Day 9

Not a good start to this day!!.....up at 12:15. The internet had gone down....ah, new passcode for the new week. So I call the front desk and they give me one...the trc one...should be right. Nope....didn’t work no matter how I tried. So I called back and said I needed the “inside” one....oh, well that was different, he said...and then appeared to have hung up. So I did as well. About a minute later he calls back (yay...woke Dale...argh)...he tried to explain this 2-step process and I could not understand a thing over the phone. So I asked for it once again very slowly.....nope, that didn’t work either....so I’m in the middle of the night, as well as the first 4 hours I’m awake in the a.m., without internet. Wow, just like the old days.
Still struggling with the whole e-cig thing.

Got up and went to Church again this year. Unlike last year when we were freezing, we were both sweating by the time we made the walk there. It was very nice (a bit windy, but nice).

On the way home from church, we stopped at a small flea market. As we were looking at some items, a huge cockroach came tumbling down, landed on Dale's back and onto the floor. The owner quickly squashed it and removed it, but it still left a kind of ucky feeling....kind of funny, though, too!
   
After that, we just hit the beach and I had a beach massage. Then was the welcome party where we had our hamburger (which we share...they’re huge)

We later walked down to the public beach and found the beach massages there!!....they said they are there every day (not at all last week).....we’ll see!. It’s a lot less expensive, though Dale has already paid for his through the resort tomorrow.

That’s about all we did all day!!...so no pictures...not even the sunrise.

Day 8- 3/1/14

There was a beautiful sunrise and a beautiful sunset, but that in between wasn't so great today.

Because I didn't pack well with e-cigs, we ran to the Plaza Las Americas (huge mall) where the folks at the front desk had contacted several people who said they were sold in a store in this mall. We took a cab (read $), and walked the mall for over 2 hours only to find nothing....asking questions hundreds of times with most who don't speak English. Argh....

Came back to the resort and talked with our concierge, who consulted with another who stated she had personally bought them at "xyz" store. So back we go again and do find the store, but guess what.....they are out and will be for the rest of this week.....
Argh......not knowing what to do (should quit, but don't think I want to ruin my vacation). Turned the problem over to Joanna, our concierge...who probably won't do anything as she's frustrated we won't go listen to a sales talk.

So we came back grumbling at having just wasted nearly $70 in cab rides for naught!!...
So just hit the beach with books. While out there we met a gentleman from Montivideo, MN....a Thrivent person (didn't say, but I'm assuming sales). Also while down there, we saw Diane & John from Iowa are back...though we didn't get a chance to visit.

Went to Papalya for supper and had the prime rib special......so excellent, but so expensive. Ah well, have enough leftover for another whole meal.

Hoping tomorrow is a more successful day.

Day 7

 I can't believe it!!...where did that time go??? Seriously???

Boring (yay!) day..... sunrise walk....looked to see what the storm washed up. Not much really....just found a starfish.

Found this by the dock. It was a tough pic with all the moving waves. About the size of a small dinner plate.

Made breakfast for Dale and then we decided to talk a walk on the trail in an attempt to find e-cigs. They must be like sunflower seeds.....they have never heard of them. Anyway, did take some pictures of the lagoon and iguanas.

Check out the kayakers in the lagoon

Note lack of the end of his tail

Look closely

It was predicted to rain, but never did. Was a beautiful day, though cloudy at times. (It wasn't SUPPOSED to rain yesterday).
Never heard back from the spa, which is getting frustrating.

Just had pizza for supper and now...off to bed!

Day 6

Got up and took a sunrise walk......

then laid on the beach until fixing Dale breakfast. 
Washed a load of clothes.
Went back to the beach around 10:00 while Dale went to aerobics. It started to sprinkle...and then pour rain. I sat it out for awhile, but eventually came up to the deck. Got sunny....so back I go....and the whole thing happened again.

So we decided to make a "quick trip" to Walmart for just a few groceries. It was hot and humid, but cloudy. So we got back and I was excited to go back to the beach.
Not to be!!......it then started pouring and a huge thunderstorm took over....lot of very loud thunder...lightning, the whole deal.

So that was pretty much today. Rain was only predicted at 20%....tomorrow is 40%....perhaps it is just ahead of schedule....we can hope. 

I can't believe it is day 6 already. I feel like we just got here.

Day 5

Day 5- Feb. 27
 
Another lazy day.....took a morning walk---love taking pictures of the sunrise & flag.

Fish from the dock

and then didn't get out to the beach until about 8:00---didn't even go to aerobics.






 But did take another walk with Dale in place of aerobics.

This poor little starfish was just trying to rest, but the waves kept pulling him in & back.

This is now docked by the "curve".....it has really been fixed up down there. Maybe, if they have a day show..we might consider it!

Came in and made a shake and Dale a sandwich. Then we went to the flea market to scope things out.

Grandpa Jose met us going

and returning.

We got back around 3:30 to find our concierge, Joanna, here and waiting. They have really been putting on the pressure to buy this year. Allegedly they will be going all-inclusive next year for everyone but members. Dale agreed very tentatively to speak with a salesperson (just to get Joanna off our butts)....then he found out he would have to go over to the Sands, stay for a minimum of 1 1/2 hours to listen to their pitch and then another 20-30 minutes back....(there goes an entire morning)......that pissed Dale off. He said if they wanted to sell, they would have to come to him, not vice-versa. We're getting really disillusioned with the new owners/management. Perhaps that is why Gabriela and Shelly are gone???...sigh.....love this place, but may have to look elsewhere.

The Pirate Ships still go out faithfully every night @ 7:00----why I still jump when I hear their cannon, I don't know.

Day 4--Selvatica= ziplining

Day 4-    2/25/14

Up early today to head to Selvatica for ziplining!.....and we were the first folks there and got a friendly welcome from all.

My name tag---guess that works!

It was a fun experience......the staff was awesome and funny (and took my camera to take this selfie)

So we got "hooked up" and sat down for training at Zipline University (despite the above photo, they did take safety very, very seriously) . Then we headed "up"....and I mean UP......oh, the steps!!! Each of the 12 sections were higher and you had to climb steps between each.....narrow steps...very steep steps...and LOTS of steps.
BUT yes....I did it upside down...one of only 2-3 people!!

My new t-shirt!!

I had purchased a helmet camera and Dale wore it through the whole thing.....then I promptly tried to help him and hit the wrong button, deleting everything!!!....ARGh...

After ziplining, we took the truck over Mayan Massage Road (read: huge, huge and many potholes)...and jumped and swam in the cenotes. That was fun, too....and cooled us down after sweating up all the steps.

Truck on Mayan Massage Road

On the way out, we saw a video on planting trees and each received a seed to plant to be taken around the world. It was also a refuge for a few parrots and monkeys. 

So..... we bought the DVD and pictures (obviously when ziplining or jumping into a cenotes), you are not taking pictures!)   We got back to the villa and discovered that most of the section from the cenotes was another group and our pictures were not in it. Argh...again. I e-mailed, but no response yet.

I copied the DVD to the computer and hoped to open it with Picasa, so I could take photos off it....no luck with that either. Sigh.....

Came back and  hit the beach......
The workers here are replacing the thatch on the beach...interesting to watch.

Tired, so about to hit the sack. No plans for the morrow yet.