Puerto Penasco, Mexico

Six months ago we started planning a trip to Lake Powell with the Badger's, but when we found out only ten days before that there had been a mix up over who had the timeshare on the houseboat for that specific week, we found ourselves with no where to go!!  Nick already had a plane ticket out to AZ, and TJ and Michelle were already planning on driving down to go to the lake, so we decided we needed to do something on the west coast.  No one was excited about the idea of staying in Arizona or going to California so after hearing many good things around Puerto Penasco, Mexico (or Rocky Point as everyone in Arizona calls it) we decided to go there for our first time.  Rocky Point is only a 4 hour drive from Phoenix (3 hours to the border and then one hour drive through Mexico until you hit the ocean).  It is on the Sea of Cortez and faces Baja California.  For awhile it was not advised to travel down there due to all the craziness at the US/Mexico border, but after talking to many police officer friends and people who had been down there recently, everyone said it was totally safe.  So we thought we would be brave and go, and somehow TJ scrambled to get himself and their baby a passport in 3 days!!!!  We stayed down there a Monday-Friday (August 12th-16th) so with schools already started and it not a weekend it felt like we had the resort to ourselves. We had such a great time!  Being that it was Mexico everything was so inexpensive, the sun was shining, and the ocean was warm.

The drive was so easy down.  We stopped at the outlets on the way out of Phoenix and then before the border to get our Mexican car insurance!

Talk about a lot of luggage (I swear half of it was for the baby).  When we stopped at the outlets, TJ bought himself and Nick matching hats.  Haha, I don't think we have ever been on a vacation where they are not always trying to be the ultimate matchy matchy tourists.

A few friends had recommended the resort, Las Palomas, and when we got there we all knew why. It was beautiful and the view was stunning.  This resort is all condos where about half of them are privately owned.  I found this unit on vacation rental by owner.com and was so impressed with how nice it was.  I would definitely say it was luxurious and the price was right!  I would absolutely stay there again.  The resort had 9 swimming pools, 4 hot tubs, two lazy rivers, cabanas on the beach, and amazing ocean views.

View of the resort from the beach

By the time we got there and got settled this little girl was tired of being stuck in a car seat!  Scarlett was so good the entire trip, not to mention she got an adorable passport photo out of it.

After arriving, food was the first thing we all had on our mind!  We found a delicious taco shop where we all stuffed ourselves of homemade tortillas, carne asada, limes, and guacamole.  Either we were starving or it was my favorite meal of the trip.  So good!!  We hit up the equivalent of Wal-mart afterwards to do a little grocery shopping, and we thought we would try some mexican pastries to take back for dessert.  By far we do sweets much better in the US.

The next morning we slept in and made our way down to the pool.  It was perfect weather and made for a great day of being absolutely lazy.

We parked ourselves in the same spot each day poolside

Everyone loved the lazy river, even Scarlett.  She loved it so much she fell asleep.

When we needed a change of scenery we left the pool for the beach

Tj and Nick played lots of football

I didn't mind snuggling this little girl throughout the day

Here are those matching hats again!

In a nutshell, the first day involved a lot of this:

 That night we got showered, go ready, and went to dinner at Pollo Lucas (a few friends recommended this place).  They serve rotisserie chickens and you eat it with the most delicious tortillas, rice, beans, cabbage, and salsa your tastebuds can imagine.  We got two whole chickens and I'm pretty sure Nick at one just himself!  It was so hot and humid and the chicken was spicy we couldn't stop laughing over how much Nick was sweating trying to finish off the chicken.   He sure does love food.

 We went down to the port after dinner where all the little shop venders are located.  Of course every person tried to sell us all kinds of crap, but we were lucky to be down there just in time for sunset.

 Love him 

 Nick and Tj tried on some leather gun holsters and almost started a fight when Nick told the shop owner his stuff was cheap quality.  Note to self don't tell a Mexican his stuff is cheap.  hah.

 Every time we would walk to the next place I said, "wait, look at the sunset now"  Nick got so tired of taking pictures.  I love the water in this one.

Wednesday morning the boys got up and went golfing.  They took TJ's go-pro camera and had some fun with that.  

 Next up was lunch which meant another taco/burrito shop.  These boys really did get burritos as big as their heads!  See that baby girl in the back--she literally was so good just like that almost the whole trip!

 We went back to the beach for the afternoon and I found myself quite comfortable under this cabana.  Literally, there was hardly anyone there-it was great

 A few friends told me I had to buy a mango on the beach.  I'm not a huge mango fan but I thought I would see what all the craze was about.  It was DELISH!  They peel it and cut it fresh, sprinkle chili powder, and fresh squeezed lime over the top---oh my!!

 For dinner that night we sent the boys on a wild chase to order pizza and bring it back to the resort.  It was much better than expected.  Everyone kept asking us where we got the pizza.  So we enjoyed pizza and a sunset for the evening.

 After dark we headed back up to the room and splurged on room service desserts.  They did not disappoint.

Thursday morning was started off at the gym.  Somehow TJ and Nick convinced me to go with them and after all the yummy food we had been eating I decided it would be a wise decision.  I was proud of my sweat angel if you can't tell.

 More time at the pool with yummy pineapple drinks

Michelle had wanted to try paddleboarding.  It was only $20 to rent the equipment so she and I took turns.  Let me just say, it would be a lot easier if there were no waves!  It was a lot of fun.

When we came back from paddleboarding Nick had an ASU trident to show off!  Somehow a beach vacation always calls for a henna tattoo.  We loved teasing him about that the rest of the trip.  Ps-notice the book in his lap, he read almost the entire time we were there.

 After all that paddleboarding we earned another mango treat.  Yes, they were that good

 We went to a "fancier" restaurant by Mexican standards for dinner that night and enjoyed the yummy fried ice cream.

 Photo shoot!  j/k but really how was it already the last night!

Sadly, we woke up and it was Friday!  I think we all agreed we could have stayed one more day at least.  On the way out of town they made me hop out and take a picture of this billboard that we drove past everyday.  Hah.

 We had such a great couple of days.  We stayed up late each night playing a dice game called Farkle, singing along to Pandora, watching Nick dance--all while not trying to wake a sleeping baby!  Such a great vacation.  I'm glad we got a little crazy and made the trip to Mexico last minute.  For the record, TJ said he was planning our trip for next year and I don't have to do it for once (must document that statement)!  Adios from Mexico!

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When we got back to AZ we had one last night out before the Badger's went back to Colorado.  We went to Lo-Lo's Chicken and Waffles where the boys showed us how to eat!  Hah, Seriously I don't know how they do it and drink the kool-aid on tap.

And just like that the Badger's were on their way back to Colorado  :(