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!