mexico day 4 & 5

saturday (day 4) was our first full day of relaxation.  we found our favorite spot on the beach at the resort and didn't leave except to get in the water, get some food, and get some pina coladas.

this was also the day that a few people in our group started feeling a bit sick.  we think it was the fajitas from the mexican buffet the day before because only a few of us were feeling yucky.  lucky for me, i passed up the fajitas.  sadly enough, josh did not.

day 5 (sunday), we decided to head into playa del carmen for church.  well, those of us that felt good enough to go.  my dad did some research and found out how the collectivo (public transportation) system worked and where exactly the church was.  it started at 9 so just to be safe (remember, no one in my family speaks spanish) we decided to leave plenty early so we would make it on time.  well, we were at the chapel much than we had expected to be- like an hour early.  while we were sitting there, we joked about how one of us should go and practice playing on the piano because they'd probably ask us to play.

well, it wasn't really funny anymore at 8:55 when the bishop came up to us and asked if one of us would play all 4 songs for the meeting.  somehow i got chosen to play (instead of my little sisters and mother who can all play the piano and actually have one that they practice regularly).  pretty sure i'm a little rusty anyway, but add a completely full congregation, two songs that i don't know very well, and one song that isn't even in our english hymnbook, and you have one very scary, intimidating experience.  well, the lord was on my side because i was able to make it through the songs ok, even the one i had to sight-read.

it was an interesting experience, and one that i will always remember, even if we have no idea what was said because it was all in spanish.

after sacrament meeting, we decided to walk to the wal-mart to get some pepto-bismal for the rest of our group back at the resort.  we were in mexico while the world cup was going on and it was quite the sight to see all of the men sitting on patio chairs in the electronics department cheering mexico on.  classic.

we also shopped around a little bit on their 5th avenue and bought some jewelry and a few souvenirs.

best line of the day:

mexican jewelry store owner to my dad (wearing his long sleeve white church shirt in 100+ heat/humidity):

"amigo, are you loco?!  go buy a tee-shirt next store, you crazy gringo"

and so we did

and he changed in an alley way

and he was sooooo much happier!

the rest of the day was spent being lazy on the beach and with dinner at the resort's steakhouse.