Trip Report: Akumal, March 5-14, 2009

It's March, so it's time for our group trip. The cast of characters this year is similar to some previous trips, but with a few newcomers. Besides Craig and Kathy, we have Jule and Dale, their daughter Gina and her husband Joe, Jule's sisters Barb and Sandy, and the newbies: Barb's daughter Lori, and Lori's daugher Hannah and her friend Coleen. Most of the group stayed in two condos at Vista del Mar, but Gina and Joe stayed in one of the Bungalows on Akumal Bay. After we all reached Akumal and quickly unpacked, it was time for a late lunch at La Buena Vida. The food was pretty good and the margaritas were at least acceptable. Back to the condo for awhile and then off to Happy Hour at Lol Ha Beach Bar and dinner in the main restaurant.



View from Vista del Mar condo #3


Day two, Friday, was a day to hang out.



The whole group at breakfast

After breakfast we all hit the beach in front of the Hotel Akumal Caribe. As often happens in March it was fairly windy, but not as bad as some years. At one time or another everyone got into the water to snorkel. Kathy and I managed to find turtles, barracuda, and other local residents of the bay. At Happy Hour I was able to take part in a monthly event for the first time: Robin's Best Shirt Contest. In honor of late longtime Akumalian Robin Gobel, locals and visitors are welcome to don their latest Hawaiian shirt and participate. Judging is by Robin's sister Mary and a couple of others. (Robin was known for his extensive wardrobe of Hawaiian print shirts.) I didn't win, but had a wonderful time meeting and talking with lots of wonderful people.


Chatting with just a few of the contestants

When the contest ended we all headed to Que Onda for an Italian meal. This was an interesting process, considering we were 11 people going in two 5 passenger cars. Being creative types, we managed.


How to carry six people in one car


After a slow Saturday relaxing on Half Moon Bay we were ready on Sunday to do a bit of re-exploring. (That's going places we've been before but want to go back.) Before all that, though, I fixed breakfast in the condo for everyone. We then checked out a place we plan on staying in July, along with brief visits with some online friends in the same neighborhood. Then we went to Xcacel Beach and Cenote. The waves were pretty large in the bay so we had some good times being pushed around.



Xcacel and a sand pyramid

After Happy Hour we were back in the Lol Ha main restaurant. Some of the group wanted to have the pasta bar, others ordered such things as Grouper en Escabeche, Arracherra, and Grouper with garlic and butter. All was wonderful and the service was great. Thinking back to Thursday, that was Prime Rib night and it, too, was superb.

Monday the wind subsided and fishing was the plan of the day for Gina, Joe, Kathy, and me. We headed out on one of Carlos' boats from La Cueva del Pescador. For a bit it decided to be rainy, but it was a warm rain and we all dried out long before the fishing ended. In all we brought back five fish. Kathy reeled in a nice trigger fish, Gina brought in a barracuda and a grouper, Joe was credited with a small grunt and I caught a large barracuda.


Reeling in my barracuda


Gina and I with our Barrys


All of us with our fish

Needless to say, we all stuffed ourselves at La Cueva del Pescador that night!

Tuesday the major part of the group went off to Tulum and Xcacel beaches, while Kathy and I stayed on Akumal Bay. Tuesday evening there was a gathering of Locogringos at Lol Ha. Island Guy, Badger and Babs, Alaskan (just arrived on leave from Iraq after meeting up with his family at Cancun airport), 2sunlovers, and many others. Also on hand were Maggy from the library and Sharoon and Steve. A fine time was had by all and our group headed over to Turtle Bay after the party for dinner.


3 Locogringos: Alaskan, Craig in WI, and Badger


Wednesday we all hung out on Akumal and Half Moon Bays. Dale and I drove off to find some rumored home-brew almond tequila. Our search was successful and I actually returned with another purchase.


The almond tequila and me with my suede pancho!


Thursday most of the group left for home. Dale, Jule, Kathy, and I stayed behind to relax for a couple more days. It rained for several hours, then in the afternoon some of us went snorkeling as best we could on a wavy Half Moon Bay. Hard to do while trying to avoid the coral. We all ended up body-surfing to return to shore. We had the usual great dinner at Pizzaria Leo's.

Friday was a beautiful day. We went to Playa del Carmen for a little shopping in the morning and lunched at Yaxche. Back at Half Moon Bay we rested for the afternoon, then went off to Happy Hour and another great Lol Ha dinner. A wonderful way to spend the last day and evening for this spring.

Saturday was an easy morning on Akumal Bay, then we packed up for the trip to Cancun airport. Don't ever let anyone tell you that four adults and their luggage will fit into a Volkswagen Derby. They won't. Jule and Dale taxied to the airport and Kathy and I followed along in the VW with most of the luggage. Sun Country Airlines provided good, on-time flights both ways, by the way.