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Akumal 9/1 to 9/23 Now with Photos - 10/8/2012 10:08:11 PM
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durangotom
Posts: 225
Joined: 7/15/2008
From: Durango Colo.
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Wow, the longest I've ever stayed in one place for vaca  !!
So after two weeks of rehab entering the "real world" I thought it a good idea to give a trip report for all you LG'ers out there. My first trip to actually meet any LG 'ers! Terriann, Craig and Pond were staying just two doors down and had a great time closing Cueva one night! Also met Grumpers, Bosco, Isla Chica and two more that escape my impaired memory!
I bit off a big one and took my Parents and Aunt all 81+- for the first 12 days. Luckily I had the DXW along as support both physically and mentally. They had a great time, they were very easy to please...no activities except sitting by the pool, walking to the Lol Ha Beach Bar for Lunch or Dinner. But it was probably about 4 days too long for them.
We left Colorado at dark thirty...at the airport at 5:00am! No issues, meet the Aunt (Josephina as she prefered to be called in Mexico!) in Houston and on to Cancun.
3:00 arrival in Cancun, USA transfers right there to wisk us away to Akumal.
Staying at Las Casitas for their half price Sept. deal. That's a great one and the weather was good! No rain activity for 12 days.
The first day Cindy (DXW) and I hired a taxi to hit the Chedraui in Tulum, yes P.A. is closer but had not been to this one and wanted to go to El Camello Jr. I planned on cooking a number of meals as the Parents eat little, often and are picky. So I needed all sorts of small eating items basic cooking items and one hour later left with 150lbs of stuff!!
We did score good at El Camello Jr. Fresh fish, lobster, shrimp and got a good deal I think. $100 bucks for two whole fish 3lb ea. 5 lobster tails good sized and half a kilo of large shrimp. If you are cooking for yourself I would highly recommend Camello's. On the Main drag 307 near the end of town going South on the left.
We ate at least one meal a day at Lol Ha and I have to say that the Parents loved everything and all the Staff. They made a special effort to take care of , as the DXW says Los Viejos! We had great meals and the service was great.
I did cook quite a bit and enjoyed it to boot!
I always wake up very early in Akumal, probably because I am struggling to stay awake past 9 or vice versa! Anyway I would wait impatiently until about 8 to snorkel, (want good light for photos). Did several walks down to Jade Bay, amazing amount of turtle nests.
Snorkeling was really very good, I saw great things and lots of them!
Saw this nasty little sucker near the cannons!
Usually I take off for the reef break from the Casitas beach not paying much attention to the small life along the way. So several times I decided to take time to check out the small stuff out off the Casitas walkway. Wow it was amazing.
I watched this big guy for a long time quite beautiful!
He was easily 3 feet long!
My Dad was anxious to go fishing but I was a little worried about him in the small Pongas, wave action and all. We met Alfredo who Captains the Colorada boat. He assured us he could manage a smooth ride so we went out. Oh gee it was off season, after 30 minutes trolling two Mahi's hit, another hour and two more then a lone one on the way back. Lost all the photos on a bad download
But we did eat Mahi all week
Thanks to Pond we checked off a Bucket List item and did a Whale Shark tour. After a small snafu on my part we were picked up at the Arch in Akumal at 5:45 and transported to the port at the tip of Cancun. After a one hour boat ride we arrived at the site. It was amazing, lots of boats with lots of people and lot of sharks! We spent about an hour taking turns swimming with the Sharks in pairs of two, nice! Went in 5 times and got up close and personal.
After 12 days with the Parents I sent them off at 6:00 AM from the airport. I rented rooms at the Airport Marriot, (nice place, good food) to avoid a 3: 00 AM departure from Akumal. Plus I had a friend arriving later that day!
One interesting thing that may help some in the same situation. The Cancun Airpot is the Hotel California!
You can go there but you cannot get out!
So I decide that I need to escort my Parents to the check in and security check. We get a transfer from the Hotel to Departures, I get them all checked in and go to leave. Sorry, no one is allowed to take you from the Departure area away from the Airport! I ask a Taxi who just dropped someone off and no deal. I try to get a surley United desk person to help, no deal...
I go back outside and see the Marriot van dropping off passengers, ask him, OH No way see the sign no passengers out! He asks me if I forgot something at the Hotel...YES I forgot something and have to go back, several anxious moments later..OK. I tip him 20 bucks.
So I have to meet my friend flying in at 4:00, ask the front desk can you take me to Arrivals, "well we can get you close"!! Well seems that they can only take people to Departures and only pick up people from Arrivals.
So I get to Departures and find out that you cannot walk from Departures to Arrivals without going a half mile around the stupid road! So I wait just to the left outside of Arrivals. Seems that the small car rental companies cannot go to the Arrivals section and have to wait at departures, it had been a while since I rented a car and luckily ran into the Cancun/American guy.
Confusing at best, infuriating at worst. No worries just go with the flow and everyting will work out. But if you think that you need to escort someone to the Airport, DO NOT go to the terminal!!!
My friend arrives, we get the car from Cancun Rent a Car (American) and back (thank you Jesus!) to Akumal. Another friend arrives the next day via USA Transfers (no way I am going anywhere near the Airport til I'm leaving).
Most of our days were non event days other than snorkling, reading and relaxing. We did do a day at the Paraiso Beach Club in Tulum which was great....
Had not been to Yal Ku in a long time and was pleasantly surprised. Nice facilities and very good snorkeling....
A little Barry action...
Sent my last friend off on the 20th early morning and had a great no do anything day, except snorkel!
The next day I had two Chicas I met at the Beach Bar in May arriving. They were late and drunk so I took a cab to Playa and met them for drinks and dinner. OMG Playa on Friday night! They were driving and their condo was Downtown on the beach and impossible to navigate, for two Chicas who spoke Spanish!!
My last full day was the 22nd and I had the most EPIC snorkel of all, that morning. Once again I decided to take my time and look at the little things. Out at the sunken canons I looked up and saw 3 of the largest Rainbow Parrot fish feeding and cruising. Usually they are very shy and scurry off. But I was so still that they hardley noticed me. I spent 30 minutes swimming with them up close and personal! No camera dumb xit!!!
The camera story is pretty good. I bought a Pentax WG2 last spring. The second day I used it I got up in the morning and downloaded the previous days pics. I got on my gear and went out. As I was going under I noticed that the port for the download was OPEN dumb! dumb!dumb!
So I took it inside opened it up and let it sit. The next day it turned on but no screen. So I took photos the rest if the time without a screen and it worked! When I got home in the dry Desert climate I opened it up again let it sit for a few days and Bingo! it works! So needless to say I would recommend that Camera!
I have to say that 23 days was just right, I wanted to stay long enough that I was ready to go home and as it turned out that's what I did!
OK so after too many cocktails I must submit this post without pics, because it is too late to download all that xit photos and I don't see how to save my xit and post later...so I will join you all tomorrow with photos and possibly more commentary!!
< Message edited by durangotom -- 10/11/2012 2:29:36 PM >
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RE: Akumal 9/1 to 9/23 - 10/10/2012 6:46:37 AM
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Bosco
Posts: 6895
Joined: 5/8/2006
From: Another day..another seedy hotel
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Great report. Looking forward to pictures.
Bosco
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RE: Akumal 9/1 to 9/23 - 10/10/2012 5:17:26 PM
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Kwing
Posts: 7761
Joined: 12/23/2005
From: Ohio
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Fun report - looking forward to pics too!
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RE: Akumal 9/1 to 9/23 Now with Photos - 10/11/2012 7:50:21 PM
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durangotom
Posts: 225
Joined: 7/15/2008
From: Durango Colo.
Status: offline
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Hope you all enjoy the photos, took me a little longer than I thought!
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RE: Akumal 9/1 to 9/23 Now with Photos - 10/19/2012 5:12:13 AM
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ChrisandCindy
Posts: 4693
Joined: 12/24/2005
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Enjoyed your pictures, thank you.
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