Sr Margaret

We visited Sr Margaret (sister of Dette's friend). She is a nun who moved to America from Ireland when she was in her teens - a lovely lady who entertained us and showed us around the convent in which she lives (not small by any means as the chapel suggests).

Cabo San Lucas

We spent half a day at Cabo San Lucas, the most southern tip of Baja California Sur (Mexican state) right on the beautiful marina. We took a glass bottom boat out to to see the infamous "Arch" where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific ocean.

The kids loved the boat ride whilst I tried to keep my eyes on the horizon and my breakfast in my stomach!

When in Rome . . .

Enjoyed a Mexican feast and serenade for lunch

The waiter was taken with Liam and brought over some kids tequila shots. Ashley's skulling technique has got us a little worried for down the track though - there was no stopping her!!

Don't worry, I did dip my finger in first to ensure it wasn't laced with something other than dry ginger!!

We almost didnt make it home though. After standing in line for over an hour we finally got issued tickets only, 4 of us were assigned seats and 4 were not. When Maureen, Brian, Dette & Jack walked off laughing to the plane they didn't realise the actual possibility of us not getting on. Which we did not. Problem was we had their connecting flight tickets and their departure cards enabling them to leave the country. No amount of negotiation was working with the crew and in the end we entrusted the tickets and our house keys to the last standby passengers allowed on board.

Long story short, we were able to negotiate the last tickets on the next flight and after a mad dash at the end with 4 pieces of carry on luggage, 2 kids and half a K distance to cover we reunited with the fam and just made our connecting flight home. Bloody Maureen and Brian, we're wondering if they broke a mirror or walked under a ladder at some point because we sure aint having much luck when we travel with them!!

All in all, a very positive experience in Mexico - would highly recommend to anyone travelling to this side of the world.

San Jose , Mexico

Our hotel was in San Jose del Cabo and whilst the nights were chilly the days were glorious. We enjoyed the sand, sun, water, never ending food and pool side drinks.

New Years eve was played out with a Hollywood style concert at the hotel and fireworks on the beach.

And on New Years day Ashley lost her first tooth in the pool! Amazingly we found the tooth and the tooth fairy made a pit stop the next day. (She wont forget her 1st tooth: Mexico. Pool. New Years day)

Hola Meh-hicko

On the 29th Dec we travelled to Los Cabos - a region in the Mexican state called Baja California Sur (a popular holiday destination on the west coast, south of California). Simon spent the first day at our resort with the kids and I went with Maureen, Brian, Jack & Dette on a bus tour that travelled up the east coast of our little peninsula and then down the west coast and back to our resort. It took about 10 hours and we saw much of the terrain - desert cacti, dry river beds, low lying brush etc When you get off the beaten touristy path hotels turn into small villages or shanty type towns. Lots of thatched roofs and very basic commodities.

We had lunch in a town called La Paz where we dined on some local dishes. Jack'll kill me but the joke was on him as he prepared for a grand seafood cocktail meal. Instead he got this dish which to me, looked like a challenge from Survivor! To his credit he got through it!

Another town we visited was Todos Santos which had a lot of Mexican art and crafts available to buy.

We were under stirct instructions from Carolyn to have a margarita wearing a sombrero. Our luggage didnt accommodate the head gear but we certainly gave the former a nudge. We all liked the strawberry margarita but were told we could not leave without trying the other one on the right. Stupidly we orderd two not knowing that it was really rocekt fuel in disguise!! Recipe: 4 shots damiana, 2 shots tequila, 3 shots orange liquour & juice of 2 limes ! Damiana is said to be an aphrodisiac so Jack and Brian were a little hesitant sitting next to each other on the ride home.

Our last stop was to a small outdoor blanket business. This guy had first learnt to make blankets from the age of 8 using these manual looms.

So I am now the priud owner of 'un' mexican blanket and 'un' mexican poncho. Gracias.