First International Trip

Eliana, Nate, Amy and I spent a week in Mexico in the middle of March. We stayed 15 minutes outside of a small, solar-powered village called Cabo Pulmo, which is a 1.5 hour drive from San Jose del Cabo. It sits on the East Cape of Baja Sur California, right on the Sea of Cortez. It is not the typical spring break that most get when they venture to Cabo San Lucas. This place was pretty remote with not much going on but dirt roads, open beach and sunshine. We were inspired by a UPS friend who had taken their daughter there over Christmas and had a great time (thanks, Salways!). We rented an American's beach house, named Casa Piedra (Stone House) off of VRBO (Vacation Rental by Owner) and had a blast. The house was right on the Sea of Cortez, perfect for swimming, playing in the sand, taking naps, reading, drinking margaritas/Coronas and enjoying some much needed CHILL OUT time.

It was a treat for Eliana to have her Auntie Amy along with us. She met us at the airport in San Jose, having flown down from Denver. Not only was it a treat for Eliana, but for Nate and I as well. Because of the extra help, Nate and I spent a day scuba diving off the reef in Cabo Pulmo (only reef in North America). It was the first time we had been diving since we were certified in Australia so we had to do a quick refresher in the pool before heading out with our dive master. The water was only 66 degrees, which was very cold. It was great to dive again, but the buoyancy thing was hard to pick up....let's just say our dive master had to hold my hand multiple times to prevent me from shooting up out of the water; oops! Thanks, Amy, for watching Eliana and coming along with us; we loved having time with you.

There were multiple highlights from the trip:
* Seeing a mom and calf humpback whale. We first spotted them from the house, but later got within 30 feet of them when we were out on the dive boat. They were amazing, beautiful, majestic, and HUGE. I really can't describe it, but it was breath-taking.

* Watching Eliana in the ocean for the first time. She giggled with delight at seeing and getting hit by the waves. She loved the sand; eating it, touching it and wrecking our sand castles.

* Shopping at Soriano's supermarket in San Jose, stocking up on groceries before our 1.5 hour drive to the house. We did not know that there is a mad rush on groceries on pay day, which happened to be the day we arrived - March 15. No joke, it took us 2 hours in there, playing bumper cars with all the other Mexicans. Nate waited in line for 20 minutes for fresh tortillas and then the check out took 45 minutes. The Mexicans did not refrain from pinching Eliana's cheeks and saying, "gordita, bonita"; she was quite the hit. It was like we were back in Japan; half-freak, half-celebrity. We hit up the taco stand in the mega store and made the long drive to Bruce's house; what a long travel day, but now we'll be talking about that grocery store experience for the rest of time. Ahhhh, travel....

* Watching a restaurant dog steal one of Eliana's diapers and shred it to bits while we ate dinner. This was funny and not so funny when I was trying to ration her diapers and prevent us from making a trip to the crazy supermarket in San Jose on our way out of town.

Sitting in the waves with Daddy



First steps taken in Mexico on the day we left to go home. Pictured here is the rental car office.



Look closely at her hands and knees...











Dad, Mom, Eliana and Auntie Amy







Curly-sandy-sunscreeny-mullet mess







What's in that bottle, Daddy?







Elle Belle loved the hammock, or should I say, the rides that Dad gave her in the hammock







Making sand castles is over-rated



A real crab, Eliana (they do exist other than in books!)



















Taking a break from dinner at El Caballero (in Cabo Pulmo).















Auntie Amy and Elle Belle



Our family











Eliana was not walking at this time, but took her first steps on her last day in Mexico...I think all the walking on sand she did was the big help.



Happy ladies



















Look closely and you will see what Eliana's snack was....broccoli! She loves it, although it's not the cleanest snack, especially in the car.



The backpacking hammock was the perfect addition to the patio



















Our family











We drove to Los Barilles, about a 45-minute drive north, for lunch one day. Had some fabulous fish tacos and Elle Belle indulged in some beans, cheese and rice.







Love the bright colors in Mexico



If only every restaurant floor was of rocks, we could sit for hours...



Nate's catch from the shore; Spanish Mackerel....doesn't get any fresher than that!







Fish on the line!



Look closely and you'll see that Eliana is doing "so big"....love this picture



Auntie Amy, Eliana and Mom



Elle Belle and Mom







Grandparents, don't worry! This was not a stray dog, which there are many in Mexico:) This was the neighbor's dog, Sydney, who Elle Belle loved.



Thanks to my Japanese friends, the BWC, for these cute clothes!















Los Arbolitos, a beach nearby with great snorkeling and palapas



Who needs a swimsuit when you have snorkel gear?



Yum, fresh tortillas



Dinner out at Nancy's in Cabo Pulmo



Nate getting a few casts in during nap time







Auntie Amy and Elle Belle



Afternoon nap time = Corona time!







Dad and Elle Belle time. Nate loved having full days with Eliana and would sometimes banish Amy and I from morning beach time with her as he wanted his own time with her. The two of them loved playing in the water (and Amy and I would catch up on our reading while he took over).



The house from the beach



If I could only get this hat off....



We had the beach to ourselves every day (minus the one neighborhood dog, Sydney)



Giggling at the waves



Ready for beach time



Mom and Elle Belle



Heaven







The long extended deck



Breakfast al freso every morning







The greatest part about the house were the Adirondak chairs and the two patios; shade on the front for breakfast in the morning; shade in the back for dinner at night











Casa Piedra



The driveway, looking away from the house



Eliana is in heaven with her Auntie Amy



The sun wore Eliana out and she took some wonderful naps. Nate and I shared a room with her. The first and last night sleep was rough, but she did well the other nights. We packed the Sleep Sheep; so funny because we were right on the water and the waves were actually louder than we thought they were going to be. Elle Belle had the perfect white noise for all her naps and at night. She was down with the sun (7:00 pm) and up with the sun (6:00 am). No need for an alarm clock.



Cuervo Tradicionale; perfect for margs (too bad they don't sell it in the U.S.)



Fresh corn tortillas - still warm after our 90-minute drive