Christmas Day

Christmas Day was wonderful. This year we decided to do something lil bit different and we joined in on Skodas' Christmas tradition - Going up to Tahoe for the day. We left early in the morning and arrived at Sugar Bowl in record time - 2 hours and 30 minutes. There was hardly anybody on the slopes. I guess most of the people stayed home opening presents or something. The snow was not the best but the short lines and the sun made up for it. Chris was loving his new snowboard that he didn't get to try last year and I was finally trying out some lil jumps in the terrain park. It was great!

Christmas Eve & Zoe's Birthday

In Czech we celebrate Christmas on the 24th of December, nothing much really happens on the 25th. Luckily Chris' family didn't have any trouble celebrating with us on this day. We end up having Chris' parents, aunt and uncle over at our house. The 24th is also our babies birthday. Yes, Zoe is no longer a puppy but now is officially an adult dog :o(.

We had a wonderful evening surrounded by our family.

St Nick's Day in Czech aka Mikulas

The evening of the 5th of December is the feast day of Sv.Mikulas (Santa Claus) to both Slovak and Czech children. Sv.Mikulas walks around the town in his long red robe, accompanied by an angel and the devil who is rattling large chains. Sv.Mikulas asks the children if they have been good during the whole year. The child should sing a song or recite something for Sv.Mikulas. A bad child is told they could be put into the devil’s sack and taken to hell! On that evening if you have been good you could expect candy, nuts, fruit and small gifts in your shoes. If, on the other hand, you were not so good, expect potatoes, rocks, or lumps of coal. A tradition was that most children got at least one rock, as no child is perfect.
We had to adapt the tradition a bit here in Cali and instead of us going around the village my friend Nicole arranged for all the interested children to come over to her house where St. Nick visited them. Some kids were so scared of the Devil that they couldn't even speak, but most of them did really good and promised to be even better the next year. I am very happy that my friends keep this tradition alive and that we are able to participate... even though in disguise.

Pictures Posted

Oh... we are back to reality. Our vacation was wonderful and very relaxing. I think that was the longest Chris and I have spent alone by ourselves... and hey... we still like each other :o)
Anyway, I just posted the pictures from our honeymoon on monikachris.shutterfly.com so check them out.

Isla Mujeres

We spent the last day of our honeymoon in snorkeling and chilling on Isla Mujeres. It was a beautiful laid back island with amazing white sand beaches.
On Saturday our flight wasn't until late in the evening so instead of waiting in Cancun we drove down to Playa del Carmen and enjoyed the beach for one last day.

Chichen Itza

Day & Night in Merida

We didn't really like Cancun all that much so we took any opportunity to get out and explore places elsewhere. Merida was one of these escapes. Merida is a Spanish colonial town located inland about three hours away from Cancun and one hour past Chichen Itza. It was a small town alive with crazy drivers everywhere and people sitting around in the squares just enjoying the evening. We both really enjoyed this town as in comparison with Cancun or any of the coastal areas it didn't have hardly any tourists and the people there were so so sweet and very helpful. I was the lightest person there and Chris the tallest. Most of the Mayan people there reached to my shoulders or so, I felt like a giant. We spend a day and night there before we headed out to Chichen Itza.

Chris tries to kill Mony

This was a day in cenotes. Chris really wanted to go diving in cenotes.... and at the time it sounded like a good idea. Basically cenotes are subterranean water bodies with some connection to the surface (caves with water in them). Prior to booking our tour we asked them whether it was going to be a problem that I am somewhat claustrophobic, but they assured us that it was all open so no problem there. The first cave was large and spacious with just a few tight spots to go into that I promptly avoided, but Chris loved it. We were in the cave for about 45 minutes and after that we went on to our next cave. I knew I was in trouble once I climbed down the ladder and saw this 3 foot opening with water that was the entry way to the cenote, and it just got worst from that point on. This cenote was a narrow tunnel with stalactites and stalagmites all around. The whole time going through I just had to concentrate on not freaking out and I must say I did better than expected... well until we got into this small cave (about 5x6ft) and our guide decided it would be funny to turn the lights off.... yeah.. I didn't think it was so funny. Luckily after what seemed as an eternity he turned them back on and we started to head on. I can safely say that that was the worst few minutes of my life. Lol... Chris was convinced that I was going to kill him after we got out... but he was safe, I was just happy I survived and got out into the sunlight. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger right? :o)

Day in Tulum

Cancun was so beautiful and amazing that the first day we got there we decided to leave and spend the day in Tulum and after that in cenotes in Hidden World. Cancun is like being in Vegas only no gambling and more beaches. But other than that you feel like you never left the States. Blah.
Tulum on the other hand was absolutely beautiful. The combination of the ruins with the backdrop of the Caribbean is breathtaking.

Super Dive-Mony

I was a basket case the morning before my dive. The winds were blowing like crazy... the sea was angry that morning and I had no idea how I was going to do. Luckily, all worked out. I had a wonderful time and I was able to complete all of the assigned tests to get my certification. The underwater world it truly amazing.... can you see any fish? Chris was diving with my instructor and I and snapping pictures all around us.