The Standard Hotel

Cozumel & Playa Del Carmen

We went to Cozumel & Playa Del Carmen (Cancun) over the Dia de los Muertos holiday, November 1^st.  This holiday is celebrated throughout Mexico to honor, remember and pray for loved ones that have passed away.  We decided to stop at a local cemetery in Cozumel to see what occurs.  It was amazing to see the attention to detail that loved ones did for those who have past.  We saw ice cold Coca Cola’s left out, loafs of bread, cold water, unique paintings left for the departed, flowers…anything that would be comforting to us walking the Earth was also left for those who departed before us.  Such a moving holiday.  We were happy to be there to celebrate and reflect on our loved ones that have also passed.  

Cozumel is a beautiful island that caters to a lot of scuba divers.  Although we don’t scuba, we really enjoy snorkeling and swimming in crystal blue water.  The island is small enough that we were able to spend one day driving around it.  We love exploring the unbeaten path when on vacation – this island had a lot of unbeaten paths with lots of cenotes (a natural pit, or sinkhole, resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater underneath). 

Amazing colors at the cemetary

Jerry paying tribute to those resting at the cemetary

Beautiful Mausolem

Morning Yoga

I made it to the top of the lighthouse! The door was tenny-tiny!!

View from top of light house

Pier in front of our Cozumel Condo

Snorkel time!

Serenaded by these guys

Our Cozumel Beach Front

Mangroves everywhere....beware of mosquito's!

Aftermath of said mosquitoes -- ouch!

The Plantation House -- our home in Playa Del Carmen -- So cute!!

Loved the decor and colors at Plantation House

Local art vendor next to Plantation House

The rain came down hard on our 2nd to last day

...so we found a cool bar to hang out at!

Hanging out with Americans who have made Playa Del Carmen their home--good times!

Surprise Birthday Party

We had fun celebrating the 50th birthday of my Mom's boyfriend, Johnny.   My mom coordinated a fun surprise birthday party at our house.  We had two poker tables, food, drinks...and a lot of fun!  Watch the video I made of the night :)

Jax Birthday in California

Celebrating Jax's 1st Birthday 

Enjoying some sweet cake

After consuming said sweet cake!

My aunt, her granddaughter, Sophia and my cousin are ready for some fun!

Margarita Bar I put together for the adults at the party

Jax and Alyssa

Jax with his Uncle & Auntie

Jax playing with Alyssa and Sophia

My brother & Vivian with Jax

Jax with Uncle Richard & Aunt Janette

Jerry & Jax hanging out

Jax, Josh & Jill...reading together before bedtime

 

Meeting Jax

With family all spread out in different states, I was really excited to finally met my cousins baby, Jax.  They live in Idaho, so we do not get to see them too often.  This was Jax first trip to California and his first time meeting the family.  We spent an afternoon at the beach, enjoyed a picnic and played in the sand.  Here are some photos from our outing:

Looks just like a California baby!

He spotted the ocean!

Jax and Mommy getting their feet wet

Mesmerized by the Ocean

I loved playing with this little precious boy

Fun in the sand

My cousin, My tutu (grandma) and me...great afternoon with family!