We are packing for a 9-day trip to the Yucatan, to see the Mayan archaeological sites and the colonial cities of Valladolid and Merida. A little check of Weather.com will indicate our first poor planning choice since the typical daily temperature is about 100 and I start complaining about the heat in Seattle when the temperature hits 70. In fact, I swore, after we did Japan in July and it was 85 every day, that I would never travel in summer again and so even I marvel that I bought those Delta tickets last week.
Ron has played his standard role in the planning. I showed him Yucatan maps, pictures of Chichen Itza, and we watched a little video on the beautiful city of Merida. And yet, somehow, when he announced to his family that we were thinking about a last minute trip, he told them all we were going to Cancun. When questioned, he defended himself by stating we were flying into the Cancun airport and so that was good enough. And I should not complain, because just a few days after that, I overheard him tell someone that we are going to the Yukon, which might be the better weather choice, but hey, too late.
I booked the trip because I found a fun-sounding company – Lawson’s Yucatan Tours – willing to drive us around in a van, stopping wherever we see fit. I can never resist an offer like this – they make for the best and craziest trips and Ron and I can eliminate all the we are lost/ who is the directional idiot conversations and just focus on negotiating how long I get to stand in the snack food aisle, assessing the local junk food delicacies.
Lawson’s won my respect right from the beginning, when they asked me for an actual list of the snack food they could carry in the van for our enjoyment, and I’m excited, but I hope Ron understands I’ll still need my time assessing how many brands of crackers are stocked in the same way that he’ll need his time marveling over the assorted Mayan ruins. No matter what, we are sure to learn a lot as there is no better indicator of strong historical lecture/tour guide skills than the amount of snack food in a tourist van.
I’ll report back starting in a week or so. And get ready for the onslaught as I am just getting started. We’re hoping for a quick single-country trip in July. England? Ireland? Even more, in a fit of hopefulness and an attempt to keep Delta afloat, we’re holding tickets to Paris in September. Ron has decreed that no trip shall ever be longer than 21 days and the France one is clocking in at 27 days, which should hopefully teach him a lesson about me, or him, or us, I guess.
Travels with Valerie 
Wishing you a great trip! Ever heard of an ice vest. In a situation like you’re entering into and the fact that you have your own van investing in a ice vest would keep you a little bit cooler. And perhaps something of that nature that you could put around your neck. Just hope the guide has an ice chest. Looking forward to hearing from you re this trip and all the others that you are in the process of planning.
It is a great part of our world to see.
Enjoy and take care.
Love, Becky
Sent from my iPhone
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Hello! We’re being supplied with a stocked cooler as well! But I just looked up those ice vests – they look excellently cooling! They’ve sent me down a rabbit hole on Amazon in search of a couple of things that will arrive before we leave. 🙂
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Hi Valerie,
Your trip to the Yucatan sounds wonderful, especially the snacks! It gets hot, but the van will be cool, I assume. It is an amazing place, Jerry and I loved it when we went. I hope you are staying at a place with a swimming pool? Also, never ever trust a place when they say they have their own well with clean water. Only bottled water. Jerry believed them and was very sick! Also, take your own medicines for diarrhea, etc. You should be fine. I always get sick and didn’t when I was there, although I only stuck to bottled water, no ice tea, no ice in anything and no fresh salads, even though they look great! If you can peel whatever it is, great.
I always look forward to your travels and so look forward to this one, too. I think about your mom all the time; she loved to travel with you! So enjoy, you are keeping up an important tradition!
Love,
Meryl
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Hello! We’re at all hotels with swimming pools and hoping to hit a cenote every day as well!! And yep – we’re stringent on water/fruit. I ban it all when we travel…it’s boring but avoids stomach aches. We are so excited to get out and travel again – although masks in 100 degrees? Should be brutal/interesting.
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Ditto with what Meryl said. I was there in December and it was in the 80’s temp and humid. If you tend to get bit by mosquitoes, make sure to take something to prevent. The art work and monuments are incredible as are the beaches, food and people. Enjoy.
Rosemarie
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Thank you for the tip! I get bitten all the time. I just ordered three different products on Amazon for mosquitos. Great tip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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“And yet, somehow, when he announced to his family that we were thinking about a last minute trip, he told them all we were going to Cancun.” – I actually spit out my water laughing at this. This is peak “male.” LOL.
Alexis Faber
(248)-520-3531
M.D. Candidate, Class of 2021
Wayne State University School of Medicine
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Ron is extremely unpredictable and undependable in all travel situations! I hope the heat doesn’t make him completely unmanageable:)
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Can’t wait to follow along!
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