CANCUN VACATION (pre-evacuation) Part Two - Snorkeling

Well, it sure took long enough but I’m back to writing about Mexico. Man – I’m still on the vacation part? Ooookay here we go…

The day after our trip to Isla Mujeres was filled with more eating, drinking and swimming. Sun, food, drink, repeat. But in between all that relaxing we went snorkeling! Now Gaspar and I have differing opinions of snorkeling in the ocean. He finds it exciting and fun. Me? Exciting? Sure. Fun is another story.

When we booked the tour the guy sort of glossed over the part about driving a mini speed boat that might as well have been a piece of Styrofoam with a motor strapped to it. The way the tour guy described it I was falsely under the impression that we were taking our own boat further out into the water where we would then go into the water with the snorkeling guide. Here’s how it REALLY was – drive your own motorized coffee cup for 25 minutes till you reach the middle of the ocean at a break neck speed through pre-hurricane rocky waves (we didn’t know about the hurricane yet though) and depend on the total strangers in your group not to be total idiots because you are following them to this unknown destination.

Next – the guy in front of you WILL be an idiot and not know how to operate his paper mache engine, nearly crash into you and everyone else. He will then get the hang of it and weave back and forth as much as possible making it extremely difficult to follow him without being hit but a thousand waves.

During this trip – if you are Gaspar – your non-swimming, ocean-fearing fiancé will scream and cry and hold on for dear life while intermittingly cursing and declaring they will never do this again and may possibly hate you for all eternity. Also - if you are Gaspar - you will reassure your fiancé she is not going to die, you love her and then continue having the time of your life.

Finally we get to the middle of the ocean with no land in site. The guide ties the so-called “boats” together and instructs you to put on your snorkeling masks and jump in. See ya. I’m sorry – WHAT?? That’s it? No instructions? No, well, guidance from the guide? Nope! That’s it. I tell Gaspar – now in full panic mode – to please go and enjoy the miracle of underwater life while I stayed with the floating lunchtrays. Gaspar says no. Please come in, I’ll make sure you’re okay, etc. Finally with the aid of the most understanding man in the world who I will be spending my life with and the guide (life preserver in tow) I finally stopped being the biggest baby ever, jumped in, and proceed to have an amazing time. Once I realized swimming wasn’t all that necessary, I wasn’t going to drown, and that what I was looking at under water I’d never see any other way we had an wonderful experience. The water was crystal clear and you could see all the way down to the bottom and for several yards in front of you. It was stunning.

Then it was another screaming trip back with the piece o’ crap boats.

I’m so glad we did it. And it was yet another example of why Gaspar is THE one for me. He challenges me, doesn’t let me chicken out. Doesn’t tease me for being irrationally afraid. He is endlessly patient and kind. But doesn’t let me off the hook.

It was then back to the hotel where we would be introduced to Wilma.