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ABR - same old, same old - 12/1/2012 8:12:44 PM
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barata
Posts: 4134
Joined: 4/11/2006
From: a few degrees north of Akumal
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same old place we LOVE!
Had some vacation left over, and since we had to cancel our January 2013 trip (see ticker) and since a couple of our favorite LG snorkel buddies were going to be there we decided to head to ABR for a week in November. It was a grand time. Met lots of lovely folks, some who I knew "virtually" as well as some new friends. Is it because people who go to ABR are bound to be laid back, relaxed, down to earth, low maintenance that we always seem to make a connection? Whatever it is, we met some really nice people.
Since I can't access my photobucket page for some reason, I thught I'd try flickr, so this is just a test. I'll return later to fill in more details!
If this works, here's a photo of THE man when it comes to snorkel pics - LG's very own C of C'n'C!
OK, looks like it's back to the drawing board - need a new photo hosting website that's as friendly as photobucket - any great ideas out there???
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< Message edited by barata -- 12/1/2012 8:51:11 PM >
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RE: ABR - same old, same old - 12/2/2012 6:40:41 AM
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ChrisandCindy
Posts: 4687
Joined: 12/24/2005
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Was wonderful to get to spend a few more days with you and Juan on the beach and in the bay in Mexico.
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RE: ABR - same old, same old - 12/2/2012 7:59:35 AM
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Jamie
Posts: 2548
Joined: 3/10/2005
From: Southern California
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Hey nice start and good picture, looking forward to more Hope I get a chance to meet you and Juan someday, hoping for an ABR sale for May.
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RE: ABR - same old, same old - 12/2/2012 10:22:38 AM
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barata
Posts: 4134
Joined: 4/11/2006
From: a few degrees north of Akumal
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OK, photobucket problem solved - for some reason I was being directed to their beta version of the "new and improved" site - good luck with that photobucket!
So - on with the story....we arrived into Cancun around 5:30 along with a whole lot of other happy vacationers. And waited in the 2 hour immigration line up. Hurrying to pick up our luggage, get through the green light (thank goodness!) and get to our bus - where we waited another hour and a half. Sunwing, you'll be hearing about this. I was kind of expecting a long milk run and thought about getting a private charter. Next time! So while we waited John had a beer or 3. Of course this meant a visit to the bus bano - lucky guy : ) Finally arrived at ABR at 11:30 - 6 hours after landing. There waiting was Chris, Annette and the inimitable Kelsey who somehow managed to scrounge up a pizza and chips - still a mystery! Chris shared some of Sr Julio's finest - what a great welcome home! And on our plane and bus ride was the lovely Seagoat, her friend and her friend's daughter and her 2 delightful little girls. This was shaping up to be one of the most memorable weeks at ABR.
We were given room 402, close enough to 401 and without that disgusting wooden floor in the bathroom. Air worked great, though we rarely used it, the fan seemed to be enough if the balcony door was left open to the sea breeze. We even used a blanket one night, this being a colder November than our last trip. The bay was colder too, and our first couple of days were windy. Not the clearest viz and we experienced "drift snorkeling" the first couple of times out due to the current sending us southwards. But bad snorkeling beats a good day at work anytime. Chris had seen a rock beauty out by the reef cut so Cindy, Annette, John & I headed out that way, putting in at the cannons thinking we could skirt the current and hoping for clearer water. It was a bit gruesome, suddenly a reef head would appear out of the murk and when we were slapped by a big wave we decided to pack it in and head to the Moonrise. We spent more time there than is usual for us and being as how it's a thing of the past we're glad we did. Thanks to Timhy for taking such good care of us there.
A couple of days in it was time for the meet and greet at the Lol Ha that Gato organized. Thanks Gato! Always nice to put faces to the familiar names on the board. After warning the gal next to me that the mango margaritas were deadly I proceeded to down 2 of them. Bad idea. My critical thinking skills deserted me and after tripping our way back to the ABR for dinner I continued drinking. The next day was a write off - I was pretty mad at myself, wasting a precious day of snorkeling and comradery hanging out in the room hiding from bright lights and loud noises.
Meanwhile, as I lay licking my wounds, the wind died down and John and Chris got out to see the rock beauty, an orangespotted filefish and a few more familiar critters.
Rock beauty
Orange spotted filefish
< Message edited by barata -- 12/2/2012 10:58:07 AM >
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RE: ABR - same old, same old - 12/2/2012 7:04:33 PM
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barata
Posts: 4134
Joined: 4/11/2006
From: a few degrees north of Akumal
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I was in serious need of downtime, no decisions, no pressures, no deadlines, no planning. And I had to fit it all into one week! We quickly settled into a hassle free routine. I'd be up at dawn, enjoying a coffee on the balcony, alternately watching the sunrise and reading a book. Occasionally I'd have to brush my teeth and put some panties on under my morning attire because I'd forgotten my milk or my sugar, a minor disruption to the start of the day and sometimes I'd run into a friendly face and chat for a while. Back to the room to rouse John around 7:30 or 8, more coffee, some breakfast, and then a snorkel.
So nice to see old familiar faces smiling up at us.
After the morning snorkel we'd head to the Moonrise, then a bite of lunch, perhaps another snorkel, perhaps a nap, then back to the Moonrise till closing time, back to the room to tidy up, perhaps nap, dinner, followed by drinks in the comfy chairs near the reception desk. Once in a while a stroll over to the Chomak for sundries.
I couldn't even gather up the energy to shop - then I'd have to make a decision about what colour, what size, what what - though I kicked myself when I saw the cute stuff Gmadeb found. And the lovely necklaces and gorgeous ring Annette came back with.
One night Seagoat and Karen asked if I was going to Karaoke - no, not really up for it, but eventually John & I wandered over to keep them company - THEY WEREN'T THERE! There were maybe 1/2 dozen guests, outnumbered by the animacion crew. In the spirit of the thing I did a couple of tunes. I need to offer up an apology to Bonnie Raitt, I hope you weren't listening
In spite of the hoards of bobble headed yellow puffers (thank you gma and So So for identifying the groups of tourons who show up in the bay and at ABR on a regularly annoying basis) the coral and the fish seem to be doing OK. Now I'll shut up for a while and share some of John's pics.
Juveniles - yellowtail damsel and queen angel fish.
Banded butterflyfish
Spotfin butterflyfish
Foureye butterfly fish
One of my favorites this trip, great light.
An urchin, an eel and a lobster walk into a bar.....the eel was a bit of a surprise, we only noticed it when the photo of the lobster was cropped.
Since I'm not at an all-inclusive I need to pause this narrative while I go scavenge for dinner.
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RE: ABR - same old, same old - 12/2/2012 7:16:59 PM
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Tanda50
Posts: 309
Joined: 3/1/2011
From: Northern California
Status: offline
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Lovin your report & your pics! So much fun hanging out with you guys! Carry on...
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RE: ABR - same old, same old - 12/3/2012 9:11:37 PM
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barata
Posts: 4134
Joined: 4/11/2006
From: a few degrees north of Akumal
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: 1runjuan
where did you get your hair done?
or is that what happens to canadians when they get to mexico.....................
The hair! So bit of back story - I generally wear my hair short, but decided instead of buying a sports car for my mid-life crisis (I have a thing for '72 Triumph Spitfires, if you win the lottery and want to give your dear ol' friend barata a small token of your appreciation for our friendship) I thought I'd grow my hair to 70's length again. This caused some problems whilst snorkeling. I had to use a gallon of conditioner to get the knots out. I tried a neoprene strap cover, worked OK, but still problems with knots. This time I did a Bam-Bam type hair style, tying it up on top of my head. Worked really well, but became a bit of a trap for sargassum. Thought I'd keep it like that but sargassum's a little fishy smelling and I didn't think my dinner companions would approve. It took a boat load of conditioner to get that stuff out too!
Renee being sargasstic:
Eventually the wind died down enough that the viz, and my hairstyle, improved. Johnny got some more great shots.
"And these, son, are frequently seen floundering about in the bay. They come in many shapes and sizes. They are not to be trusted."
We call them LED fish:
A slippery dick - does anyone know the etymology behind this name??
A pair of snails
This guy was eager to take us on in a fight!
I admit to hiding behind John while he shot these. Lots of "noise" in the pic which John blames on me - I was kind of excited. Caught his tail end heading into a bit of a notch in the reef so I motioned to John to follow me - and there he was in all his glory.
I used a couple of porkfish from a really blurry pic to attempt a measurement - very unscientific, but in a desire to keep a safe distance and in the absence of a measuring tape while snorkeling I figure him to be between 5 and 5-1/2' long.
These are porkfish, per the fish bible 10" long with a maximum of 14".
I could fit 6 of these fish along the eels length, not accounting for the eel being a little bendy.
What a thrill that was! And as much as I'd love to see a shark out there, I'm not really sure how I'd react after seeing a creature this big!
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barata, PI and catering service inc
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RE: ABR - same old, same old - 12/4/2012 8:39:48 PM
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rucruizin
Posts: 1962
Joined: 1/7/2010
Status: offline
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Oh Barata, I so feel your hair pain. My hair is ridiculous at home, on a good day. If I ever moved to Akumal, I'd have to go dread...
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It becomes, what you make it.
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RE: ABR - same old, same old - 12/10/2012 8:25:24 PM
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stuckinIndy
Posts: 646
Joined: 8/16/2005
Status: offline
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Love, Love, Love your report & awesome pics (including the cute bam bam look). Miss you guys!
Jen
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