Back to the Island-Double Dip Delight!Western COMPLETE~Cruising with a baby w/PICS!

[livingis2me]

I'm ready for the "immobilizing beverages"! Is it five o'clock yet? Did you have to pay a fee for using the facilities at the Money Bar or just buy a couple of drinks?

I can answer that... We just bought a couple soft drinks. It really could have been a nice place to hang out at for a while, but we had other things in mind.

 

[nenner1]

I'm ready for the "immobilizing beverages"! Is it five o'clock yet? Did you have to pay a fee for using the facilities at the Money Bar or just buy a couple of drinks?

It's always 5:00 'round here!

 

[anewmac]

Hey we used to have a table like that at the money bar.. actually it was a picnic table and it was all coins and if you didnt watch where you put your drink... SPLASH LOL. Man that water looks gorgous. Looks more vibrant where you were then where we were. Im thinking it was the rocks. (And I dont mean the ones my margaritas were pours onto LOL.

Tammie great thought about Savanah dancing, too cute!

 

[wilma-bride]

I am so ready for thos immobilizing beverages - and it's only 10.30 am here

 

[SweetSpot]

Thank youf for such a fun trip report. I really have enjoyed all of your trip reports.

Hey we used to have a table like that at the money bar.. actually it was a picnic table and it was all coins and if you didnt watch where you put your drink... SPLASH LOL. Man that water looks gorgous. Looks more vibrant where you were then where we were. Im thinking it was the rocks. (And I dont mean the ones my margaritas were pours onto LOL.

Tammie great thought about Savanah dancing, too cute!

Drea are you going to let this trip report get finished before yours? We need the next installment.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Uh oh! I can see them too, so I dunno! They're on photobucket... let me know if you can see them at work!

OK...saw the pictures at Dave's! I don't think my computer likes me sometimes.

 

[nenner1]

I am so ready for thos immobilizing beverages - and it's only 10.30 am here

I had waaay more than my share last night! (Jimmy Buffet concert! )

Thank youf for such a fun trip report. I really have enjoyed all of your trip reports.

Thank you so much! I'm so glad you are (have) enjoyed!

Drea are you going to let this trip report get finished before yours? We need the next installment.

Yea, Drea, what's up with that? You were three days ahead of me at one point! You're slackin' girl!

OK...saw the pictures at Dave's! I don't think my computer likes me sometimes.

Hmmm...It may not necessarily be you, I had too many pictures to put it in one post and then I got them out ot order so I edited both posts a few times before I had it right...weird....
But I'm glad you finally got to see them!

 

[nenner1]

After a relaxing couple of hours at The Money Bar, we were excited to continue our journey around the rest of the island.

But first, a better shot of lucky #13:

We love trying to compare foreign car names and figure out which make and model we know them as. For instance, this car is a Dodge Attitude, but we figured out it is really a Hyundai Accent.

We headed back out on the road, still heading south along the west coast. We hadn’t traveled very far from the port area yet at all.

We passed Chankanaab, knowing many of our meet friends were inside having a dolphin encounter. We plan to go there someday, not on the next Western cruise, but maybe the one after that!

Watch out for the Mexican speed bumps! It doesn’t look it in the picture, but this bump was about two feet high!

We passed Playa Corona, but it didn't look too appealing to us, and we weren’t ready for more snorkeling or beach going yet. The clouds were moving in from the east/southeast too, so we decided to just keep driving for the time being.

Alto! Notice that the stop sign is at least 20 feet prior to the actual intersection? We were aware this is how the stop signs are in Mexico, but we still didn’t know the proper way to handle them (we stopped twice, both at the sign and at the actual intersection. Those locals had to love being stuck behind us!)


The next resort up the road was Mr. Sancho’s and we couldn’t pass this setup by.
We didn’t actually stop at the beach; we just took this photo opportunity in the median.

These Mexicans sure like their flags BIG!

We drove a little more, and rather quickly reached the southern tip of the island. We had planned on maybe stopping at Punta Sur to explore the lighthouse and do some more snorkeling. The clouds had moved in, and it was now dark and raining. We weren’t sure how long the weather would stay bad, and since it cost about $10/pp to get inside the Punta Sur Ecological Park, we decided to pass it up for now and keep on driving until it cleared up some.

We did get some pictures, this is the best I could do:

Yea MON!

There aren’t many bars and resorts on the southeastern coast. This stretch of beach is notoriously rough and not safe for swimming. Therefore, most of the coastline in this area is natural, unspoiled and undeveloped.

The first thing we encountered on the east coast was the blowhole. A simple notation on the map with no explanation made us curious to this natural landmark. We didn’t know what really to look for from the road, and weren’t sure if we would find it. Well, we did!

There was a large rock formation that stretched out to the shoreline. As the waves crashed into the rock, water shot upward through the “blowholes” and after the wave recessed, a whoosh of air, water and “steam” (not really steam, but I don’t really know how else to describe it) explodes up in a high pressure spout. It was a lot of fun to watch, and even more fun to play in.

Click to see the blowhole in action:




Of course, the kids had a blast. Here is a stop-action photo set of their reaction to one wave and blow from the hole:

(**continued in next post***)

 

[nenner1]

It was still raining when we arrived at the blowhole, but we spent a good amount of time there exploring, and by the time we were finishing up there, the sun was back out. (It was a little more than seven minutes, but we weren’t complaining).

Looking back south along the east coastline:

Dune Buggy alert!

Looking north up the road:

This is it. No lanes. Mexican style; Make your own.

The next thing we were on the lookout for was “El Mirador” – The Bluffs. Again we had no clue what we were looking for (we had our money on more rock formations). But we first came upon an area that more closely resembled a beach (i.e. had sand) It was very picturesque. As best we can tell judging solely from the map (there are very few signs in Cozumel telling you where you are), this was Playa Bonita (in English: Beautiful Beach)

**continued**

 

[nenner1]

**continued***

Back on the road (we couldn’t take another one if we wanted to, this was the only road there was!), we traveled further up the coast to El Mirador. We were absolutely right about it being more rock, it was. And it was huge!

As we approached the beach area, the first thing I noticed was the sand wasn’t sand at all. It was comprised mostly of coral.

It was difficult to walk along the bluffs. The rocks were sharp, wet, and uneven. In some spots large holes opened up to reveal the waves crashing yards below. Hermit crabs crawled along in caverns of seawater along the top, and the dismembered remains of sea crabs and other crustaceans (some lucky seagull’s lunch) were scattered about.

El Mirador was striking to look at but not very functional. There is only so much you can do on jagged, rutted, super slippery rocks.

The afternoon was wasting away quick, and soon we would be too!

Up Next: The Coconut(s) Telegraph

 

[jmefox]

i have been reading all about your latest cruise we will be taking our 4 month old in Aug. on a seven night is there anything that you would say we really need to pack I am really nervous but from everything you have written so far it looks like you were fine any advice would be great thanks

 

[pamrob]

Can't wait to hear how the rest of your day in Cozumel went.

 

[nenner1]

i have been reading all about your latest cruise we will be taking our 4 month old in Aug. on a seven night is there anything that you would say we really need to pack I am really nervous but from everything you have written so far it looks like you were fine any advice would be great thanks

Hi and congratulations on your new baby!

We took a whole lot of stuff with us. One thing I brought but didn't use much was a bottle warmer. It took up a bit of space so that's why it was the first thing I thought of. We checked a box of diapers and that was more than enough for the week (It was a 96 count I think) I brought a bottle drying rack and set it up on the little dresser in the front corner of the room across from the bed (we were in a Cat 8).

The stroller...we used it a LOT. If you have a travel system or a "cart" where you snap on the carseat that works really well, because if she was sleeping and we had to go into the theater we would just pop off the carseat and leave the frame outside. They have strollers you can use if you don't want to being yours but they are joggers and I just don't think they are the best option for the real little ones. PLus they ones they provide are very large..I think it would be hard getting it in & out of elevators, down hallways and in other tight spaces. Bringing the strollers in & out of the staterooms is possible, but difficult. Most of the time we would pop out the carseat and then park the stroller in the elevator lobby (there are actually little out of the way nooks off to the side where it stays out of the way of people walking through and nobody messes with them (we've seen before power wheelchairs and scooters parked in the same areas). If you want to keep your stroller in your room (like overnight) try folding it and storing it in the bathtub to keep it out of the way.

Another reason to have a carseat is the highchairs in the dining room are those wooden ones with no neck/head support and no padding that are pretty much impossible to sleep in. Our daughter slept a lot at dinner (we had late seating) so having that for her to sleep in was invaluable. (A smaller stroller would work too, but the big ones might be in the way depending on where your table is).

The Pack N Play Disney provides is smaller than regular Pack N Plays (at least it is smaller than ours), so don't bring your own becuase there may not be room for it.

Gosh, I can't really think of anything else offhand. We had no problems at all but then again I did pack pretty much everything but the kitchen sink. I know Treasure Ketch supposedly has diapers and formula in case you need it (though I didn't see it on the shelves or anything)..really I think as long as you have diapers, formula if you use it/baby food, bottles if you need them, dishsoap to wash the bottles, wipes, infant tylenol, diaper rash ointment (just in case), sunscreen and plenty of clothes you will be A. OK!

Thanks so much for reading and let me know if you have any other questions!! Have a terrific cruise!

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Loved the update! The pictures of the blow holes were awesome!!!!

 

[anewmac]

LOVE all the pics. You guys really got around the island.

UGG and I know im lagging, just life keeps happening LOL. Ill try and get something up this week! But with working on my mothers and grandmothers day gifts no clue when that will happen or IF lol.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Amazing photos! I love the video of the blow-hole. You were really on a great adventure that day!

 

[pperfectmom]

Love the update!Now I'm reconsidering the plan I have made up for Cozumel. We're tentatively planning to do the jeep tour through cozumel-tours.com but it looks like a lot of fun to go out on your own. The jeep tour is very $$$ but it covers a lot of territory and includes lunch and adult beverages. We can't do the DCL jeep tour because of age restrictions.

 

[nenner1]

Can't wait to hear how the rest of your day in Cozumel went.

Yep we aren't done yet! Coming soon!

Loved the update! The pictures of the blow holes were awesome!!!!

Thanks, they were a lot of fun! (And I didn't even get wet!...well not counting the rain!)

LOVE all the pics. You guys really got around the island.

UGG and I know im lagging, just life keeps happening LOL. Ill try and get something up this week! But with working on my mothers and grandmothers day gifts no clue when that will happen or IF lol.

Yeah, we covered a lot of ground. It went so quick!
I can't believe Mother's Day is coming up so soon! Where does the time go????

Amazing photos! I love the video of the blow-hole. You were really on a great adventure that day!

Thanks...yep the most adventurous part is yet to come..LOL!
We didn't get quite as immersed in the culture as you were able to get on your trip, but it was a lot of fun!

Love the update!Now I'm reconsidering the plan I have made up for Cozumel. We're tentatively planning to do the jeep tour through cozumel-tours.com but it looks like a lot of fun to go out on your own. The jeep tour is very $$$ but it covers a lot of territory and includes lunch and adult beverages. We can't do the DCL jeep tour because of age restrictions.

Well...that's kindof a tough one. One positive thing about the jeep tour is I assume you get a little history and other knowledge about the areas you are visiting. We didn't have that really because we didn't research most of the island before we went. We just read reviews of the beach "resorts" (more like beach bars) on the west side to try to figure out which ones would be best to make a quick stop at. We read a lot about Coconuts where we went for lunch (coming up in the next segment) an knew it was "safe" to eat at..it was a little pricey but not horrible. We paid for that..for gas (about 8$) and for the rental...so around $150 total for four of us, plus we got to go and see what we wanted and took as much time as we wanted. We were out with the car from about 10:00 AM til about 5:00 PM.

Would we do it again? Well...Up til recently I was vehement that we would NOT. I did not like all the yelling, begging, and harassing to get you in the stores, although we encountered much of it uneccesarily due to our decision to walk to a rental place so far away. Also we weren't prepared for it, now that we know it is so obnoxious, I don't think we will be as suprised, and consequently dissapointed. There is one other negative that I haven't gotten to, but I wasn't involved in it and Ron has gotten over it now, though then he felt like it soured the whole day. I will touch on that incident coming up. But looking back now, we remember it as jsut a grand adventure and had so much fun...

So I don't know. The positives that day sure do outweigh the negatives and we are glad we did it!! We sure feel comforatble about doing it again if we want to..NOW that wa are familiar with the island. Maybe it would be good to do the jeep tour this time to get acclimated to it and see what is all out there, and if you ever make your way back to Cozumel do it on your own?

Just let me know if you have any specific questions....we'll do what we can to help you guys plan it if you decide to do it on your own!

I don't know. Good thing is there is a lot of time to decide!

 

[livingis2me]

Just a little peice of advice, If you ever decide to go to the "wild" side of the island be careful walking on those rocks!!! They are sharp and jagged. So you may want to hold off on those margaritas until after you've checked this out. Lucky for us this little adventure was before lunch and drinks.

 

[nenner1]

It was mid-afternoon by now and we were all pretty hungry. Luckily our planned lunch destination was just up the road. Soon after we left the bluffs, we saw the hill emerge from the horizon. Coconuts Bar & Grill was where we were headed, where any respectable gringo on the east side should stop there for a cold one and some Mexican’ eating.

Coconuts, known for its’ party atmosphere and strong drinks is perched atop a cliff near the intersection of Transversal Rd and the coastal road. The highest elevation on the island, it sits at about 45 feet above sea level. We had been warned on Cruise Critic that this restaurant can get a bit raunchy and R-rated at times. I’ll admit its’ reputation gave me pause when I read the caution of nudity. I figured, however that the joint wouldn’t really be hopping with girls dropping their tops for shots at 2 in the afternoon. Thankfully, I was right.

The approach:

As we arrived the clouds parted revealing blue skies and the sun emerged and shone brightly above us. To get up to the top of the hill where the restaurant is, you have to climb a bunch of old stone stairs with rope handrails. The stairs are uneven and were slippery from the rain, making this even more of an adventure.

Halfway there…

The light at the end if the tunnel:

If a restaurant has this sign, I know it is the place for me!

As we emerged from the foliage we were greeted and promptly sat at a table overlooking the gorgeous craggy plunge to the crashing waves below. I realized right away we had been given a tip to ask for a seat with a view, I’m so glad it worked out that way since we forgot to do so.

As we settled and took in the atmosphere, there was certainly nothing to be concerned about here. There was a small scattering of folks at the bar and one or two tables occupied, one of which was other cruisers from the Magic (their Castaway Club lanyards and KTTW cards inside gave them away). Certainly no raucous behavior was imminent!

The restaurant itself was pretty much a dive, not that I expected otherwise. The tables and chairs were the plastic patio variety; the uncovered ones arranged on the sand overlooking the cliff had umbrellas for cover. Toward one side was a hammock or two, a parrot and a dog, and the “American” restrooms. I had read there was a gator hanging out somewhere but we never ran into him!

While we waited for our server, we got some pictures of the locale.

It’s a longer way down than it looks. I advise not leaning over that rope too far…Because this is what is on the way down!

Our waiter arrived with the menus, hand written on wooden paddles.
Sadly, we were a day too soon!

For drinks we ordered a Margarita (Ron) and a Sex at Coconuts (Sex on the Beach) for me. I also ordered iced tea and the kids got sodas. For food I ordered the jalapeno poppers (living on the wild side, I was!) and Ron got a grilled fish burger. The kids chose nachos and a hamburger

Our drinks arrived shortly and they were huge, as we had been warned. One sip revealed they were EXTREMELY strong (as we had also been warned)...but boy were they good! My iced tea was once again that weird fruity-lime concoction but the more I drank my very alcoholic beverage, the less I cared. We were also brought homemade chips and salsa. Two little cups of Salsa. One was HOT and one was REALLY FREAKIN HOT. Wow. What little of it I could stand to have in my mouth tasted fantastic, though, as did the chips alone.

I have no doubt if we had the misfortune to have been pulled over that day, we would have blown the breathalyzer away (assuming they have 'em) with our alcohol fume/fire hot dragon breath. We were drunk as skunks in no time. Did I mention the drinks were strong!?!?!?

Geez, I'm already shooting off-center...

As we waited for our food order we checked out the place and met some of the indigenous critters! (of which the creepy mannequin -ahem...we'll just call her that, OK- is included!!!)

Hey! Wait a minute! I’ve seen this same sign in Key West…

I’ve had to crop this one. Some of the surrounding memorabilia on the wall is iffy to post here. I didn’t want to deprive you of the Big Angels, though!

Our food was a bit slow in arriving, which was actually a good thing since it gave us more time to slowly consume our drinks. My poppers were good enough, they weren’t homemade or anything just the standard frozen variety (and that was probably a good thing!). Savannah did not care for her nachos since they were more authentic with beans and peppers, etc. Ron’s opinion on his fish as best as I can recall is that it was just OK.

After we finished eating we enjoyed the kooky ambiance of this place a bit before deciding to head on down the road. Our bill was reasonable for a tourist trap- around $60.00 USD. Of course my poppers were on special.

Some more of the locals:

The view looking south along the east coast (the reverse of the view in the first picture in this post)

**continued in next post!**