Our Tampico Family Getaway!

During our 2 week break from school--our swine flu holiday--we took a trip to Tampico. It is about 6 hours southeast of us on the gulf coast. We got to stay with Uncle Brian and Aunt Carol, the mission presidents there. They were so wonderful to us, taking time out of their super busy schedules to show us around Tampico, teaching us how to play new games, and cook us wonderful meals. We are really grateful to them! One of our favorite parts, or several of our favorite parts of the trip was getting to play at Playa Miramar! Oh, how I've missed the beach! I loved that all of the kids are old enough that we could all play in the waves at the same time. We made, then destroyed, this awesome sandcastle...

Walking and stationary vendors were selling fruit, chili ice-pops, clothing, hair braiding, jewelry, headbands, homemade breads, beach toys--all right on the shore--and while we kept repeating "no, gracias" every 2 minutes, Andy did take up an offer from a waiter from a nearby restaurant! He and Jake said this shrimp cocktail was pretty tasty and fresh!Here's a few shots of my cute little(and not so little anymore)kiddos playing around...Jake and Andy hung out in the deep water together so they could boogie board. They had the perfect waves for it! I love this picture of Grace...



Sarah loved trying to boogie board too, I think she caught a couple of waves.This trip was Rachel's first experience at the beach, and she was really fun to play with in the waves. She just jumped when she saw waves that were taller than she was, and when she got water in her mouth she just spit it right out! No complaining and a constant smile. I think she loved it! I've decided Andy and I need to retire near a beach.

This is a cool little pavillion at the center of downtown Tampico, and an old cathedral that is being restored(or if not in the process of restoration, then it's being held together by metal poles on the outside) in the same town square.
Brian and Carol took us to their animal park, El Solito, and while we've been to the one near us several times, we've never been able to get this close to a giraffe or a monkey! The girls rode horses and Jake did a zip-line course. Unfortunately for us their water park was closed due to the swine flu, so we didn't get to play there. Darn it.



Andy, the giraffe-whisperer, lured this giraffe over to the fence near us, so we could pet him. Every time the giraffe started to leave, Andy would make a little whistle or clicking noise, and the giraffe would come right back. It was really funny!
The Tampico Mexico Temple is small but beautiful. The sun was shining so bright, we could hardly look at it because it's beautiful white stone reflected the sunlight!


We are so glad we were able to make this little trip. It was exactly the vacation we needed after being quarantined in our house for several days!