Escape to Mexico

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cabo san lucas, mexico

I had intended to post some normal life-in-Amsterdam things, but you know what? It’s boring. We’re really not doing anything. Jesse is at the library all day deep in academia-land, I’m inside hiding from the weather, and we’re just not doing much except dreaming of spring and future travels. Once a few more of the man’s papers are written we can get out for a day trip or two, but until then, life is pretty ho-hum.

So I figure instead of another picture of a half-finished quilt I’m still working on, I’ll reach into the past and post some of my favorite places.

Today, if only for the fix of vitamin D and my craving for chili-spiced food, it’s Mexico. I’m lucky enough to be part of a big family that likes to spend time together, and because we all live so far away we usually do a big vacation every other year. In 2010 it was Cabo San Lucas, that sun-soaked city on the tip of the Baja peninsula.

We stayed on one of the many resorts along the beach, and were spoiled by several swimming pools, drinks with little umbrellas, and the sandy beach a mere stroll from our room.

Usually I’d go for the self-guided, do-it-yourself vacation, but the all-inclusive ones are pretty darn fun sometimes! Especially when you have 30 family members to share the splashes and laughs with. We played in the (massive) waves, soaked up more sun than we needed, went tequila-tasting, practiced our español, and ate perfect salsa. Jesse and I even rented a scooter one day and got ourselves thoroughly lost in the town.

I had to throw a food photo in, of course. That questionable mound is ceviche, a traditional dish of fresh raw seafood marinated in lime juice and spiced with chilies. Delicious.

I think everyone in colder latitudes dreams of the tropics in the dead of winter. How can we resist?

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We’re Back, and We’re Suntanned!

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cabo san lucas, mexico

We arrived home safely from our Cabo San Lucas play-cation last night. The only thing I wanted to do was watch a movie. Too much nature and conversation occurred this week, apparently.

The resort where we stayed, with a cruise ship in the distance.

The trip was a whirlwind of good times and relaxation. I don’t know how we could be so exhausted from sitting by a pool and reading all day, but we were. Relaxing is hard work. Plus, when you’ve got 31 family members present to catch-up with, it’s a lot of conversation. We celebrating my Grandma’s 80th birthday with Mexican style, though, complete with a shot of tequila (which Jesse graciously drank when the waiters offered it to her.) Now my grandparents think my husband is an alcoholic. Wonderful.

It was an epic vacation. We got beat-up by killer waves, we went scooter-ing about town, we ate plenty of Mexican food, I got a little (okay, a lot) sun burned, and we took complete advantage of the poolside fun. We vacationed with gusto, to put it another way.

We scootered around town for an afternoon, turning “scooter” into a very fun verb.

A few things I learned:

1) Jesse is easily mistaken for being able to speak Spanish, especially after a few days in the sun. I’m pretty sure no one would have approached me in Spanish had I not been with him. (Side note: Jesse is not anything, really. He’s a true American Mutt.)

Me and my non-Mexican man.

2) I’m ready to continue popping the birth control. There were a lot of kids on the trip, and many more on our plane rides home, and I’m pretty sure I’m not mature enough to keep from strangling any small screaming child. So to avoid jail, we’ll just play it safe for awhile longer. Cuteness is best preserved from a distance. (No offense meant to Myles, Naomi, and Lilah. The screaming kids on the plane are another matter.)

Naomi and Myles: yup, they’re pretty cute.

3) I can do tequila, in small doses, and in mixed drinks. Also, Mexican beer is actually quite delicious when taken with sunshine, a beach, and crashing waves. There’s a reason I don’t drink Corona in Portland.

4) Family is nice to be around. I have a big family, some of whom I haven’t seen in years. It’s nice to catch up. And to show off Jesse. It’s even better to get to do it while sipping margaritas and dipping in pools. Yup, family is pretty good.

Me, my dad, and my sister.

Oh, and an update on my wardrobe. I spent so much time making clothes for the trip, only to realize that actually, I only made about three things, and my cuter clothes are ones I bought. I spent every day explaining that no, I hadn’t made this shirt. No, not this one, either. Nope, just that one dress, really. 

But yes, I did wear Cabo San Sundress in Cabo San Lucas, and it was beautiful. Pockets!

And now, welcome back to Portland. At least it’s still a heat-wave here, too. Except for the green trees, it’s like we never left Mexico!

Oh, Baby, I Was Bound for Mexico…

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cabo san lucas, mexico

We are jetting out of Portland for a weeklong vacation in Cabo San Lucas!

In another day, this will be us:

Only throw in a couple dozen family members, of course. And maybe a piña colada! I’ve spent the last few months making clothes with the idea to wear them on this trip, and now that it’s here I have too many!!
But I’m bringing Cabo San Sundress, of course, my boat race dress, and my green tunic dress (for maximum airport comfort.) I had a goal to make seersucker shorts–that didn’t happen. They got cut out, but nothing else. Oh, well!

I’m so ready for a week full of beaches, sun, and maybe a shot of tequila. Hey, it’s Mexico!