RLS benefits

Not surprisingly, Will often gets the itch to move while on vacation. A touch of RLS. While I could most certainly make do with lying prone by the pool, my beau needs to get out and go. And usually, I benefit from these urges. While in Mexico, we embarked on two "excursions."

The first, to the Marieta Islands. After breakfast, Will and I boarded a panga with guides Dylan and Carlos, and boatman Francis, and headed seaward. The morning before we'd watched humpback whales breaching in the bay and had our eye-balls peeeeeeeled. Unfortunately for us, no whales (boo) but we did encounter a pod of dolphins, a giant sea turtle and a giant manta ray - about the size of Will's old Lincoln (yea).

The Marieta Islands are a protected wildlife sanctuary and marine preserve, home to a dazzling array of sea life and dozens of bird species, including the rare blue footed booby, found only in the Marietas and Galapagos islands.

We had the island to ourselves for about 45 minutes. We explored caves. Roamed beaches. Went snorkeling. And then settled in for lunch - at the precise time a tour boat from Puerto Vallarta pulled up.

We felt like Wall-E and EVE.

And promptly left to snorkel in the deep. Did you know fish, and seagulls, really like tortilla chips? Will does now!

It was a wonderful day away from Verana.

Our second excursion was a self-guided hike to Cathedral Falls, about an hour and a half from Yelapa "proper." A rocky dirt path leads you through Yelapa's residential district, up some gentle slopes and into the farmland/forest. After scrambling under a fence (marked by the universal "go under" symbol) and down some rocky cliffs, we arrived at the falls.

After a 20 minute wade, the Wall-E/EVE experience recurred and we skeedaddled.

If such a thing occured, Verana's experts advised us to hike 25 minutes past the Alice in Wonderland fence. So, we did and were greeted by sandy spots for sitting, rocks for sun-basking and cool pools of river water, cascading toward the further-down falls.


The only downfall to Will's RLS-inspired excursions? My inability to enjoy a post-journey Pacifico.

The freshest

I love to eat. Always have. And yes, I am aware that an inordinate number of my blog posts are about consumption. And not the Angela's Ashes type. But you know what? I'm not going to apologize. I know, I know . . . it's a baby blog. But with food being 50% of the reason Marge is enlarging, it's also a food blog.

And the food that aided my enlargement during our Mexican holiday was just too amazing. Too fresh.

• Pre-breakfast: Warm muffins.
• Breakfast: Fresh fruit and freshly sqeezed orange or grapefruit juice. Followed by a multiple choice test of loveliness. We tried everything on the menu at least once. Crepes with fresh fruit and local honey. Homemade tortillas filled with ricotta cheese, corn and black beans served with a side of freshly made salsa. Wholewheat melon pancakes. Platos benedicto with avacado. (Everything was served with avacado.) Etc. Etc. Etc.
• Lunch (served oceanside): Started off with the aqua fresca of the day (guava, passion fruit, melon, lime berry) or a ginger mojito and a half-loaf of freshly baked bread and some sort of spread (roasted eggplant, pesto, stewed tomato). Then, we could choose from two starters, two mains and usually two desserts. We always got one of each. Everything was amazing. So fresh and light. Fish (and squid - my favorite) scooped from the ocean. A light brothy soup with baby brussels sprouts, cabbage and mahi mahi. Key lime ice cream pie served in an espresso cup.
• Dinner: A set menu. First, came a "bar bite" - a variety of chips and salsas, a taco, a bacon wrapped date . . . Then, the starter. Spinach soup, mixed salad, chili relleno . . . Then the main. An entire fish, served with head and tail attached. Lobster. Red snapper. Verde chicken . . . And a delectable dessert.

On our trip to the Marieta Islands, we had a picnic lunch that included grilled Mahi Mahi for me and a just-then-made ceviche for Will. Needless to say, I couldn't resist the ceviche. I mean, we watched the guy catch the fish!

I went. I saw. I ate. I enlarged.

Where (Part 1)

"Verana is rustic yet sophisticated. It's designed for travelers with a sense of adventure and appreciation of tranquility and natural beauty." Like us. There are eight houses - at no time during our stay were they full. The most guests were 12. The fewest, 6.

To get to the resort you first take a taxi about 45 minutes down the coast to the village of Boca de Tomatlan, then jump in a Verana boat that departs twice a day for the 30 minute ride to the resort and village of Yelapa.

We got to Boca about 45 minutes before the departure so had time to have a beer (Will) and water (me) while we watched the hustle beach bustle. Because it serves as a "port" for small boats transporting people and goods to fishing villages along the coast, it was heavy on the bustle. And stray dogs. Not too many gringos though. Unless they were expats.

Admittedly, we were a tad confused on the whole "find the Verana" boat procedure, meaning we whispered between each other a lot ("Is this what we're supposed to do? Just sit here? When do we leave? Do you see the boat? Are they going to find us?") while enjoying the view. Fortunately, the waiter overheard our whispers and pointed out the boat, the driver and informed us that we were waiting for 4 more guests. Whispers abated.

At 4:15 we hopped into a small open air boat with our beastly black rolly bag (SOOOO beach inappropriate) and four other guests and bounced across the Pacific swells to Verana's private dock.




Upon arrival Kent, the hotel host, greeted us and lead us up the first of many stone steps to the spa and lunch restaurant, where freshly mixed/squeezed guava agua fresca was waiting. (Did I mention this poor guy, a true beast of burden, was subject to hoofing it up the mountainous hill with the black rolly bag? See it there on the left? I tipped him with a brow scratch.)








Then we started the first of many treks up to the resort. Half way up there's this super heavy gate, complete with a sign telling people it's the end of the trail - Verena property - and to keep out. Effective, I'm sure.









Here is a small taste of the steps. Lucky for us, the weather was perfect. Between 78-80 degrees during the day, not humid, and with a hint of a breeze. I was huffin' and puffin' by the end but not dripping. We wondered aloud about unfit guests... They explained that during the booking process they try to make clear the physical exertion required (not something I remembered) and if necessary, will keep a burden beast around to haul the fatties (or oldies) up and down. And it's not as though you could avoid the steps. To get lunch, you had to go all the way down - and with lunch being one of the top three meals of the day - down you went.

Ultimately though, the physical exertion, though forced, meant for a more enjoyable holiday. We had more energy, slept better and laughed more. Add heat to the mix and this mama bird might be singin' a different tune, but while there, it was perf.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, each morning coffee, tea and warm muffins were deposited outside our door. We alternated between enjoying these on our patio, looking over the ocean, or in our bedroom, overlooking the jungle.

Three of the five mornings we joined either Semara or Gabrielle in the pool palapa for yoga. Will loved it (today he checked a yoga book out of the library) and I found it a great way to start the day - I was so relaxed I was only mildly annoyed by Semara's tendency to call me Mama Bear.






Breakfast followed yoga.

Pool (or an excursion) followed breakfast.

Lunch at the ocean-side cafe followed our pool/excursion time.














Reading and napping followed lunch. Our vacation reads (minus First Time Parents and Happiest Baby on the Block) - all of which I would highly recommend - included Cutting for Stone, The True Meaning of Smeck Day, Unbroken and Room.

Speaking of rooms, besides the amazing natural environs, the two-bedroom Jungle Suite wasn't too shabby either. (And yes - these are photos I took. Not fancy ones from the website.)

From the resort website: "Verana was conceived, designed and is solely owned by Heinz Legler and Veronique Lievre, a former movie set builder and set decorator respectively. Verana can safely lay claim to the adjective handmade. “Everything had to be brought up hill either by hand or mule,” says Lievre who tricked out the rooms with an eclectic mix of found objects, artisan-made furniture, Mexican handicrafts, and simply lined modernist pieces and used a color palette inspired from the surroundings. “I wanted to create an environment that was harmonious with the natural setting, yet also functional and comfortable,’ says Lievre"

This was clearly evident in our house and around the property.

Our pool "go-to" spot.

And of course, the staff was amazing. Gabby (lunch server and yoga instructor), Mookai (resident Boxer), Lalu (lunch chef), Semara (yoga instructor and masseusse), Lauren (desk host) and Kent (all-around host), Dylan (bartender and activity guide) and Carlos (activity guide and evening server).

Thanks for everything, guys.

(And for those of us looking for an adventure - Verana is always hiring.)

16 Weeks

Week 16 belly shot for Grandma Betty. . .

As you can see, it's on the out and out.

 At our Feb. 25 appointment, Midwife Kathleen reported that everything looked (and sounded) smashing. Results from the First Trimester Screen, which checks for chromosomal abnormalities, were good. My blood pressure is great. Weight gain is on target. (Bring on the bon bons!)

Next big appointment is March 16, when we hope to learn the he/she-ness of this little monster. I'll be posting a poll next week. Be sure to log in and vote.

Baby got back

Yes. We're home. Back from a fabulously relaxing Mexico holiday. It was everything we were looking for and more. A luxurious, private resort nestled in the craggy Pacific hills, 15 minutes by foot from a small fishing village popular with expats. Lulled to sleep by the ocean's rhythmic breaths and woken by a cacophony of jungle creatures. Coffee, tea and warm zucchini muffins deposited outside our door - a prequel to morning yoga. Afternoons spent by the ocean or pool, next to a waterfall or on a deserted beach. Each meal from sea to plate. Oh how I could go on . . .

And I will. But instead of dropping all the details into one post, I decided to stretch them out. Check back this week for more. Did I mention I highly recommend this place?

 Taking some time to take in the jungle (and tea) and reflect on my good fortune post-yoga.

Will and I spent each evening before dinner at the bar, playing Scrabble or Quiddler or talking about our upcoming life altering experience. Each night Verana staff places 100-150 tea candles around the property - that is what is glowing in the background.

And we're off

World, meet my beach ball belly. . . Just kidding. Tomorrow we embark on our much anticipated babymoon, and though I was unable to find a one-piece that flattered and fit and am therefore packing only bikinis (which would totally be what this blogger recommends), I will NOT look like the belly-brave incubating mama to the left. Stay tuned for vacation pics and humorous travel tales. I'll have a virgin piña colada for all of you.