So we planned back in June to go on a trip with some friends to Mexico the first week of December. Man was that good planning. It was such a blast!
We left the morning of December 4. We got into Puerta Vallarta in the late afternoon. We checked into our rooms and then got some food and started the holiday off by lounging by the pool. So awesome. It was so nice and warm! I thought I would be roasting the whole trip but since this pregnancy I have always been cold so it was nice to feel warm. Everyone else may have been dying of heat at some points but I felt like I hardly broke a sweat! haha it was great!
Tuesday we lounged around for a while and then decided to go find some shopping. Dan asked around and we got told to go to the Malacon. It was a shopping center along the beach. So off we went. We took the city bus. So sketchy. but worth the experience. It was beautiful down at the Malacon. But you could tell it was the tourist spot. The prices for stuff were ridiculous.
 |
| on the bus. it was sketchy. |
 |
| tree growing in the middle of the market |
 |
| Sand sculpture. We walked by it again at the end of the week and it was still standing. |
 |
| Cool Statues all along the walk way |
After walking for a while we all decided it was time to find some Mexican food. Dan talked and (Dan did a lot of the communicating this trip. lol) We hopped into some Taxi's and got dropped off at a restarurant. Oh man was the food good!
 |
| spicy but delicious! |
After lunch we went back to the hotel for some more lounging and swimming and free drinks!!!
 |
| This was our Resort |
 |
| Playing some Water Volley ball |
 |
| Our Room. The rooms were super nice. King size bed!!! WIN! |
Wednesday we started the morning off with some Zumba and then some swimming. Just us girls I don't remember what the guys were doing. Probably booking excursions and such. haha
 |
| Lindsey didn't jump! haha fail! |
 |
| HEAVEN! |
It was a good girls Morning.
We agreed in the Afternoon to go check out the Zoo that Lindsey and Brad had done some googling on. It was suppose to be good. Dan was a little hesitant but because we all wanted to he said he would come. Graz and Marc were the only ones that didn't come. It was an hour bus ride or so up the mountain. Those busses were so rattly. Mostly because the roads suck. WE had to take two buses. One to the end of the line and the other up the mountain. Then when we got off we had a twenty minute hike up a hill and through a really small village to get to the Zoo.
 |
| Dan was the fearless one |
 |
| Beautiful Church and Gardens on our walk |
 |
| Right in the mountains. |
The closer we got to the Zoo the more excited Dan was. He was glad to be getting out of the tourist area and seeing Mexico. When we got to the zoo we paid and then bought some food bags so we could feed the animals!!!!
 |
| see the baby?? |
 |
| Dan touching the hippo. He said it felt like wet sandpaper |
This hippo just walked right up to the gate for us to feed him. Walked right up and opened his mouth and let us through food in. It was insane!
 |
| Angry Tiger |
This Tiger was SOOOOO angry. It was nuts. We heard some some growling while we were walking but couldn't figure out what it was until we came to him. Then we knew. Man he was angry. He was jumping at the cage at us at one point.
 |
| There "wolves" |
The zoo was so worth it! It was such a fun day! Lots of walking but so worth it! You would never get to feed the animals at the zoos here in Canada. The bus ride home was a bit of an adventure. We were leaving and it was the end of the work day so the busses were getting pretty full. When we got off at our first stop and switched over that's when we made our first mistake. We got on the wrong bus (kinda). It was more the scenic way home. And the bus that was picking up tons of workers. I mean TONS! That bus got sooooo full. It was nuts. I was SOO Happy to see our stop. Though getting off was tricky to with so many people. yuck.
Thursday we had booked an excursion to San Sebastian. A Silver mining town that was once populate by 20,000 and now their are only 700 people that live there. The mine is still active too.
Gina was our tour guide and she was amazing! Our first stop was a cemetery. She told us a bit about the mausoleums they build and that most people build them gradually as they have money. The biggest one we saw could hold 18 people! There was one we saw the kid was 15 when he died and a soccer player and the inside was decorated like a soccer field with all his soccer stuff in it.
 |
| Montasuma's Tree |
Ever heard of Montasuma's Revenge? The Story comes from Mexico. The Mexican leader was Montasuma. Cant remember who the Spanish was but it was when Spain had come over and were trying to take over. This tree is poisonous. And Montasuma has his people make some food for the Spanish from the fruit of this tree. The result? Severe diarrhea. hence Montasumas Revenge.
We made another pit stop for a bathroom break and to make some homemade tortillas. So yummy!
 |
| the bathroom. |
 |
| So sketchy. |
 |
| It was SOOOOOOOO GOOOOOD! |
After our quick snack stop Gina drove us the rest of the way to San Sebastian. It's hard to believe it was once a lively town and now its so small. But so beautiful and peaceful. We learned a lot about it and the people who founded the town and settled it. But it was so much info and I have forgotten lots. Basically three families founded the town and those families intermarried to keep their blood pure. So there was a lot of Uncles marrying nieces and Cousins marrying Sisters and it was crazy. We met one of the founders relatives. Her mom owns the museum that is there and Her Dad is her Uncle and Nephew. (crazy right?)
 |
| This town is built into the hills so some roads are INSANE! |
 |
| One of the Hacienda's that is now a hotel that you can stay in for $10/night/person. |
 |
| courtyard |
Gina took us to the jail. Which is actually still used. haha lucky for us it was empty so we got to go in. They use it mostly during town celebrations when people get out of hand. It was still pretty cool and their were bullet holes all around the jail cell.
 |
| The guys thought it would be great to lock us all in. Guess i can check off being in a mexican jail cell off my bucket list. |
 |
| the ceiling of the Saloon. (Its now a convience shop) |
We got to see their Cathedral/church dedicated to San Sebastian. Who was a solider and a religious man and got told he couldn't be both and so gave up the military and died defending his religion and got promoted to a Saint. (something like that) I wish I was better at remembering History.
This was the museum where we got told the history of the three families and who married who. It was so hard to follow.
One of the Haciendas turned into Hotel.
Toilet on the left. Shower on the right.
Our lunch. SO Amazing! so so Amazing. We also had some pineapple juice that was really good. And I am not a fan of pineapple. BUt fresh stuff must be better. haha
It was a busy long hot day but so enjoyable. We got back with enough time to spare to swim and have fun. Our resort had shows each evening. I can't remember what they all were some were good and some not so good. lol
I can't remember which night but one of the nights was a mexican Night and they had a Mexican buffet and mariachi band and dancers. It was a great night. One where my drink was spiked with Rum but luckily Dan tasted it first. haha He was my drink taster. He got a few spiked drinks. But I was good.
Friday Dan and Graham went Scuba diving and the rest of us lounged. It was an overcast day but still warm. The rest of us took a trip to Walmart and got some shopping done. Its where we found the best deal on Vanilla too! WIN! It was a nice lounge day. The boys got back later than we thought they would but they had a fun time. Even if Dan puked. haha Friday evening we went out and found a processional. Its to celebrate Christmas or Guadalupe or something like that. IT was pretty cool though. Some people were super dressed up. others had bands and music and they march to the chapel of guadalupe and leave an offering.
Saturday we went to some dumb time share speel so that we could get our tickets for Rhythm of the night Cheaper. It was suppose to only be so long but of course took most of our morning. The Afternoon was spent by the pool and the evening we took the sunset cruise over to Los Calatos for the show. It was a beautiful Sunset. GREAT Food and an AMAZING show. Well worth all the suffering we went through in the morning.
 |
| There is no electricity on this part so everything was lit by candles. So cool. |
Sunday we went to Church. It was all in Spanish but it was still very cool to be a part of. It was nice too seeing Moms across the world trying to keep their kids in line during Church. Its universal. haha.
Then we had more lounging and swimming. Seriously can't have enough of that.
 |
| a fishing excursion came back with this guy! it was HUGE! |
 |
| Seeing who can hold their breath the longest. But really looked like they were all dead. It even brought the life guard over just in case. haha Marc won. |
Sunday we found a flea market where did some more shopping. Before coming back for more swimming and Water volleyball.
Monday we left and came home!
It was such a fun and relaxing trip. We didn't have to worry about a thing. It really felt like we pressed pause on life for a whole week. The boys had a blast with their Aunty Phoenix and my Mom. It was great!
Can't wait to start planning the next one in a few years!
