Puerto Penasco: Downtown

Rocky Point is an old fishing village turned into a tourist destination. Its a cute little Mexican city. We spent some time just walking and driving around to get a good feel for it. Aunt Kay did a lot of the driving. She got really good at navigating the streets especially with all the signs being in Spanish.

Rocky Point is still developing so there are lots of buildings  being built. Rumor has it, it is going to be a cruise destination which would make sense. There were resorts going up everywhere!

This was crossing the boarder into Mexico. We didn't even slow down. They literally were like "Hi! come on in!!" So different than the THREE checks we had to stop at when crossing back into the US. We even got yelled at, becasue I turned around to look at Kelsey. America doesn't mess around with their boarder patrol.

The city right on the boarder is called Sonoyta. It amazed me how instantly different Mexico was compared to the US. I'm not going to try to act like all of Mexico was like the one city I was 5 minutes outside of Arizona, but this was my first and only experience with a new country.
The streets were different in that they were a little more crazy, the driving was a bit more crazy, everything was obviously in Spanish, there were dogs everywhere, narrow roads, very colorful buildings, different music, people playing music from speakers on top of their car, people walking up to our windows at stop signs to sell things or ask for help, the speed limit was in kilometers, main roads that would go from paved to dirt to paved, and then just different street signs in general. For example, there was this sign that had a big circle on it and that meant that if you wanted to turned around on this road there was a pull off coming up. It took us a while to figure it out, but like anything, within a few days we figured out the basics of what we needed to know.

There was lots of cool art in downtown Peutro. One day, while the girls were napping, we went downtown just to wander. We walked up and down the vendors shops, checked out Rodeo Drive where all the main shopping was and watched street performers. They have really catered to the college and American scene but it was amazing how different everything really was. Just the simple fact that you could barter about prices. Could imagine if we did that at like Costco?

 

  

Here's where the wards meet down there. Beautiful and so tiny. It was tucked away inside this neighborhood. Very hard to find actually.

Just a beautiful home

At one point we went to the grocery store. That was a fun experience for me. It was fun to see things priced in a different currency and the different brands for some of the same foods. This sounds so silly, but it made me realize that even though things are different, grocery stores are grocery stores no matter what country you live in.

The harbor

Puerto Penasco: The food

"A foodie is a person who has an ardent interest in food and alcoholic beverages.A foodie seeks new food experiences as a hobby rather than simply eating out of convenience or hunger."
Thanks Wikipedia! So I am not a foodie. I don't want to eat something just becasue I "should." In fact, I would maybe even call myself picky. I will eat anything, unless its not what I like. For example: store bought cookies. Why the heck would you waste your calories on store bought cookies? Eat a cinnamon roll or a pint of ice cream instead or drink a tub of frosting (have and probably will again!)
Anyway, Ethan and I don't really consider ourselves experimental eaters. We will never just go to a new place without recommendation and don't really understand food hype. Like the whole sushi craze. Why are we all supposed to LOVE sushi and go on sushi dates? I've tried. Don't love it.
Any way, blah blah blah! Get on with it.

I knew that when people go on vacation, they go for the food. Since this was my first beach vacation, in my first new country, I wanted to have all the cliche and touristy pictures that everyone else had.

I decided that I was going to do all the things that I "should." Now lets be clear, no one twisted my arm to eat delicious food, but it was definitely out of my nature. I'm so proud of me.

While in Rocky Point we ate some amazing food and I can totally see why people vacation just to eat! It was so much fun.

The first night, aunt Kay and Sandy went to a town and got fresh fish. We grilled it up and ate it on the patio while the sun set complete with fresh guac and this rice salad that was so crispy. We may have been at home, but it was the nicest meal I've had in like 4.3 years. They got scallops, shrimp the size of my face, and two white fish that I don't remember. I want to say a red snapper and something else that was equally as delicious. I had no idea that I love scallops but I totally love scallops. I totally wish I would have taken a picture. At the time I was so hungry that I just wanted to eat, but this meal was truly incredible.

One night Brian, Sandy, Kay, and I went to a restaurant on the other side of the beach and had some more amazing seafood. I was pushing for Wrecked at the Reef ("home of the worlds greatest beer pong!") but you know. Sacrifices had to be made.

One night Sandy, Kay, and Brian offered to watch the girls while we went on a date. We went to the cutest little restaurant with quite possible the best fried ice cream I have ever had. If we are going to be totally honest, I was also drinking the salsa, but I only got a few stares. We each ended up ordering fajitas which was a big mistake. I kid you not, the amount of food they brought out could have fed an army! Not even a small one at that!  We took so much home. I mean, there were no complaints from the babysitters but still. So! Much! Food!!

While we were on the beach people would walk up and down selling us things. People had all sorts of things from massages to blankets. Most things we passed on, but when the food people approached we attacked them like a pack of wolves. One guy sold us mangoes on a stick with a chili pepper covering and OH MY GOODNESS!!! They were incredible. The difference in flavors were perfect. One guy also took our orders and the next day brought us breakfast burritos, chile rellenos, and tamales. Again amazing.

We went into town a few times and got a couple of treats including Mexican ice cream (the vanilla is brown?), a coconut, and homemade tortillas. It was all delicious.

I've never really cared about what I'm missing out on food wise becasue I never knew what I was missing out on. I have finally seen the light. I will vacation for food from now on!

* not mentioned: the pounds of snacks we brought in from Costco, the delicious french toast casserole Sandy made, the pancakes and berries Ethan made,and the steak and potatoes Ethan grilled. We ate like kings

Speaking of Kings, Ethan ate left over whip cream. It was as graceful as it looks

Puerto Penasco: Beach House

On April 9th Ethan and I packed up the car, grabbed the girls and headed to Rocky Point Mexico. I have never been to another country so this was a big deal to me. But thanks to Aunt Kay, this turned out to be one of the easiest vacations I have ever been on. Aunt Kay worked with the landlords on AirBnb and got us a beach house in Las Conchas, Mexico.
Rocky Point has turned into a very touristy area, but it was still very different than the US giving me a great first out of country experience. We owe so much to Aunt Kay and all her planning. We really couldn't have done it with out her.

Since our trip was amazing, I've decided to break it down into 4 parts to help my mind not get overwhelmed with all the documentation. Lets start with the beach house shall we.

I knew we were going to be on the beach. I saw pictures of the house and watched a virtual tour. I knew we were going to be on the beach. And then we pulled up to the house, walked out to the patio, and watched the waves crashing against the beach that was right outside, I couldn't help but think "holy cow! We are RIGHT on the beach!!!" There was nothing in between us and the beach. It was incredible. Obviously being right on the beach is awesome, but the best part about it was that when we wanted to go to the beach, we didn't have to pack up. We could just go. If we forgot something we could yell to someone in the house or heaven forbid, walk back in and get it. Madison could nap in the afternoons because with the baby monitor, we could all still pay on the beach and hear her inside. See where I'm going with this? It really was the best thing in the whole world.

This was literally the view from the back door!! This is at high tide so the water didn't always look this close, but this was the first thing we saw when we pulled up! 

The house itself wasn't the nicest house in the whole world, but it was perfect for our needs. It had tons of rooms, lots of space, and did I mention it was right on the beach becasue it was right on the beach. It was perfect.

Front view

 

Court yard

View from the front door

 

Looking out from the table/couch/ main walk way

 A few steps in and to the left

 The reading area as you head to the patio

 An awesome sea shell mirror and hideous sea shell hanging thing

 

Aunt Kay's room (I didn't photograph Sandy and Brian's room but it was just as cool)

 Our room (Kelsey and Ethan fought over who got the top bunk every night. And yes I took the queen? full? all to myself!!)

 

 One of the bathrooms. The second door in the way back takes you straight outside. We used that door alto to wash off the girls before they came inside. At the time, we didn't realize just how handy it was going to be. 

 Views down the street. Las Conchas is a nice area. I don't know if anyone lives there permanently, but it certainly was well kept and very clean.

I can't explain how peaceful it was to sit on the patio, even with the sun down and the tide out, and listen to the waves crash. Every night I would just sit out there and listen. I don't even love the beach and it was the greatest.

Water at night scares me more than anything in this world excluding scorpions. I hate that you can't see whats in the distance. Maybe is a control thing? Anyways, as scary as water is, sitting on the patio at night hearing the ocean was so relaxing.

This was not my first time at the ocean, but I don't think I have ever been to a part of the ocean where the tides are so drastic. When we first arrived on Saturday afternoon the waves were crashing against our tide fence. By the evening, the tide was about 200 meters away. It was crazy! I've never really seen that. It added a different element of fun because when the tide was away we got to on the coral, look for sea shells, and look for creatures in all the tide pools. I have to say, we also got very good at learning the tides so we knew when we could play  in the water and when we had to play on the beach. When the tides were out at night we would take flashlights and look at the tide pools. We saw crabs, fish, sting ray, sea slugs, a beached turtle :(, a jelly fish that got washed up on shore, and thousands of shelled creatures. It was such a cool and new experience for me.

This is the lowest the tide ever got. The "rocks" are the coral that we would walk on and look for things. When I took this picture I was probably already about 100 meters from the house. The tide was WAY out the first full day we were there.

My favorite part about low tide was the way the sand looked from the waves.

I knew Kelsey would love the beach becasue she proved that in California but I was really nervous about Madison having fun. The first day we when to the beach, she screamed the whole time. She was really scared. Then all of a sudden, seriously with no reason, she LOVED the beach. I honestly don't know what happened but she was in love. She would run to the water, sit in the waves, play in the sand, go out on the paddle board, etc, etc. She got to the point where she would see her swimsuit and let out a laugh of excitement. On the flip side, whenever we had to take her in she would scream. Even in the morning or evenings, when the air was colder and she was turning blue, she would scream when we brought her inside. If people were on the beach, she wanted to be there too. she even started getting into the sunscreen becasue she knew that if we had sunscreen on, we were ready to go.

Kelsey loved the beach. I don't really know if there is much more to say about that, but my favorite part of her whole trip was the fact that she could pee in the ocean. She LOVED peeing in the ocean. I don't know who told her that that was okay (because it totally is I just don't know who told her) but as soon as she heard that she was sold. She has never peed so much in her life. Literally the coolest thing she has ever done ever. When the tide was far, she would yell I have to go potty, and the next thing we would see is her running the 200 meters to get to the ocean. I seriously think she used the toilet like twice the whole trip. I loved seeing Kelsey so happy. She had so much fun being in the sand, and playing in the water, and crashing in the waves, riding the boats, and collecting sea shells. Like Madison, if she heard someone was going to the beach, Kelsey was putting on her suit to join them. Don't get me wrong, many outfits went in the water too, but most times we could catch her before she jumped in with her dress on.
We bought a little puddle jumper for Kelsey to wear so she could go in the water without as much worry from mom but we were so worried that she wouldn't want to wear it. Some how Aunt Kay convinced her that the purple puddle jumper with the duck was the coolest thing in the whole world since sliced bread and consequently we couldn't get Kelsey to take it off. I think she also realized that having it on was fun because it made you float but she loved it so much that at one point she held it in the air and exclaimed "I Love my life jacket!" Honest to goodness, it reminded me of Agnes on Despicable me when she holds the unicorn and goes "Its so fluffy I could die!"

 

Kelsey probably collected 20-50 sea shells a day

This was such an easy, relaxing vacation. Kay, Sandy, and Brian made it so much fun for us. They WANTED to be with the girls leaving me and Ethan "forced" to just sit on the beach. It was so much fun to watch the girls love each and every one of them. Brian would take Madison on a walk down the beach, while Kay would take Kelsey hunting for sea shells, while Sandy was in the house making them a snack. I seriously didn't know what to do with myself. And my girls loved every minute of it. 'Kelsey, want to go to the beach with me?" "sure mom, but is Sandy/Kay/Biran coming? We should probably wait for them." It was adorable.
We don't live near a grandma or a grandpa, but are there better fill ins? I mean really!  Kay, Brian, and Sandy showed so much love, attention, and kindness to our whole family, but especially our girls. They would each wake up in the morning and say "girls, where is my morning hug" or "girls, where is my kiss?" "Kelsey, we should go on a walk and look for ..." "Madison, go get a story so we can read" "Kelsey, can I tell you a story..." and so on. I was almost emotional with the attention and love that my girls got. I am so grateful for wonderful people in my life. I really married into the best family. 

 Rocky Point was such a fun trip. I loved every single second of it. Even the morning that Madison decided to wake up at 5:30 and forced me to watch the sun rise. Side note: sun rise is not as cool as sun set fyi.

Sunset

And because its my blog, here is my favorite picture of me!