Category Archives: vacation

our annual escape

mexico 2010, video

T-minus 20 Days and Counting

YouTube user alexkelowna1963 has uploaded several videos of the Royal Playa del Carmen, including this one of the resort’s beach. They’re only serving to make me even more excited about our trip.

We’re really not beach people. I swear. We spent one afternoon sunning and swimming at Waikiki back in 2008 before we got bored of it. Granted, this was after we’d already experienced things like parasailing and snorkeling, and had walked up and down the beach both by day and by night.

As for this trip, we have one tour already booked — on my birthday, no less — and are planning to do some other excursions on the fly: snorkeling, maybe parasailing, and definitely exploring Playa. And exploring the menu options at the Royal — it’s all-inclusive, after all.

As for now, though, we’re focusing on the little things. Making sure our shorts still fit, and buying new ones if necessary. Procuring swimsuits. Making sure the sunscreen we bought for Hawaii is still good. For me, getting a haircut (and getting my nails done). Finding cute sundresses at the thrift. Getting new glasses (and prescription sunglasses). Checking to see if any exit-row seats have opened up on our flight. Refreshing our rudimentary knowledge of Spanish.

The build-up is half the fun of vacation! So, while I might seem like I’m wishing the days away, it’s really kind of like Christmas — the waiting is what makes it exciting.

japan 2009

Starbucks Memories

Japanese Starbucks ReceiptI wanted to save it forever; alas, it’s printed on thermal paper. My order of an iced caramel macchiato is now partially illegible. Aaron’s dark mocha frappuccino and my cell phone strap are only slightly more legible. So, best if I immortalize our receipt in bits and bytes while I still can.

I was so proud of myself for learning how to order my favorite drink: aisu kyarameru makiato. Turns out that, as does nearly every other food service establishment in Japan, Starbucks has an English menu (which the barista at the Metro Hat Starbucks in Roppongi graciously brought out for us without us even asking). Aaron just pointed at the picture of the HIGHLY AWESOME Dark Mocha Frappuccino, said “grande,” and he was good to go.

Sometimes I just try too hard.

mexico 2010 1 Comment

Schnuth Vacation 2010

What’s the cure (or at least a palliative) for the early onset of winter blues?

Why, booking a summer vacation, of course!

Playa del Carmen
(originally uploaded by wine me up on Flickr)

For a combination of beach and adventure, we’re planning a late-April trip to the Riviera Maya in Mexico. Six beautiful nights at an all-inclusive resort in Playa del Carmen, just south of Cancún.

Those who have been following our vacation adventures may recall that we had toyed with the thought of going to Cancún last year. We opted for a second trip to Japan, instead — and that certainly turned out for the best, since the H1N1 swine flu epidemic hit Mexico at the EXACT time we would have been heading there for fun in the sun.

Plus, there was the fact that, whenever we told anyone we were planning to go to Cancún, their first response was, “Oh, you like to party?”

Actually, no. But thanks for the heads-up.

Playa del Carmen is a small fishing town that’s blossomed into a tourism alternative to Cancún. The community has apparently made a concerted effort to keep the town small and quaint, as opposed to the touristy insanity just a few miles north.

Also, the resort we’ve booked is an adults-only establishment (the family-friendly resort is just across the street). No spring-breakers allowed. It sounds like, if we want a party vibe, we could easily get our party on in one of the bars; if not, we could chillax either in the hammock on the balcony or in the suite’s double jacuzzi.

(I have to credit Tn Pham, a complete stranger, for influencing our decision on where to stay. I’d been looking at the sister resort, not realizing that it was intended for families. When I Googled the hotel name, I came across Tn’s travelogue and realized that the adults-only resort was the way to go. Just check out his pictures!)

We’re not very good at being beach bums, though — we only managed a short afternoon sunning and swimming in Waikiki before we grew bored with the beach. We have plans to do plenty of other activities: touring the Mayan ruins, snorkeling, ziplining, parasailing, and checking out the town of Playa del Carmen. Our hotel is within easy walking distance of the shopping district, and I’m sure we’ll come up with a list of restaurants and shops to check out (on top of our all-inclusive dining options).

We just have to make it through four months of winter. Just four more months! When the last snow falls in Ohio, we’ll be booking it to sunnier skies.

japan 2009

Tokyo Tower Sunset

Tokyo Tower Sunset, May 2009

As seen from Room 950, Tokyo Prince Hotel, in that brief moment between sunset and the illumination of the Tower (6:15 PM).

In other news, all of my Japan 2009 photos are finally uploaded to my Flickr account, so feel free to peruse, if you haven’t already.