Keeping up with the Keipers: Vacation...What vacation?

It's hard to believe that we spent a week in Mazatlan!

Have you noticed lately that vacations just don't refresh you like they used to? We got back from Mexico Monday night (the 13th), and I would love to go on another one (this time with the kids, though). It's just been a busy week getting back into things.

I can't complain about the vacation though. It was great! I was able to enjoy Mother's Day twice...I'll explain later! We spent a week in Mazatlan, just Brian and I...Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for watching the kids!!!

The view from our balcony that we were blessed with for the week:

The pool we relaxed by almost daily (behind the waterfall is a swim-in bar, and looking the opposite direction is the ocean):

It was really nice to experience some of the Mexican culture while we were down there as well as enjoy our stay at the resort! We took a couple tours...The City Tour, Emerald Bay Tour (a local resort...it's time share presentation was convincing, but not something we could do right now...but it did get us $200 to use toward food at our resort!), and the Stone Island Tour.

During the city tour we visited many sites around the city of Mazatlan, including the many statues lining La Playa (the beach). Here is my favorite:

We were able to also watch the cliff divers. I would never have the courage to do this! They do this for a living and survive off the tips of the tour participants. Here is a short video of the gentleman diving:

We also visited a few local shops, the Market...which was a little overwhelming, the Cathedral - Immaculate Conception:

and the Lighthouse (the only working lighthouse in Mazatlan):

There is a trail that leads up the mountain to the Lighthouse, but we decided to tour the rest of the town and enjoy a relaxing time at the resort instead! Maybe next time we will get adventurous and climb the mountain in 90 degree heat...or maybe not.

On our way back to the resort, we watched a local parade put on by the high school. The kids at the school hold an election at various times during the year for the most beautiful boy and girl and the craziest boy and girl. The winners ride on top of pick-up trucks, behind a truck blasting music, through town with the schoolmates riding motorcyles behind. They just decide to do it and then go...no permits and closing down of roads. They run the parade down the main road in the middle of normal traffic...it was pretty exciting to experience!

The Stone Island tour included a ride on a Catamaran and a tour of the waters surrounding Mazatlan. We many things, but my favorites were the California sea lions, and some natural caves:

Devil's Cave (if you go into it, you can hear some strange noises...we didn't go in)

and Lover's Cave (they say that two people go in, but three always come out...we stayed out of this one as well!)

The time on Stone Island allowed us to put things into perspective and really appreciate all of the riches we have here in the United States! We really do have it pretty lucky!!

We got to experience a little of Mexico through our transportation as well.

We rode in a Mexican Limousine (a trailer pulled by a tractor)

We also ventured into the city and used the open-air taxis...I'm really glad we didn't have to drive in Mexico...they can get a little crazy at times!

We also experienced some local restaurants...Senior Frogs (this was a little too much for us!), Bar La Costa Mariner (great seafood!), and Munchkins (a great little hole-in-the-wall place!).

Senior Frogs...what an experience! Brian describes it as the illegitimate child of Red Robin and Hooters and was bottle-fed tequila...with a lot of whistle. The music was really loud, louder than at the Bruce Springsteen concert, and the waiters were constantly blowing their whistles to the beats of the songs...I can't tell you how many times we heard Matcho Man and YMCA. The slogan at Senior Frogs is: No shoes,no problem...no smile,big problem! Well, I guess after our 2 mile walk in the noonday heat we weren't smiling, so they did what they could to make us smile. They brought a chair up to the table and pulled Brian out into it. Next, they sat a pretty girl on his lap and had him put his arm around me as well. Then the rest of the staff came and joined the picture. It was a little awkward, but I have to admit, it is probably an experience I won't soon forget!

As a close to our vacation, I got to celebrate Mother's Day...twice! Saturday, May 10th was Mother's Day in Mexico. They really value family and women here! They have multiple statues celebrating women and even one celebrating family. It was pretty amazing. Saturday, everything (except the main restaurants) shut down by 3:00 p.m. and I think the entire town took their mothers out for Mother's Day. We went to Bar La Costa Mariner and it was packed! This is a seafood restaurant set on the beach. It had wonderful food, I got a flower as we entered, and to top it off, we got to watch the sunset while we were sung to. It was a great day!

Mother's Day, May 12th, was spent swimming, lounging by the pool, reading, and just enjoying the day. We went out to our favorite place to eat at the resort: Cilantro's. It is yet another restaurant right on the beach...and I mean on the beach! When the tide comes in, it comes up under the restaurant. It was extremely beautiful! I think we ate here most of our stay.

On Monday, we had to check out of our room by 10 a.m. and the transportation was picking us up at 2:15 p.m., so we had a little time to waste. We decided to try out another place in town, Munchkins. This proved to be a good choice! The owner is the one who served us and the food was great. We even had lunch guests...iguanas outside the window! The owner brought lettuce out and fed them outside the window, so we were able to enjoy them. When he reached out to try to catch one of them, it made us a little nervous, but he explained that he's been trying to catch it for some time now and it's just too fast. This was a great vacation!! Thank you Paul and Faith for giving us this opportunity!!