Well hello everyone, here is our long awaited update!
We had a fabulous time! I can't believe what a beautiful place Cancun is. It is only 32 years old, it was born on October 8th, 1976! Ya gotta love those tour guides. Cancun means 'snake pit' so that made Chris nervous!
When we first checked in we explored our Presidential Suite. It had 3 bathrooms, dining room with a table with 10 chairs, a stocked bar which the boys drank from continually and didn't have to pay for, kitchen with a stocked fridge, living room, 2 bedrooms each with a quad jacuzzi and a very very large foyer. There were 3 flat screen tv's. All marble floors, it was quite spiffy. We had a large balcony, two of them actually, one with two chairs and a hammock and one with 4 lounge chairs, a table and four chairs with 3 sets of sliding doors. We were on an end unit, 2nd floor, overlooking the ocean with no obstructions whatsoever. I can't forget the wine and fresh fruit left for us every day in each bedroom.
The first day we found a bloody Caesar and mimosa bar mixed in with the breakfast buffet, so the three of us left with a drink in hand at 9 a.m. because we could :-) We spent the day in the pool exploring the swim up bars which is where I met my new friend, the swimup bar bartender, Lorenzo. He took care of us faster than we could even say what we wanted. Met lots of people hanging out on the stools at the bar and ended up taking an hour nap around 5 pm missing my Kitchen Tour! I was very pleased with spending the whole day in the pool and not being the slightest bit sunburned.
Saturday we went on the Jungle Tour/Snorkeling trip. We were in speedboats, 2 to a boat. It was fun but unfortunately I didn't go snorkeling (but planned on it). When we got to the reef, everyone jumped out of their boats. I was thinking ahead and asked how we got back in and the guide said we just pull ourself up over the side or however we want to get back in. No ladder?? I was sure I didn't have the upper body strength to pull myself back up so I forfeited that idea. Some people had a really hard time getting back in. Rick was so amazed at the fish he saw. Can't wait to get those water camera pictures developed.
Sunday Chris and Rick went golfing at the Jack Nicholas course on the resort and I sauntered over to the spa (via golf cart) for my appointments. I had my first Hot Stone Massage and Facial, it was wonderful. I could barely even walk afterwards I felt so relaxed. Rick and Chris had a great time too, the course is beautiful, so picturesque. We all met for lunch at the Clubhouse and then hung out for the rest of the day. Swam a little...rested a little...gambled a little. We also visited the jewelry store in the resort...big mistake! Rick loves to barter and was successful so he felt compelled to buy me this so cool ring. It has 4.4 carats of gem stones, amethyst, blue topaz and citrine. It has three flowers on it made from the stones, trimmed in white gold. I love it so much!
Monday Rick and I went to Isla Mujeres (Island of the Woman) after a brief tropical storm.http://www.travelyucatan.com/isla_mujeres_mexico.php
We took a tour around that entire island and swam in the peninsula and the bartender jumped ship too and brought around drinks to the swimmers :-) What a blast. We picked up a few souvenirs there and headed back to Cancun. It was one of the best times we had the whole week, the tour guides were so much fun. When we got on the boat there was a tray of glasses of cerveza, sheeeshhhh, it was only 9 am. We met up with Chris for dinner and then sat on our balcony soaking up the gulf breeze. We couldn't believe what a beautiful day it turned out to be after the tropical storm that was going on in the early morning. We couldn't even believe where we were.
Tuesday was another lounge around day, which we all loved. Hung out at the pool, Lorenzo was working...but this time I was not going to miss the Kitchen Tour. I had a nap that afternoon while Chris and Rick continued to drink bottle after (big) bottle of rum. All you have to do there is call housekeeping and they bring you another. I left the boys on the balcony while I went on the Kitchen Tour. We had dinner plans to visit an authentic Mexican Restaurant on the resort. Rick was just getting out of the shower when I returned, almost ready. Chris was down for the count, "runk" as a skunk. We had a lovely dinner, gambled a little and decided to walk the beach back to our room.
Wednesday, Rick and Chris had a tee time reserved for 6.30 am. Chris didn't get up so Rick and I ventured off on another tour south to Tulum. We drove through the Rivera Maya down the coast. Tulum is a small Mayan community in ruins. The Mayan civilization is very interesting as were the ruins. I must say it was at least 10 degrees hotter an hour and a half south of Cancun. It was brutal. http://www.locogringo.com/tulum/We went to an ecological resort withing the Palace Resort family. Rick and I ended up getting a private tour of the wild birds, deer, monkeys, alligators and flamingos. It was way too cool....I was 2 feet from a Tucan! The colours were amazing. The lobby to that resort is all outside, computers and all, in a jungle. Freak, it was hot. We saw a two towed sloth too. Hot Dog they are freakin' ugly!! When we got back to the room Chris was up and off we went for dinner at the oriental restaurant. This restaurant requires the men to wear a collared shirt and long pants, no shorts. Of all the times Chris has been down there, this was the first trip he ate at this restaurant. We ended up eating there three times, he loved it. His favourite and Rick's favourite was deep fried ice cream in tempura batter with chocolate sauce.
I have to say that I am not an ice cream eater. But the vanilla ice cream on this resort is the best on this planet. It is unbelievable. My favourite dessert there was vanilla ice cream with a coffee liqueur. Yummy!
Thursday was our travel day, we packed up and had breakfast. We left the hotel around 9 am and landed in Toronto around 5 pm. Customs was a breeze. Chris' connecting flight was at 8 pm, so we hung out with him for awhile before we made the 2 1/2 hour trek home in the dam snow. We were so pissed off. And we weren't dressed for it either!
That brings me to the sad ending. On the night we got home I got sick and was sick until Monday. Not sure what it was but the clinic thought it was a touch of Norwalk. Man oh man, I was either sleeping or in the bathroom. Neither Rick nor Chris were sick so I think I may have caught something on the plane. So to those of you who were calling or emailing me to see how we were and welcome us home, I'm sorry I wasn't as quick to respond as I usually am. I'm feeling much better now. I actually finished unpacking only today.
We had a fabulous time! I can't believe what a beautiful place Cancun is. It is only 32 years old, it was born on October 8th, 1976! Ya gotta love those tour guides. Cancun means 'snake pit' so that made Chris nervous!
When we first checked in we explored our Presidential Suite. It had 3 bathrooms, dining room with a table with 10 chairs, a stocked bar which the boys drank from continually and didn't have to pay for, kitchen with a stocked fridge, living room, 2 bedrooms each with a quad jacuzzi and a very very large foyer. There were 3 flat screen tv's. All marble floors, it was quite spiffy. We had a large balcony, two of them actually, one with two chairs and a hammock and one with 4 lounge chairs, a table and four chairs with 3 sets of sliding doors. We were on an end unit, 2nd floor, overlooking the ocean with no obstructions whatsoever. I can't forget the wine and fresh fruit left for us every day in each bedroom.
The first day we found a bloody Caesar and mimosa bar mixed in with the breakfast buffet, so the three of us left with a drink in hand at 9 a.m. because we could :-) We spent the day in the pool exploring the swim up bars which is where I met my new friend, the swimup bar bartender, Lorenzo. He took care of us faster than we could even say what we wanted. Met lots of people hanging out on the stools at the bar and ended up taking an hour nap around 5 pm missing my Kitchen Tour! I was very pleased with spending the whole day in the pool and not being the slightest bit sunburned.
Saturday we went on the Jungle Tour/Snorkeling trip. We were in speedboats, 2 to a boat. It was fun but unfortunately I didn't go snorkeling (but planned on it). When we got to the reef, everyone jumped out of their boats. I was thinking ahead and asked how we got back in and the guide said we just pull ourself up over the side or however we want to get back in. No ladder?? I was sure I didn't have the upper body strength to pull myself back up so I forfeited that idea. Some people had a really hard time getting back in. Rick was so amazed at the fish he saw. Can't wait to get those water camera pictures developed.
Sunday Chris and Rick went golfing at the Jack Nicholas course on the resort and I sauntered over to the spa (via golf cart) for my appointments. I had my first Hot Stone Massage and Facial, it was wonderful. I could barely even walk afterwards I felt so relaxed. Rick and Chris had a great time too, the course is beautiful, so picturesque. We all met for lunch at the Clubhouse and then hung out for the rest of the day. Swam a little...rested a little...gambled a little. We also visited the jewelry store in the resort...big mistake! Rick loves to barter and was successful so he felt compelled to buy me this so cool ring. It has 4.4 carats of gem stones, amethyst, blue topaz and citrine. It has three flowers on it made from the stones, trimmed in white gold. I love it so much!
Monday Rick and I went to Isla Mujeres (Island of the Woman) after a brief tropical storm.http://www.travelyucatan.com/isla_mujeres_mexico.php
We took a tour around that entire island and swam in the peninsula and the bartender jumped ship too and brought around drinks to the swimmers :-) What a blast. We picked up a few souvenirs there and headed back to Cancun. It was one of the best times we had the whole week, the tour guides were so much fun. When we got on the boat there was a tray of glasses of cerveza, sheeeshhhh, it was only 9 am. We met up with Chris for dinner and then sat on our balcony soaking up the gulf breeze. We couldn't believe what a beautiful day it turned out to be after the tropical storm that was going on in the early morning. We couldn't even believe where we were.
Tuesday was another lounge around day, which we all loved. Hung out at the pool, Lorenzo was working...but this time I was not going to miss the Kitchen Tour. I had a nap that afternoon while Chris and Rick continued to drink bottle after (big) bottle of rum. All you have to do there is call housekeeping and they bring you another. I left the boys on the balcony while I went on the Kitchen Tour. We had dinner plans to visit an authentic Mexican Restaurant on the resort. Rick was just getting out of the shower when I returned, almost ready. Chris was down for the count, "runk" as a skunk. We had a lovely dinner, gambled a little and decided to walk the beach back to our room.
Wednesday, Rick and Chris had a tee time reserved for 6.30 am. Chris didn't get up so Rick and I ventured off on another tour south to Tulum. We drove through the Rivera Maya down the coast. Tulum is a small Mayan community in ruins. The Mayan civilization is very interesting as were the ruins. I must say it was at least 10 degrees hotter an hour and a half south of Cancun. It was brutal. http://www.locogringo.com/tulum/We went to an ecological resort withing the Palace Resort family. Rick and I ended up getting a private tour of the wild birds, deer, monkeys, alligators and flamingos. It was way too cool....I was 2 feet from a Tucan! The colours were amazing. The lobby to that resort is all outside, computers and all, in a jungle. Freak, it was hot. We saw a two towed sloth too. Hot Dog they are freakin' ugly!! When we got back to the room Chris was up and off we went for dinner at the oriental restaurant. This restaurant requires the men to wear a collared shirt and long pants, no shorts. Of all the times Chris has been down there, this was the first trip he ate at this restaurant. We ended up eating there three times, he loved it. His favourite and Rick's favourite was deep fried ice cream in tempura batter with chocolate sauce.
I have to say that I am not an ice cream eater. But the vanilla ice cream on this resort is the best on this planet. It is unbelievable. My favourite dessert there was vanilla ice cream with a coffee liqueur. Yummy!
Thursday was our travel day, we packed up and had breakfast. We left the hotel around 9 am and landed in Toronto around 5 pm. Customs was a breeze. Chris' connecting flight was at 8 pm, so we hung out with him for awhile before we made the 2 1/2 hour trek home in the dam snow. We were so pissed off. And we weren't dressed for it either!
That brings me to the sad ending. On the night we got home I got sick and was sick until Monday. Not sure what it was but the clinic thought it was a touch of Norwalk. Man oh man, I was either sleeping or in the bathroom. Neither Rick nor Chris were sick so I think I may have caught something on the plane. So to those of you who were calling or emailing me to see how we were and welcome us home, I'm sorry I wasn't as quick to respond as I usually am. I'm feeling much better now. I actually finished unpacking only today.
We all vowed to return, we love Mexico. I've uploaded some of our pictures, scroll down for the slide show. You can click on any picture during the slideshow or on this webpage and you can see an enlarged shot. Enjoy!
We talked a lot about planning our next adventure together, an Alaskan Cruise. Wow!
