Looking Back on 2023 - Uncertainty in Cancun

We were supposed to fly home the evening of April 5.  But there was a massive ice storm in Ottawa, all over Ontario and Quebec, it turns out. Our plans were changing.

It was stressful. Not knowing when our flight would happen. Or if it would happen anytime soon.   

We got the first flight delay notice in the morning. The next around noon. If the delay was more than 3 hours, we could reschedule our flight to another day at no cost, and get insurance money to pay for extra accommodation and food. Cool!  But as of 2 ish pm, our delay was still only about 2 hours.  

The uncertainty was hard for me!  If we stayed in Cancun longer, where to stay? I searched for Air BnB's, sent messages, but the responses were slow to come.  

At about 4 pm, we decided to go to the airport, to wait things out there. Eventually we'd fly home, right?  But!!!  Just as the Uber was coming, we got the next delay message!  More than 3 hours!  Cancel the Uber!  All this time, we'd been by the pool at the Airbnb we stayed at the night before. The hosts were so kind!!  We could stay by the pool until we figured ourselves out.

Soon enough I got a response from an Air BnB reservation!  We had a plan!  A few days in Cancun!

Photos:

1 & 7)  The swimming pool and kitchen at our place in Cancun.  It was so solidly in suburbia that there was a Costco right next door!  But we were grateful to find something so nice at an affordable price and with such short notice 

2, 3, 4) The beach in Cancun is amazing!  It goes on forever!  But the public sections, not kept kinda private by hotels, were super busy the day we went. It was the weekend and locals were enjoying their own riches, as they should! 

5) We found a neat park near our place in suburbia.  Toby had some fun. 

6)  Our last dinner in Cancun.  We splurged and got a big meat platter! 

Note:

Changing our flight with Flair was stressful. We spent several hours composing emails and on the telephone.  But Flair came through on their promise to book us on the next available flight, I think 3 days later.  yay!

Looking Back on 2023 - Young Boy & German Lady at la Aldea

It was so hot!  When we visited SMA in March 2023. Our accommodation was OK, but it didn't have much nice outside space and certainly no water for cooling off.  So we went to the swimming pool at La Aldea, a local hotel, as day guests a couple of times.

The swimming pool was outside with lounge chairs around it.  When we arrived, the first time, there were a few guests that caught my eye.  A German Lady with her husband, and a family with a Young Boy, about 5 years old.  

The German Lady's husband didn't seem to want to chat with his wife much.  She seemed a little restless.  The Young Boy wanted to play in the water but seemed scared.  His parents must've been busy with other stuff.

So the German Lady approached the Young Boy.  I don't remember the details.  But I so remember that the interaction was beautiful.  The boy was pleasant, willing to engage and ready to have some fun.  The lady was kind and encouraging.  I think I suggested looking for fish and making bubbles.  It was so nice!

Funny ish thing was we went back to the same swimming pool a couple of days later.  The German Lady was there again with her husband.  But a different family was there with their kids.  So different!  The kids were loud and splashy.  The German Lady asked the kids / parents to play more quietly.  Nope.  It didn't happen.  So, for as much as the German Lady was kind and patient one day, she left the pool this time in a huff.  I can't entirely blame her.  The family was annoying.  But such a contrast in her demeanour! 

Photos

1) The German Lady and the Young Boy.  Their interaction was so nice and fun, it warmed my heart!

2-3, 5) The grounds at La Aldea, so beautiful! Built in the colonial style of the 18th Century

4) Streets of SMA.  In March, the jacaranda trees were in bloom!

6) the pool at La Aldea, courtesy of Google

Looking Back on 2023 - Charco Del Ingenio

Charco Del Ingenio is a botanical garden and nature reserve on the ridge of the SMA valley.  It's a wonderful place for a long walk.  

Google says Charco Del Ingenio means "Puddle of Wit".  It's a fun translation. But I'm not sure that's quite the intent.  I think "pool, or place, of ingenuity" is more appropriate, since Charco del Ingenio offers pleasant walking paths, an amazing view of the SMA valley, clever , and protects cacti and other succulents that are rare or at risk of extinction.  And yes, there is a water body.  The "Presa Las Colonias".  A dammed water reserve for the city that fills in the rainy season, and is sometimes at risk of being too dry in the dry season. 

We walked the whole thing!  About 2-3 hours worth.  With stops to enjoy the views, plants and sculptures.  At the end, we were hot and thirsty.  But it was worth it!

Photos

1) Toby and me :)

2) A great view of San Miguel de Allende 

3) The Four Winds Plaza is a ceremonial space for indigenous communities of SMA.  The central circle represents the sun.  The outer circles indicate the four cardinal points and their classic colours - land, water, flora and fauna.  Who knew?!

4) Toby taking a chance!

5) Toby and Barbara 

6-7) Plants and Toby

Looking Back SMA - Horse Back in the Campo

Horse back riding is a classic fun activity to do on a trip.  A nice way to see a different part of the landscape.  So off we went into the campo!  To ride into the sunset!

It started off a little poorly.  Our taxi driver couldn't find The Ranch, yes the actual name of the ranch.  We should have paid more attention to the directions we received with the reservation. Lesson learned.

But once there, it was delightful!  Katja, our guide and owner of The Ranch, was very nice.  The horses were beautiful and gentle.  We were the only clients on the ride.  It all felt very special.  

We rode past farm fields, across a little river, through a very small community, and pretty much literally into the sunset!  There was only one kinda scary part. The dogs in the little community. Some were quite barky, likely just protecting their homes. It felt like they could spook the horses.  But our  guide was confident, handled the dogs, and the ride continued safely.  

Back at The Ranch, we got to feed carrot to our horses.  Sweet! 

We took a bus back to town.  Which was a also an adventure.  The only yucky part.  I borrowed shoes from Barbara for the ride.  They were a little small for my feet.  I had a blister to deal with for a few days after. 

Photos - no comments required!