Feb 21, 2013

Ava and I slept in this morning - yesterday was a hard day - no walk on the beach this morning. They are so wired when they get here, the heat along with the excitement really plays them out.

We really aren't quite awake yet.

The Iguana is out early this morning

Just catching a few of those early morning rays

Fresh flowers in the garden at Cabanas Puerto Morleos

I thought I had found something amazing here until the waiter told me  they were artificial. Who'da known!!

 You probably remember from previous years that we sponsor  children in Puerto Morelos for education, this year we are supporting four. Ava went with us to visit three of the children at their school in the colonia - the girl in the centre is Daniela age 11, whom we have been sponsoring for a few years and the little one beside her is  Selena age 9, the same age as Ava.

It is not often that sponsors are able to meet with the children they support, we extend a special "thankyou" to Kris  and Juan  Jr. who have helped make our visits with the children possible. Kris and Juan work with the school officials to set up the appointments, they attend our meeting with the children to act as interpreters and they  have also done extra little things for the children over the past year when we are not here to do so.

Allan and I got into the photo with the girls.

We have been sponsoring Daniela for a few years now.

 

This is our first year with Maria also, she  attends school on an occasional basis and is confined to a wheel chair. Maria is a very happy outgoing child. She lives with her mother and 4  siblings in a small house that was built by the local charity in  Puerto Morelos   http://www.emppm.com/

After our visit with our sponsored children we returned to the Cabanas Puerto Morelos for an afternoon at poolside where we found Clinton having a little R&R. 

Ava and Jed have become so comfortable in the water, their swimming lessons back home have certainly allowed them to shed their fear of the water.

Look at this one go - Way to go Jed!!

                                               Tonight we  head to Les Palmers for dinner -
                                              Allan and Clinton lead the way.

This restaurant has an awesome view

                                                                                         Refried beans are a hit

along with guacamole

Rather that show you what we ate I thought I would show you those eating tonight's dinner.

Everyone looks like they have had a long day - again the sun takes its tole

The beauty of one cactus ends



while another begins

Tomorrow we leave early for the day on  Isla Mujeres and the famous Dolphin Swim, 

everyone is off to bed with visions of dolphins dancing in their heads.

Good Night All

Feb 20, 2013

"A new day"

And it is going to be a great one!

We were  out on the beach before sun rise - not wanting to miss a second of this vacation.

Ava's footprint

A stop in the park. There have been a lot of improvements in the play area - new adventures for the children.

This dog came to us while we were siting on the bench, once he knew he had friends he just jumped up and laid beside us.

He doesn't look malnourished but he does have sore ears.

 Another great day for wind surfing

Ava had her hair braided. Little did she know at this time that she was getting ready for her birthday celebration later in the day.

Can you imagine having your hair done while you look at this view?

What do you think Barb - would you consider moving your salon to the beach of Puerto Morelos?

 Hey, I know what you are thinking - and a Puerto Morelos photo collage on the mirror in front of my chair will not do it for me.

Ava loves the beach so much she stayed with Allan and I while the rest went home for lunch

Here we are headed out for dinner, the dress theme is blue and white - Ava still isn't aware this is her birthday celebration. Her birthday is on Feb 5th, this year she did not have a party because they were coming to Mexico. 

On our way to the restaurant "El Pesquero" a fellow was selling roses made from a? for lack of the proper word at this time I am going to say "leaf of a plant". You get the idea. Clinton purchased one for Ava for her birthday - this was the first she was aware what we were up to.

She ordered her favourite drink  - a  "Virgin Pina Colada"

Jed has had a long day, he is getting tired. He is like his grandpa - they don't take well to the sun - always looking for a shady spot. The sun seems to wear them out.

The Mexican musicians just happened to come into the restaurant, we asked them over to play and sing for Ava's birthday. They sang the only 2 songs they knew in English - Happy Birthday and Jingle Bells for her.

 

After the main course of fish x 5 cooked in a variety of ways and an order of

cheese tacos for Jed - the cake came in!!!

What a delicious cake and nicely decorated in purple, pink and a little blue.

Ava served each of us -

Two great people helped us to have the perfect birthday celebration for Ava.

First we chose the restaurant because of or favourite waiter working  there "Avior". Restaurants change often here, they move, close or go under new management and in doing so they often change staff. When we first met Avior years back, he worked at El Faro and did so until it closed. Now he works at Le Pesquero. Avior even changed his day off so he would be working and able to serve us during Ava's birthday celebration. You would be hard pressed to find any waiter or waitress who would do that elsewhere. So give blessings for Avior!!

Then there is Dona (known here by a different name- I am not able to remember the spelling) who has business of baked goods. Her business  name/facebook page  is "Pan De Dona Pily"- her business is operated out of the Colonia - "Villas II"  Dona made the cake and delivered it to the restaurant for us. Last year we used Dona's service often for a great variety of baked goods - all of it was D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!!  She certainly did not disappoint us tonight - she made Ava a delicious banana cake - OH, SO GOOD!!  So please give  blessings for Dona!

This town is made up of some very awesome people!

Leigh and Clinton were happy to see their friend from last year "Abraham" the finger painter.

Abraham and his wife Mary Ann run a gift shop here in town. 

I imagine this family will sleep well tonight -

"Hasa Manana"