Old Man Doing Young Things

Sunday morning and some online discovery finds a place called Xcaret. To call it a theme park would be belittling the true experience of the place. It is an archaeological and ecological park located around the sea.
http://www.xcaret.com/

I arrived there late around 13:00, bought a two day pass and started by donning a life jacket and travelling through the underground river followed by a laze on the hammocks:

Before the trip I had a vision of getting my SCUBA certification but then reality set in. So as a compromise I did SNUBA diving. This is where the tank is connected to you but sits on a kayak on the surface and is connected by a 7 metre hose. Apart from not having the tank on your back and the depth everything else is the same as SCUBA.

IT WAS AWESOME:

 I really loved it and have looked at doing some more at Puerto Morelos. By the time I was finished it was close to 18:00 so I opted for the Mexican Buffet which BTW was really nice at a table where I could watch the Mexican Horse show and sit and thin how every culture has their claimed horse history.

I tried to see the leopard and jaguars but they weren't very cooperative only....

Things I would like to do on my return visit before I leave on Friday.....Butterfly Pavilion, Bee Farm, Edible Mushroom Farm, Museum of Orchids, Fish Shrimp Farm, Sea Turtle Area and possibly another (I did it 18 months ago) swim with dolphins.

Anyway clearly a day I thoroughly enjoy and am thinking about maybe coming here again in the future (maybe en famile)  as I really enjoy the whole scene. One minor pity is that I have some timeshare options which would make my accommodation free but most of them have a compulsory food inclusive option of around $A100-$140 a day and I kind of like being able to explore the food scene. Tonight for example I a going to an Italian restaurant recommended by Maite, Vivien's Mexican Daughter-in-Law who spends Christmas vacations here - that would not realistically be possible using a food inclusive option.

Monday was a "nothing" day. Breakfast at the beach catching up with news from home alternating between napping, pool, some shopping - 30 minutes to check out of Wal*Mart grrr, cooking lunch and having a lovely inactive day.

That night I went to Lucca, an Italian 'up-market' restaurant at the Grand Velas resort. Food and service were both excellent but it was in a very large all marble restaurant better suited to buffet breakfasts but all in all very good.

Tuesday morning back to Xcaret where it seemed much more crowded than last time. I signed up for swimming with sharks. It was a man made reef pool with five large grey nurse sharks. The first part we were allowed to hold, pat and feel them - very up close and personal while the second part we were allowed to swim around the tank with them. I should point out that while we swim around the tank they are 'trained' to swim below us. These photos taken by me while snorkeling in the tank with the sharks.

 

After the sharks watched dolphin show and had a buffet lunch 'carne' which was quite good actually. Then the Butterfly pavilion and a few things along the way and home after six hours. One truly needs two days to see MOST of this excellent park.

 

Got home about 18:30 and lay down for a nap which became lights out for the day.

All good fun in the sun - am reasonably brown even by my standards.

Hope all are well.
XD