Thinking of a Friend

Yesterday, while out on my long ride I heard some news that has really affected me.  A friend of mine has been diagnosed with Breast Cancer and I can't stop thinking about her.  She's young and full of spirit and drive.  She's a people helper spending a year working in Africa to help those less fortunate. That's who she is, someone always helping others.  This week she is undergoing a double mastectomy and then will be gifted with two new and I'm sure beautiful perky breasts.  It sounds like Chemo will start after that.  I know she is strong, and from what I've been reading she has an amazing attitude and an incredible support network. If you're reading this, please take the time to think of her and send her strength and love.  I know I will be.

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico March 2010

As I mentioned a post or so back this year I was given two weeks for Spring Break instead of our typical one week.  The second week I headed to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico  for a week of sun and fun.

Amy and I arrived at the Cancun airport in the wee hours of the morning.  We were bussed to our hotel to find out that a room wasn't going to be available for us until mid day (it was 5:30 am!).  Obviously we weren't too pleased but we made the best of the situation.  With luggage stored and bathing suits on under our clothing we headed to the beach chairs for a nap until the sun came out.  Thankfully by noon we had our "official room" and so we were able to settle a bit more.  

The resort was clean and the staff super friendly.  The buffet had a good selection of fresh and not so fresh foods (ie very fried).  The bartenders were friendly too so all was good.  I got right into reading (which I love to do but rarely make the time to do in my busy Vancouver life).  I walked the beach most days too but almost always forgot to take my camera.  Amy took part in a few more of the "included" activities.  I did enjoy their boogie boards and took in a bit of stretching, yoga, salsa lessons, and botchie ball.

We were close enough to walk into Playa Del Carmen but we only did it a couple of times each.

Amy at her windsurfing lesson.

Me at the beach 

Because we were at an all inclusive resort we had a couple of traditions we tried to stick to each day.  These included daily chips, salsa, and avocado dips, and multiple mango margarita's from our favourite beach bartender Carlos. (I had another favourite bar tender in the lobby bar too).

Part of our daily afternoon snack

On Tuesday we went to our first restaurant on the resort for dinner.  Amy and I had already had a few too many margaritis by the time we got to the restaurant but it didn't really matter.  We had a fabulous time and had the best waiter ever.  As you can see from the pictures below it was a Mexican restaurant.  While in Mexico we also ate at a Mediteranian, Italian, and Mayan restaurant.

After dinner we headed to the stage to catch the show.  It was MEXICO night so it was a Mexican theme show.  

The Mexican Show

While at the show we met two travellers from Argentina Luciana and Lisandro.  We met them because Amy was really wanting to Salsa dance.  She's a good Salsa dancer and after taking the Salsa dance lesson with me in the afternoon - which really wasn't anything close to real Salsa - she wanted to really dance.  I saw this guy (Lisandro) on his own and asked him if he could Salsa dance.  He said, "yes" and a new friend was made.  Plans were made to head to the disco after the live show.  Drinks continued to flow.  As soon as we got into the disco Amy was off dancing with one of the guys who worked for the resort.  She was dancing up a storm and it was great to see.  I don't  think the guy new what had hit him!!

Amy and Luciana

Amy dancing up a storm

Amy, Lisandro, Me, and Luciana

The next day we did an afternoon evening Mayan ruins and cultural tour.  We checked out the ruins at Coba.  We chose Coba because we could actually climb it.  We also got to ride around the area from ruin to ruin.

Mayan ruins at Coba

Ancient Mayan ball game.

Me on my bike checking out ruins.

Highest pyramid.

View from the Top

Looking down the stairs from the top.

Amy and I at the top.

Amy and I safely at the bottom

From there we headed to a small shack for a  Mayan pottery lesson.  The Mayan kids in the class were super cute and very willing to help us out.  The young boy was so eager to help me out that he took my clay out of my hand and created what he felt I should create.  It was too funny.  Needless to say I didn't leave with any new Mayan pottery.

From the pottery class we had a traditional Mayan dinner.  We then drove to a cave (Sonotae) to watch traditional Mayan dancers and listen to their music.  

Amy and I were both glad we took Wednesday to do our Mayan adventure because the weather wasn't all that great.  The rest of the week has warm and sunny with the odd cloud or gust of wind.  I managed to read all the books I had brought, and borrowed one from Amy too.  By Saturday I was out of books and actually a bit bored.  I'm so used to running from place to place that to spend a week doing almost nothing wasn't easy for me.  I'm glad I did it though as it was pretty crazy finishing a very stressful teaching year in Australia, pack up my Aussie home, fly back to Vancouver, get my personal items back into my apartment, and head right back to work with out the usual summer vacation to decompress.

Anyhow, here are a few more pictures from my walks on the beach near Playa Del Carmen.  My favourite was seeing the Inukshuk in Mexico.  Obviously a Canadian had put it there.  Happy Spring everyone.  I'm heading into report card writing time so I can't promise much action here.  In the mean time though I'll keep thinking about my Mexican adventure.

Looking back at my resort from the beach.

A little piece of heaven.

The Inukshuk

A Sneak Peek

This is where I spent the past week.  Hopefully I'll have time for a real blog soon enough (with lots of pictures of course).  

Spring Break

This past week and next week my school is shut down for Spring Break.  Typically we only have one week vacation at this time of year but my school district decided to make us work 10 extra minutes each day so that we could be rewarded with an extra week off at Spring Break.  Needless to say I'm LOVING it.  This week I accomplished a ton of things I just haven't been able to get around to since returning from Australia. In a way, I landed back in December and I've been running non stop since them.  Having this past week off has been excellent as I finally have just about everything back in order (well I still have one bike at Erica's place but hopefully I'll pick it up soon).  I've managed to do many of the required vacation things like sleep in, paint my toe nails, snoop around town, and socialize with friends.  In addition I've accomplished many of the must do life things  like visiting the doctor and dentist, and dealing with the car and the home (it was about time I donated away the boxes and bags of clothing hanging around my apartment, recycled the many boxes I had in storage, and changed a light bulb or two).  Heck I made time to finally restring the drawstrings in a couple of workout pants, and I even polished my favourite Fleuvog boots.  Of course I swam, biked and ran too - never once complaining about how sleepy I was.   So you could say that I've been very productive with my time off.  However, the best part of this vacation is that while I'd normally be heading back to work on Monday after my one week off this year I'm heading to Mexico for  my second week off.  I can't tell you  how much I'm looking forward to this rest and relaxation.  Look out Mexico here I come!!

A Link to a Great Video

Since I don't actually know how to add a video clip to this blog you'll have to follow this link.  I promise you won't be disappointed.

Karen

To many Canadians this video is what these Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics were all about.

Olympics Week Two

Okay, I've been out pretty much every evening since the Olympics started.  Now that they have ended I just don't know what to do with my spare time.  Yes, I could be working on my report cards, or writing blogs but instead I keep reading all that I can read about the Vancouver 2010 games.  I can't believe how incredible they were.  I can't believe how LUCKY I am to have been able to take part in them - attending most functions on FOOT!  Anyhow I will write a real blog about my experience at the 2010 Winter Olympics but I just can't do it yet.  So... here's week two's installment of some of the sights and sounds I was up to.  Be warned, there are a lot of photos here.

Karen

This picture was taken while watching the Opening Ceremonies 

(It should have been in last weeks blog but I only recently received it)

The Athletes Village

(Double click the image to see the various countries)

Ontario Pavillion

Concord Pacific 

(Some pavilions are on the right, water on the left, and BC Place straight ahead

Molson Canadian Hockey House

(This was one of the few "pay" Pavilions)

Quebec Pavilion

View from the water of Quebec and Saskatchewan Pavilions

Sochi House

(AKA Science World)

Holland Park (Surrey LiveCity Site) inside the big tent.

Erica, Ashanti, and I at 54-40 Concert

Nancy and I watching Canada's Hockey Team BEAT the Russians!

Nancy, Paul, and I on Granville Island

Nancy and I being silly as usual

The Light Display on every night.  

Anyone could go on line and control the movements of these lights

Outside LiveCity Yaletown

Granville Island from the Granville Street Bridge

(The white arch in the background is one of the many live venue stages around town)

Some local "olympic" art

Amy and I at the Northern Canada House Innukshuk

Northern Canadian's watching their Yukon athlete compete.

My Inukshuk

Our latest boyfriend 

German House - yes there is a good hockey game on TV

German House (take two)

The next bobsleigh champions - or not.

The OLYMPIC RINGS!

The Olympic Cauldron

Amy and I at the Cauldron

A lot of people checking out the Cauldron

Amy and I

Two Crazy Canadians

(They were all ready to watch Team Canada beat Slovakia)

Royal Mint Pavilion - they let people touch the medals but the line up was way too long for me.

Goofing around on the secret 5th floor of the Bay.  I didn't really want to wait in line for the "official" olympic store but the fifth floor (which required no waiting in line) had a lot of good stuff too.

Silly me, again.  I actually tried this jacket on in all three colours.

For $500 a pop (plus tax) and living in a city that doesn't get THAT COLD I decided to pass on the purchase.

Hockey Jersey Fun

Sochi Russian (2014 Winter Games) Mascots

Sochi Clothing

(Super super expensive and not really all that nice)

Women's Gold Medal Curling Game

We watched it on TV in the Bay, in Sleep Country, and on the Streets

You were always near a TV.

Having a little fun with the Olympic Mascots!

Snowboarding Sumi!

Aboriginal House Totem Poll

Vancouver by Night

(From Amy's apartment window)

Molson Hockey House

Maison Du Quebec at Night

Yahoo Fancouver fun again.

My good friend Ana and I.

Ana lives in Calgary and had an eight hour stopover in Vancouver

Kathy, Ana, and I

The Stanley Park Inukshuk missing one of his gloves.

The OLYMPIC Rings photographed from Stanley Park

The Olympic Rings AND the Cauldron

(Double click and you'll see the flames at the middle right)

Harry Jerome running with his OLYMPIC mittens too!

Stanley Park Totem Polls

Saxon House

The Vancouver Art Gallery

Robson Square and its ice rink

One of many ads on buildings in the downtown core.

A view from the Chapters at Robson and Howe

Yes, that's a REAL BIG Canada Flag

The Vancouver Public Library

Olympic Venues and the Athletes Village (across the water)

Photo taken form Amy's Apartment

Me, post run, freezing, infront of a massive Canada flag.

Alberta Pavilion

Bell Ice Cube

BC Place Stadium