We rented a condo on the north end of the island and had a great time. There was a little more cooking than I would have liked (for anyone to do–it cut down on relaxation time!) but plenty of pina coladas to go around. When we ran out of drinks or food, we wandered down to a nearby hotel with an incredible set-up. A favorite moment of my life was seeing dolphins from that hotel at sunset with a pina colada in my hand.

(I’m having a surreal is-this-my-life? moment as I write this. I don’t mean to brag but yes, I saw dolphins at sunset).

I loved the routine of diving in the morning with my dad, E, my brother and his girlfriend, then coming home to my sister’s boyfriend’s killer coladas and some more snorkeling–right off the patio of our condo. While diving in Cozumel was ah-mazing,  snorkeling was awesome, too. There was a ladder right into the ocean, and plenty of rocks that attracted fish like eels, puffer fish and a variety of bright tropical fish.

Cozumel is a unique little slice of Mexico. The island is pretty small, and with plenty of tourists, but the windy side of the island (the side not facing the mainland of Mexico, a.k.a. the eastern side) was much quieter–almost deserted. My favorite bar, Coconuts, was on that side (you’ll see my giant pink drink later). On New Year’s Day, a few of us went to a beach on the eastern, drank out of coconuts, and swam in the surf. I remember thinking as I was knocked down once again by the waves, with salt water gushing up my nose, that it was a perfect way to start 2014.

I was pretty waterlogged for weeks after this trip. And salty. Yet my hair was loving the humidity! I mean, it wasn’t more manageable (in my dreams), but it drank that moisture up.

Cozumel, besides a few days on an island in Thailand, was my first true tropical vacation. If I have anything to say about it, it certainly won’t be my last.

^the view from our condo. I know. Spoiled.

^why yes, E and I are adorable even underwater. We know.

^the view…at night.

^the eastern side of the island was pretty windy. Yet somehow our hats stayed on…big heads for the win!

^my dad stole my camera for a fashion selfie. We’re a stylish bunch.

^the view from the east! breathtaking.

^the parentals.

^my dad taking a picture of me taking a picture.

^the water there was unreal.

^my sister is so adorable sometimes I get annoyed. but then I forgive because she’s so adorable. it’s a cycle.

^at Coconuts!

^oh sunny tropical beaches, you have stolen my heart (and so has this guy).

^this made me laugh for about twenty minutes. I wonder why…?

^we rented an adorable white car for one day that I immediately wanted to take home.

^and so we drove across the island.

^doesn’t it look like they’re snorkeling in a pool? (Well, I think my sister was snorkeling…I don’t know where her gear is). But nope…that is really the color of the water! I couldn’t get over it.

^a storm over the ocean.

^I’m clearly a graceful and skilled diver.

^oh, that’s just me, swimming through the coral reefs. Thanks Dad for making me look way cooler than I actually am.

^my brother, our dive captain, and E.

^oh this again.

^sisters in hats.

^I saved the best for last…my famous and most delicious pink drink at Coconuts.

Linking up with Bonnie, Kaelene, Sammy and Van for Travel Tuesday!

The post A Week in Cozumel {Mexico} appeared first on Amy and the Great World.

Or, you know, all levels.

I actually didn’t think I would be that terrified until I started the class with my dad several years ago. Reading about all the horrible things that can happen, the scary things, while under water trusting your lungs to a metal tank of compressed air strapped onto your back, well, freaked me out.

But, as someone wise told me this week, just because you’re afraid of something doesn’t mean you can’t do it. It never occurred to me that I wouldn’t do it because of my fear–I guess that means I do have a small kernel of bravery wrapped up in my worry.

The first class was, well, to be redundant, quite scary. I didn’t expect to be so afraid and uncomfortable and panicky under that water! As a competitive swimmer for a big chunk of my life, as well as a certified lifeguard, so I’m confident in most water situations, and the fact that I wasn’t expecting to be scared made it even worse. I made it through the class, and was determined to dive in the ocean no matter what.

The first time I went diving, though, on Ko Tao in Thailand, I felt very little fear, which, again, surprised me.

I felt completely comfortable under the water.

The fear didn’t strike until two days later, when I was convinced I had the bends, earning me the nickname “Bendy” which will likely stick with me for the rest of my life.

Three years later, just several weeks ago, I was able to dive again in Cozumel. It was my first time diving with my father, who I had been certified with, and the first time diving with E, who was completing his Open Water certification. (My brother and his girlfriend were there, too). This time, I was more terrified than ever before.

Where does that come from? My fear of actually becoming a “Bendy?” I have more to lose, or I just realize I have more to lose? (I’m pretty sure that lovely realization comes with age. That’s my theory).

I was so anxious I couldn’t sleep (and who wants to be sleepless on vacation??? Unless it involves dancing the night away??). The next day, I could barely talk. I was much more nervous than E, who had never been diving before and who was recovering from a stomach bug. 

Even though I was seized by this fear, I still put on the wetsuit. I still strapped on the BCD and put that regulator in my mouth. I had a tiny panic attack with my first breath, but I  just kept breathing. And breathing. Just kept breathing that weird, dry air that was strapped to my back.

And every second of fear and discomfort was forgotten when I submerged in that alien world.

It wasn’t perfect, and I wasn’t immediately a superstar (which I had felt like in Thailand). I ran out of air before everyone, likely due to my nervousness, and I always had trouble equalizing my ears to the pressure. I’d get cold, I kicked things I shouldn’t have (like faces and coral), I had a foggy mask, my contact blurred. Once I got so freaked out I almost popped to the surface.

Yet, when I did a slow roll and saw the sparkly surface above me, or saw an immense eagle ray move powerfully by, I didn’t think about anything else.

The moral of this story is, fear can be a guidepost. It’s one of those tricky things we need to master during life: either to follow your fearful instincts or to defy them. Sometimes fear is the best warning system, sometimes it holds us back. Just another part that works so much better if it’s balanced. It’s a constant struggle for me, with my anxiety. To be really honest with you, there are days/weeks where I always feel afraid. But, like I’ve been told to do, I strap on that air and do it anyway, and that’s what matters. 

And you know what? There’s a 99% chance it will be completely, totally worth it (and that 1% chance probably holds a lesson I really need to learn, even if it plain sucks).

{all photos courtesy of my father and his underwater camera! more to come :)}

The post Scuba Diving appeared first on Amy and the Great World.

I’m officially back in Denver after traveling to Olympia, Washington for Christmas and then to Cozumel, Mexico for New Year’s.

While I had many plans to post in Mexico, I could not bring myself to open my computer once, although I did occasionally pop onto other forms of social media (find me on Twitter and Instagram, if you’re interested!)

This is probably yet another blogger fail–as were my lack of pictures on these little vacations–but I can’t really make myself feel TOO sorry.

Here are a few shots from Mexico, just from my iPhone! (Can you blame me for unplugging all week??) I’ll fill you in more later. Stay tuned for a recap of my 2013 and what I hope for in 2014!

(disclaimer: this will include few resolutions. I can never keep those things!!)

The post An Accidental Break appeared first on Amy and the Great World.