A Canuck in Mexico

D is for Dengue, Depression and Dread

noreply@blogger.com (CancunCanuck) — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 15:53:00 +0000

I'm currently sitting in my Cancun apartment, staving off the Covid 19 panic and using all my Jungle Kelly powers to maintain my calm. I am not going to let anxiety rule, it exists within me, I acknowledge its presence and I recognize all the reasons for it but I refuse to let it take over. The world is full of unknowns right now and I do not have a job or money coming in but the bills still need to be paid. (RESPIRA). It may be several months before tourism comes back, which leaves me in a tight spot, like millions of others. I know I am not alone and there are others in far worse situations. As Jungle Kelly I have to remember that I can handle anything and remind myself that I am a badass chingona with resources and support. (RESPIRA).

This whole pandemic thing arose at a very strange time for me. I have only recently recovered from dengue and let me tell you, the LAST THING I want right now is to battle another fever illness. My experience with dengue left me drained, depressed and dreading being sick ever again. The PTSD is strong my friends. I had recovered (physically and emotionally) by March and then BAM, apocalyptic virus infects the world.

It started with back pain in mid-December. Not my usual back pain in neck and lumbar, but a sharp pain in the middle of my back over my rib cage. I went to my osteopath for an adjustment and he remarked that it was not normal for me and he suggested it may be something unrelated to the spine. I returned to him a few days later when the pain got worse and he ordered an injection of cortisone. The day after the injection I felt BAD, really bad and my back wasn't any better. I was dizzy with a terrible pain behind my eyes and nauseous and the vomiting started. I thought I may have been reacting to the injection so I made my way back to my local doc.

The pretty young doc is no stranger to me, we see her for all our little things. That day she welcomed me into her consultorio and told me to take a seat. I said "En el piso, voy a vomitar" and proceeded to hit the deck, grabbing the garbage can just in time. I kept apologizing (Canadian, sorry) and kept vomiting. When the purge stopped, I told her about my other symptoms and she just said "Uyyy, dengue". There is no test for dengue but she sent me for blood work which basically resulted in "Sick with fever" and she told me to take paracetamol, stay hydrated and rest.

For the next week, I vomited every two hours. I soaked through my pillows and mattress with the sweats yet I felt so chilled that I was wearing layers and layers of fleece. I was shivering with cold and pouring with sweat. I would dress and undress to try to regulate my temperature, crying in pain with every movement. My body HURT. Every single part. Without exaggeration, The pain behind my eyes and the headache left me unable to read or watch TV or turn on a light. I cried out loud at night "Kill me, matame, kill me now I can't take anymore!" I had trouble breathing, I was coughing relentlessly and I just wanted to die. I was physically destroyed, depressed and desperate.

Apart from the physical pain and vomiting and loss of bladder control (every time I puked I peed), the most haunting part of the illness was the hallucinations. The fever had me seeing things, hearing things and imagining scenarios not of this world. There were shadow people hovering outside my door, I could see them coming and going and hear their whispers. My wall put on a "light show", like an old film reel flickering images of meat and gravy waterfalls. On one of my worst nights, I had a horrible argument with myself about how to turn over in bed. I was furious that I did not know the correct sequence to disconnect all my bones in order to make the move. I painfully disassembled my skeleton a few times before getting it right.

Overall I was sick for a month. From mid-December to mid-January I was locked down in my house feeling sicker than I ever had before. February I was TIRED and working on rebuilding my strength and stamina. I had lost a LOT of weight, for most of the month I couldn't eat anything except jello and mandarins and those didn't stay down. By March I was feeling much better and ready to rock high season in tourism. My mood had improved, Jungle Kelly was roaring and I was excited to be back on the planet (really, the whole illness I felt as though I was somewhere else).

And that brings us to Covid 19. I'm still healthy and doing all I can to stay that way but the dengue PTSD brings feelings of dread and flashbacks to my hallucinations. I am so grateful that Jungle Kelly exists, she keeps me in line and doesn't allow the panic to get to the best of me. I've got the tools to deal with this and no matter what happens, I'm going to be ok. We're going to be ok. WE'RE FINE OK? (RESPIRA). One obstacle at a time, as they arise, we're going to be ok. (Yes, I am trying to convince myself more than anything here). I will find a way to pay the bills and stay healthy and take care of my kid and my cats. I can do this. We can do this.

RESPIRA.

Jungle Kelly La Chingona: Lessons for Covid19 Cancun

noreply@blogger.com (CancunCanuck) — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 23:27:00 +0000

Maximum Hammock Relaxation Before Covid19

We got out of town for my birthday celebration on the beach the last weekend before "Toque de Queda Cancun 2020". We rented a couple of rooms at Casa Kayab and enjoyed a long weekend of great company, good times and a whole lot of relaxing. Covid19 was a topic of discussion but we really didn't anticipate what we would be returning to at the end of our escape. The virus didn't even dominate our conversations, we covered a wide range of topics including all the tea from Rupaul, dating Vikings and the evolution of Jungle Kelly.

The seeds of Jungle Kelly were planted years ago but she really wasn't born until a trip to Guatemala in August 2019. The 100 kms of trekking through the jungle over 5 days was a life changer, a stereotypical and cliche "vision quest"/"Eat, Pray, Love" experience. With each telling of my tale to friends, I just gag on the phrase "life changing" but frankly it's the truth, no matter how much it sounds like I am about to try to sell you my inspirational self-help books. The Trek changed my life and prepared me for the current surreal reality of the world. I came out of the jungle a new woman, ready to face any adversity and I dared the universe to BRING IT ON. (Uhh yeah, sorry about that).

Jungle Kelly Feeling Cute, Just Vomited on this Pyramid

Becoming Jungle Kelly in Guatemala was a series of "OHHH" moments of realization and "AHA!" moments of discovery. The walk was hard, really, the hardest thing I have ever had to do physically, mentally and emotionally. No matter how tough things got, I just kept going. And did so with a smile and a sense of humour. The harder it was, the harder I pushed. I may have fallen, I may have vomited on top of a pyramid and the ticks may have been feasting on my nalgas, but I just kept going. As we trekked and trekked it got easier and easier and by the time we walked into the pueblito of Carmelita after 100 kms I was energized enough to want to dance. EXHAUSTED but energized, feeling proud of the accomplishment, recognizing my strengths and seeing myself as a badass "Chingona" who can do ANYTHING.

Jungle Kelly Badass Chingona

One of my first jungle lessons was "Learning How to Walk Again". The jungle was thick, the trail was narrow and rocky and muddy and full of tree roots. The first day I was rushing, looking ahead and not at my feet and not feeling the pace of my surroundings and the rhythm of the selva. I was trying to control a situation beyond my control and race to the finish instead of dealing with the reality of the path beneath me. I stumbled. Fell. Knocked the eff out of my shins. Went into heat shock, pretty much passing out and yes, vomited on top of an ancient palace.

Step by step, Jungle Kelly learned how to listen to the jungle, be in the moment and deal with the obstacles as they arose. Anxiety about what might be around the corner faded and the walk became easier. This lesson has been extremely helpful in my day to day life and now, as we face a world crisis full of unknowns, I'm ready to face each step of the Covid19 situation in Cancun as it comes. I'm paying attention to the trail at my feet and knowing that whatever is at the end of the pandemic trek is going to be ok.

Jungle Kelly and Surfer Dude Rule the Roof in Cancun Covid19

I'm not saying I don't have moments of anxiety because OMG THE SKY IS FALLING is part of my DNA, but the moments are short and Jungle Kelly holds my hand until I am calm. When the virus is under control, I will take each step necessary to work, feed my kid and my cats. No amount of anxiety or stress is going to change the outcome, so I may as well listen to the jungle and just roll with it. I have survived everything the universe has thrown at me thus far, I know I'll get through this one too, with giggles and pink hair and the ones I love.

Cancun in the Times of Covid19

noreply@blogger.com (CancunCanuck) — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 15:49:00 +0000

- blows dust off blog -
- wipes blog with disinfectant -

Oh hello! Strange days, eh? It's been a while since I've written but it seems I have some time on my hands and some thoughts on my mind. Too much time and too many thoughts make Canuck cray cray so I'm here at the keyboard to sort it out old school, blog style.

I'm currently in Cancun where we are in "toque de queda", with orders to stay at home. Police are in the streets and drones are flying around telling people to "quedate en casa".At this point I am not sure if that is to stop the spread of infection or to prevent a huge crime wave on the heels of massive firings in the tourism industry. The majority of hotels are shuttered, tours cancelled, beaches closed, nightclubs dark, ferries limiting movement to and from Isla Mujeres and Cozumel. Our entire population, myself included, is fueled by tourism and reports suggest we'll have close to one million unemployed people in Cancun and the surrounding areas. Keep in mind that Cancun only has a population of about one million so....you do the math.

Photo courtesy Meganews

Covid19 hit Cancun at the worst possible time for our economy. Spring break. Semana Santa. No promises of a summer season. Cancun Spring Break and Semana Santa (Easter vacation in Mexico when we see waves of domestic travelers) are THE most important weeks of the year and account for a large percentage of the destination's income. Entonces, not only are we not seeing any new reservations, we're refunding cancellations, leaving the coffers empty. Nobody will be getting paid. Myself included. Sigh. I've taken out a bank loan to survive, mostly to ease my anxiety. I am fortunate to have this option.

Solar Powered Canuck

My son Max and I are healthy so far. An active teenager with an order to stay at home is not an easy monster to deal with, but we're finding our way. After a couple of escapes to go to the beach, he's locked down and helping me out around the house. We've got the pool and the roof so we are able to get a little fresh air and sunshine when we start bouncing off the walls. I'm reading a lot, watching series and movies, dancing to 80's music, talking to the cats, sleeping, cooking. Groceries are being delivered and there is no toilet paper shortage. I've ordered a deck of cards and a set of dice from Amazon, we're going to learn ALL the two player games.

I have no idea what day it is or what time is it though I am looking forward to Friday night for Rupaul's Drag Race and Saturday for an online family reunion. Right. Today is Friday. YAS QUEEN! Today's book is "The Murmur of Bees", we'll be eating leftovers and napping intermittently. I may even shower later if I am not too busy peering out the window and sighing.

Y tu? How's your apocalypse going? Muak. Hasta pronto!

El Mirador Trek Part Four: The Big Day

noreply@blogger.com (CancunCanuck) — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 18:23:00 +0000

On top of La Danta, El Mirador

El Mirador Trek Part Four is an installment of my continuing series documenting my recent trip to Guatemala to explore the Maya Biosphere Reserve and El Mirador Mayan Ruins with Teena Clipston and Mike's Expedtions Guatemala.

To catch the full story from the start, please check out these previous posts:

El Mirador Trek Part One

El Mirador Trek Part Two

El Mirador Trek Part Three

When we last left you, we had arrived in El Mirador camp after two days of trekking in the jungle, feeling chingona and eating watermelon. We spent the rest of the evening resting, getting set up in the tent and enjoying a most delicious bucket bath. Cold water never felt so good. Abel cooked us up a fabulous dinner and we met 'The Dutch Boys plus a Kiwi".

The Dutch Boys and the Kiwi

This group of handsome young men kept us in stitches all night with their stories and together we even created a whole new religion, all hail the Tea Cup! Three of the four informed us that they would not be sleeping in the tents as the fourth had an incredible snore. They chose to sleep in the hammocks on the other side of camp while we foolishly tried to sleep in the tent next to Rene the Snorer. You know that howler monkeys are the loudest animal on the planet? Rene sure gave them a run for their money. We should have heeded the warnings.

Between the howler monkeys and Rene, there wasn't a lot of sleep and I got up before dawn in search of coffee. Our fabulous guide Miguel directed me to the hammocks and brought me a piping hot cup of joe, best all-inclusive service ever. I wrote in my journal, listened to the sounds of the jungle and watched the camp come alive. El Mirador is a working archaeological site with over 200 people making it home for about 90 days of the year. This was the last day for many and I watched them walking with their packs and final paychecks to start the long trek back to civilization.

Morning Journal Time

Today was THE day, the reason for our trek and the impetus behind the whole adventure. Teena had been invited to interview the director of the archaeological site project, Dr. Richard Hansen and we had a meeting set for early morning. Of course, as is often the case, the best laid plans often go awry and we had our meeting pushed to a little bit later. And a little later. And a little later. We didn't get to the interview until after dark but that's ok, we had the whole day to explore and play in this magical place.

Our first stop was the most famous structure of the site, La Danta pyramid. This is the tallest pyramid in the Maya world and the largest by volume, it is an imposing structure that makes one wonder HOW they managed to build such a thing without the use of horses or the wheel. Extraordinary. From the top you have a view of jungle, lots and lots and lots of jungle. To the north we could see the top of the pyramid at Calakmul in Mexico and to the north-east is the area known as "Las Tres Banderas", "The Three Flags" where the borders of Guatemala, Belize and Mexico meet. It was exhilarating, a feeling of standing where few would ever travel and being a part of history. The only reasonable reaction was to sing The Carpenters in full voice of course, "I'm on top of the world looking down on creation". My apologies to the songbirds of the jungle for my less than extraordinary singing voice.

The rest of the day we explored and hiked and waited for word on the radio that the interview was a go. We practically ran to the Acropolis to see the frieze of "Popol Vuh" and we actually got a bit emotional (there may have been tears). It's a striking piece of art carved in ancient stone, according to Dr. Hansen it is the depiction of the hero twins Xbalanque and Hunahpuh carrying the head of their father as written in the ancient Mayan creation story. There is some dispute as to whether this is indeed what is represented here, there are papers stating alternative opinions but regardless, it is an incredible sight to see and its importance cannot be diminished.

The amazing archaeologist Lorena Gonzalez

I was poking around the Acropolis site and turned a corner to see a beautiful woman sitting with tools and ceramics. I struck up a conversation with her and discovered that she is an AMAZING woman! Lorena Gonzalez is a Guatemalan archaeologist working at El Mirador for the last five years and as it turns out, she was responsible for new findings and excavations in this particular area of the site. I can't share photos or even tell you what the discovery was as it hasn't been published yet, HOW COOL IS THAT? I am the holder of archaeological secrets! I really clicked with Lorena and am looking forward to interviewing her and sharing her story with the world!

We covered a lot of ground that day. The site is huge and everywhere you walk, you are pretty much standing on an ancient structure. The whole city area was "paved" with limestone which of course is what led to the downfall of the civilization, DEFORESTATION destroys (and here we are repeating history). We mostly walked but also had the good fortune of getting the occasional ride with the site's crew on the all-terrain vehicle which seemed to appear at opportune times. I didn't think anything of this....until later.

I feel good on top of El Tigre pyramid

It was late afternoon and I had just taken a wee nap in the hammock before having to meet the gang at the Popol Vuh (I just love saying "Meet you at the Popol Vuh"). The ATV magically appeared and I hopped on board and started chatting with the driver (who shall remain unnamed, just in case). He asked me a question and I thought I couldn't possibly have heard him correctly, did he really just ask me out? In the middle of the jungle? Why yes, he did. He wanted to take me out to a pyramid later that evening to show me the stars. "A pasear un rato juntos". I truly wasn't expecting this, I'm sure I reacted badly with my confused blushing face and I told him I was there to work and couldn't possibly. He said he would come find me later.

The lighter side of Dr. Richard Hansen in my glasses of love

We finally got to interview the man in charge himself, the well-known archaeologist Dr. Richard Hansen. This is really Teena's part of the story to tell and I can't wait to link to her articles to share all the details of this fascinating conversation. He invited us to dine with the archaeologists and we enjoyed a fine meal and great conversation before tiredly making our way back to our camp.

I chose to sleep in the hammocks this time, the tent was too hot and I loved the idea of sleeping in open air. The guy who had asked me out showed up at my hammock. Twice. We had a lovely conversation, he whispered sweet words and I sent him packing back to his own bed. Twice. I wasn't looking for romance (or casual hammock sex). It was all quite flattering and good for my ego and self-esteem, I've been single for almost six years so a little male attention was not entirely unwelcome. I finally got to sleep with those sweet words and the song of cicadas in my head and a contented smile on my face. A day full of adventure, history, drama, intrigue and even a little romance, vaya!

Next up El Mirador Part Five: The Return to Civilization

El Mirador Trek Guatemala: Part Three

noreply@blogger.com (CancunCanuck) — Sat, 31 Aug 2019 17:41:00 +0000

A continuing series on my expedition to the depths of the Guatemala jungle to visit El Mirador with Teena Clipston and Mike's Expeditions Guatemala, please see the first installments here:

Part One: Trek to El Mirador
Part Two: Learning How to Walk Again

My journal. That could say "unreal" or "surreal", both are appropriate.

We arrived in Tintal after a long, hot, HOT HOT HOT day of travel, we'd been on the go for twelve hours, six of those walking. Obviously the first thing we do is climb to the top of a pyramid. I was recovering from my first bout of heat exhaustion but there was no way I was going to miss this chance! Suck it up buttercup, I climbed (very very slowly) to the top, recorded the above video and promptly vomited red Gatorade on to the ancient structure. My sacrifice to the gods of the temple. Our plan to eat a snack and watch the sunset from the top of the pyramid was foiled when a sly fox stole our sandwiches. We forgive you Swiper.

Abel cooked us up a delicious meal in the rustic kitchen, we got set up in our tent and we crashed out hard after a snake and bug check. I heard my first howler monkey at about 3 am, the roar/bark/growl woke me up and I was DELIGHTED. The "chicharras" were so loud it was difficult to go back to sleep, but I managed a couple more hours of rest before we got up with the sun and the smell of the breakfast fire for another day of jungle trekking.

Stuck a feather in my cap and called it an existential moment

This was a really good day. A marvelous day, a magnificent wonderful and tremendous day! We had learned our lessons from the first jaunt of jungle walking and we found our groove. We vibed with the jungle and found ITS pace, not rushed, not hurried, just....grooving. I was breathing deep, the untainted oxygen filling my lungs and purifying my soul. I noticed that I was walking differently, chest held high, shoulders back and I couldn't wipe the smile off of my face. My steps were more confident and I found myself striding through the jungle feeling like royalty,

Suddenly, there was an entire novel in my head. A whole story laid out for me that I could feel in my skin just bursting to get out! I've never had an experience quite like this, a creative rush of joy. I was walking ahead of the group, threw my arms wide and turned my face to the sky and said out loud "I am a queen!" In that moment I WAS a Mayan virgin stolen from her village to be brought to the snake king of El Mirador for marriage. Or is she to be sacrificed? You'll have to read the book.

La Muerta - Death

Trek to the death! Well, we trekked to "La Muerta", the first group of structures of El Mirador! We'd been walking for about five hours, me writing a novel in my head while listening to Alux music and out of the jungle she appears! We were energized and excited, the videos are mostly us saying "HOLY SHIT" over and over again. There are two structures here, we entered one dating from 350 BC that used to be a mausoleum below and a residence above. The other structure was built about 150 years later, during the height of Tikal's civilization. Holy shit.

Chingona con Sandia

With renewed vim and vigor, we strutted (seriously strutted like John Travolta Saturday Night Fever in the Jungle) the last 45 minutes to the camp at El Mirador. We made it! High fives all around, watermelon slices for everyone and a well-deserved rest in a hammock. The sense of pride and accomplishment I felt is something I never want to forget. I must remember this moment. In this moment, I am a bad-ass, hardcore, chingona, I can do anything woman. With a big ass feather in my cap.

Next up: El Mirador, La Danta and....a date?

Trek to El Mirador Part Two: Learning to Walk

noreply@blogger.com (CancunCanuck) — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 05:03:00 +0000

I am back from “La Caminata”, my trek to the depths of the Guatemalan jungle to explore the ancient Maya ruins of El Mirador. We walked more than 100 kms in the heat of summer, climbed endless pyramids and somewhere along the way, I discovered my own strengths and the power I hold over my own happiness. The jungle is my Emerald City of the Wizard of Oz, the trek to El Mirador was my search for courage, knowledge and love. This was not my goal, not the expected result, but a wonderful side effect of an adventurous and difficult journey.

*In case you missed it: Trek to El Mirador part one

Trek to El Mirador Part Two: Learning How to Walk Again

When I last left you, I was riding in a beat-up pick-up being driven by Gabriel, smiling and singing “Vuela Vuela” to myself like a crazy person. A content crazy person. We’re on our way to the last village before the jungle walk starts, Carmelita. Teena is in the back of the truck with our guides Miguel and Abel, Abel is carrying a birthday cake for a little girl in the village, quite a feat on these bumpy roads! Abel is the quiet hero in a few of our jungle tales.

Carmelita kitchen

Two neck-wrenching dirt road hours later, we arrive in Carmelita, thank Gabriel and give ourselves a good stretch as we head to breakfast. We pass colourful weather-beaten huts and skinny dogs and we are drawn by the delicious smell of the burning lena and FOOD. We’ve been traveling for about 5 hours by now and we are starving! Breakfast was delicious, all the food on this trip was amazing! Fresh air, wood fires and an appetite turn even scrambled eggs into a divine creation.

After successfully navigating the obstacle course of chickens and dogs to use the outhouse, we washed up with rain water and went to find our horses. First a little stop to feed puppies. Teena asks me to take her picture with cute pup, cute pup bites Teena’s finger and draws blood. Bad puppy! We get Teena cleaned up and bandaged and it is time to rock, rabies or not.

Bad puppy!

We’ve been up since 4 am, our van broke down so we’re running late and we don’t hit the trail until about 10:30 am, really behind schedule. We are excited though and happily trot along like the heat is nothing. Midday sun and inexperienced jungle walkers full of adrenaline. You want heat stroke? Cuz that’s how you get heat stroke. I started to feel a little tired and I pushed. And I drank water and pushed more. I didn’t want to say anything as I didn’t want to slow us down! Finally after a big hill I said “Yo, I need a rest” and Miguel said we would stop at the next good shady spot. I pushed on for a few more minutes then I just couldn’t, I said “This is a good spot” and fell/sat down. (On our return trip Abel officially named the hill “Colina Mata Kelly”, so that is cool. I think.)

My ears were ringing, my heart racing and my vision was fading in and out. Dumb girl! I was mortified, totally embarrassed and trying not to puke to make it worse. Miguel and Abel got me some Gatorade and cookies and Abel even used a fallen palm leaf to fan me like a princess. My heart-rate returned to normal and we talked about learning to walk the pace of the jungle. To slow down, to listen to our bodies and la selva. We don’t have to get there fast, we just have to get there.

Vibing with the jungle ommmmm

I mounted the horse so we could keep moving, closed my eyes and just inhaled and exhaled slowly. I started to listen to the jungle sounds, feel the movements of the horse and the pull of the trail and just relaxed. I heard a flute in the distance behind me and thought there must be hikers nearby. I heard it again but closer and off to the left, strange. My eyes are open and scanning the thick jungle but all I see is green. The next time I hear it like a whisper in my right ear and I ask the group if anyone else hears music. Nope. Just me. Must be hallucinating. Heat stroke you know. Miguel tells me there is an alux dedicated to making music and for the rest of the trip I hear his melodies. And it makes me smile still to think of it.

The next time Teena needed a break (before melting down, smart girl), I got off the horse to walk with a new feeling. Listening and vibing with the jungle, I changed the way I walked, not forcing my pace on the place, relaxing my muscles and taking smaller, slower steps, letting the trail tell me where to step w,ith confidence, without hurry or fear. Fear, anxiety and excitement all feel the same in the gut, I decided to let excitement take over and from that moment the walk was a million times easier. No stress about keeping up or fear of falling down, just excited to keep moving forward.

Hearing alux music

We arrived at our camp much later that afternoon. It was the hardest day, really hard. Physically, mentally, emotionally tough. We were exhausted, we had pushed through some killer heat and tough hills and trails but we had made it. I thought I would want to just crash out for the next few hours but the jungle gave us a boost and the camp gave us a breather so we set off to explore and climb a pyramid! The jungle energy is a magical thing!

End part two.

El Tintal in our next episode

Coming up, El Tintal: Jungle Camp on the El Mirador Trek Guatemala.

Trek to El Mirador Guatemala: Part One

noreply@blogger.com (CancunCanuck) — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 07:15:00 +0000

I’ve realized there are a multitude of layers to this story and sharing in a linear, step by step way just isn’t easy. I’ve sat with my best friends attempting to relate my Guatemala experience and I get lost in the web of the tale. I try to tell the story from beginning to end, dates, times and places and I end up on a roll about the insects and animals we saw or the food we ate or the inside jokes we shared with the Dutch boys and I forget where I am in the story. Please be patient with me as I attempt to give some semblance of order to a wild and wonderful adventure.

Do NOT Be Distracted by Wild Turkeys

How did I end up in the jungle of Guatemala drinking rain water and wiping my tushie with leaves? A Facebook post of course. Teena Clipston, a fellow Canuck living in Playa del Carmen was looking for a travel partner/photographer to capture the trip and I jumped at the chance. Traveling with a “stranger” was far easier than expected, we had a great click and worked well together. I learned a lot from Teena and I hope it was mutual, we are different in many ways but the balance totally worked for me and I can say we are now great friends after surviving this trip!

Chicken Bus From Belize to Guatemala

Our journey began on a bus. Oh man did we spend a lot of time on the bus. We left Playa del Carmen shortly before midnight on the “red eye” to Belize City and arrived at the border before the crack of dawn. By 7:30 am we were on a “chicken bus” leaving Belize City headed to the Guatemala border. The driver was getting behind schedule so he tried to make up time by RACING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. We heard a long HOOOOOONK HONK HONK and a CRUNCH and felt the bus slamming into a car (nobody hurt!). We evacuated the bus in the middle of nowhere to the stench of burned rubber and asphalt and the heat of a blazing sun and joked about the possibility of getting a taxi in the surrounding fields. TADA, the universe provided us a taxi out of the ether and for $25 USD we were on our way again.

Everyone please evacuate the bus

We crossed the border easily (border crossings in Belize and Guatemala are a whole other post) and found our Guatemala tour guide Miguel waiting for us. Teena had met him on previous trips to Guatemala so there was a level of comfort immediately. We sweaty hugged, got in his car and continued driving to the island of Flores. We checked into Hotel Sabana at 3:00, making it about 15 hours in transit by bus, taxi and car, my body was aching. We got a good rest, spent the next day interviewing organizations concerned with the conservation of the Maya biosphere reserve and enjoying the sights of Flores.

We're on a boat! In Florea, Guatemala

The day of the caminata arrived and we were up at 4 am to start ahead of the heat of the sun. We knew we had about a three or four hour drive ahead and then we would start walking. We were NERVOUS, excitement and the fear of the unknown, the anticipation was quite a rush.

Yep, she's broken

We did not anticipate the road conditions that led to a broken suspension on our van, but once again the Universal Ride Fairies blessed us with Gabriel and his beat-up pick-up to lug us the last couple of hours to the town of Carmelita. The radio barely worked but the song “Vuela Vuela” played softly as I watched the countryside go by, inhaled the aroma of the jungle and smiled contentedly and sang to myself.

¡Vuela, vuela!

Verás que todo es posible (vuela, vuela)

¡Vuela! (Vuela)

Despierta tu mente

Fly fly!

You’ll see that everything is possible (fly fly)

Fly fly!

Wake up your mind

Vuela vuela

End part one

Coming up: Trek to El Mirador Part Two: Learning How to Walk Again

El Mirador, Guatemala from Cancun: Expedition Just Got Real

noreply@blogger.com (CancunCanuck) — Sun, 07 Jul 2019 23:37:00 +0000

La Danta Pyramid, El Mirador, Guatemala

It all started with a Facebook post. "Huge Adventure Opportunity: El Mirador, Guatemala". It caught my attention immediately as I love a good jungle adventure AND I had just watched "Expedition Unknown: The Lost Tomb of the Snake King" for the millionth time. Host Josh Gates (my imaginary TV boyfriend) charmed and tempted me with the world of El Mirador and Teena's post lit my adventure pilot light and I replied "PICK ME PICK ME PICK ME". In a more adult and professional manner of course. I sent her my info, explained why I should go with and went to sleep with dreams of pyramids and howler monkeys in my head.

PICK ME!

And here we are, 32 weeks later and I've just purchased my first pair of snake gaiters and am getting ready for the adventure of a lifetime. I know everybody says that about their journeys but seriously, this is not a experience you can just book on Expedia. This is 2 days on buses through Mexico, Belize and Guatemala then a 6 day trek into the jungle, walking 2 days to get in to El Mirador and two days walking out, repeat return bus journey. Teena has hooked us up with super guide Miguel Enrique Manzanero Campos who will be leading us on this trek. There are no roads to the archaeological site (preventing looters) so getting there is an adventure in its own right, hiking approximately 60 kms through untouched jungle in summer, it's going to be hot, there are going to be bugs and there are going to be snakes. BRING IT ON.

Excited about snake gaiters!

So, why visit Guatemala? Why go to such extremes to visit El Mirador? How do you get to El Mirador Guatemala? Will I get ticks in my coochie? Is it safe for a single woman to travel in Guatemala? Aren't you too old for this crazy stuff? I'm going to do my best to answer all these questions and more in upcoming posts. The personal reasons why I am doing this may change by the time I finish the trek, my answers are waiting in the jungle. My mission right now is to get in shape, come up with some money, get to the site and capture photos and videos along the way. Any "Eat, Pray, Love" spiritual revelations will be a bonus.

My "Eat, Pray, Love" trip to Veracruz

The ultimate goal and reason for the trip is to meet with Dr. Richard Hansen, an archaeology rock star and the driving force behind the exploration, investigation and conservation of the Mirador Basin. Please check out Teena's post about our El Mirador, Guatemala expedition for an in depth look at what we will be investigating on this journey. It is an absolute honour for Teena to be invited by Dr. Hansen and I am super grateful to be able to tag along and be a part of this adventure. History, nature, culture and adventure, I'm going to kick butt on the "What I did on my summer vacation" homework.

Dr. Richard Hansen and Josh Gates
photo courtesy Josh Gates

I am so incredibly excited about this trip, I get butterflies thinking about it. The countdown to the first overnight bus to Belize from Cancun is ON. Teena and I are two bad ass women "around 50" and we are ready to rock the adventure and bring home incredible stories, videos and photos of this once in a lifetime El Mirador expedition. We still have some equipment to buy and some payments to make to our guide, if you feel compelled to contribute to our journey and can help in any way (really, $10 USD goes a long way in Guatemala), please make donations to my Paypal or contact me via email with sponsorship opportunities or commissioned work. We are super grateful for donations and opportunities to contribute content to your magazine or website!

Dr. Richard Hansen and Morgan Freeman in Guatemala.
photo courtesy GlobalConservation

Are you tempted? Would you like to come along? We have room for more on the El Mirador trek with Miguel, drop a line to Teena Clipston or myself ASAP and let's see if we can make it work!

Look for my El Mirador Guatemala Trek posts coming soon, follow me on Instagram and Facebook.

End of Year Review of MyCancuntours.com Adventures

noreply@blogger.com (CancunCanuck) — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 18:17:00 +0000

Ahh, 2018, thanks so much for the memories!

Sweating my way through Tulum

I'm a super lucky lady to live in Cancun and this year was blessed with many adventures! In my work as a content creator and writer, I am frequently "required" to play tourist and go on excursions to take photos and video and provide feedback to the tour operators. (I know, poor me, right?) Sometimes the tours are awesome and extraordinary and other times.....meh. Not "bad' just not up to snuff compared to other providers of the same tour.

There are a few tours that really stood out for me this year and they were all provided courtesy mycancuntours.com by Translamex. The "house tours", operated by Translamex are all TOP NOTCH, reliable transportation, expert guides, good logistics (this is far more important and complicated than most tourists realize) and I know I can count on quality food and beverage. Of course the attractions themselves are bomb, but it's easier than you think to mess up even a simple tour to Tulum. MyCancuntours.com and Translamex do it right, every time!

4 x 1 Tulum, Coba, Cenote and Playa del Carmen

This is an intense day, LOTS to see and do but so worth it for the price! I've visited all of these places multiple times but the Translamex guides always find something new to teach me (Chito is my fave, he has oodles of fascinating tidbits about the ancient Maya). Trying to do all these activities in one day on your own would be pretty complicated for new visitors but mycancuntours.com has done a bang up job of finding a way to make the day flow seamlessly.

Crazy hair at Coba's Nohoch Mul pyramid

Favourite part: Climbing the Nohoch Mul pyramid

Chichen Itza Tour from Cancun

It's almost embarrassing to put Chichen on the list, it's a "no brainer" for first time visitors and the Mayan ruins that EVERYONE knows about, nothing hidden or secret about it. EVERY Cancun travel agency has a Chichen Itza excursion and they are all just a little bit different, from the friendliness and knowledge of the guides to the quality of the food served. I hate to say it but I have had some BAAAAAAD tours from other operators, but going with Translamex is a guaranteed good time.

Playing with angles at Chichen Itza

Favourite part: LUNCH! Seriously, Chichen Itza is astounding and beautiful and meaningful, but the Yucatecan buffet lunch is da bomb! Translamex nails it with totally tasty grub.

El Cielo Cozumel

I confess, this year was the first time I was able to visit El Cielo in Cozumel! "Coz", as it's affectionately known locally, was my first home in Mexico but El Cielo was always just out of my reach. In 2018 I finally got to explore this hidden piece of "heaven" ("el cielo" can mean "heaven" or "sky") with mycancuntours.com. In fact, I liked it so much that I did it TWICE this year! Obviously I am a snorkeling fanatic, anything in the ocean makes me SMILE!

Ready for El Cielo with my bestie Andie

Favourite part: Getting up close (but NO TOUCHY) to a bunch of starfish, super cool!

I have had a terrific 2018, these three tours are just a small taste of the adventures I've had! My wish for you all is to have a 2019 full of travel, adrenaline and love! What's on your bucket list for the new year?

-- These Cancun tours were provided by mycancuntours.com by Translamex but the opinions are my own.

Rio Secreto Cancun WILD!

noreply@blogger.com (CancunCanuck) — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 17:32:00 +0000

Why I Think "Rio Secreto Wild" is the Very Best Tour in the Riviera Maya Ever

Sooo, I love my job. Like, REALLY love my job, I "have to" do all the tours in Cancun and the Riviera Maya, take photos and videos and write about the experience. I mean, come on, how lucky am I? There are moments where I find myself saying "Ugh, really, I have to go to Chichen Itza AGAIN?" but I give my head a good shake and remember that it is a dream job that many would kill for, regardless of how many times I have ridden the bus to Chichen (I've lost count but it's somewhere around 15).

Then there are the moments that are truly extraordinary. I've experienced a few tours in their "pilot" phase, with tour operators working out the kinks before bringing tourists on board. A Cancun tour guinea pig if you will. In April I was invited to be one of the first to visit a new cave system being explored by Rio Secreto and provide feedback about my experience. And I was KNOCKED OUT completely. We were invited again this past weekend and now I feel compelled to share the magic with you all (as much as I would like to have a secret happy place, I'm going to let you all in on it!)

I've been a fan of Rio Secreto for a long time, since our first visit back in 2009 when Max was just a wee explorer! I thought I knew what to expect at Rio Secreto Wild but OH was I wrong. The original Rio Secreto tour is spectacular but dude, Rio Secreto Wild? A truly unique expedition to another world and by far the most natural and awe-inspiring experience I've had in Mexico. Ever. And that's saying a lot!

Max in Rio Secreto 2009

Max Rio Secreto Wild 2018

Breaking it down to the basics, it seems like just another Riviera Maya tour, a visit to a cave, a cenote and a walk in the jungle. So what makes Rio Secreto Wild so very different? NATURE. Real, live, untouched, unaltered, no dynamite, no cement, authentic nature. You won't find handrails or emergency exits here, you are on a REAL jungle expedition. The only light comes from your helmet and your flashlight, there are no spotlights strung up nor signs pointing the way, you follow the guide, a thin line of string and the green ribbons that mark the newly explored path. Less than 50 people have ever seen these caves, no Maya Disneyland here!

This is definitely not a tour for everyone. Physical fitness and agility are important, you'll be biking, walking, crawling and swimming for about 11 kms in 6 hours. And you'll be carrying your backpack with gear, water and lunch, no jungle butlers dahlinks! It's tiring and there were points I thought I might drop in the heat, but with each step forward a new marvel was revealed and I was compelled to keep on rocking.

Bacon speleoothem

To be perfectly frank, I have decided to change the name of the tour to "Holy F$% OMG" because those words came out of my mouth every ten seconds as we got deeper and deeper into the cave system. The stalactites, stalagmites, and speleothems (my fave is the 'bacon' curtain speleothem because mmm, everything's better with bacon) create nature's art gallery. Soaring cathedral-like caves found by crawling through tiny entrances in the limestone will take your breath away. Massive collapses of limestone that allow the jungle and sunshine to break through to the underworld create incredible natural sculptures.

There are ancient Maya relics found throughout the caves, "metates", the remains of cave dwellings and altars to the gods. Bats swoop overhead, snakes slither and spiders build their webs, and the catfish swim around your feet. The song of the mot mot bird echoes throughout the caves, a hypnotic sound that now soothes me to sleep at night and is the soundtrack to my sweetest dreams.

Rio Secreto Wild is an experience that will stick with me forever. I've been thinking about it daily since my first visit, it has had a profound effect on me. Walking on ground that has been seen by so few, untouched and unaltered, permanent and yet constantly changing, slowly over millennia for the caves, rapidly in the case of the jungle flora. Being in the caves has given me a sense of peace and a great perspective on my place in the universe. I am but a blip, but even a single touch of my fingers can alter the growth of a thousand year old stalactite. We are small and our time on earth is short (compared to a cave of course) and yet, we have the power to make great change in the world. Our actions affect all those around us and we must tread carefully in order to bring POSITIVE change. Like a fingertip on a stalactite, our words and actions can halt the growth of the people around us or we can use our power for good!

So there you go, that's why I think Rio Secreto Wild is the very best tour ever in the Riviera Maya. Push your limits and do something magnificent and life-changing on your next Cancun vacation!

Working in Cancun: Making the Most of the "Vida Godínez"

noreply@blogger.com (CancunCanuck) — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 18:10:00 +0000

Hola everybody! I know, I know, it's been a long time since I've written but here I am with a brand new post and hairdo!

So, what's the Canuck been up to? Working, exploring, being mom and cleaning up after six cats. I've got a new car (her name is Dusty and I love her!), got a new kitty named Blaze (love her too!) and a "new" job!

Dusty The Adventuremobile

Blaze: Kitty Number Six

After years of working freelance, writing in my jammies from home and enjoying it MASSIVELY, I was invited to interview for a travel agency here in Cancun to create content and develop and implement strategies in social media marketing. I confess that I was hesitant to return to "la vida Godinez" (a very Mexican expression for "office worker/drone") after years of "freedom" and no uniforms. I was frank about my doubts and clear about the conditions I would need to commit to the change. We came to an agreement and I joined the team at GoMexico.

Best Team EVER

Getting up early and having to be somewhere at a certain time was hard initially (well, still is). Wearing a uniform is annoying. Corporate rules and regs have never been my thing, I'm a bit of a stubborn rebel to be honest. But. In a very short time I found my groove and started to genuinely ENJOY coming to the office. I'm working alongside some incredibly talented folks, very good at what they do and they are all friendly, kind, caring and FUN! I get to work with my two best friends in the world Marhu and Miguel aka "lavidaesviaje" which makes Godinez life less of a stress and more of a pleasure. Anaid, Diana and Homero may think I am a bit of a nutter some days, but I am delighted to call them friends and not just co-workers and they make my time in the office fly by.

Early Morning Bus Ride To the Jungle

Last weekend we were required to attend an "obligatory" team building day. I was a bit resentful at first, giving up my Saturday for a business thing but after the experience, I feel that I must express my gratitude to GoMexico for looking beyond the normal "corporate bullshit" and providing us with a unique day of introspection, reflection and camaraderie.

Agua Azul Camp

We were taken to Agua Azul, a stunning cenote and jungle refuge on the "Ruta de Cenotes" near Lázaro Cárdenas. It was like being at summer camp all over again! We played games, sang songs, went on a treasure hunt and challenged ourselves to get out of our comfort zone. Taking a leap off a cliff into the cenote was a huge fear to overcome for many. It was truly inspiring to watch people take 30 minutes to get to the edge, give up, then go back again, with tears flowing and fear oozing from their pores, then finally making the jump. I had goosebumps witnessing these brave moments, I´ll never forget dear Gaby truly struggling with then overcoming her fear, a "stranger" to me in the morning but in the moment I spontaneously embraced her while she cried tears of happiness (relief?), she became a friend.

My doubts about returning to office life have disappeared, mostly because this is a truly different and unique company to work for. GoMexico is celebrating 25 years of service in Cancun and in that time they have proven that they respect their employees and make a great effort to ensure that our lives are well rounded and not just work, work, work. Monthly workshops with psychologists and experts in a variety of areas of life that are not job related, theme days where we dress up silly, (tomorrow is ROCK N ROLL day!) birthday cakes and casual gatherings outside of the office, so many reasons that I am now embracing my Godinez life with a smile.

Muchas gracias GoMexico, felicidades for 25 years of service, may the next 25 be a blast! Our sister company MyCancun.com offers the best Cancun tours, please show your support for a truly local company with excellent products that treats its employees like family!

You Say Rio, I Say Ria... Road Trip Rio Lagartos, Yucatan

noreply@blogger.com (CancunCanuck) — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 18:11:00 +0000

The Yuum Ha Boutique Hotel Rio Lagartos

A few weeks back Max and I were invited to the Yuum Ha Boutique Hotel in the sleepy fishing village of Rio Lagartos, Yucatan. This was my second visit to the town, the first was a bit of a pouring rain disaster so I was excited to a) see the flamingos without having to squint through a deluge and b) introduce Max to the magic of the biosphere.

Flamingos. Pretty much self-explanatory

I suppose the first thing we need to get out of the way is the "Rio versus Ria" debate. As soon as I started posting on social media during the trip, I started to receive messages correcting me on the name. As I am a pro and have been doing this for a while now (ahem), I was very deliberate in the words I chose. "Rio Lagartos" is the name of the municipality, the small town on the gulf coast of Yucatan state. "Ria Lagartos" is the name of the biosphere and natural areas. A "ria" is defined as "a long narrow inlet formed by the partial submergence of a river valley", basically another word for "estuary". Therefore, BOTH terms are correct, though most travelers will use "rio" for simplicity. Ok, language lesson done for the day, moving forward.

Cormorant drying his wings

Driving in the Yucatan is really quite easy, the highways are well maintained and the signs are clearly marked. Getting to Rio Lagartos from Cancun we took the "cuota", the toll highway that brought us to Valladolid, then turned off to the straight path through the small pueblitos to the coast. It was tempting to stop in Temozon, famous for smoked meat and longaniza, but I resisted and pushed forward to our destination.

We're so pretty

We were set to meet up with Kristin of What Am I Still Doing in Cancun? and another friend from Isla Mujeres plus their kidlets. Moms and kids weekend, bring it on! As much as I would love a weekend away from being mommy, the truth is that traveling with kids (and Max in particular) is a dynamic way to explore and discover, seeing things through a child's eyes makes everything a little more magical.

Do not try this at home

We got ourselves checked in to Yuum Ha and were really delighted with the accommodations. Warm colours in a cozy room with the most spectacular views, speedy wifi and the oh so necessary in summer air conditioning. Max and I had beat the rest of the convoy so headed off to dinner on our own then back to the hotel to rest up for our Saturday of adventure.

Flamingos run on water to build up speed to fly, Who knew?

We were up bright and early Saturday and it was a phenomenal weather day. The clear skies over the crystal waters and flocks of birds flying by, the view knocked my socks off as I drank my coffee, I was happy to know I wouldn't spend this particular flamingo adventure under a tarp. We gathered the gang together, had a tasty breakfast and met our capable captain of Rio Lagartos Adventures for the day's explorations.

The view from the Yuum Ha Hotel

Our little "panga" boat brought us to our first stop within a few minutes, a large group of flamingos feeding not far from shore. This is the nesting season, a time when thousands upon thousands of flamingos gather along the Yucatan Shore to "find romance" (they are monogamous creatures) and lay the one egg they will produce in the year. The babies are born white or grey, the pink colour intensifying as they age and eat more of the foods that give them their distinctive hues.

This is where we get the noms

We ooohed and aaaahed over this first group of flamingos then the boat sped off towards the canals of the biosphere. If I were a professional birder, I would happily list off the exotic species we encountered. As I am but an amateur, I will say "We saw big birds, little birds, all different colour birds, cranes, eagles, cormorants, ducks oh so many birds!" I think the highlight for the kids was meeting a juvenile crocodile who seemed to be friends with our guide, coming up to our boat for a little pat on the head. We enjoyed seeing more large groups of flamingos, the famous pink waters near the "salineras" and of course, the requisite "Mayan bath", slathering ourselves with mineral-rich clay for a natural spa experience. We took a few minutes to enjoy the beach before making our way back to shore.

Sunset over Rio Lagartos

The rest of the weekend was spent chilling in the solitude and peace of this charming little town. A spin in the golf cart, dinner at Ria Maya and a few sunset beers on the dock while the kids fished. I'm sure the people of the town were rather confused by our little group, two blondes, a Brit and three little kids who look very caucasian but speak Mexican (yes, I mean Mexican, the slang that kids use in Mexico is a very distinctive form of Spanish!) Tourism is somewhat new to the community and tourists are still a bit of a novelty, it is off the beaten path for most travelers but so worth the effort if you can make the time to visit. For a unique experience with nature and a peek into the culture of modern Yucatan, Rio Lagartos is definitely the place.

Big thanks, muchas gracias to Yuum Ha Boutique Hotel and Rio Lagartos Adventures for a fantastic family adventure! See all the photos from the trip here "Rio Lagartos, Yucatan photos".

For incredible Mayan ruins tours in Yucatan!

Mahahual Waterpark "Lost Mayan Kingdom"

noreply@blogger.com (CancunCanuck) — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 18:24:00 +0000

Lost Mayan Kingdom Mahahual

Our recent Mother/Son Road Trip was such a blast and a big part of it was our day at Lost Mayan Kingdom in Mahahual. The waterpark has been open less than a year, aiming at the cruise ship visitors who dock in the Costa Maya and they have done a fantastic job of creating an excursion for families that love adventure.

Love a waterpark with elevators!

We had the great fortune of visiting on a day with no ships in port, we had the park almost completely to ourselves! Max better not get accustomed to this VIP/private water park treatment or I am in big trouble.

Adventure Dude

The concept of the park is unique, centered around a giant pyramid from which all the ziplines and waterslides originate. To the delight of my knees, there are no stairs or towers to climb, the elevators whisk you to the floor of your choice. With twelve waterslides and several zipline courses, the elevators were definitely a life saver.

Max and I hit the ziplines first, fast and furious adrenaline! The staff were amazing, so friendly and funny though they take safety very seriously of course. They accompanied us through the whole course and I was really interested in their stories of life in Mahahual, a totally different vibe than Cancun (and very tempting to move there!)

Never choose the easy path

The hanging rope bridge course offered easy, intermediate and advanced paths. Guess which one little Maxito chose....

Reach the bottom, go right back up again

After a quick lunch break (YUMMY hamburgers from the onsite food truck), we were ready to take the plunge on the waterslides. I took my turn on most of them then went for a nap in a hammock while Max gave the staff a run for their money to see how many times he could do each slide. His fave was "Chaac" racing down the slide on a mat, I lost count of how many times he went up and down on that baby.

Oh that smile

I finally convinced him to STOP and take a break with me on the Jaguar River (some say lazy, but that's just so negative). We chilled out, enjoyed the peace and the sunshine and the scenes that line the river depicting a Mayan jungle expedition.

I thought we were done for the day, but try telling an energetic ten year old boy that it's time to leave his private water park. Yeah, no. We did a few more runs on the waterslides and I was SPENT. I managed to convince him it was time to go, after 17 "Just one more PLEEEEEASE!" moments.

A big thanks to all the folks at Lost Mayan Kingdom for a wonderful day, the activities were awesome, the adrenaline surge was fun and the staff made us feel like family. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the Costa Maya region!

** We were provided complimentary entry by the park but all opinions expressed are my own.

Mexican Caribbean Road Trip - Detour to Tulum, Lo Siento Mucho Calakmul

noreply@blogger.com (CancunCanuck) — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 18:45:00 +0000

In our last episode, Canucka and Max were leaving Mahahual, embarking on part two of their road trip, next planned stop, Calakmul in Campeche.

Uh oh, that is not a happy face

Aaaaaand, Calakmul isn't happening. After leaving Mahahual, we took a little pit stop on the highway for ahem, a visit to the bushes (it's not a road trip til you've peed in the bushes). I noticed smoke or steam coming up from under the car, opened the hood and was whacked with a wave of heat. I topped up the oil and coolant (we were literally in the middle of nowhere) and slowly made my way to Felipe Carrillo Puerto, the closest town. The kind mechanic basically said "you are screwed" and I made the decision to NOT drive 6 hours into the jungle with no cel service nearby. Sorry Campeche, next time!

Zazil Kin Cabañas Tulum

So what's a girl and her son to do with cancelled plans, no place to stay and a car in trouble? Start driving towards home. Slowly. Stopping to cool down every twenty minutes.

Tulum beach at Zazil Kin

We made it to the town of Tulum and the crowds of semana santa visitors. I didn't have much hope in finding somewhere affordable to stay on the beach, but took a chance and headed to my fave little cabañas at Zazil Kin with fingers crossed. LUCK. They had ONE cabaña left and at a decent price. Bad luck with the car, good luck with the hospitality gods, thanks universe, I owe you one.

Where the dawn is born, sunrise in Tulum

Sunrise is early. Yep, stating the obvious

We enjoyed the rest of the day on the beach then hit the hay. We woke up for the sunrise because YOU MUST see the sunrise in Tulum. The archaeological site of Tulum was originally called "Zama", meaning "the place where the sun is born", you miss the sunrise, you miss the magic.

Canucka in her happy place underwater

Max boogie boarded, I chilled with my book and we wasted the day away on the beach. On one of my lazy beach walks I asked a boat captain "How much?" for a snorkel trip to the reef. We chatted, we smiled and I got an AMAZING price and set us up for the next day's first tour out. First stop was a spot right in front of the archaeological site for picture time with the pyramids, then off to the reef.

CHEESE. Dang we look good in orange

We were accompanied by a group of tourists from Spain, lovely to meet them, frustrating to snorkel with beginners. I know, I know, we all have to start somewhere but being kicked in the face by flailing out of control fins just isn't cool. Max and I got away from the cluster, fought against a strong current and killer waves and had ourselves a blast. The captain promised us a private deep sea fishing trip, next time Capi!

Straight shooter under the sea

It was now time to go home to Cancun. Carefully. Slowly. Not overheating the car on the highway. Max was a perfect road trip partner, his adventurous spirit and instinct to help, his lust for new experiences and his laid-back attitude when things don't go as planned made this trip a dream. We bonded together as well as finding time for ourselves to be individuals. Frankly, I am tearing up as I close this out, oh sentimental Canucka! Sharing this time with my son, the good and the bad, is an experience I will remember forever and I hope he will too. My little dude is becoming a little man and I am blessed to be witness to the growth of this incredible person. As with all great road trips, this was not just about what we saw and did, it was a spiritual, life-affirming experience. (I promised myself I wouldn't cry, damn!)

Best Road Trip Ever.

Thanks so much for following along in our journey! I do hope it has inspired you to do something incredible with your loved ones, just take the leap and go, the return is far greater than the risk.

Mexican Caribbean Road Trip - A Mother and Son Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (CancunCanuck) — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 19:07:00 +0000

Mom and Max aka "Team Light, Love and Positivity". Booyah.

Being a single mom is not an easy job. And I am quite sure that being the only child of a single mom can be a bit trying for an energetic ten (almost eleven!) year old boy. We love each other to pieces but in the day to day routine of life we occasionally butt heads, pretty common situation especially as we both get bored easily.

The entrance to Blue Kay Mahahual

So, how do we survive the "semana santa" two week spring vacation without killing one another? ROAD TRIP. Truthfully, it is a bit of a crazy time to try to travel, the whole country is on vacation and has the same idea. Prices are high, availability is low, but where there is a will, there is a way and I was determined to find a great escape from big city Cancun life.

The Canucka in paradise

After hours of research, obsessing, and occasionally being sidetracked by Bali or Greece or Egypt or cats doing silly things, I settled on a trip to Mahahual, a small village on the sea in the south of Quintana Roo in the area known as "Costa Maya". Looking at the maps, I realized how close we would be to the state of Campeche and extended our plans to include Calakmul. After that, it was up in the air, either drive back via Yucatan stopping along the Ruta Puuc or heading back up the Riviera Maya way. Not having a plan was PERFECT, I mean really, isn't that the beauty of a true road trip?

Small but charming cabañas at Blue Kay

We packed up the car, downloaded audio books, loaded up on snacks and hit the road. I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly the drive flew by, 4 1/2 hours and we were out of Cancun and in our cabaña at Blue Kay Mahahual and three seconds later in the ocean. The next five days were pure bliss and relaxation, five days not wearing shoes, not cooking or cleaning, just hanging out with my best buddy. We fished, snorkeled, swam, walked along the malecon, napped in the hammock (ok, I napped, ten year old boys DO NOT NAP apparently). We had one terrific day at the new waterpark, Lost Mayan Kingdom (that's a whole other post, coming soon!) feeding our need for speed and adrenaline.

Max's "office" for a few days

Max showed his entrepreneurial spirit and got himself a "job" on the second day. He was desperate to go kayaking and bike riding so he offered to work at the activities booth in exchange for use of the equipment. Dude had ALL the kayaks rented out within 15 minutes to the delight of the concession. I lost him to that hut for a couple of days and he was in heaven, they even paid him and fed him and he made friends with EVERYONE.

Max drumming up kayak business

We both fell in love with Mahahual and really didn't want to leave (don't tell Max I told you, but he had a few tears at check-out). The town has a truly unique vibe, like a small pueblito in Yucatan set on the gorgeous Mexican Caribbean sea. No big hotels, no big stores, not even an "Oxxo" convenience store. It is still relatively undiscovered and not a major tourist destination, unless you happen to arrive in one of the cruise ships that regularly dock here. There are small boutique hotels and cabañas and camping and the malecon is dotted with rustic beach clubs. I was thrilled that the reef was close enough to swim to, no need for a boat trip (though I will take a snorkel trip to Banco Chinchorro next time!) I imagine it is like Holbox ten or fifteen years ago before the luxury hotels started charging an arm and a leg for rich tourists. We felt safe, welcomed, relaxed and cozy, I had no qualms about letting Max run free in paradise.

We said our goodbyes and "hasta prontos" and loaded up the car for the next chapter in our Mexican road trip adventure. Where will we end up? Stay tuned!

La Habichuela Cancun - Not Just for Lovers

noreply@blogger.com (CancunCanuck) — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 15:17:00 +0000

La Habichuela Cancun is a pretty little restaurant hidden away in centro, known for the romantic setting in the garden with twinkling fairy lights and statues of Maya gods. It has always been my top recommendation for lovers and honeymooners for a magical evening of amor. My first experience at La Habichuela oozed romance, I was in love and the whole evening felt like I was floating as I stared into those deep brown eyes while sharing a CocoHabichuela. When that love turned to dust and he broke my heart into tiny little pieces, I thought I would never be able to return to "our" restaurant.

When I received the invitation to enjoy a dinner at this restaurant full of memories, I accepted as my "date" was going to be my good friend Kristin of What Am I Still Doing in Cancun. I knew I may face some anxiety but the promise of great food and a whole lot of "chisme" got me motivated to put on my big girl panties, a dress and a smile.

Mojito salud! Dinner with @kristinincancun at @lahabichuelacancun girl's night out! #cancun #mexchat #lahabichuela

A photo posted by Kelly (@cancuncanuck) on Mar 4, 2016 at 2:54pm PST

I met Kristin outside the restaurant and we started blah blah blahing immediately. We entered the restaurant talking non-stop, checking out the aquarium of pretty fishies briefly and making our way to our garden table. We were warmly welcomed (the staff is PHENOMENAL), ordered up some mojitos and the conversation flowed.

"Ceviche paraiso" at @lahabichuelacancun We don't often see scallops here, what a treat to taste this unique dish with tangerine and mint. #foodporn

A photo posted by Kelly (@cancuncanuck) on Mar 4, 2016 at 7:48pm PST

The appetizers arrived (scallop ceviche in tangerine and mint for me, what a treat!) and we had moved on from the basic "how are yous" to the dishy topics of life that girlfriends are so good at. The entrees came and the gossip momentarily halted as we ooohed and aaaahed over the delicious plates in front of us. I had a wee taste of Kristin's tamarind shrimp (it was delish!) before devouring my tender steak and shrimp brochette.

The best dessert ever (I dream about this baby). Artisanal chocolate Chichen Itza pyramid, almond cookie serpents and the mint ice cream cenote. Beautiful and delicious! Only at @lahabichuelacancun #lahabichuela

A photo posted by Kelly (@cancuncanuck) on Mar 4, 2016 at 5:45pm PST

We both ordered the house specialty dessert, the outrageously good Choco Chichen Itza and I realized that I hadn't thought of romance, my broken heart or my forever alone status all night. The beautiful setting, fine cuisine and incredible conversation was all I needed and I overcame another hurdle in my recovery from heartbreak.

La Habichuela has been reclaimed, it is no longer a place that provokes melancholy memories, I can once again enjoy the fairy lights and Mayan coffee! I will still recommend it as the most romantic spot in Cancun, but now without the bitter taste of tears while I do. Thank you to Kristin and La Habichuela for a wonderful evening, better than a month of psychotherapy!

My Cancun as an Airtransat Expert Expat - Video

noreply@blogger.com (CancunCanuck) — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 18:31:00 +0000

We're back at it for @airtransat with Canadian expat @cancuncanuk Shooting with: @wearecycle #setlife

A photo posted by Notch Video (@notchvideo) on Jan 24, 2016 at 7:19am PST

Living in Cancun for the last twelve years I like to think I've learned a thing or two about the destination. I have explored and had adventures all up and down the coast and if you know me at all, you know I love to shout from the rooftops my love for Mexico and in particular the Riviera Maya. My digital proclamations of love attracted the attention of the fine folks at Air Transat and I was delighted when they invited me to shoot a video and write a few blogs as part of their "Expert Expat" series.

The production team from my hometown in Toronto contacted me and we began the plan of attack. I had a lot of ideas to share (I mean A LOT), so narrowing down the shooting schedule was all about finding the perfect locations to show off the things I love about the region; culture, history, nature and adventure. The guys from Notch Video and Cycle Productions were open to all my suggestions and I knew from the first emails that we were going to have a blast together.

My Canadian brethren arrived from the great white north and we started things off with an interview at the Hyatt Ziva Cancun. Oh those guys were sly, I didn't even realize the camera was rolling when they started asking questions, perfect way to ensure I wasn't nervous! They probably wondered if I would ever shut up, get me talking about my favourite topic and it's hard to stop me. We wrapped up the formal interview and were ready for adventure in the jungle.

Flying high above the trees in Mexico with @airtransat & @notchvideo.

A photo posted by CYCLE | Toronto (@wearecycle) on Jan 24, 2016 at 8:13pm PST

Obvio I was going to take them ziplining and Selvatica set the scene perfectly with their patient and knowledgeable guides helping us get some rocking footage. It was no easy task getting the big cameras rigged up to the zips but oh so worth it in the end. I hope the guys from the production team had as much fun as Max and I did! We finished the day in time to make a sunset stop in Puerto Morelos, taking advantage of the lovely light and the crowds on the pier, even borrowing a fishing rod for Max to show off his casting skills.

Day two started off early in the markets of Cancun before hitting the road to Xcaret. It was the ideal shooting location, truly a great representation of all the qualities of Mexico that I adore. Our trusty guide Leo went above and beyond to capture just what we needed and the day was a success.

The experience overall was amazing, Max learned tonnes about video production and technology and I had a great time playing tour guide for the cameras. And now I present to you the final product, a beautiful representation of why I love Cancun and the Riviera Maya.

My gratitude to all who made this possible, having these shared moments with Max captured for posterity is a gift I will never forget.

Un Paso Mas Por Lesly - One More Step for Lesly

noreply@blogger.com (CancunCanuck) — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 19:41:00 +0000

Un Paso Mas Por Lesly - One More Step for Lesly

There have been days when it feels like the world is against me, that everything is a struggle and I just do not have the power to keep moving forward. And then, I met Lesly. Gorgeous smiling face, charming personality and an attitude that ANYTHING is possible, she has inspired me to be grateful for every blessing in my life and to set my goals high.

Lesly is a 17 year old Cancunense, a true warrior woman. She lost her leg at 7 years old in a car accident but that has not stopped her from pursuing an extraordinary life. She is a champion swimmer, winning medals and warming hearts wherever she goes and always seeking new challenges like rocking out the Jetsurf. Her dream is to attend college to study to be a trainer for people with disabilities and to continue her athletic journey.

Working together with Guardavidas Cancun, Jetsurf Mexico, SUP Ladies de Bahia and Equipo Forza, we have created a campaign to raise funds to purchase a prosthetic leg for young Lesly. This will be a long road for this fabulous young woman, she will first need a "daily" prothestic to enable to her to learn how to walk again, once she is comfortable then we will see her shine in a specialized athletic apparatus. To start the journey, we have a goal of raising 150000 pesos and with your help, I know we will reach and surpass this goal! Even the smallest donation is appreciated, step by step we will watch Lesly continue on her path to great success. Please donate and share the love and the inspiration!

Top Five Shore Fishing Spots in Cancun or How I Lost My Weekends

noreply@blogger.com (CancunCanuck) — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 19:14:00 +0000

Canuck knows how to fish n chill
photo courtesy the FABULOUS Marhu

My kid is obsessed. Deeply, passionately obsessed about fishing. He doesn't watch TV, he doesn't care for video games, he only wants to FISH and watch anything on Youtube about fishing, fishing gear, knots, boats, lures, techniques, the ones that got away and the ones that put up a good fight.

I won't complain, there are worse things that a kid could do! We talk a lot about "responsible fishing", how to return the fish as quickly as possible to the sea with as little distress as possible (we are pure catch and release), keeping the beach clear of old hooks, lines and nets, showing respect for the animals and their environment. He is gentle and kind and truthfully, I've seen him give the fish a kiss before releasing it back to the ocean (gross but true!)

Finding a good place to fish without a boat in Cancun has been a harder task than I anticipated. The gorgeous beaches are lovely, but not home to many fish. The lagoon is great, but many areas are protected and fishing is prohibited (we found out the hard way after being kicked out by a security guard from the Malecon).

We have found some favourite places now that we return to again and again, for the quality of the fishing, the distance from home, the food and the availability of a comfortable place for mom to chill out while the master works. I'm thrilled to join him fishing, but I'm ready for a snack and a bevvie after an hour while he can go all day long. Here is my list of our favourite places to shore fish in Cancun:

Max and barracuda at Marina Chac Chi

1. Marina Chac Chi aka Coco's Grill - Located in the hotel zone of Cancun, this restaurant/marina has a nice dock with lots of fisherman on hand to give Max encouragement and pointers. I enjoy the food and the service, though we have had some days where the mean men come and tell him he cannot fish. No rhyme or reason, some days he's welcomed by all the captains, sharing their bait with him, other days the power hungry security guy just needs to flex his muscle.

Under the Calinda bridge, beware of pirates

2. Puente Calinda - Probably the most well-known bridge in Cancun, the river Calinda is a main route for boats and water craft to pass from the lagoon to the sea. We're never alone under the bridge, there are always people fishing, though we haven't had as much luck there as some. It's a shady spot with lots of action, always great people watching.

Little barracuda, happy kid at Puerto Cancun

3. Puerto Cancun - This area has seen massive growth of condos (UGH), but past the big buildings there is still a stretch of undeveloped waterfront land sitting between a lagoon and the sea. We have had some fabulous days of fishing here, I am the Snapper Queen of Puerto Cancun, line in, fish out in two shakes. Max caught a pretty darned big barracuda there one day, he counts it as a highlight of his fishing career thus far.

The kid can cast, hanging out at Las Jaibas restaurant

4 Las Jaibas Restaurant - Located just past Puerto Juarez near the El Meco archaeological site, this restaurant is one of our favourite fishing holes. It's a gorgeous spot, the staff are amazing with Max as he fishes and the food is great. Totally tranquil place, some of our most relaxing fishing days have been at Las Jaibas, catching lots of barracuda, snapper and needle fish while the pelicans soar above us.

Our new fave spot, Rio Nizuc in the hotel zone of Cancun

5. Rio Nizuc - We have just discovered this gem and it's gone to the top of our list. A rustic restaurant (no electricity kind of rustic) hidden in the hotel zone between the Nizuc Resort and the Wet n Wild water park. There is an abundance of fish just waiting to jump on your line, mostly small snappers and barracuda, in just an hour of fishing we pulled in 30 fish between us! The silence and the tikinxic fish make it ideal for mom on a Sunday of rest.

Perfect day for snapper at Rio Nizuc

Soooo, that is how I lost my weekends. All fishing, all the time, hanging out with my main man Max. Sometimes I long for the lazy days of chilling out at a beach club with a cocktail but really, the fishing adventures with my kiddo simply can't be beat. Hearing "MOM MOM COME QUICK" are the sweetest words now, he's got something big on the line and can't wait to show me. He has massively matured with this hobby, learning patience, problem solving, responsibility, independepence and a sense of his place on the planet and how he can care for it. Heck, his passion for fishing even got him his first job, he was the fishing coach at his summer camp with Guardavidas Cancun! Not bad for ten years old!

Until I win the lottery and can buy a boat, we'll enjoy these spots and seek out new ones every weekend. Have you got a secret fishing spot we should know about?

Selvatica Cancun - Jungle Love with Discovery Mundo

noreply@blogger.com (CancunCanuck) — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 13:46:00 +0000

But first, let me take a selfie #goprokid

On a recent summer weekend in Cancun, bouncing down a jungle road with sweat dripping into my eyes, I can't help but smile as I remember the first time we visited Selvatica. Max was only 3 years old, the tiniest little thing, but even back then he was vying to be the first to fly on the ziplines and only upside down por favor. Seven years later he has become quite the expert in extreme adventures and we were delighted to accept the invitation of Discovery Mundo to visit Selvatica for a fresh look at the park and a great day of adrenaline-fueled fun.

Just chilling in the tree tops (photo courtesy Selvatica)

Now that Max is a niño grande, the local agencies and public relations folks know that he is THE man to invite on fam trips (and sure, bring your mom too). The gang of media peeps who are regularly invited seem to like having him around, he brings a sense of humour, wonder and an infectious energy to the day and he has become a full-fledged member of "Team Social Media Cancun".

Upside down is the only way to fly (photo courtesy Selvatica)

For our return trip to Selvatica, he was ready once again to lead the way. Smart travelers understand that making friends with the guides will give you an enhanced experience and Max got right to it with high fives and fist bumps all around. With our harnesses on and the safety speech complete, we made our way to the top of the first tower and started our journey over the canopy.

Pointy toes, can't undo 25 years of ballet

(photo courtesy Selvatica)

Max was first off every platform, sometimes upside down in tandem with a guide, other times flying solo over the tree tops. I was right behind him all the way, enjoying the ziplines immensely but getting an even bigger rush from seeing Mr. Independent rocking the course and making friends along the way.

Defying gravity, with a smile and attitude
(photo courtesy Selvatica)

After the thrill of the ziplines, we were ready to be refreshed and enjoy the cool waters of the cenote. We had a blast watching everyone take their best shot at getting a full flip off the zipline into the water, most of the attempts turning into spectacular belly flops that brought laughter and guffaws echoing through the trees and prompting the guide to hold up a sign saying "OUCH".

Belly flop pain in 3, 2, 1.... #goprogirl

The day was over too quickly, we really didn't want to leave, Max was super sad to have to say goodbye to the guides, particularly Hector who he had really taken a shine to. Selvatica is a top-notch company and I was excited to see that while they have made some changes to the park since our last visit, the rustic (yet safe!) vibe and warm personalities of their staff were still intact, we felt like family and were honoured to join "The Tribe". Living the adventure alongside my intrepid kid was priceless (is my mama pride showing?), I am grateful to the universe for every chance I have to share experiences like this with him.

The dynamic Canuck duo
(photo courtesy Selvatica)

This tour was provided courtesy Discovery Mundo, all opinions are my own.

Discovery Mundo is an online travel agency located in the heart of paradise: Cancun, Mexico. Offering an array of services including airport to hotel private transfers, hotel and vacation rentals as well as a big selection of tours and activities in Cancun and the Mayan Riviera; including archaeological tours like visits to Chichen Itza or Tulum, adventure tours like Xcaret or Xelha, swim with dolphins, water activities such as scuba diving and more. One thing that stands them apart from the rest is their 100% guaranteed lowest price available: nowhere else will you find their tour prices, and if you do, they can easily match it for you!

Guardavidas Junior Cancun Curso de Verano - Junior Lifeguards Summer Camp Cancun

noreply@blogger.com (CancunCanuck) — Fri, 17 Jul 2015 15:49:00 +0000

Summer in Cancun! School is out and like every parent, I was seeking a way to keep Max busy, entertained and learning over the summer break. There is a great variety of "cursos de verano", summer camps in Cancun, music, art, sports, but when I saw the "Guardavidas Junior Cancun Curso de Verano", I knew my search had ended.

This is THE ideal summer camp for Cancun kids. Water safety and respect for the ocean are things I have been instilling in Max since birth, taking it to the next level with real water rescue and first aid training was a dream come true for us both.

We are at the end of the first week and I am knocked out by how much was covered. I love that each day begins with a clean-up of the beach, respect for nature from the first moment. The coaches insisted on discipline and order with the 30 kids and they all got on board. If they didn't, it was push-ups in the sand, they learned QUICK to pay attention to instructions!

Three groups of 10 kids rotated between activities with a great deal of personal attention from the staff. Water rescue, first aid, and CPR were introduced in addition to water safety, reading currents and waves and respect for the sea.

Apart from the important "learnin'", the course is FUN. Each day a bit different, from paddle boarding to sailing to windsurfing and jetsurf, the kids got a taste of new and exciting ways to enjoy the ocean. I have been following along and having my own fun capturing the adventure, I may possibly be enjoying myself even more than the kids. Max has been having an absolute BLAST and is ready to join the junior lifeguard academy course in September.

This is lining up to be the BEST SUMMER EVAH, educational and fun adventures in the ocean of Cancun, we could not ask for anything more.

There are still spots available for next week, please contact Guardavidas Junior Cancun on their Facebook page. The price is fantastic, only 1000 pesos for the week (about $62 USD) and worth every single centavo. The only downside is that they are only doing this for two weeks, I wish it was all summer long! I have oodles more photos on the Guardavidas Junior Cancun Flickr album, please enjoy!

So, what are YOU doing with your summer vacation? Wish you were here!

Girl's Weekend Getaway in the Riviera Maya

noreply@blogger.com (CancunCanuck) — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 14:47:00 +0000

Booking Hello is taking care of business with their online platform that’ll have you stress-free and easily finding a vacation in minutes! Hello offers its members unique services and prices within the market and access to special discounted rates in over 80,000 hotels, car rentals, helicopters, airplanes, yachts, theme parks and cruise companies to travel around the world. Hello is a relatively young and evolving company with international expansion projects to offer the best deals to members in some of the main tourist destinations in the world.

I will never, ever complain about my work, visiting hotels, living travel experiences and writing about them for the world. But it IS work. Generally when "influencers" are invited to a hotel, we are on a tight schedule following a public relations person around, seeing all that they wish us to see. It is interesting, educational and fun, but rarely relaxing. So when Booking Hello invited me for a weekend escape promising NO organized public relations events, I was overjoyed and ready to simply chill out in paradise with one of my besties LisaLove.

Water aerobics...not on our relaxation plan

Playing in the fountain, yes please

The fine folks of Booking Hello arranged for us to have an adults-only weekend at the Royal Catalonia Tulum, located on my favourite beach in the Riviera Maya, Playa Xpu Ha. The "adults only" part was another bonus, a break from being mommy!

If you can't be sexy, be goofy!

We arrived on Friday afternoon, were greeted by the friendly staff and made our way to the bar to enjoy some ice cold bevvies. We checked into our room a few hours and cocktails later and felt the relaxation kicking in.

OUR spot in the VIP beach club

Beach massage, so popular we couldn't get an appointment

The rest of the weekend was mostly spent in MEGA CHILL MODE. Stuffing ourselves with great food, enjoying a rainbow of cocktails, playing in the pool and walking along the beach. Traveling with LisaLove is always a joy, we know each other so well that there is a flow to our time together that totally worked with the laid-back vibe of Xpu Ha.

The HOT hot tub with a most awesome view

Our fabulous server Vilma

A weekend escape goes too quickly, even when the plan is to do absolutely nothing. I must confess that we spent a good chunk of Sunday morning lying in the uber comfy beds with the air conditioning cranked after stuffing ourselves with breakfast. Living in the Riviera Maya, A/C is a treat that we don't normally enjoy at home (the cost of electricity is exorbitant), so those moments of clean sheets with no cat hair, fluffy pillows and cold cold cold air were absolutely divine.

In the end the escape left me feeling refreshed, reconnected with mi amiga Lisa and a wee bit hungover. No complaints here, thanks Booking Hello! When can we do it again?

A Little Love for the Sargasso in the Riviera Maya

noreply@blogger.com (CancunCanuck) — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 20:23:00 +0000

Anyone who has traveled to any beach destination in the Caribbean this year has noticed the abundance of seaweed on our shores, Riviera Maya beaches included. We have seen a huge increase in the amount of sargasso on the beach, more than I have seen in my almost 12 years here. While tourists complain, I have to say, let's show a little love and respect to nature, there are GOOD things to be said about this natural phenomenon.

"The Sargasso Sea" is an area of the Atlantic Ocean roughly 1100 kms wide and 3200 kms long, home to the seaweed called "sargassum". There are no physical boundaries to the sea, only the currents of the Atlantic mark its boundaries. Christopher Columbus reported on the vast expanse of seaweed on his 1492 crossing to the new world, erroneously thinking it meant land was near.

So why the heck is there SO MUCH SEAWEED this year? My research came up with a lot of speculation and no real answers. Changing climate, changing patterns of the sea, pollution, rising sea temperatures, nobody can nail it down to just one reason, it just IS. Who are we to question Mother Nature?

The sargasso is a vital eco-system unto itself, home to many species of ocean life. Sea turtles rely on sargasso for protection from predators as they make their way through the oceans. It is a floating refuge for crabs, shrimp, and a wide variety of fish who take advantage of the rich feeding ground and use it as a safe place for breeding. When the sargasso washes ashore, it nourishes the beaches and prevents erosion, as well as creating a food source for birds and other beach creatures.

Is the sargasso a danger to humans? NOPE. Some people may have an allergic reaction to some of the critters that live within (insects etc after it is washed ashore) but the seaweed itself is harmless. You can walk on it, pick it up, swim through it and enjoy knowing what an incredible source of life it is. It is not slimy or "icky" when fresh, though when it dries it can be a bit crunchy underfoot. The resorts of the Riviera Maya and Cancun have crews working throughout the day to try to clear the beaches, but it really is a Sisyphean task.

So while some may not think it's pretty (up close it's lovely really, like little bunches of teeny tiny grapes) and it may interfere with your picture-postcard vision of the beach, it is a natural and integral part of a healthy ocean. So let's show a little love to the sargasso, get past our human need for "perfection" and salute the plant that brings LIFE to the sea and our beaches.

What are your thoughts and experiences with sargasso? Let us know in the comments!

(photos property of CancunCanuck © , shot with GoPro Hero Silver, please do not use without permission)

Deep Sea Fishing with Aquaworld Cancun

noreply@blogger.com (CancunCanuck) — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 21:51:00 +0000

Fishing, pesca, fish, fishety fish fish lure tackle fish line fishery-doo-da-day. Max is a pretty good little conversationalist for ten years old but as of late, he's a one track wonder. FISHING. I have mandated "NO Fish Talk" time at home to save my sanity during dinner, but he just can't help himself and it is inevitable that I will hear all about how to fly fish in Florida or hand jigging in Cuba or the correct way to remove a hook. Mmm, tasty dinner convo.

Of course, as much as the FISHFISHFISH talk can get tiresome, I am also a mom who likes to see her kid happy so I was grateful to the fine folks at Aquaworld Cancun when they offered us a chance to go deep sea fishing.

Growing up on the Great Lakes, I was always happy to be on a boat and have my line in the water, but this was my first time on the open sea going for the "big ones". Max and I invited our friends along for the ride, arriving at the Aquaworld Marina at 7 am for an early start. We were all "newbs", looking forward to adventure!

Captain Luis greeted us warmly and got us underway for the 45 minute trip to his "secret spot". There was a fishing tournament that day and he was concerned we would have too much competition for the fish, but we were determined to reel in dinner, at the very least a little snack.

The ride was a bit bumpy, a bit swirly, the captain called it "blender sea", but we all held on to our breakfasts (I do recommend being prepared for some seasickness, no matter how great your sea legs are). Almost as soon as the crew got the lines in the water, they had Max in the fight chair, reeling in this little beauty! She was smaller than we were looking for and was promptly returned to the ocean to swim another day.

The beautiful Fernanda reeled in our first keeper, a black fin tuna! I think the crew got a kick out of all of us being more interested in taking photos than actually fishing, the price of being social media addicts, er influencers on the job. I have to say, in the rolling surf with wiggling and jumping fish, taking photos was a bit more challenging than our dry land work.

Next up was Miguel, one of my favourite bloggers in Mexico with La Vida es Viaje! Even with his wobbly, not so sailor-y legs and seasick tummy, he reeled in a gorgeous mahi mahi!

The final big fight of the day was all about Max and a Great Barracuda. Approximately 25 lbs and 47 inches, this fish full of teeth was a doozy of a catch! The crew tagged the fish (whom Max named "Luis" after his new best friend the captain) and released it back to the sea as part of the Gray Fish Tag Research program. Max will talk about this fight for the rest of his life, though I suspect "Luis" will get bigger and the fight will get longer with each telling of the tale.

video captured by GoPro #goprogirl

We were all super content and ready to head back to shore after our big time adventure. We were pretty darned excited about the fresh catch we had in the cooler, particularly after Marhu put out the call to a chef friend to put his culinary skills to work. Mahi mahi in an achiote marinade and a seared tuna salad finished off our day in a most perfect and delicious way.

I thought that Max would be wiped out and fall asleep quickly after the early start and all the excitement of the long day, but getting him to bed was a bigger battle than reeling in a barracuda! He couldn't stop talking, fish fish fish, but when he said "Thanks mom, this was the best day ever, you are the best mom ever and I love you so much!", I decided he could talk about fish as much as his little heart desires.

** The fishing excursion was provided free of charge by Aquaworld Cancun but all opinions are strictly my own.

Vallarta Adventures - Extreme Canuck

noreply@blogger.com (CancunCanuck) — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 21:19:00 +0000

I received the invitation to travel to Puerto Vallarta on a Thursday. Friday I had the Aeromexico tickets ready to roll. Saturday, a trip to the emergency room in extreme pain. Wednesday travel across the country, three flights and four airports, with a bag packed with more meds than anything else. And so began my press trip to the fabulous tourist destination of Puerto Vallarta.

My physical health was NOT going to stop me from enjoying this visit, I grit my teeth, smiled through the pain and met my fellow travelers at the Casa Velas boutique hotel for our first dinner before crashing out after a long day of travel.

We had an early start the next day and I was mega excited about the agenda. The adrenaline-junkie in me was ready to take on the Sierra Madre mountains on the "Outdoor Adventure" tour with Vallarta Adventures. I took my antibiotics and skipped the pain meds (wanted to be fully alert) and we headed to the marina for the first leg of the trip on an inflatable boat.

I'm on a boat!

As the boat approached Boca de Tomatlan, the clouds rolled in and it began to rain. I jumped up and down and clapped like a hyper little girl, ziplines in the rain, extra fun! (No sarcasm, really!) After landing on the beach, we transferred to our next mode of transportation, the military-style Mercedes Unimog that would bring us up the mountains. We passed through small pueblitos, drove up narrow bumpy roads past waterfalls, through mud and floods, seeing the lush green mountains peeking through the mist and fog.

We arrived safe and sound though a bit wet to the base camp of the Outdoor Adventure. I had a good giggle when one of the tourists with us mentioned her extreme fear of spiders and the guide pointed to one huge web and its weaver, then another, and another. He told us that these were "Golden Orb Web spiders" and that the golden-coloured silk of their creations is so strong it can be used in body armour! The girl with arachnophobia was less impressed than I.

The Extreme Press Team

We donned our gear, the typical harnesses of zip-lining (note, always wear LONG shorts, the gear can chafe and ride!), helmets and a chest harness. Oooh, chest harness. Did I mention that my health issue was a large abscess in my boob? Yeah, chest harness. Suck it up girl.

My girl Pistola in the misty mountains

We still hadn't reached the peak of the mountains, the only way up was on the back of a mule. The friendly guides told us they chose our mules based on our personalities, they made a good match with me and my spunky "Pistola". She and I had a long talk about life as she trod through mud, over tree roots and around boulders. A lot of wisdom in that sweet girl, you take the load life gives you and you keep moving up and forward. Stop to eat the flowers once in a while. I'll never forget those moments together dear Pistola...sniff...

Upside down, tandem, rainy day zip-lining aka Heaven

Rappel down a 35 meter waterfall

The rest of the day was pure exhilaration. Some of the longest and highest zip-lines I have ever experienced, going FAST and getting pelted with raindrops. Rope bridges and wooden bridges that creaked and swayed as we crossed over rivers. The incredible rush of rappelling down a roaring waterfall. (I screamed "Otra vez, OTRA VEZ!" when I reached the pool at the bottom, I wanted desperately to do it again). We finished up with a water slide so extreme we had to wear a hockey helmet with a face cage to do it.

The boat ride back was a wet one, pouring rain and getting dark, we all huddled under rain coats and kept our heads down. In my little tent of shiny yellow poncho, I took some time to think about the experience. And I smiled and my heart raced and I forgot all about the pain in my breast for a while. And my relationship problems, money troubles, life complications, they all slid away. These are the kind of days I live for, when I am happiest and free. Exploring new places and embracing challenges like a warrior princess damn it. And Life. Is.Good.

I am home in Cancun now and recovering from the emergency surgery I was forced to undergo on my return from Vallarta. And feeling like a champion for not only pushing through the pain in Vallarta, but enjoying every minute of the journey, fevered and vomiting but living on FULL. What was supposed to be a "work" trip to discover the Pacific side of Mexico turned into a life event that changed my view of who I am and what I am capable. of. I will always be grateful to Vallarta, muchas gracias, there will forever be a "pata salada" part of me now, and that is a marvelous gift indeed.

Post by A Canuck in Cancun.