Mexico 2010

Since this is the only journaling I do, I don't want to leave anything out....beware it is a very long one!!

Ryan and I were fortunate enough to be able to spend some time in Cozumel, Mexico over the Christmas break.  We went with our dear friends, Scott and Lindasue.  We left for Salt Lake, at 3:30 in the morning on December 26th, and made it to Mexico by 2:30.  When we arrived, the wind was blowing, but it was definitely warmer then the sub-freezing temperatures we left behind in Utah!!!

What a view from our room...at the Cozumel Palace!!

  Looking west towards the mainland and Playa de Carmen.

Looking to the North...

 

Looking South...

 

On our first full day, we took the ferry over to Playa de Carmen and met a tour guide that took us to the Mayan Ruins.  We went on a Book of Mormon tour, with a our guide named, Lemuel. It was wonderful.  Lemuel, is a Bishop of his ward in Cancun, and he was able to show us all of the Book of Mormon ties to the ancient ruins.  It was truly amazing!!!

Our first stop was Tulum... 

This was one of the entrance into the ruin.

 

 

 

The temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

The view from behind the temple....beautiful!

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the many iguanas that we saw.

Our 2nd stop was Chichen Itza.  This place was just as amazing, and insanely huge!!

Listening intently to what our guide has to say.

 What is left of one of the "highways"

They are still restoring this side of the temple.  So amazing to see.

This is one of the many aquifers that cover the landscape.  Yes, those are people swimming in it.

Our View

Once the wind quit blowing, it was fun to watch the boats go by, from our room.  We were also able to see some of the cruise ships dock.  That was the craziest to see.  Those big boats can do a 180, right in place.

 

 

 

Scuba Diving

The whole point of the trip, according to Ryan and Scott, was so that they could go scuba diving.  They have been working on their scuba diving certifications for the last 3 years, and well, there are not a lot of places in Utah, to go diving.  On the flight to Cozumel, Scott sat by a couple that has been going to Cozumel at least three times a year, for 20+ years, to dive.  Scott got some good info from them and they hooked him up with their personal guide.  Ryan and Scott were able to go on 7 dives over the course of the next two days.  They had a few close calls, but they both made it home, safe and sound.

Getting ready to go on their 3rd dive of the day with Dan and Debbie, their new friends.

 

Ryan getting ready to go.

What Lindasue and I got to see while we were waiting for them to come back up.

Ryan and Scott with their guide. I am not even going to attempt to write his name....they were even having a hard enough time remembering what it was.

Shopping

 

 

 

 

 

 Driving Around the Island
On our last day we were able to rent a Dune Buggy (I need to steal one of Scott's pictures of it, we didn't end up with one) and drove around the Island of Cozumel.  The locals kept saying, there is only one road in Cozumel and if you get lost you are an idiot, "no one gets lost in Cozumel."  Fortunately for us, we never got lost.  The road itself is only 42 miles long and goes from our hotel, down around the southern tip, up the eastern side, and then cuts arcoss the middle of the island.  Just like a big circle.  We were able to see some beautiful beaches and ALOT of crazy wind!

 

 

 

 

 

  
An Orange Iguana

 

 

 

 

 

After all of the great warm weather, this is what we got to come home to....

 ....8 inches of fresh snow and sub-freezing temperatures.