Only in Ireland 🙂
Weekly Photo Challenge: Green
Author: Xamara L Maisonet
My dream is to travel the world, get to know more people, to reach, to impact in a positive way. I want to transfer my "picturesque" life into words to share with others. I want to see with my own eyes the beauty of what my God has created not only where I lived but all around the world. Not only with my eyes but with my heart as well. Beauty, culture, people...
I want to invite you to live and learn with me through my stories, my travel stories through life, through the world close to home or in the other side of the world. Check my blog, www.travelmystories.com
Princess at Riu Palace
Last December I went to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for a Love Mexico convention for travel agents to learn and promote Mexico as a wedding destination and/or honeymoon place. This is my second year participating in this event. It’s amazing the amount of information that we bring back home, from brochures, bags, office materials, business cards and much more. All the meetings, the vendors,the conferences, the wonderful meals were excellent. But for me living an experience speak millions of words to my heart. Even if I want to write here about the conferences that we listened to, or mention all the vendors I met, or even if I want to tell you that Mexico have amazing facilities to celebrate weddings it’s hard for me to point out all of them with detail information.
I brought home lots of information, yesterday I filed all out and it’s going to be there if I need it at any moment. There is something that I can not file in a cabinet, but I can share with you. Those were the experiences that I lived over there. The last two days of my Mexico experience, after the conferences were over some of us have the blessing to stay in one of the hotels in Puerto Vallarta to experience Mexico hospitality. Well, I was able to be a princess with Riu for two days. At least I felt like that, first I stayed at Riu Palace in Nueva Vallarta and second they treated us super nicely.
The first night we got there we were able to enjoy the resort at our leisure. I left everything in my room and went to eat at the buffet. There were so many options, so many flavors, colors , smells, desserts, it was really hard to decide what to eat. After my food coma I walk a little bit before going to bed.
I woke up early in the morning, went to the buffet again. We had a full day of activities with the Riu people but we didn’t have any idea how much fun was going to be. We visited the other two Riu’s property in Nuevo Vallarta. Each Riu have its own good characteristics and each accommodate different budgets without loosing luxury and comfort.
Riu Jalisco
Very nice property, all inclusive and friendly for your pocket. Loved the Christmas decoration!
Riu Vallarta
Oh Riu Vallarta! This place is amazing! I don’t know if the day I was there was so perfect that I had that impression, but I just can say good things about this place. This property will ask a little bit more of your money that Riu Jalisco, but will have other amenities that will compensate that.
Before continuing about this property I will make a pause to tell you something that apply for the three properties, actually it applies to all Riu properties in general.
All Riu’s properties have Scuba Caribe for all your beach sport activities. They offer kayak, wind surfing, surfing boards and more all include with your stay at the hotel. We had the opportunity to enjoy some of this great and fun activities thanks to the Scuba Caribe manager, Nicole Merz. She spoil us really good. After letting us play in the water during the day, in the afternoon she also offer us a massage at Renova Spa which she also manage. You always will find this two companies at every Riu’s property. There is nothing better than to have fun in the sun and later relax at the spa, I guarantee you they will treat you like royalty.
After an amazing day of fun and relaxation with a magnificent massage, Riu management at the Riu Palace (where I stayed) prepared an exquisite dinner for us at the beach over the sunset. Imagine the great reception for a wedding that you can have here! Let me show you so you can have an idea of what it could be.
If you want to know more about Puerto Vallarta, my experience at Riu or anything about travel just let me know.
Until then,
xamlinnette 🙂
A moment in time
Solitude should not be problem, but a moment to meditate and learn. It should be a time to set new goals, to appreciate the beauty of life. We should see it as a moment to regain strength, to refocus. Solitude should be a beautiful moment, but just that, a moment.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Solitude
The Path to the Unknown
Life is a constant unknown path for us. We try to plan for it but in reality, we are at the mercy of faith, hopes and trust.
Where your path is taking you?
Until then,
xamlinnette:)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Path
Black Skimmers
Marine Life Nuggets
Black Skimmers!
by Xamara L Maisonet
January 2017
I sat comfortably in my beach chair with sunglasses on, ready for my “nothing to do day”. We were close to the shore line where the soft waves sooth the ambience noise.
Two peculiar bird flew by close to the water and shore line. They caught my attention, but I was there for beach business so I continue to relax. Few minutes later they were there again, two of them, one in front of the other. The birds were flying so low, almost touching the water. The duo passed by over and over again, they lifted their flight a little and continued flying until they disappear from my sight. I never seen that kind of bird before. Their strange orange and black beak woke up my relax mode to alert mode. I notice that when they got close to the water, they skim the water with their lower beak. 
During the day I try numerous time to capture them in flight with my camera. I wanted to see the bird in details. To be honest, most of my afternoon went by trying over and over to get pictures.
Scanning my pictures for details, I couldn’t find the birds eyes. I looked, I zoom, and there were no eyes! I thought to myself:
“Maybe they don’t have eyes? No! Impossible!”
At that moment, I wanted to take more pictures to find the eyes of my flying friends. A little prayer asking them to stop flying won’t be a bad idea.. I wanted to meet the black and white feather creature in person, a close encounter.
For my surprise my prayer request got answered. I was sitting on my beach chair again, looking diligently everywhere. Then, I hear my husband calling,
“Xamara, hurry come here now! Hurry!”
I ran toward him and there it was, my friend stopped by to model for me.
Can you see the eyes?
Fun Facts
about black skimmers
- There are only three species of skimmers: black, Indian, and African skimmer
- The black skimmer is the largest of the three species
- They can be found in the coastal areas of North, Central and South America
- The lower mandible is longer than the upper one
- Is the only bird in America that have the unusual feeding habit of skimming the water to capture small fish, and small crustaceans
- Their young ones have the same length on both mandibles
- black skimmer are not in the endangered list, but it is on the United State of America watch list 2014
