We just got back from an amazing trip to Mexico to celebrate Dia de los Muertos! This was my very FIRST international trip (somewhat delayed due to all of Mama's surgeries...), and I had the BEST time ever! We started in Mexico City - after a super late flight. Dada was in Cuba, and meeting us in Mexico - so Mama flew with big brother and me by herself. We left at midnight - I've never been allowed to stay up that late, and I had a great time running all over the place...until about 5 minutes before we were supposed to board the plane when I finally fell asleep! Whoops! We met our friends, the Gonzalez family, who live in Mexico City - and they showed us so many amazing places. We played at a local park, visited the main square that had Alebrije (spirit animal) floats from a recent parade, and ate at many amazing restaurants. They served lots of rice and beans...my favorite foods! The Archaeological Museum was also super amazing - lots of old stuff that they dug up from the ground...mostly I liked the gold jewelery and the old bones. Since it was Dia de los Muertos, there were so many awesome skeletons around...and since I love skeletons, I was super excited every time I saw one.
All ready for Dia de los Muertos!
My favorite Alebrije (kitty cat with baby kitty cat hatching from egg; complete with wings and bird feet!)
The dragon/cat/serpent monster is getting Declan!
Making friends with Mr. Skeleton
Palace of Fine Arts
Diego Rivera mural
One of many ofrendas
Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera
More skeletons!
MY CHURROS!!!
Archaeological Museum
Templo Mayor Muesum in Mexico city - excavated pyramids!
After a few days in Mexico City, we traveled a bit South to San Andreas de Mixquic, a small indigenous town that really knows how to celebrate. This tiny town had about 100,000 visitors that night - and it was so much fun! There were stalls selling all kinds of crafts and foods - and I got a cool mask to wear. We got to walk in the local cemetery at midnight, with only candle light to guide us (along with everyone else). I wasn't spooked at all - it was really a special night. The decorations were so colorful, and the skeletons were not scary at all! I wish we had an awesome celebration like this back at home!
a HUGE Catrina
sugar skulls were everywhere
Big brother riding a REAL bull
cemetary at midnight
Dada is cheating at poker with the skeletons
With Aztec warriors
Next, we all traveled to Puebla, a small lovely town about 2 hours from Mexico City. We spent three nights in a lovely renovated old hotel building, right next to an amazing and active market. I purchased my favorite new animal - a textiled kitty cat that I have named "Frida"...after Frida Kahlo of course! Puebla had a huge parade for the holiday, complete with lots of skeletons and masks. The town square was active and lively, and there was a beautiful old cathedral that we visited as well.
One of many marigold displays
Such a lovely town with some of my favorite colors
The main cathedral in Puebla
Declan got to help knead the clay at the Talavera pottery factory
Frida Kahlo mural
Another beautiful courtyard ofrenda
This ofrenda was for a deceased writer - he's depicted here with a typewriter
The whole gang: Gonzalez family (Ernesto, Viviana, Gabriella, Olivia) and Mama, Dada, Declan, and me at our hotel in Puebla
All the Coco family!
Then, we finally said goodbye to our friends, and we headed to Zihuatanejo for 5 nights in Paradise! We rented a house RIGHT ON THE OCEAN! With an infinity pool, and my favorite part - hammocks! More beans and rice...I think that's all I ate this whole trip! We swam in the ocean every day - I kept saying that it felt like the 'cuzi - since the water was so warm. We had a memorable day of swimming with the dolphins - I wasn't afraid at all and gave them big hugs and kisses. I was too little, but Declan got to even hold onto them while they swam in the water! After the dolphins, we got to go save some baby sea turtles. There was this nice man who tries to help them by digging up the eggs and burying them behind a fence so the eggs don't get hurt. Then he digs them up 45 days later and sets the baby turtles free into the ocean! We got to help with this - i dug my very own holes and pulled out SO MANY turtles. Mama was pretty concerned that I was going to decapitate a few, but I was very gentle. Declan and Dada also got a ton of turtles - we ended up with about 600 of them!!!!
We enjoyed the lovely little fishing village, did a little shopping (Mama and Dada dragged us into a Tequileria!). Declan and Dada even did some snorkeling while I slept with Mama on the beach. Declan got to go on a jet ski too! I was super jealous, but contented myself with the boogie board. We loved it in Zihuatanejo so much that we can't wait to go back!
Zooming on a dolphin!!!
There were over 50 turtles in each hole!
I didn't decapitate any of them!
Over 600 baby turtles starting to wriggle in the sunlight
The release!
Go turtles go!
At the pool at our home for the week, overlooking the Pacific Ocean
The ladies
Boat ride!
Declan & Dada saw parts of a sunken boat, and even a large sunken statue under water
Mama and Declan go jet-skiing!
And Dada & declan did too...I can't wait until I'm old enough!
I tried boogie boarding instead...
digging a hole to China
Falling asleep while being buried in the sand
Matching Mama & Keevah rompers
A happy Mama at dinner
Looking for the "green dot" at sunset
It was warm even at night
After a late dinner and a long vacation - we both fell asleep in the stroller...
We got home and had a few days to recover. We had three days of school, and then it was Thanksgiving break! We had our annual friends-giving, and Gee & Grandpa even came this year. I liked the turkey and pretty much nothing else, except for I always have room for dessert. Now, I'm all ready for Santa to come soon!
All our friends and family for Thanksgiving
Dada was jogging when we took the pretty photos, so here's him with his sous vide Turkey!
