Thursday was the long awaited, much anticipated day and as usual I didn't sleep the night before, I was much too excited, and kind of nervous. A friend (Sharon!) was wrong I didn't miss the girls after 2 days of being away, try 2 hours of sitting at the airport, where everything we saw we said Danika would love.
Leaving on a west jet plane we were delighted to look out the window and see west jet people holding up signs saying "HAVE FUN IN THE SUN!" However the 6 hour flight did not have any TV and so we were entertained the whole time by 2 little kids in front of us who talked pretty much the whole way, all the time we were wondering if we should have brought our own 2!
Here's a run down of our arrival in Mexico. Landed, pitch black. Last baggage to come through on the carousel, went through customs, serenaded by Mexicans, had our luggage whipped away without the chance to say no with an eager hand waiting to accept money and not leaving until I dug around for 5 minutes trying to find some. Overwhelmed. Taken to our shuttle area. EVERYONE else left on shuttles, we were the last ones. A brand new, lowered excursions, with tinted windows, sweet rims pulls up. Adrian picks us up, makes us laugh the whole time. Army men EVERYWHERE on the sides of the road with huge shields and machine guns. As the 2010 United Nations Climate change Conference was being held in Cancun.
Pulled up to El Dorado Royale, ummm... PARADISE!!!
It was breathtaking. Taken to our first room, oceanfront, double jacuzzi suite. Got ready, went to dinner. Everyone was asking if it was our honeymoon. Went back to room. Jacuzzi, champagne and room service.. need I say more!! Tried to sleep in our king size bed, Steve snored peacefully, I was still too nervous/excited. Woke up at 6 am to birds singing, beautiful sunrise over the ocean. Got up and went for a delicious breakfast at the poolside. Walked around resort, took pics and absolutely in awe!
Went to main lobby to get a map of the huge resort. Steve told "Howard" our favorite Mexican in a very nice way, "we don't want to come off as snobs, because we aren't, but when I booked the hotel the lady said it was all brand new, totally renovated rooms and we've been saving and waiting for this since we've been married..."
"No problem Mr.Fitzpatrick, let me see what I can do."
Told us everything was booked that evening but the next night he would upgrade us.
Saw a giant iguana on the way back to the room. Got in swimsuits and headed to beach. The ocean was breathtakingly turquoise. Served cervezas and peach/mango daiquiris all day!
Went snorkeling, soo cool, saw so many fish. Steve saw a barracuda. Went for lunch. Pizza and nachos. More suntanning. Back to room to get ready for our 4 pm meeting to book our week of fun. Went to martini bar in lobby had a chocolate martini.. delicious!
La Fondue restaurant for dinner and had an amazing fondue 4 course dinner. Then went to the entertainment area to hear the Michael Jackson live show. I LOVED it, they went all out with back up dancers, costume changes and the dances were replicas!! Good night!!!
Saturday Woke up at 6am went to La Isla for breakfast at the main pool. Then went and set up at the beach. We played some beach volleyball, drank delicious drinks, read and did some more snorkeling. Walked through the casitas, saw the spa there with the hydrotherapy. Ate lunch at the health bar with made delicious smoothies and milkshakes.
Had our massages at 4pm, got in early to use the sauna and steam room. Put on our robes and slippers and led to the massage deck on the beach, overlooking the ocean. Laid in bliss for 50 minutes together dozing in and out of consciousness as we listened to the lapping of the ocean. Then it ended with a 20 minutes facial to "prep our skin for the sun." We ate dinner at the D'Italia restaurant, another gorgeous building and 4 course meal. New room, way better ocean view. Went to watch the Jamaican show, but was falling asleep so went back to do just that. I slept and Steve ordered room service.
Sunday Ordered room service for breakfast, a little bit too much food!! Went on a tour of the properties and saw what the casitas are like inside (own swimming pools, butlers, golf carts) and how to become an "exotic" member, which sounded too good to be true (so it probably was!)
We saw an alligator and told how before the hurricane happened 5 years ago their were spider monkeys, parrots, iguanas. everywhere, but that it wiped them all out and now there are just 2 alligators left and a few iguanas. And how the beach used to be 3 times as big, hence the huge sandbags they put out to recreate the corral that was wrecked. Anyways we did the tour to get a free candlelight dinner on the ocean, and kind of regretted it as we wasted so much of our morning. Went to get ready and headed straight to the beach. Laid in the sun, I read and Steve snorkeled. Went for lunch and had the best burger of my life! Went back to the beach and it got a little chilly so we slowly walked back to our room and explored the beach and found some awesome seashells. Went back and got ready and went to Kampai, our favorite restaurant of them all. Seriously every bite was savored. Hung out at the bar before the night show and tried a new licorice shot (sambucca) so yummy! The entertainment was the Caribbean show, so good. Our favorite was the changing colors of the outfits as they danced on stage. It felt like we were front row seated (on an extremely comfortable couch!) at a Las Vegas show. Danced for a bit and then sat under a cabana on the couches at the beach.
Monday Woke up for sunrise, can't even explain the beauty of it. Just finished saying how I wished I could see dolphins, turned around and watched dolphins make their way across the sunrise reflection.
Had room service again as we got ready for a day trip to Xel-Ha (shell-ha) picked up at 8am. Took a long drive, loco Mexican driving!!
Got there and went down the lazy river snorkeling and froze. Was not too impressed. Got out and warmed up. Ate, sun tanned, took pics. Warmed up and snorkeled the Mayan cave. Saw soo many colorful fish and sting rays. Stayed in for a long time and this time enjoyed every minute! Got out, warmed up and walked over the floating bridge to the cenotes. Walked around the whole place, rode bikes, saw toucans, parrots, iguanas and the dolphins. Tried to eat at the restaurants there as it was all inclusive as well, but felt like a snob after eating at our 5 star resort all week and basically stuck to the drinks! Stayed until 6 pm. What a GREAT day!
Didn't get back to the room until 7 pm. Ordered room service for dinner and watched a movie. Today at Xel-Ha we saw 2 little girls, the older sister holding the little one down and almost broke down... I miss my babies so much! Hasn't been bad at the resort because there aren't any little kids.
Tuesday Woke up at 5:40am, got our housecoats and slippers on and cuddled on the deck on our hammock with a blanket to watch the sunrise. WE got ready and went to claim our poolside seats... our first time at the pool! Then went for breakfast. Went to pool and finally finished my book (I brought 10 and only read 1!!) Swam up to the swim up bar.. the pool was cold! Went for lunch, back to pool and played a game. Our neighbors won and got us all champagne to celebrate. They were from England, so funny and reminded us of camp. Met a deaf man Bill. He had been there 24 days already, very kind man and could have a conversation so easily as he had been deaf since he was 12 and could read lips. His talking was also amazing and we could easily understand him. He was very wealthy and had come up with the saying for the pop coca cola (as our neighbors understood. Very interesting man and asked Steve all about his accident.
Took out bikes in the afternoon to the far end of the resort, dropped bikes to walk along empty beach, there wasn't anything on either side of our resort, so it was very private. We saw camels and got out picture taken. Rode back and walked along the beach in front of our room to collect some more seashells. Reminded once again to just stop and slow down and see the beauty all around. You stop on the beach and look down and find the most beautiful, intricate seashells. Snorkeling your disappointed as you swim along quickly, but then you stop and just float there and you see literally hundreds of the most colorful fish hiding in the rocks.
Went back to room and called Danika. It was so weird talking to her on the phone. I never really have because this is the longest we have been apart. She was so cute and such a girl! She kept pausing and saying so... I'm going to get you present. (hint hint mom!)
Once ready we started walking to our favorite restaurant Kampai, got literally driven by the shuttle cart all over the resort, arrived to a 35 minute wait, then went on another adventure on a shuttle to the Cocatal restaurant. Another Excellente meal!
After our 4 course meal we walked to the entertainment to watch the "Ideal Couple," it was hilarious! Steve and I learned to salsa (sort of!) Night! Only one more full day!
Wednesday Our first day of sleeping in. Woke up at 8 went for another delicious breakfast. Then went back to the beach to set up. We liked the pools, but the ocean was too gorgeous to not sit at, and the sound is so peaceful. Went for another snorkel and this time went outside the sandbags because it was so calm. We were amazed! It was over corral, and was so colorful and saw the most amazing fish. On was larger than a basketball and as thin as a book with huge eyes. We saw fish every color of the rainbow and were absolutely blown away by the beauty of God's creation. That was the best snorkeling of our trip and it was at our own beach. We took the rest of the day to sun tan and then walked along the beach to our room to get ready for our last night and candlelight dinner. When the lady at the front asked us what we were celebrating that evening I quickly replied, "Our love" which was pretty funny but then said our last night.
They set us up under our own cabana on the beach which was wrapped in silk. Served a delicious 5 course meal as we were serenaded by a saxophone. It was the perfect ending to the perfect week. After dinner we went and watched the last show and were not disappointed. It was mindblowing! There were contorcionists, jugglers, and break dancers. And our jaws were literally dropped the entire time! We stayed out late and I made a fool of myself in the front dancing with the regulars, who all seemed to know a certain dance, but I! But I laughed my way through it and by the time I finally caught on, it was over! What a great night!!
Thursday Woke up early and packed our bags, even though we didn't have to be out until noon, we decided to get packed up and put our bags in the lobby holding area so we could enjoy our last day in the sun. Had our last amazing breakfast, then headed to the beach. We walked around the ocean and checked out the fish again, had a light lunch at the health bar. Then went up to the lobby to change and get ready to leave. We were picked up 4 hours before our flight left due to the UN conference and made it there in 15 minutes, so had a long wait in the airport. Once we got through we did a little bit of shopping as we didn't do any but at the resort. Maybe next time we would venture to the Market in town, but we felt that 7 days was too short and we wanted to spend as much time at our resort as possible.
The flight home was long, brutal and extremely uncomfortable and we didn't land until 1 am. And didn't get to Cochrane until 3 am.
We had an amazing, unforgettable time and made the sweetest memories. We are so happy we did the trip just the 2 of us and would love to do this yearly if not every 2 years. It was so good to just be with my husband, no stress, to laugh and have fun and to fall in love all over again. Mexico was everything we thought it would and more!!! Adios!
Leaving on a west jet plane we were delighted to look out the window and see west jet people holding up signs saying "HAVE FUN IN THE SUN!" However the 6 hour flight did not have any TV and so we were entertained the whole time by 2 little kids in front of us who talked pretty much the whole way, all the time we were wondering if we should have brought our own 2!
Here's a run down of our arrival in Mexico. Landed, pitch black. Last baggage to come through on the carousel, went through customs, serenaded by Mexicans, had our luggage whipped away without the chance to say no with an eager hand waiting to accept money and not leaving until I dug around for 5 minutes trying to find some. Overwhelmed. Taken to our shuttle area. EVERYONE else left on shuttles, we were the last ones. A brand new, lowered excursions, with tinted windows, sweet rims pulls up. Adrian picks us up, makes us laugh the whole time. Army men EVERYWHERE on the sides of the road with huge shields and machine guns. As the 2010 United Nations Climate change Conference was being held in Cancun.
Pulled up to El Dorado Royale, ummm... PARADISE!!!
It was breathtaking. Taken to our first room, oceanfront, double jacuzzi suite. Got ready, went to dinner. Everyone was asking if it was our honeymoon. Went back to room. Jacuzzi, champagne and room service.. need I say more!! Tried to sleep in our king size bed, Steve snored peacefully, I was still too nervous/excited. Woke up at 6 am to birds singing, beautiful sunrise over the ocean. Got up and went for a delicious breakfast at the poolside. Walked around resort, took pics and absolutely in awe!
Went to main lobby to get a map of the huge resort. Steve told "Howard" our favorite Mexican in a very nice way, "we don't want to come off as snobs, because we aren't, but when I booked the hotel the lady said it was all brand new, totally renovated rooms and we've been saving and waiting for this since we've been married..."
"No problem Mr.Fitzpatrick, let me see what I can do."
Told us everything was booked that evening but the next night he would upgrade us.
Saw a giant iguana on the way back to the room. Got in swimsuits and headed to beach. The ocean was breathtakingly turquoise. Served cervezas and peach/mango daiquiris all day!
Went snorkeling, soo cool, saw so many fish. Steve saw a barracuda. Went for lunch. Pizza and nachos. More suntanning. Back to room to get ready for our 4 pm meeting to book our week of fun. Went to martini bar in lobby had a chocolate martini.. delicious!
La Fondue restaurant for dinner and had an amazing fondue 4 course dinner. Then went to the entertainment area to hear the Michael Jackson live show. I LOVED it, they went all out with back up dancers, costume changes and the dances were replicas!! Good night!!!
Saturday Woke up at 6am went to La Isla for breakfast at the main pool. Then went and set up at the beach. We played some beach volleyball, drank delicious drinks, read and did some more snorkeling. Walked through the casitas, saw the spa there with the hydrotherapy. Ate lunch at the health bar with made delicious smoothies and milkshakes.
Had our massages at 4pm, got in early to use the sauna and steam room. Put on our robes and slippers and led to the massage deck on the beach, overlooking the ocean. Laid in bliss for 50 minutes together dozing in and out of consciousness as we listened to the lapping of the ocean. Then it ended with a 20 minutes facial to "prep our skin for the sun." We ate dinner at the D'Italia restaurant, another gorgeous building and 4 course meal. New room, way better ocean view. Went to watch the Jamaican show, but was falling asleep so went back to do just that. I slept and Steve ordered room service.
Sunday Ordered room service for breakfast, a little bit too much food!! Went on a tour of the properties and saw what the casitas are like inside (own swimming pools, butlers, golf carts) and how to become an "exotic" member, which sounded too good to be true (so it probably was!)
We saw an alligator and told how before the hurricane happened 5 years ago their were spider monkeys, parrots, iguanas. everywhere, but that it wiped them all out and now there are just 2 alligators left and a few iguanas. And how the beach used to be 3 times as big, hence the huge sandbags they put out to recreate the corral that was wrecked. Anyways we did the tour to get a free candlelight dinner on the ocean, and kind of regretted it as we wasted so much of our morning. Went to get ready and headed straight to the beach. Laid in the sun, I read and Steve snorkeled. Went for lunch and had the best burger of my life! Went back to the beach and it got a little chilly so we slowly walked back to our room and explored the beach and found some awesome seashells. Went back and got ready and went to Kampai, our favorite restaurant of them all. Seriously every bite was savored. Hung out at the bar before the night show and tried a new licorice shot (sambucca) so yummy! The entertainment was the Caribbean show, so good. Our favorite was the changing colors of the outfits as they danced on stage. It felt like we were front row seated (on an extremely comfortable couch!) at a Las Vegas show. Danced for a bit and then sat under a cabana on the couches at the beach.
Monday Woke up for sunrise, can't even explain the beauty of it. Just finished saying how I wished I could see dolphins, turned around and watched dolphins make their way across the sunrise reflection.
Had room service again as we got ready for a day trip to Xel-Ha (shell-ha) picked up at 8am. Took a long drive, loco Mexican driving!!
Got there and went down the lazy river snorkeling and froze. Was not too impressed. Got out and warmed up. Ate, sun tanned, took pics. Warmed up and snorkeled the Mayan cave. Saw soo many colorful fish and sting rays. Stayed in for a long time and this time enjoyed every minute! Got out, warmed up and walked over the floating bridge to the cenotes. Walked around the whole place, rode bikes, saw toucans, parrots, iguanas and the dolphins. Tried to eat at the restaurants there as it was all inclusive as well, but felt like a snob after eating at our 5 star resort all week and basically stuck to the drinks! Stayed until 6 pm. What a GREAT day!
Didn't get back to the room until 7 pm. Ordered room service for dinner and watched a movie. Today at Xel-Ha we saw 2 little girls, the older sister holding the little one down and almost broke down... I miss my babies so much! Hasn't been bad at the resort because there aren't any little kids.
Tuesday Woke up at 5:40am, got our housecoats and slippers on and cuddled on the deck on our hammock with a blanket to watch the sunrise. WE got ready and went to claim our poolside seats... our first time at the pool! Then went for breakfast. Went to pool and finally finished my book (I brought 10 and only read 1!!) Swam up to the swim up bar.. the pool was cold! Went for lunch, back to pool and played a game. Our neighbors won and got us all champagne to celebrate. They were from England, so funny and reminded us of camp. Met a deaf man Bill. He had been there 24 days already, very kind man and could have a conversation so easily as he had been deaf since he was 12 and could read lips. His talking was also amazing and we could easily understand him. He was very wealthy and had come up with the saying for the pop coca cola (as our neighbors understood. Very interesting man and asked Steve all about his accident.
Took out bikes in the afternoon to the far end of the resort, dropped bikes to walk along empty beach, there wasn't anything on either side of our resort, so it was very private. We saw camels and got out picture taken. Rode back and walked along the beach in front of our room to collect some more seashells. Reminded once again to just stop and slow down and see the beauty all around. You stop on the beach and look down and find the most beautiful, intricate seashells. Snorkeling your disappointed as you swim along quickly, but then you stop and just float there and you see literally hundreds of the most colorful fish hiding in the rocks.
Went back to room and called Danika. It was so weird talking to her on the phone. I never really have because this is the longest we have been apart. She was so cute and such a girl! She kept pausing and saying so... I'm going to get you present. (hint hint mom!)
Once ready we started walking to our favorite restaurant Kampai, got literally driven by the shuttle cart all over the resort, arrived to a 35 minute wait, then went on another adventure on a shuttle to the Cocatal restaurant. Another Excellente meal!
After our 4 course meal we walked to the entertainment to watch the "Ideal Couple," it was hilarious! Steve and I learned to salsa (sort of!) Night! Only one more full day!
Wednesday Our first day of sleeping in. Woke up at 8 went for another delicious breakfast. Then went back to the beach to set up. We liked the pools, but the ocean was too gorgeous to not sit at, and the sound is so peaceful. Went for another snorkel and this time went outside the sandbags because it was so calm. We were amazed! It was over corral, and was so colorful and saw the most amazing fish. On was larger than a basketball and as thin as a book with huge eyes. We saw fish every color of the rainbow and were absolutely blown away by the beauty of God's creation. That was the best snorkeling of our trip and it was at our own beach. We took the rest of the day to sun tan and then walked along the beach to our room to get ready for our last night and candlelight dinner. When the lady at the front asked us what we were celebrating that evening I quickly replied, "Our love" which was pretty funny but then said our last night.
They set us up under our own cabana on the beach which was wrapped in silk. Served a delicious 5 course meal as we were serenaded by a saxophone. It was the perfect ending to the perfect week. After dinner we went and watched the last show and were not disappointed. It was mindblowing! There were contorcionists, jugglers, and break dancers. And our jaws were literally dropped the entire time! We stayed out late and I made a fool of myself in the front dancing with the regulars, who all seemed to know a certain dance, but I! But I laughed my way through it and by the time I finally caught on, it was over! What a great night!!
Thursday Woke up early and packed our bags, even though we didn't have to be out until noon, we decided to get packed up and put our bags in the lobby holding area so we could enjoy our last day in the sun. Had our last amazing breakfast, then headed to the beach. We walked around the ocean and checked out the fish again, had a light lunch at the health bar. Then went up to the lobby to change and get ready to leave. We were picked up 4 hours before our flight left due to the UN conference and made it there in 15 minutes, so had a long wait in the airport. Once we got through we did a little bit of shopping as we didn't do any but at the resort. Maybe next time we would venture to the Market in town, but we felt that 7 days was too short and we wanted to spend as much time at our resort as possible.
The flight home was long, brutal and extremely uncomfortable and we didn't land until 1 am. And didn't get to Cochrane until 3 am.
We had an amazing, unforgettable time and made the sweetest memories. We are so happy we did the trip just the 2 of us and would love to do this yearly if not every 2 years. It was so good to just be with my husband, no stress, to laugh and have fun and to fall in love all over again. Mexico was everything we thought it would and more!!! Adios!
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