Hotel Review - Riviera Caribe Maya

Hotel Riviera Caribe Maya, a home away from home. Also a hotel with a very long name. But this hotel surprised me with excellent customer service. From our first steps out of the taxi and into the lobby we were greeted with a smile and an employee that knew exactly who we were. "Are you looking for Javier?" Why yes I was! I was meeting my husband, who had arrived that morning, and our greeter knew we were the two gringas he had been waiting for. Finally, someone that cares about their guests and speaks English! Our room was small but large enough for 3 beds. It was on the first floor and one step away from the refreshing pool. Perfect. No walking necessary. It was like it was our own personal swimming oasis and great for a pool, patio, cerveca sequence on repeat.

This hotel may look small but it packs a good 21 rooms and the ability to make you think you might just be staying at a boutique like hotel. It's beautiful spiral staircase curls around a circular seating area with all the most hipster and gossip magazine for your reading pleasure. Would you expect anything else from Playa? Every room has a working air conditioner, fridge and mini bar. Their suites come with a classy rooftop pool overlooking the city. Now that's a way to chill in style! Internet is free and available at all hours and there is a café right next door for your complimentary breakfast. Keep in mind, it only includes toast and coffee. Not to worry, the menu lists an array of Mexican dishes that range from $5-$8. Very budget friendly and filling.

Location wise, it's one block from 5th Avenue and about a 5 minute walk from the beach. If you are one to complain about noise pollution, Playa may not be the place for you. From early in the morning to late at night we heard music, sport games, traffic and Mariachi bands singing to their hearts content. For us, it added to the atmosphere.

When it came time for us to leave, we had to some how arrange for a trustworthy taxi at 4 a.m. The reliable hotel staff was willing to wake us and have our taxi waiting. That was one less thing to worry about on a hectic travel day. I had a wonderful stay and would be honored to stay again. Maybe this time with the rooftop pool.

Hotel Riviera Caribe Maya
Hotel Riviera Caribe Maya Facebook

A Tour Of Chicago's Millennium Park

10 Things To Do In Chicago With Only 24 Hours

Last weekend, I took a girls trip with my mom and sister and jetted off to Chicago on a Friday night flight after we all got off work, blood shot eyes and all. We attempted the trip last month but the flight cancelled, so this was our last chance because of conflicting schedules. After we landed, the smell of the subway filled my senses. It was my first time. The two hour subway ride and walk-a-thon through the streets weakened our already frail bodies. We made it in one piece to our beautiful boutique hotel in the heart of the city - The Inn of Chicago. Oh but don't kick up those heels just yet, we had 24 hours of full throttle activities scheduled ahead of us and there wasn't any time penciled in for resting. It was a jammed packed timeline with one goal - see as much of Chicago as possible. On your mark, get set .....

The three of us were only in the Windy City for a Saturday, so seeing everything wasn't really possible. So below, I've come up with a must do list of things to do and see in Chicago if you only had 24 hours to do it. Don't forget your trusty map! Or if your phone works, your GPS.

Here is a list of activities that can all be done in one day if planned accordingly:

1. The Subway -
Ride the subway and people watch. Probably not at 4 am though (trust us). Price: 3 day pass - $14

2. Willis Tower Sky Deck -
Be sure to get there before 9 a.m. or you'll be waiting in line for quite a while. Lines were already out the doors and around the block by 11 am. You can also get a "Fast Pass" for $35 and wait in the express lane. Might be worth it with this full schedule. Price: $17

3. Millennium Park -
Here you will find the famous Cloud Gate and Crown Fountain. Next door you might get lucky and catch an artist showcasing his/her music at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. It's design will make you wish you had time to catch a full concert. Price: FREE

4. River Boat Cruise -
Tired of walking? Take a a tour of the city's architecture on Chicago's waterways. Heads up! Price: $30

5. Uno -
Chicago's first deep dish pizza restaurant. Be prepared to wait an hour, the pizza is slow cookin. Price: $12 - $22

6. Portillo's -
Dare to eat a mouthful of the Chicago style hotdog? Total man food. Price: $10

7. Art Insititue of Chicago -
Escape the sun and spend a couple hours at this art museum with four floors of art. Maybe you'll be lucky and see a Vincent van Gogh! Price: $18

8. Navy Pier -
Walk down to the Navy Pier and do a little souvenir shopping and take a look at the ocean, I mean Lake Michigan. Or maybe even ride the ferris wheel

9. Locally Owned Restaurant -
Pick a locally owned restaurant in the area and dine like a local and not a tourist. We stepped into a quaint little Armenian Restaurant, named Sayat-Nova, that was located below a fortune teller's studio. The food, environment and service was excellent. Price: $16

10. Innbar Of Chicago -
End the night by sipping on a cocktail at one of the only rooftop bars in the city with one heck of a view. Price: 1 beer $6

You think you could get all this done in one day?

Holbox Island - The Day I Almost Swam With Whale Sharks

Right there on the top of my Mexico Bucket List is - swim with whale sharks. And wouldn't you know it, we were down there right when the whale shark season was starting (June-September). I couldn't pass that up. So all three of us jumped into our rental car early in the morning and headed North from Playa del Carmen to an island on the tip of the peninsula called Holbox (pronounced Holbosh) where it was said to be the hot spot. It was a good 4 hour drive because of all the tiny towns with massive speed bumps, carts, children and dogs in the street not allowing for any movement faster than 20 mph.

When we arrived around 1:00 pm. We jumped onto the ferry and started talking to all the locals to get the scoop. Well, the scoop was we were too late for any tours. Apparently the tours head out at 7 am and by now the water was too choppy. That's just wrong. That and they said the BEST BEST time to be there would be in July. WHAT? Ugh someone needs to tell all those tour groups in Cancun they need to get some facts straight. They also added salt to the cut by saying "oh yes, you can see swarms of whale sharks, dolphins, manatee, flying stingray and flamingos." I'm telling you, I pictured a crazy aquatic zoo with tiny humans swimming in their mist. Looks like I'm heading back for a short weekend trip someday.

Disappointed and determined to make the best of our long journey we rented what I call a "go cart" and hoofed it around the island to check out as much as we could. The beaches were empty and the hotel zone was absolutely quiet. Perfect place to disconnect from the world completely. Once Andrea saw the stretch of endless beach she had to jump off the cart and touch the water. The sand was like pudding between your toes. We then parked and walked across the stretch of water to a sand bar in the middle of the ocean (where all the flamingo rest).

Tired and needing fuel we went to a recommended restaurant that specialized in sea food and ceviche. Javier's meal was so good! He had a tall class of shrimp soup, a side of crackers and afterwards a plate of ceviche tacos. Mmmm.

Before catching the ferry back to the main land, we bought home made ice cream and parked our cart on the beach to watch the sun set. Beside us, local fishermen got high while gutting their day's catch. Oh island life.

-----------
Edit: To see my second attempt to swim with whale sharks, see this post! 

Discovering a Secret Garden in Morelia, Mexico

Perched atop a mountain overlooking the city of Morelia sits the Villa Montaña Hotel. Greenery cascades over the walls of the hotel, down into the city. Inside, purple flower petals are sprinkled over the grounds, and green vines reach for the sky. Statues of fish, angels, saints, and lions rest on every corner keeping you company on your walk through the garden, while monarch butterflies the size of your hand brush your face. A piano player on the restaurant balcony above keys his way through familiar Mexican melodies, keeping your walking tempo at an energetic pace. Finally, at the end of the path, the trees part and a brightly colored refreshing blue pool awaits you. Welcome to Morelia's secret garden.


Via my article on Trazzler.

Weekly Obsession: Photo Heat Maps

Recently I ran across this article on PetaPixel called Big City Heat Maps. A guy named Eric Fischer went and collect geolocation data from sites like Flickr and Picasa and created these maps. The blue points represents photos taken by the locals, red points are tourists and yellow are points taken from people that couldn't be determined. It really does shows the "hot spots" of these frequently visited cities and it's very interesting to see it this graphic form. It's even fun to point out the San Fran bridge and Alcatraz and the many spots in Paris. I think it could also stand alone and make some interesting art, especially for map lovers like me!

Photo 1: San Francisco
Photo 2: Paris
See other photos here at PetaPixel

Quirky Kansas Roadside Attractions

On Memorial Day weekend we had a good old fashioned family reunion to attend. Actually it was the first one ever. To add to the fact that it's a family reunion and they are known to be a drag, it was also going to be held in Ellis, Kansas. Ellis Kansas what? Ellis is located in NW part of the state and is about 3 hours from Wichita and 15 minutes outside of Hays. Still not sure where? Well, it's not all that important.

To spice up this road trip we decided to keep an eye out for any kind of roadside attraction. No matter the lame factor, we were going to do it. The one thing we were able to find, before our GPS decided to crap out, was Cornado Heights located in Lindsborg, Ks. It was a short drive into the country side and then up a 300 foot hill with 360 degree panoramic views. On top the hill was a park that included a castle. Inside where 2 stone tables and fireplace. A small staircase led to the rooftop. Musicians of all kinds love to come here and play inside the castle. Who knows why, maybe it's the acoustics? Outside the castle doorway was a large fireplace with round seating. And flanking the edges of the park were stone picnic areas jetting out from the walls and overlooking gorgeous views of endless flowing fields. Perfect for an afternoon picnic.

Cornado Heights really didn't have any historical meaning to it except that it was named after Francisco Vasquez de Cornado, who visited central Kansas in 1541 in search for gold. Yep, I believe this castle was made for pure fun. Actually, I think it was the best part of our whole 2 day road trip and family reunion.

Looking for some other roadside Kansas attractions with a quirky twist? Here are a few:

• Try the Hutchinson Underground Salt Museum. I think you'd be surprised at how many odd movie memorabilia is stored there. For example, George Clooney's Batman outfit or the sunglasses from Men In Black.
• The world's largest ball of twine located in Cawker City, Ks. If anything, this 12 foot ball is required for some good laughs on a boring road trip. Story is a farmer didn't know what to do with the extra twine found in his barn so day after day, he just kept rolling it up. Enough said.
• The Garden of Eden in Lucas, Ks. We saw the sign for this place heading West but missed it heading home. But from my research, it seems to be a house with ivy-covered concrete figures of Adam and Eve and children all around. This creepster house will for sure give you some nightmares. Great for the children!
• The Worlds Largest Easel & Sunflower Painting in Goodland, Ks. As an artist myself, this is at the top of my list of odd things to find on the side of the road in Kansas. The sunflower is the state flower and Goodland is the center of the sunflower industry - fitting I suppose. So be sure to take an "I've been here photo" and look dwarfed next to this piece of art.

If anything, these roadside attractions are good for a laugh or even to just realize how many strange bored people actually do live in this world.

Puerto Vallarta

I recently developed my underwater camera and got some additional photos from Puerto Vallarta, Mx. The sun was out and the family and friends were ready to have some major beach time. There was no need to look dolled up, no appointments to be at and no reservations. Everyone was playing volleyball, swimming and of course drinking all the all inclusive drinks possible. I came to the party too late. Who knew I would have slept in so long? There was no way I could catch up, but I were going to try. I think the best part of the whole day was sitting in our little pow wow under the umbrellas telling stories and laughing hysterically. Oh I miss it. I have some really great friends.

Weekly Obsession - Gigapixel Images

I love how photography is catching up with technology in new and different ways. More and more these gigapixel panoramic images are coming out and they are awesome! You can pretty much surf a city from a bird's eye view and get to know a place without even stepping foot there. And it's always fun spotting people doing weird things. Above I have pictured Dubai, Harlem and Prague. Some other fun ones are Dresden, Yosemite, a coral reef and the Swiss Alps. Oh and be sure to check out a past post with Paris!

Images & Links found on Wikipedia

Weekly Obsession - A La Carte

I just ran across these beautifully hand drawn maps via Notcot and I'm in love. I am incredible jealous of those that can sketch such wonderful things from their travels. Well, hand drawn maps I think are even more fantastic! I just drool over this stuff. A La Carte offers maps from Barcelona, London, Munich, New York, Paris, Shangha, Tokyo, Vienna, Washington, D.C. and Zurich. These maps are a combination of "guidebook, tourist map and a piece of art all in one." It's kind of like a friend of yours that lives in that particular place hands you a map with all the hot spots, interesting tips, things off the beaten track and what to do and see. Perfect for those spontaneous adventurous Flashpackers and journal keepers alike looking for the best kept secrets. What a great way to make a memory. Shoot, time to place an order.

Buy maps at A La Carte

Las Marietas Islands Puerto Vallarta - Part 1

Here is a little photo essay of our gringo outing. I was thinking about doing some zip line adventures but I knew my back probably wouldn't handle it well. But on the other hand, I had gifted two of my good friends with entire snorkel sets for taking the time and money to come down to Puerto Vallarta, México. So I figured we need to put that equipment to use. Plus, what's a vacation to México without any ocean/beach activities?! So we started at the PV Marina and found a fisherman that was willing to take us out on his boat, feed us beer and let us use his equipment. There was no way this trip was going to be bad.

It was about 9 am and the beer was out. The party started early. We drank and drank on the 45 min boat ride before we hit our destination - Las Marietas Islands. Snorkeling and beer probably wasn't a good combo but who cares. After a short boat tour through some small caves, high waves and other small island, we jumped out into the cool blue waters. We had 4 people on this trip that had never snorkeled. One of them (Nicole) had never even seen the ocean! Nicole was the first to jump out of the boat and we all turned to hear screams of pure excitement.

After the trip was all said and done, we did some fishing on the way back to the mainland. Now, what I didn't come prepared for was the motion sickness. The boat had slowed way down and was weaving around so the fishing activities could be had. This was the one trip I actually thought I was really really going to have actualy barf. It literally was in my throat. Usually I could keep the feeling down in my stomach or just my head but this time I was hanging over the edge of the boat. The group finally felt sorry for me and decided to go home. Sorry Erika, no banana ride.

All together the trip was about $300 and that was a bargain! Trips likes these (with all that we were promised) usually cost around $800 - $1,000 All that for so little. It was amazing and topped everyones charts. My dad even got to do his dream fishing and caught a Mahi Mahi. We were all so pleased with the whole thing - even the boat caption (he kept the Mahi Mahi for a BBQ that night).

Next post about this trip- the hidden beach.
Read more on Las Marietas Islands Puerto Vallarta - Part 2

Photos by me.

Getting Some Press

The United States of Cookies

How to make a Customs Agent Laugh....
Found this here and thought it was a great way to spice up the awkward couple of seconds with the customs agent. - "I’ve been playing around with stickers. I like them. This is something I made today. I wonder if customs will find it funny. My brother says, they don’t find anything funny, not even cookies. :("
Link found via Notcot.

Dinner Around The World

Would you like to have breakfast in Paris and then lunch in Tokyo? Or maybe even a quick dinner in London afterwards?

Well these cool placemats give you something to look at other than the calorie intake on the back of the Lucky Charms box. You could even learn some good old geography. Shoot.