Day 18: Reflections Two Weeks In…
Last evening, we had the opportunity to take another walk on the beach as a family. We strolled north for a while and then stopped and set up house. The kids jumped right in and had a blast playing with each other and throwing sand “snowballs”. Finally, when they were exhausted, they sat at the edge of the water, half submerged, just chatting. Their silliness and laughter was infectious and we eavesdropped for quite a while, taking it all in. Ryan and I enjoyed watching them interact with each other and their environment. We… Read More
Manny’s Story – Cancun, Mexico
I’d love to introduce you to…let’s just call him “Manny.” We met him our first day in Playa del Carmen and he shared with us his unique story. In 2002, when he was 17 years old, he met a woman who was 11 years older than he was. She was a tourist who frequently visited Cancun. Over time, she talked Manny into sneaking into the United States. She said it would be easy, and she would take care of all of the details. He was reluctant at first, and didn’t know… Read More
Day 15: Friends and Fun
One of the things we made sure to tell our family and friends was that they were welcome to come visit us as we traveled. Of course, we meant it sincerely, but wondered if anyone would actually be able to make the trip to Playa del Carmen. We know life is busy, and schedules are packed. So…imagine our surprise when we had not one…but TWO separate visits from dear friends! On Sunday afternoon (yesterday), our friend Linda, also from Chicago, met us at a restaurant close by. We finally got to introduce our… Read More
Day 12: Learning to Make Guacamole
Part of our 3-day resort training included a Mexican Cooking Class! We learned how to make one of our favorite foods…Guacamole. The ingredients? 1. Fresh Avocados 2. Cilantro 3. Habanero Peppers 4. Freshly squeezed Lime Juice 5. Salt & Pepper Time well spent!
Day 7: Venturing Out to Shop
After attending our first church service in Playa, we headed over to Sam’s Club, just down the street, to stock up on many needed supplies and food. We assumed this would be the best place to shop but after looking through the prices and talking to several locals, we have determined that shopping at La Mega or Walmart may be just as cost effective, in addition to searching out little specialty shops like Dak (on Constitution and 30th, near La Mega) that offers fresh produce as well as Gluten-Free products. The first… Read More
Day 6: Dinner Tonight…
After meeting our Spanish teachers for the first time at Kava Kasa tonight, we headed back home, hungry but not in the mood to cook. We opted to steer clear of the more expensive Fifth Avenue restaurants, and opted instead to explore the non-touristy areas of Playa. While walking, our paths intersected with a “salesman”, trying to draw us into the restaurant he worked for. We explained that we were not tourists and were more interested in finding a place where the locals ate. We were not too convincing at first,… Read More
Deena
Six Hearts One Journey is a travel blog created by Deena, a wife and mother of four adult children, sharing her family’s adventures. After a 15-month Round the World Journey starting in 2014, they continue to travel and dive into their personal passions. Ryan is running his College Admissions Consulting business, Summa Factor, while Deena enjoys working with her amazing clients at Global Getaways.
Day 5: And the Internet is Alive!
Did I mention we finally have Internet? They got it up and working on Day 5 (Friday), just a little longer than their promised 24-72 hours. We are thrilled, except for the fact that we no longer have an excuse to head over to Starbucks every day. And no, the flower has nothing to do with this little update, just thought it was pretty. We pass it on our way up and down the steps to our condo.
Reflections
Reflections: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord Almighty.” ~ Zech 4:6. I have never feared traveling, but with four dear children now in tow, that has changed quite a bit. In moments of doubt and fear, this verse has encouraged our hearts. We recognize that we are not alone and we take comfort in knowing it’s through His strength and protection we can go out.
5 Days to Go: Packing Cubes
5 Days to go: These Packing Cubes are great! Here are a few things we purchased yesterday. I’ll let you know how they work out. 1. Eagle Creek Half Tube Cubes (good for underwear and socs). 2. Eagle Creek Pack it Specter Cube Sets (a set of 3 different sizes each, all light, stain & water resistant). 3. REI Expandable Packing Cube Set (a set of 2 different sized cubes). 4. A few other various sizes and shapes. Who knew packing could be so much fun?
Deena Gainor
Six Hearts One Journey 
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