Playa del Carmen, day 2: beach & tacos

As it turns out, there were coffee filters in the house, but they were way back in a drawer. I woke up before everyone else and walked to a bakery for a coffee and a bunch of pastries. After I got home, I got everything out to make eggs for the kids to go with the pastries. I searched everywhere unable to find a lighter for the gas stove, so I took Abbie on my second long walk into town for a lighter. They didn’t have any long-handled ones, so I just got a normal lighter and walked all the way back. My 3 months of Duolingo didn’t help me at all. I ended up using google translate and a bunch of awkward hand gestures to communicate with the cashier. I was very grateful for the lighter, but disappointed that all my training failed to help me communicate.

The reception of the pastries and breakfast made it all worth the effort. The kids were happy, and I was happy to have a lighter for the stove.

Phil, being the practical one, discovered that Walmart delivers for a few dollars! He and Becca teamed up to order some food, and acquired the additional supplies we wanted–including not 2 onions, but 2 kilos of onions. Portions are harder to translate than you might think–especially when tired.

We then walked the 1 block to the beach to play in the sand, water, and piles of seaweed! Carolyn brought a kite, and the kids had fun running it up and down the beach. I took a long walk down the beach, and then back to town to hunt for lunch.

I had a taco place on my list, and I was able to find it with the help of Google Maps. I got 30 tacos for the group, and we all enjoyed them back at the house. I imagined multiple times the followup conversation they had: “Are you sure he wanted 30 tacos and not 3?” “Yeah, he said 10 of each kind. He was repeated it and used a calculator on his phone like a moron.” “Ok, as long as he pays.” I got a blister because I didn’t get all the sand out from between my toes before I left. But I ended up with all 30 tacos in the Mulan list: beef, pork, chicken, mmm.

After the blisters and exhaustion, we laid low for the afternoon, watched anime of online shopping guy, Becca cooked dinner onions, chicken, and rice. Phil made Pina Coladas and Margaritas for the adults, and everyone went to bed happy and full.