Thanks Grandma Sam for inviting us, and once again, Happy Birthday!

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Aldo Caldo, our barman/waiter/concierge at the house organised a boat trip down the coast to a few beaches that are not accessible by road with his cousin, Chato. Chato was a bit busy on the day, so he lent his boat to his friend Pedro. Pedro gave us a great fun guided tour all the way to Yalapa (and back!)

My wife’s smile is beautiful in the morning sun (and all other suns).

Page practicing to be a Patagonia model.

Pedro first took us to the Los Arcos, just north of Mismaloya for some snorkeling. The girls and I jumped in. It was a bit cold for the younger girls, so they got out, but not before seeing some of the hundreds of purple and orange Angel Fish that we attracted. Alex and I relived our Barrier Reef adventure and saw even more fish on the reefs and against the rocky islands.

It was fancy dress on the boat, and I came as a Gringo!

When we arrived at Yalapa, the girls posed with the resident iguana. Page tried to poke its eyes out, but the other two girls were sweet to the poor reptile.

Pedro joined us for lunch on the beach at Yalapa.

There was a vicious beach break that Annie and I got the better of, and which filled us with sand.

I rented a Jeep and drove the girls down the coast to the Zoológico de Vallarta.

From memory, we saw Antelopes, Zebras, Ostriches, Emus, Snakes, Pumas, Mountain Lions, Shetland Ponies, Rabbits, Spider Monkeys, Baboons, Lions, Tigers, Wolves, Giraffes, Toucans, Eagles, Flamingos, Hippopotamuses, Tejónes, Capybaras, Aligators, Llamas, Jaguarundi, Ducks, Geese, Swans, Sheep, Leopards, Raccoons, Pigs, Bears, Goats, Parrots, and Camels.

Page’s favourites? The Shetland Ponies and the Jaguarundi. I think the girls were craziest about the Monkeys and the Tigers.

This last Gaga is a Tejón. That’s what all the screaming was about …