Our Spring Break with the kids to our NEW HOME :)

So we loaded 5 of us on a plane and shuffled Ed, Deb, Ian, Zach and Zach's girlfriend Ashley off to Merida for 8 days. We spent days on the beaches, days swimming in cenote's (natural swim holes in caverns and caves), watching flamingos, exploring ancient Mayan ruins and meeting more wonderful people. We have compiled our pictures and experiences into short videos. We hope you get even a fraction of the enjoyment we experienced while you watch them.

1) A DAY WITH THE FLAMINGOS
A day in Celestun. We had lunch on a pristine white beach. We rented a boat driver for $120. The 5 of us had a 3 hour boat tour over ocean, then into the river where we saw hundreds of flamingos. After that our captain took us to the "Mangles" (mangroves) with thick jungles of arial rooted trees through shallow waters. We saw incredible birds and a giant termite nest. He showed us the petrified forest. Then he turned into this magical lagoon fed with crystal blue fresh water where the kids enjoyed swimming with the fish.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgy8TnvFg8o

2) CHICHEN ITZA
Incredible Mayan Ruins. Huge pyramids and breathtaking structures over 1500 years old! Incredible carvings. We saw the sacred cenote where the Mayans of Chichen Itza did human sacrifices to appease gods. There is the incredible observatory where the mayans watched the sky and stars sending them leaps and bounds ahead of any culture of that time in understanding their universe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5utcEa9sjFY

3) THE CENOTES
The cenotes were our kids favorite activity. There is this magical moment as you walk down steep stone stairs into the ground below. The entrance is narrow and dark. You cling to a thick braided rope to help balance your steps. Then the entrance opens up to a magnificent cathedral of a cavern. Incredible rock formations over head mixed with  drapes of long tree roots trying to dip into the pool of cool crystal blue water. There are fish of all size and types swimming with you and small bats flying over and sleeping upside down from the roof of the cavern.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG14UY0E4hU

4) PROGRESO BEACH
We spent a couple different days at Progreso. This is the beach that is only 20 minutes from our house. We love this white sandy beach. We have met many local people there during our visits. Deb can sit for hours taking pictures of the birds, kids, and people with their dogs. One day was very windy and so the waves were active. The last day was calm and warm. Progreso has a shallow area that goes out for a mile. The pier actually stretches over a mile out into the ocean so that ships can dock. This makes for a great beach to visit if you aren't a surfer. No boat traffic up at the shore and calm swimmable ocean. There are also fantastic eating establishments right on the water.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGqNdZ0DJvI

5) THE FAMILY OUT & ABOUT
The great thing about the Yucatan is that whether it be a Mayan ruin or just shopping at the bodega, you will see incredible sights and meet incredible people. You will see in the video a structure built with branches, sticks and palm fronds, this is the bull ring our pueblo was building for the bull fight at the end of the week. We watched the men build an incredible structure from these few materials in the span of one week! From neighborhood dogs on the roofs to Iguanas sunning on walls to neighborhood goats and cows. We love it all!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7hEgMR96G4

Hope You Enjoy as well!

The clock is ticking loud now! We are trying to make lists of lists to make sure we do everything we need to before we leave. I keep adding to the list things I never thought of... scanning all our pictures, making as many bibs for grandson Benji as I can, find and print all my favorite recipes in the recipe book April gave me for my B-day. All these on top of selling, packing, getting dogs ready etc... All the steps, some fun, some kinda emotional, some a general pain in the arse (loading 2 unruly dogs in the car, who think they are going to the dog park, to instead get all their shots and a certification of a clean bill of health. Having flashbacks of loading Zach in the car wearing his batman cape and then pulling quickly into the doctor before the meltdown). Onward.....

High As a Kite!

This reality was a revelation first. While vacationing in Mazatlan at Ilse de la Piedra. I was flying a kite on the pristine beach with our 12 year old son, I looked at him and said, "I could live here." His reply, "You should, and I could too." We jogged back and found Deb lounging in hammock and drinking a Pacifico Beer, I said to Deb,"This is the bomb and the Man in the Sky told me to move here." Deb at first thought that I was dealing with some symptom of illness and was convinced that I had finally lost it for good. She continued drinking and thinking and came back with the reply," I don't think so, are you kidding?" I knew Deb had her heart set at end of game finishing in Vancouver Island from past conversations. I quickly explained,"The Man in the Sky has spoken and we must follow." Now Deb develops a look on her face as I shove my foot in my mouth deeper, "We could live here with with dirt floors and a grass hut. What more could you desire?" The area was a coconut grove, the locals had old small casitas with dirt floors. Goats and chickens that roamed the dirt roads as well as unbathed children with great big smiles.

The appeal was perfect, as me being the neat freak that has lived with two hairy dogs that constantly shed and vacuuming the floor as often as I could find time. This was the answer, if I had a dirt floor I would not be bothered by all the hair and debris the dogs would track in and other messes they can be responsible for. I did not vocalize this to Deb as it would end my relationship due to the dogs place in the family.

Truly without Deb I would loose my soul mate as she is the only women I could be married to, after two fallen attempts before I had met her. I was a committed bachelor raising my children and was satisfied with my lifestyle. I cautioned her when we met that I came with a "Danger and Warning label". As we dated quickly I realized I found someone who loves me for me. So dogs must be in tow wherever I go. My son and I left Deb behind as we had tied off the kite to a horse tie off spot near the grass hutted, outdoor, restaurant that had an ostrich (eggs?). We grabbed the kite and left her stewing, after an hour or so we returned to find Deb contemplating my revelation she said, "Yes as long as I can have indoor plumbing and a bath tub." Shocked I was and the investigating began as I asked many a question of the locals. Upon our return to the states Deb took the ball and started running. How fortunate I am to have such a wonderful wife, that in all my strife, she loves me through thick and thin, now the adventure begins.

Stay tuned as I account for more real goofy truths.

Putting fuel in the Boiler

This is our first entry in our blog about moving to Merida. We are about 60 days out to the big exit. In 10 days we will be taking some of our family to see our new home. We are so excited, we wake up talking about our new home and go to bed with a similar conversation.

I am now mentally landscaping our yard, painting our walls, planting my vegetable garden.... I just need to get there. Our realtor and property manager sends pictures on the progress of our to-do list to get our house ready for our Cinco de Mayo arrival. I can sit and watch the slide show of all the pictures endlessly.

I wish it was as easy as packing the car and leaving. Unfortunately we need to figure out who will buy the mounds of "things" we have acquired here. Along with our 40-some years of stuff we have the remaining 83 years of stuff from my Aunt Mim. We jokingly refer to our house here in Phoenix as Sanford and Son's. 5 vehicles, boxes stacked 5 ft high, and a lovely assortment of angel and squirrel lawn art...ugh!

We know that the Super Highway is going to be the best way to keep family and friends updated, hence this new Blog. It also saves me from having to type progress reports 20 times. I have also enjoyed several blogs from other individuals who have braved similar paths before us. They were encouraging, entertaining and very educational. I hope that our blog may be all these things as well.

Soooo stay tuned... I am sure there will be much to tell. How can driving thousands of miles with our very spoiled pooches Max and Rosie be un-noteworthy! hehehe
till then.....