When we left for Acapulco last week, we drove to the airport in a blinding snow storm only to return yesterday in yet another snow storm. How quickly the warmth of the beach drained away from us, but we had a wonderful time for the most part. The only reason that it was only for the most part is that we both got food poisoning while we were there that lasted about thirty-six hours. It hit us each at slightly different times over the two-day period, but we did our best not to let it dampen our mood or experience, although we spent those two days mostly idle at the resort trying to relax and recuperate as much as possible. Now that we’re done shoveling the snow from our driveway and trying to get back to a normal routine, we’ll share some of our experiences over the next few days. Here are just a few photographs from our trip to give you an idea of what the scenery was like during our stay.
Just One of the Beautiful SunsetsBoats in the MarinaMargaritas on the BeachIsland OffshoreView from Our Room
We have an early morning flight to Acapulco tomorrow and are looking forward to relaxing on the beach and seeing the famous cliff divers. This is our sixth trip to Mexico, but our first to Acapulco as well as the first time we have visited at this time of year as we usually visit in late autumn. Since we are currently surrounded by snow and temperatures that are well below freezing, we are looking forward to some tropical weather and shorts instead of winter coats. As always, we will be taking plenty of photographs, especially of sunsets, and sharing them upon our return.
Pirate Ship Bar at a ResortPrivate Beach in MexicoCatamaran RaceLooking Forward to a Pacific Ocean Sunset
When visiting Vientiane in Laos, one thing that should be on your itinerary is spending time along the Mekong River. There are many restaurants on the road that sits along the river as well as Chao Anouvong Park, the main park in Vientiane. There are also a few rooftop restaurants that are only a block or two away from the river that offer great views of the city as well as the river. We had been told before visiting that we should be sure to see a sunset over the Mekong River and we were definitely glad that we did. At night, the area around Chao Anouvong Park that is near the inner city turns into a night market with street food, family activities, and vendors selling locally produced items.
Food in the Night MarketMekong River During the DayView from a Rooftop Restaurant
We decided to walk along the river to get a couple of cold drinks at a pub to escape the heat and watch the sun set. As we walked the street to get to the pub, we were distracted trying to find where it was located and we walked into a section of the sidewalk that had fresh concrete. The workers hadn’t blocked of the sidewalk and were gone for the day, so we didn’t realize that it was fresh cement. We quickly hustled off of it, but our footprints were already there, so we joke with ourselves that we have left our mark on Vientiane.
Our Footprints in CementAnother View of the SunsetBusy Market Street
From the restaurant, we walked along the river as the sun set over the Mekong River, which was truly gorgeous. On the other side of the river is Thailand, so many people from Laos and Thailand cross back and forth every day. Afterwards, we continued to the night market as the crowds began to form as people came out to enjoy the cooler temperatures. One of the things that we noticed during our time in Vientiane was that there were a fair amount of expats in the city, which didn’t actually expect. We also enjoyed a sunset from one of the rooftop restaurants, which also provided cooler breezes as the sun slowly went down over the horizon.
Sunset from the Rooftop RestaurantWalking Through the MarketWatching the Sun Head Toward the Horizon
There are many interesting things to do in Vientiane, such as visiting Buddha Park, going to the Golden Stupa, seeing Victory Gate, as well as just seeing all of the temples. In addition to those places, it is certainly worth taking some time to unwind along the Mekong River and enjoy a beautiful sunset.
Street FoodIce Cream for a Hot Day in VientianeMore Street Food
