Parasailing
So the day before today I had made parasailing reservations for the same time that we were doing the Sea Trek that day and Ana (our host for the house we were staying in) helped me get it corrected. Well....it's parasailing day today!
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Our reservations were for noon and we were to meet at Hotel Barracuda, which is the place right next door to Jeanie's so easy to get to and we knew where we were going.
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We parked at the MEGA and played frogger across the street to Barracuda. They have a small "beach" in this area, just like Jeanie's and we happened to be the only ones on the beach at noon.
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They took our temps, we washed our hands, then ask where to go for the parasailing.
We were instructed to go under the little palapa to sit at the table where we would find this sweet little old man that was sitting there. We talked to him and he was from the states and comes to Cozumel once a year for about 3-6 months out of the year. He was waiting on "the doctor" to come and give him his "shot" and he's been coming here for years to have this done. He was equipped with his medications. We ask if he was going parasailing and he said "no, just waiting on the doctor to arrive". He was so sweet. No, the below picture is not the little old man despite all the gray hair he's getting recently. ;)
A guy from the scuba shop came over and he was the one arranging for the parasailing as well. He spoke with us about the adventure, but was confused because there were only 3 of us and he had 4 bookings. Well, I explained to him that we had purchased 4 spots because mi hija is going up twice! How exciting is that?? Happy "early" Birthday to her!
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We sat around and talked to the instructor as we waited on the parasailing boat to arrive. We talked about diving of course. I inquired how much he charged for Discover Scuba (my mind had been on this since we arrived and the hubby told me yesterday at Jeanie's that watching the scuba divers with us taking pictures and walking us around on the ocean floor made him really miss it and wanting to dive). He told me some outrageous price like $140/pp and I think I spit my pop out at that point! Wow, that's the highest price I have received during all my searching prior to leaving home. I let that conversation go after I heard that.
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Now the place here was called "Scuba Juan", so now that I'm doing this review, I decided to look this place up. I found their website and low and behold...it says DSD are only $79/pp! What the heck? Were they trying to get one over on us?
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I also noticed they listed the parasailing on their website. They must use this company exclusively because they name listed on their website was the same company that pulled up to get us (Albatross). Now the other thing I find funny is that the website says you can fly up to 3 people tandem. This is the first I have heard of this and everyone we spoke to had said only 2 people at a time and they don't do 3 people. However, their website does specify up to 350 pounds, so that would eliminate that. I'm guessing I need to put Hija on a diet at this point. ;) The price they have listed on their website for parasailing is $65 per person.
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Now if you want to know where I booked our "flight" at, for $58.50, here's the website (I won't be using the companies logo since they mention it is copyrighted)
Website
The company that I used is called "Cozumel Tours" by Johann & Sandra. Now I know that I have seen people mention this couple and their tours before, so I felt comfortable booking it from the good experiences I had heard others mention. However, do know that I believe they are just a booking company that offers various excursions around the island with different vendors. Their website has a little history about them on there if you are interested. Your booking also comes with a "discount card" that gives you complimentary drinks or discounts at various restaurants around the island if you want to use it. We did not.
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So the parasailing boat was pulling up and preparing for our flight and the dive instructor told us that he would take our pictures prior to take off...
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Now getting in the boat was tricky for me, as it always is, because of my leg. Stepping down onto a moving object, while not having many places to hold on to is just scary.
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I had a big bag with our things in it and I found it odd that the 2 guys on the boat didn't even bother to take it from me as I stepped down onto the boat. Hmmm, I don't think I have ever had that happen before.
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But, I safely made it in there without any mishaps and I quickly scurried over to a stable place to sit.
Before long, we were heading out...goodbye Hotel Barracuda.