Mexico!

Hello blog readers!  Blogging has once again escaped me for the past month or so.  After Scotland I decided to up and go to Mexico!!  I, with about 20 friends from my singles ward, rented a few condos and cars and lived the easy life for a week in Playa Del Carmen - near Cancun.  It was a most enjoyable vacation!  There are some key things that made it so awesome:  1) Bringing people who actually speak Spanish   2) Making sure someone else planned everything  3) Having people there that you love to be with whether in Provo or Mexico!  Needless to say, it was a total blast!  Here, have a look for yourself...

Here we are after a few hours of snorkeling.  We saw a sea turtle, a stingray and lots of fish!
 

Even the sun is more awesome in Mexico

My first experience with true Mexican food.  I could eat cheese quesadillas for the rest of my life.

Telum Beach.  I was told this beach is rated as one of the top in Mexico.  And for good reason - it was a-maze-ing!  Just look at those blue waves!

Melissa and I after some wave jumping

The condos we stayed in.  Highly recommend doing this over staying in a hotel.

The Motor Scooter gang.  We rented scooters at Cazumel and toured the island in style.

Me with Jesus, our tour guide at the Chichanita ruins.

The whole gang after exploring the Mayan ruins.

 In front of a Mayan temple - the ruins were one of my most favorite parts of the trip

Delicious Mango drink

My iguana friend and I

The girls

And this would be by far my favorite part of Mexico!  It is called a 'Cinote' - an outlet from an underground river that runs through Mexico.  There were tons of black catfish swimming around.  I jumped from that staircase over there... can you see it?  Ya, I'm pretty dang cool.

Andrew, Kristina and I at another Cinote we found.  This one was amazingly clear!  You could see the bottom which made it look like you could reach it, but when we tried to push ourselves down, our ears would begin to hurt before we even came close.  We also saw some locals there doing wedding photos...IN the water!  IN their dress and tux!  Good times.

All in all and otherwise, it was a great vacation!  I am now officially in love with the Ocean and cannot wait to get back.  I'm seriously going through withdrawals.  I guess the only solution is to go to Hawaii next!  Hmmm.... if only I had a job so I can start saving up the mula....

I left a piece of my soul in Scotland

Time sure flies, huh?  I apologize to my many, many readers for my lack of blogging (that was sarcasm...ok, moving on....)  As soon as school let out, I took off and thought I might never come back!  But.... here I am.  I had an outstanding visit to Scotland where I spent some much needed time with sister Emily, brother Mike and baby Andrew.  Whom I love. A lot.  It took me three connections and 24 hours, but I finally did make it there.  My bro-in-law, Mike, picked me up and drove me home to their quaint little flat in Peter Culter (pronounced "Pee-ter Coo-ter).  Instead of inundating you with endless detail, I will condense my trip to few words and many pictures. In categories.

Category 1: Castles / Old Stuff

This was the gateway to the gardens of a castle called Cragevier.  All the castles were amazing.  Most of the castles we saw were between 13th to 16th century.  Yes, Andrew is on a lead.

This was the oldest we saw; Dunatar.  It's a ruined castle, which means only the old remaining pieces are left.  The crowned jewels were kept here at one point.  It must have been an amazing castle in it's time! (look closely.  It's on the cliff.)

Mike, Em and Andrew at Dunatar Castle.

Cragside (we stopped by England for a few days).  Built by Lord Armstrong, an amazingly brilliant and amazingly wealthy man.

View of the home from a bridge that spanned a small river.  All part of his estate.  Incredible.

The Wallington home (also in England).  Just think Jane Austin movie and there you have it.  Next time I live in 16th century England, this is where I will live.

So many castles, so little time.

Category 2: Nature / Beauty

This is the stuff God intended to make.  Once he had perfected his creating-things technique, he finished off Earth with this.

Category 3: Animals

For some reason, I have this thing where I love to be around, touch, feed animals.  So, naturally, I felt it necessary to stop at any available cow pasture, farm or horse stall to feed the animals it contained.

Hello, Cows..

This is Bessy. Naturally.

I'm soo happy!  So is Andrew.  You just don't know because you can't see his face.

Happy again!  Andrew is not.  You know because you can see his face.

Category 4: Me in front of stuff

In this category, you will notice me, in front of things.  Lots of Scottish / English wonders....and otherwise.

Oh my.  I really am a dork at heart, you know.  Maybe at brain, too.

"Oh, Em!  Take a picture of my sticking my head out of this window!  That will look reeeeaaaallll cool on Facebook!"

Hey.  It's me, or rather my giant head, above another awesome structure.

Here is some beauty.  And also there's cool trees and stuff around me....

"Maybe I could find a meadow to sleep in. Or a hollow log.  Or maybe a house of dwarfs.  I hear they are very hospitable!" - Giselle

Aw, Scottish Bagpipers.  The trip would not have been complete without them.

I liked these homes.  (are you getting sick of my mug yet? Hmm?)

Just a gateway.  A 900 yr. old gateway.

Classic.  I'm proud of myself.

Hadrian's wall.  I think this was my most favorite.  Simply because it was built in 600 bc.  Now THAT is one old wall.

Category 5:  The category with the rest of the pictures.

Isn't he adorable?  I can imagine he is trying to growl.

And now, so are we.  How embarrassing.

A little English village.  Rothbury.

Hexam Abbey.  Visited while in England.

The church goers used to have to pay for their seats.  The seats labeled "Free" were for the impoverished crowed.  Wow, that's the Christian spirit.

And this just needed to be sat upon.

I hope you have enjoyed this little (okay, not so little.  I may have gone overboard and swam ashore with the pictures) journey through my trip to Scotland/England.  It was a blast!  A hearty thanks to Em and Mike for letting me visit and taking me to see all these beautiful places!

Next adventure..... Mexico!