Snapshots

Thursday, July 7, 2011












I am the world's least responsible photographer–John and I have been dating for five years and I have no more than a handful of photos of the two of us! In fact, John's mama once gifted me a shiny new digital camera, the clearest signal that they'd like to see more pictures! So I made it a point to pull out my future phone a few times during the trip to capture snapshots of our wonderful vacation, and I'm so glad I did-they're perfect for gazing at during the long train rides home after work!

The trip started with a red eye flight to Charlotte, then a connecting flight to Mexico. Then a shuttle to Puerto Juarez. And a boat to Isla Mujeres itself. Let's just say that the travel is enough to keep away plenty of potential tourists! We arrived, sweaty and tired, at an inconspicuous wooden door. It swung open to reveal a cool, all white hotel that felt more like a chic private home, and we were greeted with mimosas-it was hard not to feel like the luckiest people on Earth!

The deck overlooked the gorgeous infinity pool, and was the perfect place for a breakfast of orange juice, coffee and plenty of fresh fruit. We'd hole up, either in bed, on the deck or by the pool (always slathered in SPF 70) for the morning, and then venture out in the late afternoon for lunch. You'd find us at Sancocho's every afternoon around 3 or 4pm, John eating his weight in fish tacos.

The bar, topped with smoky marble, was the perfect place to sip a Coca Cola or a piña colada and cool off from the heat. While John worked on our future still and the blends for his batches of bourbon and rye, I consumed book after book; I highly recommend Dave Egger's Zeitoun, and Water for Elephants was a perfect bit of escapism. There may have been some trashy chick lit tucked into my carry on, too, but you'll be hard pressed to get me to confess the details!

After a dip in the pool, we were off for dinner, but only after the sun set and the heat subsided. We explored even less of the island this trip than we did on the previous-we already had our favorite restaurants, and there was only one tequila bar on the island anyway! A plunge in the hot tub was the perfect end to an evening, and made the cool sheets feel all the more delicious. It was one of those divine vacations where we both lost track of the day, and with even the hotel's clocks shut off, we slept just as late as we pleased.

The flights back were badly delayed thanks to some thunderstorms, and we got home hours later than expected-17 hours of travel is enough to level even the toughest fliers. I'm delighted to be back home in our bed, with my own kitchen and the cool San Francisco fog filling our living room, but I wouldn't mind going back next week!

51 comments:

  1. Oh my dear! I love this! I love the photos, the story, the fact that you like español and you look so gorg. We need more.

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  2. You look so glam in your big hat, sunnies & pearl earrings! I'm the same way when it comes to photographing myself & Bryan together. So glad you guys have a good vacation!

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  3. That pool looks like perfection and you look so relaxed! Great reading suggestions too- I've been meaning to pick up WFE but just haven't yet- bumping it up to the top of my list!

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  4. That sounds unbelievable and looks just gorgeous! You definitely do vacations right. Zeitoun is a real page-turner, isn't it? Hope you're adjusting back to the real world alright :)

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  5. Wow, these photos are totally making me feel like I went on a vacation myself!! Sounds amazing! Glad you had a great time.

    ~ chrissy from the perfect palette

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  6. mimosas are the perfect way to start a vacation! i loved these photos, that infinity pool is divine. glad you had a fun time (aside from the trip back). xoxo jillian:: cornflake dreams

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  7. Gorgeous pics! The trip sounds amazing! And you can flip through pics on your phone when you want to remember it :)

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  8. these pictures look divine! that infinity pool is calling my name! i'm glad you two had such a great time. living in miami you think i would have visited mexico by now!

    life spelled jen

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  9. I totally need a vacation right now, so jealous!

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  10. i love your images... everything looks like a European movie... haha!!!

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  11. Looks like a fab vacation! Relaxation and a pool! :) My faves.

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  12. Oh wow. It sounds like heaven. Seriously I am wildly jealous...and it's not just because I get woken up at 6am every morning by my sweet 5 month old daughter. But tacos, margaritas, sleeping and reading sounds AMAZING! :)
    xo
    Alexa
    www.theshortandthesweetofit.com

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  13. Ah...talk about perfection. So happy you had a wonderful trip!

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  14. what an amazing trip!! so happy to see a little glimpse of it through your lens :)

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  15. Yippee yippee! So glad you shared some pictures! The trip looks heavenly and you're just smashing in your beach wear. Welcome back!

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  16. I am equally as irresponsible...the reason I don't have a nice profile pic is that no pictures of me exist. And I have a decent DSLR.
    Seventeen hours of travelling - you must be exhausted. Hope you have time to rest up. And isn't it weirdly cool today?

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  17. lovely- great photos- Sounds like a lovely vacations-

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  18. great photos Lena!! sounds like you two had a fabulous trip!

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  19. i think your photos came out great. Sounds like you both had a lovely time. Any vacation where you lose track of time is a good vacation

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  20. You are so gorgeous! I love pictures of you- such a treat!

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  21. I LOVE these pictures. Quinessential Mexico. I wanna go!

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  22. The photos are perfect. Looks like a wonderful trip. I'm dying for some tacos now.

    Did you go to Olivias? I forgot to tell you to...

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  23. Love the style of these photos! Looks like such a relaxing trip.

    http://blog.badjoan.com/

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  24. Wow! What amazing pictures! Love your sun hat pretty lady and that amazing infinity pool! Looks like you were the only ones there! xo style, she wrote

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  25. Such gorgeous photos! Sounds like a fantastic trip!

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  26. Can I just say I am SO FREAKIN' JEALOUS of your trip?!? But so happy you had a good time. The pictures look amazing. :)

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  27. Your trip sounds so good that I have some drool running down my face right now. Seriously, how amazingly perfect! And can I even begin to tell you how adorable you look in that photo with your hat and pearls on? Seriously. Amazing. So happy for you!

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  28. it looks heavenly!! beautiful photos :)

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  29. The photographs look very clear and pretty!
    Really nice blog!;)

    I'm following you now, I hope you follow me too! xx

    http://kimonosnack.blogspot.com/

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  30. These pictures are SO GORGEOUS. What I would do to be where you are :)

    <3 Belly B

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  31. hello POOL! what gorgeous photos miss lena!! aahhhh im dying to see more :) love that shot of you with your sunglasses and hat! simply breathtaking.

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  32. I used to be alll about the pictures. I have boxes filled that can tell you so. But now Im more about just enjoying the moment and the view rather then trying to capture it perfectly all of the time. These pictures are so beautiful! You guys look both happy beautiful and relaxed! it sounds like the perfect little get away!

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  33. looks like amaaazing weather! sorry you got delayed on the way back, but yay for vacay!!

    xo.ashley

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  34. Oh, Lena! Your vacation looks like exactly the relaxing little slice of heaven that you needed! I am so glad to hear you had such a lovely time.

    And P.S. I am SO with you on the picture thing! I can never, ever remember.

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  35. Wow, looks like you guys had an amazing trip! And I love the vintageish images :)
    Hugs and a happy weekend to you!

    PS: I could go for one of those Piña Coladas right about now :)

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  36. this looks amazing! glad you had a great trip

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  37. This sounds like an absolute dream--so happy for you. sigh

    xo,
    C

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  38. Truly love the dreamlike effect of these shots

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  39. Wow! These pictures are perfect!

    xxx London

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  40. Oh! So jealous! Your trip sounds phenomenal! Lovely to see some pics of you too. I must admit to have a collection of those floppy sunhats, I seem to pick one up every summer vacation.

    ~ Clare x

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  41. Love the images!!! You must have never wanted it to end! xo

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  42. What a perfect vacation! It looks beautiful!

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  43. I have the SAME photo-taking problem - it was tough to find enough photos of hubs and I for our wedding slideshow! These photos are GORGEOUS, and your trip sounds absolutely amazing (I think I'm more relaxed just after reading this post!)

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  44. oh, Lena, this sounds like the most amazing spot to escape to with your honey! The pools and rustic shoreline look so tempting - I'm sure the two of you felt like royalty during your stay. So nice to have you back but I know what you mean when you say you're ready to hop on a plane and do it all over again!

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  45. oh wow - that trip sounds like pure heaven! thanks for sharing your pics!

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  46. Wow, it sounds like the perfectly relaxing trip! Thanks for sharing the details and pictures with us!

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  47. you're so posh, it's ah-may-zing. I love this glimpse into your personal stash. I'm all about rule-breaking :)

    P.S. glad the trip was awesome!

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