Archive for May 23rd, 2005

My week will end with me vacationing in sunny Cancun, Mexico. I planned this trip with a girlfriend of mine way back in November. Because of…complications…I’ll be traveling alone. I did try to recruit replacement companions, but everyone else seems to be traveling elsewhere for the Memorial Day holiday. My original companion has expressed a willingness to go, but can no longer get the vacation time because of a company blackout period on vacation. I’ll be flying solo.

I’m okay with that, though. For one, I feel confident that I’ll meet people while I’m abroad. For another, I can be a lot more adventurous in my activities. None of my potential travel mates are strong or confident swimmers, so a lot of water activities might’ve been ruled out. I grew up in and around the water. I’ll have a lot more freedom to pursue those kinds of adventures.

I’m busily scouring the net for things to do while in Cancun. I suspect if I had a companion, I’d be spending a lot of time on the beaches. Since I’m traveling solo, I suspect I’ll be spending a lot more time elsewhere. I’m too pale to spend more than 15 minutes on the beach without baking, so I’ll have to take it slow. I’m already planning to hit the various ruins and I will probably snorkel some. I’m debating taking a quick SCUBA certification course and doing some diving. If anyone else out there has experience in Cancun and can suggests activities, I’m all ears. I’ll be there for 5 days, so I have a lot of time to kill.

BTW, if anyone is interested in joining me, all you need is a plane ticket. I planned this trip after dating a woman for about three weeks, so taking a practical stranger from the Internet might be within reason. My only requirement is that you not be a total psychopath and that you buy your own ticket.

One of my aspirations as a young birder was to see all three species illustrated on the cover of my Golden Guide to Birds. I’ve yet to see a Painted Bunting, so that aspiration is still unfulfilled.

LTC BOb doesn’t have that problem, as one of the 48 species he’s observed in and around Camp Victory, the Masked Shrike, graces the cover of Birds of the Middle East.

Lucky man.

Previously: The Little Egret And Common Snipe

Next: The Rufous Bush Robin

See Also: Reptiles of Iraq, Arthropods of Iraq, Fishes of Iraq