracudas, and a huge Caribbean Reef Sting Ray (it was at least 5 x 7, the tail was about 8 feet long). We dove with a gal from Boulder, and our dive master's boyfriend was from South Jordan, Utah. Small world, huh? The Sargent Major on the top of the blog attacked Natalie's fins for disturbing her eggs.

What do we do with all of our time?

Of course, Sydney has all the luck again. We have a family staying a month in our condo with 3 girls ages 5,6,and 7. Claudia, the oldest is quite a splasher in the pool. The two younger sisters are also sweet and fun for everyone. The 3 girls are actually going to school around the corner for 3 weeks. Natalie thinks next year we will put the kids in the school. Collin really doesn't care for any of the girls.

Sydney and Collin have discovered different ways to keep them busy in down times. First, they have discovered OUTBURST the game. They play this really well. Sydney is an OUTBURST junkie. They also have discovered CLUE in a box of cereal give away. They have played Clue and Outburst for hours on our trip.