Mexico

Brian and I got back Saturday night from our week long Mexico vacation/work trip. Brian worked and I enjoyed the beautiful weather, great food and zero responsibilities (ie children).

We stayed at the Marival all inclusive resort just outside of Peurta Vallarta. Brian would go running in the morning and then meet all the other breeders at the buffet at 7am. I slept in and would wander out to get some breakfast at, well, let's just say later in the day. The first three days were gorgeous. The only problem was that I didn't have anyone to rub sunscreen on my back. I tried to improvise by wrapping a washcloth around my flat iron, putting sunscreen on the washcloth and rubbing it on my back, but it must not have been effective because I totally burned my back and other random swatches of skin the sunscreen missed the first day.

I am not a believer in tanning salons, but I think everyone there must have gotten a base tan before they came down and I understand why. Who wants to be burned and sit in the shade all day when the sun feels soooo good?

To give my back a break and get some exercise to work off all of the great pastries they had at breakfast I would go on bike rides. They had a place at the resort you could check out bikes. The whole area along the coast where we were was packed with resorts. The first time I took out a bike I chose a direction at random and figured I would just ride and see if I could get out into the surrounding town - I never made it. Another time I went on a "bike tour" and we rode down to a mini zoo. There were some deer like animals, an alligator, tigers and leopards. The leopard was so close to the side of his cage I could have put my fingers in and petted him - if I had been so foolish.

The last few days got a bit cooler, esp with the wind blowing off the water and I took a longer bike ride into a small village north of us.

Ah, my beautiful self portrait. I rode through town and found a tourist trap market and bought and embroidered dress for Collen and Kate. They wore them on Sunday and look sooo cute. Anyway....

After Brian got home (between 4 and 6) we would go swimming/hot tubbing, shower and then meet the other breeders for dinner. Talk could get a bit, um technical at times, but he works with a great group of people and I always felt welcome.

The breeders finished up their work a bit early and took Friday off. We drove up to Peurta Vallarta with Paul (who was at BYU with Brian for awhile) and Tom.

Left to right: Paul, ?, Andrew, Brian, Tom and Megan

It was fun poking around all the tourist shops - that were almost exactly the same - walking along the river in old town, and along the new boardwalk on the coast.

In one stretch people were making and maintaining these amazing sand castles for tips. The detail was incredible.

Brian and I sat down on a bench at one point to rest and tried taking some couple self portraits which devolved into this.

Ah...this self portrait with the old church in the back ground turned out much better. I can't wait till summer comes to Iowa!