Alpaca the City Slicker

While in Atkinson, Nebraska, we took a side trip with husband’s cousins to “The Ranch.” I somehow got suckered into trampling through cow poop to bottle-feed a calf. Husband’s cousins mocked my flip flops (but hey, what do you want – I’m from California). Back to the calves, those suckers mean business when they’re sucking away on bottles – it darn near wrestled the bottle away from me. Calf number 444 took a fancy to us and would periodically approach, until he decided we weren’t that interesting after all and go back to his friends.

We had a great time driving all over The Ranch in search for the buffalo brought by a new, wealthy neighbor from Pennsylvania. Apparently the buffalo wreak all kinds of havoc on their property as well as adjoining properties. We didn’t end up seeing the buffalo, but we did see wild horses, lots of wildflowers and a kid panning for gold in a lake.

The Alpaca Goes Inner-Tubing at Xel-Ha

Xel-Ha (pronounced Shell-Ha) is touted as a "natural aquarium" and one of the most important ecological sites in Mexico (http://www.xel-ha.com/). Really, it's a lovely little river that you probably shouldn't get in if you are adverse to getting out of the water and feeling... slimy.

Of course, we didn't know this at the time. We walked for what seemed like an eternity to get to the mouth of the river, where we were able to use inner-tubes made for two to float (so they said, although truth be told we had to paddle and kick to get down the river), passing cliffs, mangroves and rocks along the way.

It was fun once, but I wouldn't go back. And I certainly wouldn't try to snorkel in that disgusting water.

Tulum: The Mayan Temple by the Ocean

If I were Mayan, I'm almost positive that I'd prefer to live in Tulum (http://tulum.com/ArticleSite.cfm/PageID/66952533) than the dusty, dry, sweltering inland hell that is Chichen-Itza. If you get overheated, it's just a few hundred feet to the ocean. Nice way to cool off. Plus, who could beat that view?!