Mitsugirlys FASCINATION with San Juan-review & pictorial

[mitsugirly]

Looking at the backside of the dining area:

 

 

 

A chicken and her nuggets. I hope they are not for lunch.

 

 

There was a basketball court and people were putting it to good use. I don't know how though...it was too hot for that stuff!

 

 

 

I think this might have been a bocce game?

 

 

 

Would you look at the Connect Four game!! How cute!

 

 

 

Another type of sand game, but with a ball.

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

Wait, what is this? Another side of the beach area that I didn't even know existed. I guess that's what happens when you are so hot that you just put your things down at the first available chair.

 

 

They even have putt putt

 

 

 

They have ping-pong and pools tables.

 

 

 

Here's the "water" rental shack.

 

 

 

You can rent snorkeling equipment there along with other things.

 

 

 

We did see a lot of people renting the jet skis.

 

 

 

 

[cyntil8ing]

**after looking up that word, it states that a funicular is ran by cable and counterbalanced by each other when ascending and descending. I don't believe that was the case with these and they were separate.

 

 

It's not the cars counterbalancing themselves as you're right, they are totally separate (two funiculars), but a big metal block underneath the track. We could always tell when a car was coming because we could hear the block move.

 

We stayed down at the bottom of the hill last year and for giggles, I mapped the walk from the lobby. To our room. It was 1/3 of a mile!

 

 

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[mitsugirly]

Locker rental for $10 and also a gift shop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Volley ball

 

 

 

This place just had everything to keep anyone entertained.

 

Nice trails leading different places too.

 

 

 

You can rent these as well...

 

 

So I went down to the beach area that I had recently discovered and seen people had some snorkeling gear on in the area. I wondered if there was anything to see.

 

I decided to head back to our "spot" and let the hubby know I was going "water exploring" over in my new found area.

 

 

[mitsugirly]

I made my way back to our spot via beach of course. Gotta get those pictures along the way.

 

 

 

 

The crystal clear water

 

 

 

I grabbed a new batter for my camera and told the hubbys to keep an eye on the munchkin. He told me to go tell her what I was doing and see if she wanted to go. In other words, I'd like to take a nap...at least that's what I translated his words to. I told him I would go down there and let her know where I was going and it would be up to her if she wanted to tag along....which she did and was excited about going snorkeling.

 

We gave the hubby and #pointatthemermaid hand signal then a #pointattheotherbeach hand signal and a few arm swimming motions and we were off. (I'm getting super good at hand signals in PR, even to those who speak English).

 

We made it to the beach where I had seen others in the water and in we went.

 

Yep, it was a snorkeling area and I was a little shocked at just how good. (and to think if I hadn't went exploring, I would have never even knew it had this).

 

Time to share a magnitude of snorkeling pictures now...

 

Bluestriped Lizard fish

 

 

The mushroom fields...

 

 

 

My mermaid swimming right along side of me. (Well, or in the lead most of the time).

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

She is so good at swimming now. She simply amazes me.

 

 

 

Some chubs and a bunch of surgeon fish

 

 

 

 

Then it starts to get better

 

 

 

There were some really bright red urchins in these rocks

 

 

 

Lots of coral everywhere all over the rocks. Not huge coral, but a lot of it.

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

 

 

 

More red sea urchins and some "feather dusters" (which is actually a worm).

 

 

 

 

 

More feather dusters and a Juvenile Beaugregory

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

 

 

 

 

A bluehead wrasse. I love these fish. They are so unique and pretty

 

 

 

 

 

Some fire coral...Sakari's worse enemy for Cozumel

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Four eyed butterfly fish

 

 

 

Four eyed butterfly fish with friends: surgeon fish and sergeant major

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

This sergeant major got in my way. I was trying to take a picture of this squirrel fish because I think they look so odd with their huge eyes. They are very shy fish too and usually hide in the rocks (under them) and you have to be really patient for them to come out. I always feel accomplished if I'm able to capture a picture of one. This one isn't a red as they usually are, but I think it's still the same species.

 

 

White (or gray) sea urchin who obviously thinks he's hidden and I can't see him

 

 

 

Eek, I spot more fire coral

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some red sea sponge I thought was pretty and a black sea urchin

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

But wait, what's that in the corner of the picture? A YELLOW worm!! Score. I love the colored feather duster worms. You always see the brown ones everywhere. I use to have a aquarium full of them. But the colored ones are special to me. I love when I find them.

 

 

 

This was a neat piece of soft coral that was pretty big in size:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now I am use to seeing the bluehead wrasse everywhere I go when snorkeling, which is the fish with half of the body yellow with the black and white vertical stripes and the blue head. But this one I ran across was different. I had almost a marbled color to it. It was quite pretty. I have never seen one like this before. I'm wondering if maybe it's in a different "stage" in life or just another species of the wrasse. I'll have to look that one up.

 

 

 

I love when I'm able to get somewhat of a close up of the coral.

 

 

 

Another surgeon

 

 

[mitsugirly]

 

 

Selfies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HA! I caught this squirrel fish!! He was slacking and off guard.

 

 

 

Then I think he noticed me and decided to give me a warning by spreading his fins to make him look bigger, which I have to admit that it was pretty neat because I don't think I have ever seen one do this before. They usually just run and hide.

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

 

 

We were getting back close to shore and I poked my head up and seen the hubby standing there. I guess he was getting worried about us because we had been gone so long. Sakari and I had a wonderful time and I enjoy snorkeling with her.

 

We headed back to our real estate to put our things up and the hubby had told us that he did a little exploring on his own before he went to look for us and found some interesting things.

 

We entered the world of Jurassic Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

 

 

 

They were pretty huge

 

 

 

There also seem to be more males than females so there was a lot of territorial fighting and chasing going on.

 

 

 

When they chase each other off...the winner bobs his head up and down like "yea, that's right, run!"

 

(video below...click)

 

FljAWln1in4

[TravelingAPor]

Awesome photos of PR. That is some resort hotel, you're staying at!!

Thank you for taking the precious time to do this photo review. :)

[mitsugirly]

After that excitement, we headed back to the water. It was just too hot to stay out in the sun for very long.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Still not many people here. People would come and go all day long so it was never crowded.

 

 

 

I attempted to take my usual pictures of a picture with part of it above the water and part below. I must have been just shy of getting the part below the water, but it turned out kinda clear and you could see under there.

 

 

 

Nailed it...well kinda

 

 

 

I was able to get it again, thanks to a wave that came in as I snapped the picture (which you can see in the pic).

 

 

 

It's too bad there was nothing interesting to look at under the water in these though. I should have tried it when I was snorkeling but was too excited looking at everything.

[mitsugirly]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time to go potty...and explore just a little more.

 

Termite nest

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

 

We walked over to this area that they let you ride the pony (for a charge of course). There wasn't anyone around so Sakari wanted to play.

 

As soon as she went to the fence, the pony came running. He was very friendly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She took off running around the corner and he followed.

 

 

They would continue to go back and forth and he would follow each time. Sakari the horse whisperer.

[mitsugirly]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The bathrooms

 

 

I believe there was a sign that said no photography...but I can't read...no comprende...any language at this moment.

 

 

Don't worry, I made sure there wasn't anyone in there first.

 

So remember the little hut/palapa that I should a picture of earlier...it was sitting on top of the huge hill? I guess this is how you get to it.

 

 

I really wish I had some shoes on to take this trail up and I bet it would be an awesome lookout with some awesome pictures. I also hate going UP hill. I also didn't think I could make it in this heat. I would forego going up to the top. Darnit.

 

[mitsugirly]

 

 

We were getting hangry and decided it was time to get some food. Between the heat and the hunger, we headed to the Iguana Cafe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first thing I ordered was a drink. Yum!

 

[mitsugirly]

We put in our orders, grabbed a seat, and Sakari was back messing with the iguanas. (They were right beside the eating area).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sakari got up enough courage to try to feed them. She was excited when they started taking food out of her hand.

 

[mitsugirly]

Then she progressed to "petting" them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

t1sxAOdM9CU

 

Then she moved on to trying to tame a bird.

 

 

 

She succeeded in coercing the bird to eat from her and of course I managed to not be fast enough with the camera.

 

[mitsugirly]

Our food came. I ordered the jerk chicken sandwich. It was huge but I would hardly call it jerk chicken. To me, it was more like grilled chicken. There was no "jerk" to it. It was "ok". Nothing to brag about, but the fries were good.

 

 

 

Sakari had the chicken strips and enjoyed them.

 

 

 

 

The hubby had the pizza, which was small, but he said it was good.

 

 

 

Those 3 items, me and the hubbys "drink" and Sakari's pop and it was $42. Geesh. What a rip off. I know it's a resort, and I'm on vacation, but seriously hate the prices.

 

Such beautiful colors...

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

We were told (I think) that the island is open until 5pm with the last ferry coming back at 4:30pm. (Not really sure how you have to be on the last ferry at 4:30 but yet it doesn't close until 5....???)

 

It was 3:30pm and decided that we would pack up and get ready to go. Ferry's run all day long, back and forth. We didn't really want to wait until the last ferry when a lot of the people would be getting on and it be crowded. Well, that was my reasoning but now that I think about it, there wasn't very many people there to begin with.

 

Oh, I almost forgot, they did have a wedding there that day too!

 

Remember my terms of riding on the upper floor on the ferry on the way back? Yep, that's where we were. I was going to make sure I got some pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

There's our resort in the distance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I managed to catch the railcar thingy coming down the hill

 

 

We immediately decided to head back up the mountain when we returned instead of exploring. I now wish I would have explored a little and maybe went over to check out the water park. But, I knew that if Sakari seen that, she'd want to stay. Plus, it was hot. Did I mention that already?