My March Birthday Present
My March birthday gift was a return to the resort that we have enjoyed twice before, the Barcelo Maya Grand Resort. We flew in on March 30 for a 12 day visit.
There are 6 hotels on the resort with an amazing beach along them all. We stayed at the adult only hotel where there are 4 fine dining restaurants and an amazing buffet.
On April 1 we had decided to swim with the sea turtles of Akumel. We were out of our resort and on the road before 8:30 in the morning where we joined 14 other people in our tour. Our guide told us that Akumel is known for it’s sea turtles and if we were to arrive any later than 9:30 the place would be packed with tourists and it would be impossible to see any turtles. By the time we arrived, just before 9, we were already greeted by hoards of people. We were all suited up in our life jackets and we swam in murky water where a guide stopped and we all gathered around a lone turtle who was slowly eating some sea grass. It was hard to see it as the water was all stirred up and everyone was trying to get a look at this turtle. Much bumping and jostling took place. It was a very disappointing experience.
Back into the van, our next stop was at a cenote. This part was much better as it wasn’t overrun with tourists at this time in the morning. The road to the cenote was VERY rough so kept many from visiting this particular cenote I am sure.
Our guide led us through these fascinating underground caves. It is believed that there are about 7,000 underwater freshwater caves like this in Mexico. The water was crystal clear. Outside of the cenote was a shrine to the dead. Our guide explained that on November 2 each year families put up a shine to honour and remember their loved ones who have passed on. They also honour their loved ones on the anniversary of their death. Who would have guessed that visiting these shrines would foreshadow things to come.
When we arrived back to our resort there were messages from my sister to call her as soon as I got this message. As it turned out, we were swimming with the sea turtles and then learning about honouring our loved ones when my mom died back in Ottawa.
I had a difficult decision to make: return to Ottawa, or stay? After going back and forth and speaking with my sister and brother I decided I would stay and deal with some things remotely and finish other things when I returned home on the 12th. I met online with the funeral director, my sister, and my son. I wrote the obituary. I talked with my sister, my sons, and my friends. I grieved and I healed.
Over the next ten days I thought a lot about my mom. I cried and smiled; I took many walks along the beach and was visited by a butterfly each day. I was hugged by a stranger when I told her what had happened. Almost every morning I walked to the end of the resort where I would swim with the sea turtles that came to eat the seagrass (and sometimes bananas, provided by humans … which you really aren’t supposed to feed to the turtles but the turtles seem to expect a banana treat and will bump into anything yellow!!!)
It was rather magical swimming with the turtles each day. It was almost like mom was visiting me.
Visiting the sea turtles on our resort was MUCH better than the tour we took to Akumel. The crowds were not as great and there were so many turtles that came to eat the seagrass each morning.
I use an Olympus Tough model camera and it takes great underwater pics and videos. We spent hours bobbing in the sea watching these amazing creatures.
There was also a reef at the beach where we could swim out to and see a great variety of fish.
This March gift to Mexico, to celebrate my 70th birthday, was certainly different. I will miss my mom. I think she would be happy that I stayed. She was certainly with me in spirit each day.
