|
Users viewing this topic: none
|
|
Login  | |
|
Maggie & Squirt head to the Roo 11/19-11/26 - 11/28/2005 9:50:57 PM
|
|
|
GuestI
Posts: 25651
Status: offline
|
Hello all....for those who don't know me...my name is Maggie (Squirt is hubby) and I have a problem.....I love the ROO!
This my journey as I saw it through my eyes and felt it in my heart......we were there in May and this is our second trip of the year.....after our beloved friends have been hit by 3 devistating hurricanes....and we just didn't know what to expect......
As you know when we were leaving TD27/Gamma was headed that way....so ok, grab the bags and take a deep breath and just go...all will be well and we must see our friends.
At the airport, I was picked for the full body cavity search....full strip down and pat down....they had no idea to make of the camera gear that we had with us....apparently an underwater housing gave them some pause.....and the comment was made...where are you going....Cun/MX.....well the agent says back....if there is anything left there....you folks are nuts.....ok, no stress so far right.....
We are over the Cun airport (it was dark by now)...pilot gets on the horn and says....we have been asked to circle for another 10-20 minutes as the radar in the Cun airport is out and that is just the way things are done in Mexico....he gives a little snicker and that is all we heard.
Nice, I am thinking ..... fine time to let us in on that tid-bit if information....I could have used this when my feet were firmly on the ground in OHIO!!!!!
So I grab my water and put the barf bag a little closer to me......
So we land on a very short runway....it was the typical Cun landing....set the plane down and slam on the brakes.....so all was fine....
We meet our driver (short bit of confusion there)...nothing bad...I think we were a little early as we had no checked bags....
So we are now on our way to the Sunscape....locals call it the Sausage...the type face on the sign looks like Sausage.....
The driver shows us the local headlines of the Cun newspaper....20,000 unemployed in the Cun area alone.....OMG....I am thinking.......so since hubby speaks Spanish and me a little...we begin asking about his family and friends.....which is what I am still struggling with to put in perspective for all who will read my words.....
So on the way to the Sausage....(was dark...very dark)...missing traffic lights...the billboards well were just mangled shells...when we could see them..... on our way to Tulum.
We arrive at the Sausage, Eric (bellman) opens my door....to his suprise....it is me!
His face lit up and said it all......and let the hugs begin...I don't recall ever setting foot on any the stair into the main lobby...I believe it was one big hug that swung me around an up four or so stairs and the whole time I am hearing....thank you for coming back....thank you...thank you...he says....*ehem* never mind the beer cans that came out the door with me....
I tell Eric how good it is to see him again and ask about some of the staff whom we have grown to know...and he says that they are all good....what a relief.....but there is more to this story.....I will describe my conversation with him in detail later.
We go to the same room....just as I had asked....noticed new sliding glass door....hummmm....wonder why.....
So we fall asleep that night...smell of the salt water in the air, breeze blowing and the sound of the water lapping on the beach.....yep we know that we are once again in paradise.
Next morning, I am up at that crack of dawn....grab some coffee...and out the door to find Eric (he is like the head bell man, I think, and speaks good English....time to go get my questions answered....)
I take a deep breath and I ask about my favorite waiter Freddi.....and learn he is fine and has now moved to serving cocktails at the pool....
Another deep breath....what about Luis?.....I learn that he is still tending bar at the Lobby bar (where all the trouble starts...hehehe)
So he tells me about the water, sand, damage the property suffered....all looked ok to me....well yes, there were some differences....can talk more about those later.....but here is the part that I was not expecting......
Eric was more worried about the people in New Orleans.....so this conversation turned into a compare and contrast conversation.....WHAT, I am thinking????
Eric, I say....you just had 3 hurricanes!!!!
Yes, yes he says so very calmly but we are ok...the Mayan people are strong...and that is all that matters and we all love to work in the tourist business.....we did our best to take care of the tourists during the hurricanes....and that was our pleasure.....
But what about your homes and your families, I ask.....well they are all fine and the more tourists we have the better they will be.....he knew about the false CNN reports....that CNN was making Tulum sould like the same area Cun......and said that the best thing we tourists could do is tell the real story about the truth of the Tulum area and that the people were at work waiting for the tourist to come.....some had been off work for several days fixing homes (no work/no pay).....so many had lost some very important wages that support many more than their immediate families....
I asked about the kids and the schools....well when a hurricane is coming you protect your home first....so needless to say...the schools really took it hard...so not very many books are left.....to give you an idea....we had a brand new book laying on a desk for 2 days (May trip)....pages ended up all fanned out from the humidity alone......so knowing this I stuffed (at the last minute) some childrens books into my bag....
I asked Eric to hold on for a sec....scampered up to my room....grabbed the 9 or so kids books that I had stuffed in my bag at the last minute.....
I had some serious reservations about this as I needed to take out an outfit (for G*d's sake...I am a greedy American tourist after all! ).....well if I would have known....if I only would have known....that 9 gently used kids books would touch a man's heart and soul....
I could just see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice and see it in his posture....and his words back to me.....well I will treasure them for the rest of my life......
Ok, so time to take a look at the beach......and this is slightly north of Tulum proper....
Holy crap......and this was 130km south of Wilma's eye.....dear G*d, I am thinking what have these folks been through.....I cannot even imagine!
So, now off to the dive shop.....to see our friends.....
This is what the shop looked like in May.....and this NOT must husband with a fruity drink in his hand.....we mid-western beer dink folks.....
And this is what I found.....at Maya Diving.....
So when the guys arrived....there were of course hugs all around....and the call to all who could hear....LET'S GO DIVING!!!!!
The guys are looking well this is Miguel and Daniel both Dive Masters....
This is Jamie a stellar individual and Juan another Diving Instructor....
This is Diego, Windsurfing Champion/Dive Instructor and next to him is Squirt....
Ok, now I am feeling like I am in the ROO.....but there was still alot to be learned...so Squirt goes diving and I stay back to learn more....
A full 2 meters of sand had washed up from the beach toward the rooms.....
This is in May....notice the lush green grass.....
This is now AFTER 50 or so workers hand shovled for a week straight....
I just couldn't get my head around it all.....yes, I am in awe of the power of Mother Nature!
Time to take the kayak out.....ahhhh, yes it still is the ROO!
I turned the boat around so that those of you asking about the construction could see a little better.....
Before heading back in....I wanted to take one more look at the azul water....for some reason....enough is just never enough....
Back at the resort...this is the lobby bar in May....notice no construction behind....
Now look at the progress....the Sausage will be a Dreams soon.....the roof of the lobby bar is the white band on the righthand side center of the pix.....
The guys come back in from diving....looking good Daniel.....you silly tortuga man!!!!
Now it is time to relax some.....these NOT my feet....they are Squirt's....ahhhh yes, this is what the Roo is all about......
As the sun begins to set....I quick grab the cam to get a pix of the boat....as the light was just perfect.....
We took many walks down the beach as there was just so much to see in either direction....and the weather was perfect....not nearly as hot as May....but I didn't mind....I was again in the ROO!
One evening I decided to get an henna tatoo....*ehem*....I had met a certain fablous gentleman earlier who had put the idea of a tatoo in my mind!
Then of course on Thanksgiving day....it was time....to show the LGs my moon....just as promised.....so if you 'won' the bet.....please consider donating your dinner dollars to a charity that supports the work in the ROO....Nacer/CEA come to mind.....
This highlight of this trip for me was the following.....
One evening we were lucky enough to go into the Publeos (villages) that some of the folks that some of the folks that so generously wait on us hand and foot live in....well you cannot quite imagine it until you see it....but let me talk about the beauty of the village....
It was dusk....and the working men/women were for the most part just getting home to their famlies...
I could see into the homes, families having dinner by candle light, dinner conversations and laughter....but what really struck me was the sounds.....or lack there of.....no cars, no street lights.....it was peaceful and calm.
You could hear people in the streets talking.... I heard a lot of talking about...can you help me with a wheelbarrow tomorrow? Can you help with the school/church tomorrow?.....conversations that you and I would have on a telephone....
Children were laughing and playing in the streets...one time the only sound was of a bicycle being ridden up the hill on a sandy road...
Another place were were at you could hear the joyful music coming from a local open air market/store were folks had met up to discuss their day...
And most of all you could feel the over abundance of love that spilled out of each and every door of the homes.....I just kept thinking....could we as a culture be that strong and united???
Just look what happened to this country after one devistating hurricane.....
These lovely publeos we visited continue to share, bond and grow as a community......have we come so far that we have forgotten and lost the most important things???
There was alot to be learned just sitting there in the dark listening and watching people go on joyfully with their daily lives.....I think I may have learned more about myself and what is really important in that 10 minutes of our trip.....
These Mayan communities were beautiful in my eyes and I am blessed to have had this opportunity.....
So one more sunset....and it was time to say good bye again......but for some reason it was easier this time....
Because now I am absolutely sure that the sun really never sets in the ROO!!!!
The goodness of the human spirit permates this place and you can just feel it in your soul.....
This is the airplane ride out of paridise.....
So, I said my farewells for now, but plan to be back again in May....there is just something about this place and the people that gets into your heart and soul....so you find yourself just dreaming of your next trip to the Roo!
Cheers-
Mags
< Message edited by Maggie -- 2/7/2006 10:11:11 AM >
_____________________________
For Saskia: Odota, anna minun ajaa se pois!
|
|
|
|
RE: Maggie & Squirt head to the Roo 11/19-11/26 - 11/28/2005 10:01:41 PM
|
|
|
roxygrl
Posts: 3006
Joined: 11/7/2005
From: Estevan, Sask.
Status: offline
|
Thanks so much for sharing Maggie, I loved the pictures and the comments, truly awesome!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Maggie & Squirt head to the Roo 11/19-11/26 - 11/28/2005 11:16:06 PM
|
|
|
Rose
Posts: 12755
Joined: 9/28/2004
From: Toronto
Status: offline
|
Great report - great pics. Thanks Maggie.
_____________________________
I left my heart in Buenos Aires AGAIN.
Cape Cod in August & Captiva in November
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Maggie & Squirt head to the Roo 11/19-11/26 - 11/29/2005 3:27:57 AM
|
|
|
Whitney
Posts: 4339
Joined: 2/6/2005
Status: offline
|
you hot THING you!!
What a great report!
Very thoughful of you. Thanks girl.
_____________________________
It's not what you know, it's who you are.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Maggie & Squirt head to the Roo 11/19-11/26 - 11/29/2005 7:35:10 AM
|
|
|
LewesDE
Posts: 2658
Joined: 8/30/2005
From: Lewes, Delaware
Status: offline
|
Great trip report Magz-I hope Laz sits up and takes notice on how to post a trip report in a timely manner!!
enjoyed your insight and nice pics-I see the personal trainer was well worth it!! lookin good girlfriend!
_____________________________
"Half of this game is 90% mental" -Danny Ozark, Philadelphia Phillies Manager
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Maggie & Squirt head to the Roo 11/19-11/26 - 11/29/2005 8:56:24 AM
|
|
|
TN Mary
Posts: 2179
Joined: 7/7/2005
From: TN
Status: offline
|
Maggie...
Great report! Looking good on the beach!! So glad you had more than just a typical "tourist" trip. It's good for the soul to connect with the people down there... and also makes us apreciate what we have. I always come back humbled.
Do you think they'll be done by the end of the year? I think it'll be beautiful... wonder if they'll still call it the "sausage"!
Mary
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Maggie & Squirt head to the Roo 11/19-11/26 - 11/29/2005 9:09:09 AM
|
|
|
Michelle
Posts: 6436
Joined: 9/30/2004
From: boonies Ontario Canada
Status: offline
|
Great reporting Maggie.... love your pictures you sexy thang!!
Thanks for posting the comparison ones, they are sad but guess they have to roll with mother nature's punches when living in Paradise!
PS: Good idea about the moon shot...no one wins the bet!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Maggie & Squirt head to the Roo 11/19-11/26 - 11/29/2005 10:27:47 AM
|
|
|
Vagabundo de Playa
Posts: 5519
Joined: 2/7/2005
From: Crystal Lake IL
Status: offline
|
Way to go Maggie!! Great shots. Thanks for sharing!!!!
I pictured you as a feisty red-head..... at least I got the feisty part right!! haha
VdP
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Maggie & Squirt head to the Roo 11/19-11/26 - 11/29/2005 7:58:28 PM
|
|
|
GuestI
Posts: 25651
Status: offline
|
Ang: To do that...I would have to take his heart out of is body and place it on the beach....beauty is inside!
Love that Squirt-
Mags
_____________________________
For Saskia: Odota, anna minun ajaa se pois!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Maggie & Squirt head to the Roo 11/19-11/26 - 11/29/2005 8:01:45 PM
|
|
|
Wanwell
Posts: 703
Joined: 5/17/2005
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: Maggie
Ang: To do that...I would have to take his heart out of is body and place it on the beach....beauty is inside!
Love that Squirt-
Mags
AAAWWWWWW..
That's great........
(you are not really going to do that are you?)
Tee-hee
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Maggie & Squirt head to the Roo 11/19-11/26 - 11/29/2005 8:07:47 PM
|
|
|
greekbeachgirl
Posts: 14161
Joined: 9/3/2005
From: Sherwood Park Alberta CANADA
Status: offline
|
aawwwwwwwwwwww
_____________________________
I wish cancer could get cancer and die itself ....
|
|
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts
|
|
0.359
| |
Printable Version
