last day

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Our last day began relaxing at the pool. Manuel believes...and with a great deal of sense...to only drink from a bottle. Therefore, beer for breakfast when in Mexico. It was a great way to start the day, watching the ocean from the pool with a good book.

I wanted to do a little last shopping so we headed to Mercado Venteocho where we were able to get in and out quickly and then on for a final meal in the Hotel Zone. Rebekah had not had a chance yet to see the Hotel Zone and it's one of the areas everyone talks about. The Hotel Zone is kind of like Miami Beach with building on top of building with a Hooters and a variety of other restaurants and gift shops wedged in between. There is a beautiful beach for sunning and swimming.

Manuel is much like my father in that he talks to everyone. Everytime we got in a taxi, Manuel would talk with the taxi driver finding out the best places to shop and eat. He would talk with the merchants, servers, anyone near us. My dad would do that on trips. When my family and my dad went to Hawaii, if I went to the bathroom I would come back and my dad would introduce me to the server or the people next to us. It is fun to be with someone who just enjoys talking to people and finding out about their lives.

By talking with our taxi driver from Mercado Venteocho to the Hotel Zone we got a restaurant for our last dinner in Mexico. It was a great fish spot right on the beach overlooking the Caribbean Sea. I had a white fish, Mora, in an Oxacan (pronounce the "x" like an "h") sauce. Manuel had an entire fish which we did not catch the name of and Rebekah had coconut shrimp. Fish is not my favorite meal but this fish with the Oxacan sauce was excellent. Manuel's fish was something to behold.

After our meal we wandered the Zone. Manuel and Rebekah made a last minute purchase of some tequila. I sampled and let me tell you; the tequila we get in the US is nothing compared to what you can get in Mexico. We headed down to sit on the beach for a while and then decided to call it a day. We were tired and we still had to pack.

Back at the resort, Rebekah immediately fell asleep in the hammock. For our final hurrah we headed down to the bar with the swings and had a final drink while swinging.

Morning found us on our way to the airport. The view during take off looking down onto the water was gorgeous.

A last thought...on our way to Chichen Itza Santos told us that the turtle is a symbol of wisdom. The shell prevents the turtle from looking back and it moves at a pace in which it can take in everything in the moment. May we all be turtles!

Hasta Luego

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Photos

in the pool
this may have been the coolest spot that morning

beer for breakfast
Safe choice!

overlooking the sea
Balcony of a mall in the hotel zone