Oh wait, hurricanes are a seasonal event — which is why many people, like meteorologists, refer to the time frame from June 1 to November 1 as Hurricane Seasons. We even have a National Hurricane Center, created to cover these natural phenomenon.

But every year around this time, as tropical depressions become hurricanes there’s almost a surprise. So imagine our surprise this morning when we learned that, gasp, there are some growing systems in the Caribbean that might bring some rough weather to Mexico, Cuba and other Caribbean islands.

Now, media reports are acting slightly surprised that these systems might become stormy weather in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean have a 40 percent chance of becoming hurricanes. Sheesh, it happens every year, and some annual events should come as a surprise.

For those traveling to places like Cancun, Mexico City and Cuba, these big storms could rain on your holiday — but that’s also one of the reasons there are so many special offers during this time frame. It’s because there is almost always a chance of showers and strong winds.

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Photos of the smuggled monkeys released by Mexican authorities

security in Mexico City, according to Mexican authorities.

Security officers decided to take a closer look at Roberto Sol Cabrera after noticing him acting nervously as he stood in line and stuffed bananas down his shirt. (Actually, the monkeys were stuffed into socks and then wrapped around a belt.)

They had reason to be suspicious and upon removing Cabrera’s sweater discovered the tiny Titi monkeys. Cabrera tried to pass off the monkeys as just really big crabs, but Mexican authorities weren’t buying that.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Cabrera had bought the monkeys in Peru for about $30 each. He had hoped to sell them in Mexico for about $1,000 each — which in business terms is a pretty steep mark up. However, while he first thought about tossing the little critters in his luggage, he feared they might get hurt by the X-ray machine — and no doubt — might be seen on the X-ray machine as well.

So he stuffed them under his clothes and then tried to look as calm as possible as 18 baby monkeys squirmed around right next to his skin.

While any traveler may like the idea of buying something in a far away land and then bringing it home for big bucks, we would never recommend stuffing a couple of monkeys in your pants — there’s just something very wrong with the idea.

Check out this video from The Daily Telegraph.

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Organized by the Isla Mujeres Department of Tourism and ecotourismtravel agency Ceviche Tours, this year’s Shark Fest willcelebrate the beauty and culture of Isla Mujeres and support the need to preserve the fragile marine ecosystem. A portion of the festival’s proceeds will be donated to several environmental not-for-profit organizations.

Guests can participate in a variety of activities, including the highly anticipated whale shark bloom, where hundreds of the familia de Jaws will come together to swim in a group near the coast of Isla Mujeres (approximately 1,400 whale sharks make their way through the waters of Isla Mujeres every summer); swimming with whale sharks, where Junior can get his photo taken with Sharkey and post the pic not only on Facebook for bragging rights but to a virtual database used by Project Domino, a conservation program implemented by the Mexican government, to track the toothed terrorists; and academic seminars and film showcases, where scientists from around the world will present a series of talks on marine biology, sustainable ecotourism, recycling education, and Mayan architecture.

“Sustainable eco-tourism engages guests in the effort to preserve the indigenous culture of Isla Mujeres, their way of life and the marine environment,” said John Vater, who co-founded Ceviche Tours with his wife, Adriana, and longtime friend and Isla Mujeres native, Luis “Cuco” Refugio.  “Environmental preservation and sustainable eco-tourism will help sustain Isla Mujeres for generations to come.”

The Festival will be held July 16-18, 2010 in Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Travel arrangements and bookings for whale shark tours can be made through Ceviche Tours.

For a more complete listing of 2010 Whale Shark Festival activities and additional information, visit www.whalesharkfest.com or www.cevichetours.com.

Photos courtesy of Call Communications/Ceviche Tours.

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CasaMagna Cancun Outdoor Restaurant

Somehow, Americans have twisted the idea of vacation and summer.

Sure, school is out and that frees up some time for parents to load up the kids and head to Disney World or Land or where ever it is parents take kids to have them eat sugar and run in circles until they fall panting on the ground.

But generations of loading up into minivans and station wagons and then driving for days “seeing the country” have ended. Now there are camps and clubs and little league games. That creates the possibility that the kids are gone and there are a couple of free days on the calendar.

So why not head south of the border? Seven resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico are offering a romance themed package that doesn’t include the your children. (Unless your kids enjoy being welcomed with a bottle of champagne and spa discounts.)

We’re pretty sure the Escape! Romance program means Escape to a new world! Find Romance while you’re there because the kids are at home making someone else’s life miserable, though what we keep reading is: Come to Mexico,

St. Kitts Marriott

you’ll be able to get away from that pesky romance.

In either case, the program, by either name, offers inexpensive rooms and, depending up where you stay, other items that could help put you in touch with those romantic feelings again — as free breakfast will help anyone get the fresh fruit juices flowing again. CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort has rooms in July starting at $149 per night and $212 a night at St. Kitts Marriott Resort & Royal Beach Casino in September. (This is the same resort our own intrepid reporter Gayle McCarthy spent a few days recent touring with nothing but high marks.)

Other properties participating in this CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, Grand Cayman Marriott Beach

CasaMagna Cancun

Resort, Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort, Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, Curacao Marriott Beach Resort & Emerald Casino, and the JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa.

You’re also welcome to bring your kids — though honestly, if we’re there, we’d prefer you left them at home.

For information go to ParadiseByMarriott.com or, if you have one, contact your travel agent, or call toll-free 1-888-PARADISE. Request the code LVU when making reservations.

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Though apparently, No. 2 in English doesn’t translate to the same thing in Spanish.

Now what Orbitz — the cool travel website with a hover craft — did was put together a list of the Top 10 travel destinations for this summer. Cancun, Orbits says, is one of those great destinations to go to on those shoulder months of travel — something we advocate doing as much as possible. (Should seasons are those months that border between too many tourists and not enough — meaning lots of things are closed, it’s like going to Europe in March or April or Cancun in May or October.) You can always get great deals during those times.

Of course, we’ve always had Cancun at the top of our lists — and never have referred to it as No. 2. And here’s why, according to Cancun people we know, just check out some of the deals there this summer:

• Omni Cancun Hotel & Villas.  With its new “Fun-4-Summer” deal, available May 29^th, 2010 through September 9^th, 2010, the fourth night is free and children 12 and under receive complimentary breakfast.

• Aqua Cancun, Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancun, Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancun and Fiesta Americana Villas Cancun, guests will receive up to 25 percent off the nightly room rate, plus free daily breakfast for two.  Travel reservations must be booked on or before August 14^th, 2010, for travel now through August 14^th, 2010.

• The Ritz-Carlton Cancun offers the ultimate in luxury. The Endless Flavors package allows guests to enjoy all the resorts restaurants and bars with a luxurious full meal plan that includes all food and beverage services.  This enticing offer is available from May 6 through December 15^th, 2010.

• Zöetry Paraíso de la Bonita in Puerto Morelos, Cancun is offering up to 50 percent off, plus 200 resort coupons that can be used towards romantic dinners, wines and spa treatments when you stay a minimum of three nights.  Booking must be made on or before June 15^th, 2010 for travel now through December 23^rd, 2010.
• The Bel Air Collection Hotel & Spa Cancun is giving one additional free night with a minimum stay of four nights on the Gourmet Plan (all inclusive). Reservations must be made before August 30^th, 2010 for travel through September 30^th, 2010.

• The Ramada Cancun City & Radisson Hacienda Cancun you will receive 20 percent off the nightly room rate when you stay a minimum of three nights, between August 1^st and September 30^th, 2010.

• Le Meridien Cancun Resort and Spa offers Sunsational Savings. You get a free night (minimum four nights), food and beverage credit and/or component and a room upgrade.  This deal is available now through December 31^st, 2010.

• LIVE AQUA Cancun has a special package perfect for those who seek complete relaxation! It includes a restful sanctuary in a deluxe ocean view room, an aromatherapy menu in the room with a selection of five different scents, daily buffet breakfast at Siete restaurant and a special 25 percent off at the spa.

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The self-proclaimed D-lister could land the A-list deal at the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino during the International Film Festival there next month. Actually, anyone can get that deal, even if you don’t travel with an entourage.

The Aruba International Film Festival runs June 4 to 11. This particular film festival is like Cannes but in a more friendly time zone and not filled with quite as many stars clogging up the streets and getting all of the good restaurant reservations. (Richard Gere is scheduled to attend.) The resort, however, is five stars.

Now the deal we’ve heard the Aruba Marriott is offering is the “A List Package” and includes:

- 7th night free

- Access for two to the Red Carpet Movie Night Opening Event @ Paseo Herencia Theater featuring Richard Gere (June 4th)

- Two VIP tickets to the official Aruba International Film Festival “Bollywood” Gala at the Aruba Marriott (June 10th)

- Exclusive access to the resort’s private lounge and secluded beach area

- Five complimentary gourmet servings throughout the day

- Open bar daily from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

- Deluxe amenities such as a pillow menu, free internet access and pressing services

- Ocean view accommodations with spacious private balcony

Package rates start at $580 / night and require a minimum seven-night stay. Book now through June 3 for travel June 3-14.

To book the package, call (800) 223-6388 or visit www.arubamarriott.com and request promotional code FVJ.  For more information on the Aruba Film Festival, please visit www.arubafilmfest.com and follow them on Twitter @arubafilmfest.

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Noooo! Not in the box, please, no

OK, pack up your outrage, stuff it in a box and ship it back to Canada.

Delta Airlines may not have handled this Mexican dog caper very well, but the airline did not kidnap a Mexican dog and try to ship it thousands of miles away. And in the process of stealing the hound, may have killed it. No, this is not Delta’s problem in the end, it’s Canada’s. Blame Canada.

Think we’re joking? Imagine this: You’re on a beach in Mexico, soaking it all in and then you’re shoved in a box, taken to a doctor and then put in the belly of a plane to head 2,000 miles north.

That’s what happened to Rex. Concerned Canadian tourists Josiah Allen and Erin Docking scooped up Rex, renamed him Paco, which we refuse to use until his bitch of a mother is notified, so we’ll call him Scrappy-Doo and decided to move him north for a better life. No more would Scrappy-Doo run freeley along the Puerto Vallarta beaches, fur flowing in the sea breeze, tail wagging.

Scrappy, after receiving treatments for pink eye, tick infestation and getting all those shots to ward off pesky problems like rabies, was shoved in a small kennel and put on a plane to make the trek northward. After the first leg of his trip, Scrappy decided that enough was enough. Kennels, doctors, flying, and people saying Eh? was terrifying.

Shove me in that box again and I'll shove you

Capitalizing on a delay caused by Delta questioning the size of his carrier during a layover in Mexico City, Scrappy made a break for it. A quick dog leg right, then one left and he was free, running free across the tarmac of the Mexico City Airport.

Delta decided to withhold this information as all passengers, save Scrappy-Doo, embarked the plane and flew off to Detroit. Upon landing, Delta told Scrappy’s proud new parents that he’d be on a later flight as he was unable to make the first flight. Delta promised to  fly him first class and deliver him to their Canadian home the next day.

All day they waited, a Welcome Home Scrappy-Doo banner hanging across the front of their home but no knock on the door, no familiar bark, nothing. Scrap’s parents had to call Delta, endure numerous transfers and generally get the finger from the airline until Delta finally fessed up that they had no idea what became of Scrappy after he bolted from the Mystery Inc. dog kennel that he was housed in.

Today Scrappy-Doo, having changed his name back to Rex, is making the trek back to Puerto Vallarta on foot, vowing never, ever will he be suckered into a box by concerned Canadians.

Rex, happier beach days. Leave him alone Canada.

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First it loves the land south of the border.

Then it hates it.

Then it loves it again.

How things change — or stay the same — now the State Department hates Mexico again, issuing a new travel warning in some parts of Mexico, including  Chihuahua, Durango, Coahuila and Chimichonga.

Much of the violance down in Mexico stems from drug lords fighting it out along the Mexican/U.S. border. But now, some of the violence has made its way to some tourist locations according to the BBC — the one news organization that seems to cover the US better than any US news organization.

Additionally, the State Department is quick to point out that the Mexican government has done a good job of protecting tourists, many of which are Americans — so this warning seems to be one of those warnings that is not that big of a deal, but if something happens, at the least the U.S. government can say, “hey, we told you so.”

Now will this impact our travel plans? Nope — not a one. We have no reason to go to a border town, as donkey shows just aren’t our thing — not that there’s anything wrong with them.

And if you do go, here are some numbers we grabbed off of the state departments web site, you may want to have handy:

Consulates (with consular districts):

Ciudad Juarez (Chihuahua): Paseo de la Victoria 3650, tel. (011)(52)(656) 227-3000. http://ciudadjuarez.usconsulate.gov/.

Guadalajara (Nayarit, Jalisco, Aguas Calientes, and Colima): Progreso 175, telephone (011)(52)(333) 268-2100. http://guadalajara.usconsulate.gov/.

Hermosillo (Sinaloa and the southern part of the state of Sonora): Avenida Monterrey 141, telephone (011)(52)(662) 289-3500. http://hermosillo.usconsulate.gov/.

Matamoros (the southern part of Tamaulipas with the exception of the city of Tampico): Avenida Primera 2002, telephone (011)(52)(868) 812-4402. http://matamoros.usconsulate.gov/.

Merida (Campeche, Yucatan, and Quintana Roo): Calle 60 no. 338-K x 29 y 31, Col. Alcala Martin, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico 97050, telephone (011)(52)(999) 942-5700 or 202-250-3711 (U.S. number). http://merida.usconsulate.gov/.

Monterrey (Nuevo Leon, Durango, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosi, and the southern part of Coahuila): Avenida Constitucion 411 Poniente, telephone (011)(52)(818) 047-3100. http://monterrey.usconsulate.gov/.

Nogales (the northern part of Sonora): Calle San Jose, Nogales, Sonora, telephone (011)(52)(631) 311-8150. http://nogales.usconsulate.gov/.

Nuevo Laredo (the northern part of Coahuila and the northwestern part of Tamaulipas): Calle Allende 3330, col. Jardin, telephone (011)(52)(867) 714-0512. http://nuevolaredo.usconsulate.gov/.

Tijuana (Baja California Norte and Baja California Sur): Tapachula 96, telephone (011)(52)(664) 622-7400. http://tijuana.usconsulate.gov/service.html.

All other Mexican states, and the Federal District of Mexico City, are part of the Embassy’s consular district.

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The underwater sculptures are part of Cancun’s artificial reef, designed to give scuba divers a place to see something interesting instead of wandering off to natural coral areas and potentially damaging the fragile reefs.

Many of the sculptures have an eerie realistic look to them, depicting dry land scenes but on the sea’s floor. (Check out some of the cool pictures at the Underwater Sculpture website.)

By June the National Park on the West Coast of Isla Mujeres, Punta Cancun and Punt Nizuc will have roughly 200 sculptures sunk in the underwater garden and 400 by the end of the year. And all you need to see them is scuba tank.

For travelers looking to get away, right now is the time to think about Cancun. As summer approaches, deals galore have been appearing on may travel sites for Cancun.

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