Da "K" Spot: June 2012

Friday, June 22, 2012

Rah's First Flight

Robert finally got his chance to fly the friendly skies. Well I'm not sure how friendly they are now days with airline ticket prices, baggage fees, long lines, and the half-can of a drink that you're given (without a movie and with the inability to move freely about the plane). Flying post 9/11 is not that fun of an experience when you have its predecessor as a comparison; but since Rah doesn't, he was riding high and many others on the plane couldn't help be become elated off of his sheer excitement. Living life vicariously through a child can be very exhilarating!

So we flew from Houston to Raleigh this time, as I spend most of my summers in Fayetteville. I usually drive up so I can have access to a vehicle - move around freely visiting as many friends and family members as possible. But as Darryl planned on joining us a few weeks later and Robert had never flown, this seemed to be a perfect opportunity - plus I found excellent ticket rates on Southwest which doesn't charge any baggage fees for up to two checked bags.

On our way to the gate

We drove 2.5 hrs to Houston to catch our 1 pm flight and struggled with our luggage. Its kinda difficult to move throughout the airport with a 5 yr old and 6 bags! But the benefit is that you get to go through express lines and avoid the X-ray scanner, plus you get priority seating - so I must say Rah ended up being pretty good on that note.

Rah in the airport terminal

Rah posing

Rah about to board the plane

This is the point of which Rah realized that the blue part was the "actual plane"

Here we go...

One last phone call to daddy before taking off

Rah all smiles

Rah took this pic too - again low angles not my thing!

Our view as we were taxiing off

Pics from low angles are NOT flattering

The flight was about 4 hours total but after about 2 hrs he'd had enough and become totally irritable.The books and crayons I'd brought for him were not sufficient in occupying his attention. I of course had my iPod and was attempting to take a nap. I thought that maybe the window seat would make up the difference but it wouldn't. With his nonstop questioning he "allowed" me to sleep about half hr in total but we managed to get some cool pics. I gave him the camera and he took some pics too!

Rah took these pics...

And he noticed our luggage coming out!

He loved confirming how I told him actual cars looked like his toy cars; but quickly informed me that they were "actually smaller". He also at one point yelled jokingly that the "plane was gonna crash" when we were going through turbulence -Ii just knew that the Air Marshall was gonna come get me. I quickly informed him that you couldn't say such things on a plane because many people are nervous about flying - but as usual he didn't believe me.

He called to let daddy know he landed

Rah even got his own bag off the turn style

Last Stop, Cozumel!

So we finally arrived in Cozumel. A Mexican island about half hour off the coast of the mainland but a world apart. It was completely breathtaking and our favorite destination of our island vacation.We have agreed to go back and spend an entire vacation there.

You have to walk through their Duty Free "strip", which equates to a mini-shopping mall prior to reaching customs - they know how to get you, but there really were some great deals. We took advantage of them on our way back to the ship so we didn't have to carry all of our stuff around with us while on the island all day!

Just through customs, look at this sight!

...and then there were all kinds of the fun "touristy" things to do within the market square

Check out these guns!

Recreation of Mayan temples

We had a ball

Manicured gardens and statues

He's actually alive - and scared the crap outta me!

City square

So after exploring the market place we decided to go off the known path and explore the beautiful city before finding the beach. Yeah, I know - pretty risky in Mexico where we don't speak any Spanish but we figured we weren't on the mainland and not at any more risk than in any other place - so why not! You only live once - and this would sure be a wonderful place to go!

First, we exited the "safety" of the marketplace and walked towards the city

Next, we got cash! In dollars - but our receipt showed Pesos, LOL We were thousandaires!

Then, we found a taxi driver - who taught Darryl bad words in Spanish!

Took pictures with Castro and were on our way

It was a lovely ride through town. High end shops, a mix of old and new architecture - and the overall appearance of the area was simply beautiful. The city was gorgeous. We finally decided to head to an all- inclusive spot called Paradise Island (free drinks, food, water sports, etc. for like $60/pp. - much less expensive than what the cruise ship was offering for the same thing).

It was about a 15 minute ride through town

and another 10 minute ride on a dirt road

Now that's where it got interesting! Darryl went into full "military" mode - scanning his surroundings, not talking at all, checking out all possible escape routes and things within arms reach that could be used for a weapon! Meanwhile I was just talking to the driver and chillin' - but the thought did go through my mind several times that we were gonna be kidnapped by some cartel members and taken off into the woods and never seen again - was this risk worth it? Aggggghhhh

At times the car was going at less than 5mph and swerving from the left to the right side of the road almost fully enveloped by trees and bushes - avoiding potholes (or were they traps, did Mexican cartel members use IED's). And just about the time when I was about to "switch" to full military mode I saw the water...wheew!!!

But we still weren't there! LOL - we took a boat to the island. It was about a 5 minute ride. We rode over with a father and daughter who operates a business on the island. They taught us how to say "I love tacos!" in Spanish.