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05-27-2008, 07:46 AM
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We had the cheesy potato soup at Jaguar. Very good! One of my faves of the trip and it is on our list to eat again when we return in July.
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05-27-2008, 05:40 PM
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Hey Beth....I live in Michigan as well....in Kalamazoo. Sounds like you had a great trip!
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  Jessica 
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05-28-2008, 12:19 AM
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Hey Jamacianmenuts...I lived in "the Zoo" for 10 yrs- last place I lived was Whitcomb St. in the Westnedge Hill Neighborhood- small world!
 Were still neighbors- just an hour away! Your trip is approaching!! I bet your excited! I got more of the trip report coming soon!
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When life seems hard, hold on...a vacation is never too far away 
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05-28-2008, 12:42 PM
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I love reading your trip report...We always stay at All Incusive Resorts when we go on trips...and I would LOVE to do a trip like you have done...how do you get from one city to the next? Bus? Taxi? Rental Car? I cant wait to hear more!
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Jessica
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05-28-2008, 01:38 PM
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I just graduated at the end of April with my Masters in Counseling- one way to celebrate finishing was with this last trip! Sounds like you will be celebrating with a trip too! We have stayed in AI hotels before, yet the Yucatan has so much to offer in botique and inn hotels at amazing rates and we seek out inexpensive restaurants and buy beer and wine at stores at drop dead prices- being budget travellers I cannot imagine traveling any other way. Being inexpensive in our travels allows us to go on 2 trips a year (if not more if the plane tickets werent so expensive!). We travel via bus which is super cheap or a taxi wherever we go.
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When life seems hard, hold on...a vacation is never too far away
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05-28-2008, 01:42 PM
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We usually take 2 trips a year....one to an AI and one some where after Xmas...usually the Xmas trip ends up being our "budget" trip. But I would love to just pick several cities and travel to them and not plan every second of the trip. That would be so much fun. Do you both speak Spanish? How do you decide on places and know that they are safe and what not?
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Jessica
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05-29-2008, 01:58 PM
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I received my MA at SAU in Spring Arbor; MI- I live in Jackson so is close by. I did my undergrad at WMU- then stayed in Kzoo for several years.
We take 2 trips a year to MX and one trip a year to the West Palm Beach area in Florida. We stay free in Florida since my dad has a place there. We are looking to travel more- just wish work would give us more time off of work! We do speak a little Spanish (4 yrs in high school does help with the basics). We were thinking about this winter taking a Spanish class at the local community college. We would also like to take private lessons in Mexico while on one of our trips. I hear they have schools in Playa and Tulum. All the places we have visited- (Playa, Cozumel, Holbox, Isla Mujeres, Tulum, Punta Allen, Puerto Morelos, Cancun...) we usually come across someone that speaks English. If we dont we always carry a pocket dictonary and a quick phrase book which is a huge help! (For instance when Scott got his hair cut, the woman spoke no english)- we just used the little Spanish we know and the pocket guides!We research places by reading books on Mexico (The Peoples Guide to Mexico or any of the Frommers guides are great) search the the Internet before we travel and belong to this great forum to help answer any of our questions! Our dream is to move to Mexico.. so reseraching, travelling it and communicating with others who also share our love have become our passion!
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When life seems hard, hold on...a vacation is never too far away
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05-29-2008, 02:23 PM
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Back to the report...
We spent an afternoon at the Peanut Pet Shelter washing doggies and loved it! We stopped at Walmart along the way and bought food, shampoo and treats for the dogs. We met lots of nice people from this forum! Andy and Jen run a great place for these dogs. They provide excellent care! A nice group of people showed up for wash day (5/10/08)  This little guy was the dog we washed first....we were told he was new and didnt have a name yet... he was a good sport with his washing!   Look at all that hair!  Stay tuned...more of washing day to be continued!! ....gotta go to work
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When life seems hard, hold on...a vacation is never too far away
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05-31-2008, 12:17 AM
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More of the Peanut Pet Shelter Washing Day…
We found out that many of the dogs love the camera and like to pose for photo opportunities! Remember…these are calendar dogs after all. (The Peanut Pet Shelter has a calendar- refer the forum for more info!) Just look at these adorable pups (the people are adorable too!)    Loved this tee shirt- very appropriate given the occasion!  Loving the attention!  ZZZ….wash day is exhausting!  Happy clean doggie!  More washing time!!  Love U TOO!! Thanks for the wet kiss!  Treat time!! Marissa says, “Sit”, at least a couple listen…  It was a dog-day afternoon! It was wonderful meeting people from the forum and discussing our love for animals and Playa! A BIG thanks to Marissa who walked with us toward our hotel- and pointed out a GREAT taco place with excellent food! We stopped for a bite to eat and stopped at a Laundromat on 10th to pick up our dirty laundry! Another way we like to travel is LIGHT!- We pack as though we are only staying a few days and wash our clothing at affordable laundromats along the way! More photos... More of Playa at night….A visit to the Luna Blue swing bar! Lovely grounds at this place!  
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When life seems hard, hold on...a vacation is never too far away
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05-31-2008, 01:17 AM
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Next....We travel next to Punta Allen for a couple nights….
We wake up in the morning take the bus to Tulum, then a taxi ($60) to Punta Allen. Our taxi ride was very fast- speedy driver and from what we heard he gave us a great deal. We heard taxis range from $60-$100 a ride from Tulum. Next stop as we travel the Yucatan…The Sian Kaan Biosphere-we are on our way to Punta Allen!  YAY! We made it to paradise in the middle of the jungle at the end of the sand road! Serenidad Shardon… If you ever stay in PA…stay here. Niki was a more than excellent hostess! (The website: Serenidad Shardon - A caribbean beach front vacation retreat designed to focus on the adventurer. ) We have warm greetings and are advised that our reservation for tenting is not a good option for the crabs have ripped holes in the bottom of the tent!  We are “upgraded” at no extra cost ($30 a night) to a small “casita” that holds a double bed and enough room to walk around the bed. The upgrade is a great option to tenting! It is cute and cozy… the bathroom is attached to Niki’s house, which is a stones throw away. It lies on the beach, along the jungle and in the middle of Serenidad Shardons beautiful gardens! The casita we stayed in had a lovely “porch” with table/chairs, hammocks and lush plants…     The casita was a luxury compared to what we originally reserved…  Serenidad Shardons gardens makes for a lovely view of the beach and water…  We have visited Punta Allen once before for a day trip, Scott had excellent fishing that day and wanted to return… The town has 400 residents. The roads are of sand, the electricity- limited- its on for a short period during the day and early evening! It was a hot trip and sleeping in that casita at night with no fan got warm….but it was fun, we survived and I would do it all over again!!!  Stay tuned for more of our stay in Punta Allen and Serenidad Shardon…we had an UN-INVITED GUEST in the casita one night----come back to find out who visited us… 
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When life seems hard, hold on...a vacation is never too far away
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05-31-2008, 01:31 AM
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