Things We Learned on Vacation

View from our hotel balcony at Playa del Carmen. Sweet!

We had a fabulous time in Playa del Carmen. This once sleepy fishing village is now a resort town about an hour south of Cancun. It is quieter than Cancun--not so much about nightclubs and partying and more about enjoying the weather and beautiful white beaches.

Here is what we learned on vacation:

• My knees and I got to fly first class on the way down thanks to a paid upgrade offer from Continental! For the first time ever my knees were not jammed up against the seat in front of me for the entire flight. No such offer appeared for the return flight--dagnabit.

• Another upgrade appeared at the hotel when the room we requested wasn't available so they gave us the next grade up--free!

• Wine and tonic water are more to our taste than fruity tropical drinks.

• On touring Chichen Itza, Tulum and Coba, we learned the Mayans didn't disappear--they just abandoned these ceremonial centers for reasons unknown before the arrival of the Spaniards.

• We met several Mayans who spoke Mayan which sounds like an Oriental language.

• El Jefe likes rye bread! Will wonders never cease! I didn't know he had given up his obsession for West Texas White Bread. The things you learn about your spouse on vacation....

• Will there be massages and facials in heaven? The facial I had smelled divine--like a very fruity smoothie. Wonder what it would have tasted like?

• NOT climbing the stairs at the Mayan temple at Coba (taller than the one at Chichen Itza) is definitely the better part of valour!

• The average income of an area is probably inversely proportional to the number of people who process your admission to the national park.

• It takes four days to really relax. That's why long weekends are fun, but not so relaxing.

• Meeting a couple of Chilean families on Friday's tour made us so much more aware of the terrible earthquake that happened the next day. They all lived in Santiago--I pray their homes were spared.

• I need to brush up on my Spanish, because we'll definitely be going back!!

And last but not least, a kiss of peace goes out to David from Dixie who left a flattering comment on my last post!