365-5 | Peaches Prattlings

{July 26, 2017} Why? Just why?

It’s oatmeal, plain ‘ole oatmeal.

This is not a food you experiment with beyond fruits and sweeteners. Maybe you add some blueberries, strawberries, bananas. Some maple syrup, honey, brown sugar.
My opinion… not oregano, chives, bacon, chedder cheese. These are not grits people!

The hotel I am staying in is a test kitchen of sorts, trying out new creations and new twists on old favorites.

I’m a creative and curious person, adventurous with my pallet, even being vegan, but, come on, it’s oatmeal, breakfast and for me, one of the few things I can eat.

Its oatmeal for goodness sake…

{July 25, 2017} Camp bound!

Wow! It’s here! Time for summer camp!

Not just summer camp, but sleep away camp!! It’s the third year for EJS and the first for MGS!

For EJS there’s excitement, eagerness to be away with old friends, making new ones, friends for life, new experiences, something special every day.

For MGS, there’s excitement, nerves, a fear of the unknown, hope for something great, awesomeness.

The car was packed, with gear and family, let’s go! They sent pictures getting ready to go, a stop at Dunkin Donuts, that always helps.

Then the pictures of drop off, big sister first, all smiles and I have a feeling an attitude like mine was, ‘ok, I found my friends, I’m set, thanks, bye’, ha ha. Next little and after a minute…’I found my friends, I’m set, thanks, bye ‘.

What comes next? A big sigh of relief from the parents. A successful drop off and happy kids and parents, what could be better?

I can’t wait for my first letter!

{July 23, 2017} Going through withdrawls!

It’s true, I am!

For my friends, the beach, the constant companionship of vacationing together!

Do you ever get that? It’s happened a few times for me, the first was when I took a cruise with neighbors in my last neighborhood on Georgia. We spent seven days together, breakfast, excursions, dinner, entertainment. Then you go home, back to reality and you don’t see them every day, it takes adjusting!

After spending a week with some of my closest friends, literally 24/7, how do you go back? I texted the girls earlier, they all agreed! Sigh…

Looking forward to the next trip! And the bonding and the friendship and the lice and the beach and the… and the…

{July 21, 2017} Mexico Day 6

Our last official day here in Mexico, Playa del Carmen. What a great trip it’s been!

The day started too early! But… that means some beautiful images from the beach to share with you!

We spent some serious time at the pool today and at 12pm, we had a photo shoot on the beach, great pictures! Then some lunch and trying a shot of tequila, um, one was enough! But I did it!

After lunch, more pool time, SDL and CKM went for some massages and DJL and I had some one on one pool time with MissA.

SDL and CKM back and we played a little more, then it was time to turn in our pool towels for the last time. Sigh…

Back to the room to shower and get dressed, we had a sunset photo shoot scheduled! It was a lot of fun and the photos look great!

Then it was time for our next dinner reservation, at the Japanese restaurant. Again, they accommodated my dietary needs, everything was cooked in the kitchen, delicious!

After dinner, we selected photos for our package and then went to the show, Mexican Folklore. It was a lot of fun, dances from different regions of Mexico, the costumes were fabulous!

Then it was time to dance our way back to our rooms to pack, tomorrow is coming very early! Our shuttle to the airport is picking us up at 6am! Ugh!

What a great day! Buenos Noches!

{July 20, 2017} Mexico Day 5

Wow, day five, already? Yes! And time for an awesome adventure!!

The animals greeted us on the way to an early breakfast, we had to be in the lobby at 7am!

Then the adventure begins! We drove about 45 minutes to Tulum, the site of ancient Mayan ruins.

Tulum is the site of a pre-Columbian Mayan walled city serving as a major port for Cobá. The ruins are situated on tall cliffs along the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula on the Caribbean Sea in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Tulum was one of the last cities built and inhabited by the Maya; it was at its height between the 13th and 15th centuries and managed to survive about 70 years after the Spanish began occupying Mexico.

Old World diseases brought by the Spanish settlers appear to have resulted in very high fatalities, disrupting the society and eventually causing the city to be abandoned. It is one of the best-preserved coastal Maya sites.

It was also a city of great class distinction, you were either part of the 15 percent wealthy, underclass, including nobility, artists, philosophers or, you were part of the 85 percent working class who served them.

We teased MissA, we were her 85 percent!

Next, it was a cenote, pronounced si-notay, if that helps! is a natural pit, or sinkhole, resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater underneath. They are especially associated with the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, cenotes were sometimes used by the ancient Maya for sacrificial offerings.

This was amazing and as soon as I can get some photos off my go-pro and they’re decent, I’ll share.

You go into the cave with a life jacket, helmet and headlamp, its a wee bit dark! You see stalagmites, stalagtites, a few albino fish and bats. The bats didn’t bother us at all, they were tiny and kept to themselves in the cieling. The water was fffrreezing! But what a mechiah, a relief, after how hot Tulum was!

We had a muy fabuloso guide named Oscar, very knowledgeable and funny. Gave our tour in English and Spanish, for the other family that was with us.

After the cenote, lunch at a local beach, a little play time in the water, so beautiful!

Then it was back to the hotel, get a little pool time in, we had some time to kill before our dinner reservation at Mare Nostrum, the Mediterranean restaurant at the resort. With our package we got two reservations at one of their formal sit down restaurants. We chose Mediterranean for tonight and Japanese tomorrow.

It was a lovely setting, the small buffet was set up for appetizers, nothing like the buffets we’ve been to for other meals. There was some salad for me and they made me a verdura, vegetable, tempura from the Japanese restaurant next door and Chef Mario happened to be there and spoke to our server and one of the chefs you be sure I got something that I could eat, love him!

After dinner, a nice stroll around the resort to the beach to take in the sight, smell, fell, pure fabulousness of the beach at night! Sigh…

Tomorrow… another day in paradise. Buenos Noches!

{July 19, 2017} Mexico Day 4

Today we ventured out!

Sunday travel, Monday pool and beach, Tuesday, more pool, and food, of course, so much fun, so today… let’s venture out!

CKM and I went down to the beach to see the new day and soak in the feeling, sounds, sights, smells.

Next breakfast, then straight out into town, Playa del Carmen, more specifically, head to 5ta Avenida, 5th Avenue, to be exact. On the way, first stop…Starbucks, then stopped at the Hard Rock Cafe Golf Club, which was a good thing, because it started to sprinkle, then the sky opened, it was a great place to hide from the deluge!

When it finally cleared up, we were off! Eventually, we got to Playa del Carmen and the shopping district. Don’t you love the playfulness of the skeletons? This was the beginning…

Before shopping, there was lunch, we needed to build our strength for the afternoon to come! We ate at a place that specialized in brick oven pizza, yum! I even got a Sidral, which is a Mexican apple soda, a favorite from childhood. I figured if I was going to do this, in for a penny…

We had some friends visit outside, lagartija [lizard], wild boars and the sereque, the cute rodent that we have at the resort, really cute!

Now… time to explore and shop! We saw Parque los Fundadores, the Founders Park with the beautiful arch leading to the ocean, the Danza de los Voladores, Dance of the Flyers, wow! They climb up the pole, wrap the rope around the pole and their legs and swing down…um.. wow!

As we walked, we found shops, of course, sights, sounds, smells. We did a little retail therapy, gotta shower those we love with gifts! Wow, I realized this was only the second time I’ve been on a trip and not looked for something for MissA! The last time was five years ago on our trip to the Dominican Republic!

We had a full day of excitement, fun and excursion, back to the hotel for dinner and a walk to the beach, showers and bed!

Tomorrow is another exciting adventure! Tell you then!

Buena noches!

{July 19, 2017} Is there anything better?

Than showering after a day at the beach?

I don’t know about you, but it’s one of those things I don’t really think about until I’m actually taking one. Funny how that works.

But while I’m taking that shower, it’s the thing there is. You’ve been at the beach all day, sun, surf, sand, lunch, play… repeat.

Its been fabulous, you can’t imagine anything better, you might even rinse off before you go home or back to your home for the night, you know, so you’re not tracking sand everywhere.

But until you get to wherever you’re staying, step into that shower and let the warm water wash over you, starting from the top of your head, shampoo your hair, let that soak in, rinse, you didn’t realise how fabulous a shower after the beach could be.

In top of that…an outdoor shower, hopefully at a house near the beach, wow. Showering with the open sky to look at, feeling the air and energy and calm all around you as you get cleaned up, wash away that top layer to feel clean and refreshed…

There is nothing like it. Ahhh….

{July 18, 2017} Mexico Day 2

Day two of our Playa del Carmen, all – inclusive resort trip! Life is good!

CKM and I are sharing a room and we both woke up a little after 6am, we were sitting on our balcony and could hear the animals waking up, so we went in search of what was making some of the sounds.

We found flamingos, peacocks, these rodent looking things and the source of the howling, the howler monkeys!

By now, we’re hungry, everyone else is stl sleeping, so off to breakfast we go. Don’t you just love all the details they put into everything?!

What to do next? Go back and check for the others… head out to breakfast number two, rough life!

After breakfast, back to the room, bathing suits, supplies and off to the pool! Pick up towels, stake our claim on some chairs, hard to do after everyone got there and claimed theirs, not allowed, but done anyway.

There was pool time, lunch, pool, beach, pool, beach. Then back to the room to shower and get ready for dinner.

Did you see the cute towel animal for today?

Unfortunately, my phone died, so no pics in the evening, sorry.

Dinner was good, one of the chefs gave me a tour of what I could and couldn’t eat. He even had someone make me a special dessert, fruit in a martini glass, love it!

Then it was a Broadway Extravaganza! The entertainment group put on different musical numbers from different Broadway shows, Grease, Cats, Chicago, Mama Mia, Wicked, just to name a few.

Then it was back to the room for bath, night nights and lights out, can’t wait to see what tomorrow holds!

{July 17, 2017} Mexico Day 1

Surprise! We’re in Mexico! Playa del Carmen to be exact! Ahhh…

Yes, it’s as beautiful as you’ve heard! This is a special girls trip. Five years ago, when SDL turned 40, she, her sister DJL, Miss A and I went to three Dominican Republic for a week. Well, I believe I told you, a few months ago she graduated with her EMBA and wanted to celebrate, let’s go on another trip! Even better… big milestones to celebrate as well, DLP and CKM both turning 40 this year, let’s do it!

We decided on a place…Playa del Carmen, great! Now, a date… not as easy. It’s not the easiest thing in the world to get three busy adults to coordinate for a week away, as you can imagine! Then, if you recall, my family was trying to coordinate a trip to Amsterdam, imagine having to be in the middle of that! Well, we all did it and here we are! And I’m going to get a second stamp in my new [replacement] passport!

I spent the night with SDL and MissA, we packed, went to dinner… Mexican, go figure! We’re in vacation mode!

Up way too early…430am to be exact… out the door by 502am, not too shabby! It helped that we loaded the car last night… off to pick up DLP, then off to the airport. Drop everyone off, check our bags at curbside check-in, then drop off the car.

I love looking at the artwork at the airport, always so impressed, especially when by it’s students.

Then it was time to board and start our vacation!!

About two hours later, we’re in Mexico! Customs, stamps, luggage and a little over 1.15 hours later, we arrive at our resort, Ibostar Tucan. Registration and a fruity drink later we are set!

The rooms aren’t ready, so lunch it is. We head towards the pool, look at all the fabulous touches, from the statuary to the animal sanctuaries. Actually, the animals are great, they are free to walk amd fly wherever they want. We had a nice lunch and by then it was time to go to our rooms.

The buildings were great and colorful and our rooms are tropical, with towel animal creations. Nothing like the real animals, the peacocks, flamingos, howler monkeys, just to name a few.

By now, we have showered, rested and are ready to have dinner! Off in search of food we go.

We decided on one of the two buffets available and what a feast it was! The displays were beautiful. Is it making you hungry?

So… this is MissA’s floatie that kept staring at me from the overhead compartment. Hmm

What great adventure does tomorrow hold? I’ll let you know!

{July 15, 2017} Plans change… you just roll with it.

Things happen, plans change, you roll with it and make the best of it!

I know, sometimes that seems impossible, but sometimes, it works out, maybe not in the way you think.

I’m in Atlanta this weekend because I’m about to go on a girls trip with some of my favorite people and while I’m in town, very briefly, I tried to see a friend, I didn’t much time between getting in late last night and an early Sunday morning flight.

Unfortunately, my friend fell under the weather, so our plans fell through. I hope you feel better!

That didn’t stop me, it gave me a little more time where I was to help pack, pamper and play. Not the original plans, but it worked out.

So, now, the laundry is done, bags are packed, car is loaded, now all that’s left is sleep, it’s late and that alarm is coming very early! Nope, not telling you where we’re going until tomorrow!

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