Swimming

Although the houses were nice in and of themselves, the big draw of that particular location was snorkeling. (In Tulum, they were advertising snorkeling trips to Akumal - where we were!) Instead of a beach, we were on a saltwater lagoon - just full of fish waiting to be harassed by us. (One of them harassed us back. There was a little fish living in the entrance steps that would give you a little nibble if you stood there too long. Sofia did...on purpose...to bug it. It blew on her several times - as a warning- and then bit her. She also discovered a stinging anemone. I told her to quit touching things!)


I'm not sure why snorkeling feels to effortless (especially since we never bothered with the fins), but when oxygen isn't a concern, swimming is a much better pastime. What was amazing to me was that I could stand in the crystal-clear water, looking down, and not see a thing swimming around. ...but once I stuck my face in the water (masked), there were all sorts of things swimming right near the surface!

Sofia and Anthony spent a lot of time exploring the lagoon. When I went out with them, they had already named various landmarks (such as "the bottomless pit" - a deep pool which could only be reached by hiking over a bit of sharp, rocky island). And Sofia pioneered the art of talking through her snorkel, so that she could tell me exactly which fish she was looking at. It was a mumbley, but I've already been decifering their mumbles for years. At first, I didn't believe her claims of having seen a baracuda...later, I saw one swim right by her! (And my nephew caught one fishing...not in the lagoon...but same sea, right?) We saw lots of seargent majors, blue tangs, and princess parrotfish. Not a single snorkeling picture...because I was wet and cameraless every time.

The smaller hooligans weren't very interested in the lagoon. They went in once of twice, but preferred swimming in the pool at the main house, with Grandma and Grandpa to watch them.




Cozy didn't even want to swim there. She just sunbathed and occasionally threw things in the pool.


...but she did seem to enjoy it!



No, as far as Cozy is concerned, lagoons are for throwing rocks and flipflops in...and maybe the occasional fake-fishing.




...back to the pool...


...and Grandma.