Dec 6
One minute over the Mexico mainland, the next, with the island of Cozumel in sight, we were preparing to land. Ever back-taxied at an international airport? I have! With air-stairs rolled into place, the doors front and back were released. Tropical air, warm and humid, flooded the cabin. And with it came the smell of vacation. Floral. Fruity. Delicious.
Took out my brand spanking new US passport and presented it for its first ever stamp, then hurried to meet the group outside.
Today I was also adding another first to my list. My 10 friends and I were headed to an all-inclusive resort for a week. Put your wallet away Dallice, all you need is this little blue wristband going forward!
The lobby with its marble floors and Christmas decorations was loaded with friendly staff and before I knew it, I wanted to try my hand at Spanish. No, I don't speak Spanish and despite my efforts I knew I was torturing this beautiful language, but my gracious hosts seem to appreciate my efforts anyway.
Fast forward 1 hour... Sunset at the beach followed by happy hour at the beach bar. We were waiting for the restaurant to open for the first meal together. Fun! Yes, my first "go with your friends" vacation too. Given that New Zealanders don't have Spring Break and I missed this unique cultural experience, I wondered if this might be my substitute... Except of course my friends and I were 20-30 years older than the average Spring Breaker's and most definitely smarter and more accomplished!
Dinner: A buffet featuring meat, vegetables, salad, breads and desserts. My wine glass was never empty and my belly was setting me up for a food coma that I welcomed. Good food, company and conversation, followed by star gazing under full moon down on the dock with my sweetheart. Bliss. Much deserved, much anticipated, much appreciated, bliss. And there was a comfy king sized bed with our name on it shortly thereafter.
Waking up in Mexico, surrounded by lush foliage, sunshine and the call of a peacock. I'm not going to lie to you... It's a good life! Even as I pulled on shorts and t-shirt, I wondered if I would be warm enough. The Colorado winter was still fresh in my mind and I was not used to having warm feet yet. One step outside, however, settled me. Off to breakfast we went.
A short walk with just enough time to admire the flowers, pet the local cat and get excited about the little group of baby turtles dragging their wet selves into the morning sun.
Our group - 11 strong - sat at one of the few larger tables. This detail is important because it may have been the only reason we stayed there, not moving when "the noise" started. Gail took her seat at the table, a boiled egg lolled on her plate. As she cracked it and raw egg white ran free and she commented about the egg being labeled a "3 minute egg" but not looking like it at all. Two minutes later an older looking, frail seeming lady, began coughing and snorting up phlegm into her napkin. She persisted and drowned out our conversation... She persisted until we giggled uncontrollably and had renamed her "3 minute egg". Boy was that start of something that will forever remain part of this vacation!
By the time the rest of my group departed for a diving excursion, I was clad in a bikini and sarong, with a new novel in hand.
The next few hours are a blur of photography, exploring, book and coconut cocktail in hand, chit-chatting under a palapa to my new friends - a group of real estate investors from Michigan who call their Cozumel escape, an annual meeting. There is much I can learn here!
My day was soon more than just lounging around. I found the spa and set about purchasing the "package experience" - not one but two massages over the next week.
Have you ever wanted to know what a chocolate massage entails? Me too! Well... One's body is massaged until substantially more pliable, then gets lathered in what I thought would be delicious chocolate smelling lotion. From my face-down position, it certainly smelled chocolatey and there was that slurpy sound as the paste was applied. After letting it settle into my skin a bit, the massage therapist (Irais) moved away from the table and I heard the sound of a shower start nearby. Steam filled the room and she bent down to my face and gently informed me that the massage was finished and I could take a shower now. Hmmm, that was probably a good idea. I was feeling a bit sticky and cooling off slightly. Pretty sure that I didn't want to put shorts and T-shirt over this here body anytime soon. I rolled over, prepared to sit up. What I was not prepared for was the mess I saw. Nope, not chocolate lotion so much as actual chocolate. EVERYWHERE! The sheets were brown and I was brown from the neck to the toes! Thank goodness the shower was only 5 steps from me. I stepped inside and watched in delight as the water ran dark for 5 minutes. Assuming when it ran clear again I had managed to rinse myself back to the color of a freckly white girl, I dried off and re-dressed. Mmmm... Smelling like chocolate, with freshly washed hair and relaxed soul, it was time to wander down the path, through the tropical gardens, past the locals (cats, peacocks, iguanas and copious staff) and back to my room. Tonight we had dinner plans at the Steak House.
Were subsequent days much different? Not really. I lounged at the pool, chatted with Michelle, Erin and Joyce and sampled more new delicacies. Another day, another sunset. A bit more book and absolutely nothing that threatened to take away the lingering massage-bliss of yesterday.
Tuesday was the day the others took off from diving to visit Chichen Itza with me. Or should I say, the day I showed them what "I don't do well on boats" looks like. The ferry to Playa del Carmen was tossed about relentlessly on the ocean for 30 minutes. I lasted maybe 15 before one of the staff herded me from the back of the boat to the bathroom... The final resting place of my breakfast, as it turned out.
We joined out tour bus on the other side, gobbled down the continental breakfast and sped inland toward the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza. (Food on top of a squeamish stomach does feel better, in case you're wondering.)
Chichen Itza is a rather large national treasure. Ruins are still being uncovered and somewhat put back together. Our guide, a Mayan man with 30 years experience with tourists at Chichen Itza, was a wealth of knowledge. For several hours he tutored us on the Mayan calendar, games, rituals and community life. He showed us where to take pictures and advised us on the times of year that we ought to come back for more - the Mayan stone structures were built with the calendar in mind. Summer and winter solstice was vitally important.
There was a "walk the plank" type stone ramp that overlooked this cenote. The Mayans (influenced by other cultures perhaps) sacrificed virgins here. Not just unlucky little girls... But those born at the right time in the calendar, revered as royalty and groomed from birth for the ultimate ritual. All 48 skeletons found by modern day divers at the bottom of the cenote had flattened skulls. We are not talking about traumatic brain injury inducing, quick skull-flattening, but a slow process of deforming a skull using a flat board strapped to a head for many years while the girl grew.
The day was rounded out with a visit to a local cenote (sink hole/well) visit. This cenote is a major tourist destination, in case you can't tell. A swimmer walks down 90 steps to the bottom before launching themselves into the cold water. I heard it was refreshing!
Then we were off to lunch, shopping and that dreaded ferry ride again. This time, with not one but two anti-nausea tablets dissolved under my tongue, I felt sure I could handle the rough chop of the crossing. No such luck. Oh well... At least the resort offered that fabulous buffet dinner again once we reached "home" and let's face it, I had plenty of time to recover and feel better again under my palapa tomorrow. :-)
The group did a night dive later in the week. I saw them off at the dock. The night was calm and the sunset gorgeous. As the boat peetered off to a place not far from shore, I took pictures. Stunning.
For me, Cozumel was an entirely relaxing break from a busy home and work life. Doing "nothing" is a luxury that I think I'm not alone in saying, is rarely embraced in our daily lives. I couldn't remember the last time I had read a novel from start to finish, before I got to Mexico. The idea of sitting still on a reclining chair and enjoying the sunshine for several hours at home gave me anxiety... Or guilt... Or both.
Everyone needs a little R & R once in a while and this place was just perfect for it. The chance to stop and smell the flowers, taste every delicious morsel of food over slow dinners with good friends and wonder if tomorrows sunset could be as breathtakingly beautiful as today's, is a gift.
I am ever so grateful for the friends who put this together and invited me along. Thank you Mark, Gail, Doedo, Stefania, Steven, Amy, Steve, Julia, Jon and Stephanie!
One minute over the Mexico mainland, the next, with the island of Cozumel in sight, we were preparing to land. Ever back-taxied at an international airport? I have! With air-stairs rolled into place, the doors front and back were released. Tropical air, warm and humid, flooded the cabin. And with it came the smell of vacation. Floral. Fruity. Delicious.
Took out my brand spanking new US passport and presented it for its first ever stamp, then hurried to meet the group outside.
Today I was also adding another first to my list. My 10 friends and I were headed to an all-inclusive resort for a week. Put your wallet away Dallice, all you need is this little blue wristband going forward!
Dinner: A buffet featuring meat, vegetables, salad, breads and desserts. My wine glass was never empty and my belly was setting me up for a food coma that I welcomed. Good food, company and conversation, followed by star gazing under full moon down on the dock with my sweetheart. Bliss. Much deserved, much anticipated, much appreciated, bliss. And there was a comfy king sized bed with our name on it shortly thereafter.
Waking up in Mexico, surrounded by lush foliage, sunshine and the call of a peacock. I'm not going to lie to you... It's a good life! Even as I pulled on shorts and t-shirt, I wondered if I would be warm enough. The Colorado winter was still fresh in my mind and I was not used to having warm feet yet. One step outside, however, settled me. Off to breakfast we went.
A short walk with just enough time to admire the flowers, pet the local cat and get excited about the little group of baby turtles dragging their wet selves into the morning sun.
Our group - 11 strong - sat at one of the few larger tables. This detail is important because it may have been the only reason we stayed there, not moving when "the noise" started. Gail took her seat at the table, a boiled egg lolled on her plate. As she cracked it and raw egg white ran free and she commented about the egg being labeled a "3 minute egg" but not looking like it at all. Two minutes later an older looking, frail seeming lady, began coughing and snorting up phlegm into her napkin. She persisted and drowned out our conversation... She persisted until we giggled uncontrollably and had renamed her "3 minute egg". Boy was that start of something that will forever remain part of this vacation!
By the time the rest of my group departed for a diving excursion, I was clad in a bikini and sarong, with a new novel in hand.
The next few hours are a blur of photography, exploring, book and coconut cocktail in hand, chit-chatting under a palapa to my new friends - a group of real estate investors from Michigan who call their Cozumel escape, an annual meeting. There is much I can learn here!
My day was soon more than just lounging around. I found the spa and set about purchasing the "package experience" - not one but two massages over the next week.
Have you ever wanted to know what a chocolate massage entails? Me too! Well... One's body is massaged until substantially more pliable, then gets lathered in what I thought would be delicious chocolate smelling lotion. From my face-down position, it certainly smelled chocolatey and there was that slurpy sound as the paste was applied. After letting it settle into my skin a bit, the massage therapist (Irais) moved away from the table and I heard the sound of a shower start nearby. Steam filled the room and she bent down to my face and gently informed me that the massage was finished and I could take a shower now. Hmmm, that was probably a good idea. I was feeling a bit sticky and cooling off slightly. Pretty sure that I didn't want to put shorts and T-shirt over this here body anytime soon. I rolled over, prepared to sit up. What I was not prepared for was the mess I saw. Nope, not chocolate lotion so much as actual chocolate. EVERYWHERE! The sheets were brown and I was brown from the neck to the toes! Thank goodness the shower was only 5 steps from me. I stepped inside and watched in delight as the water ran dark for 5 minutes. Assuming when it ran clear again I had managed to rinse myself back to the color of a freckly white girl, I dried off and re-dressed. Mmmm... Smelling like chocolate, with freshly washed hair and relaxed soul, it was time to wander down the path, through the tropical gardens, past the locals (cats, peacocks, iguanas and copious staff) and back to my room. Tonight we had dinner plans at the Steak House.
Were subsequent days much different? Not really. I lounged at the pool, chatted with Michelle, Erin and Joyce and sampled more new delicacies. Another day, another sunset. A bit more book and absolutely nothing that threatened to take away the lingering massage-bliss of yesterday.
Tuesday was the day the others took off from diving to visit Chichen Itza with me. Or should I say, the day I showed them what "I don't do well on boats" looks like. The ferry to Playa del Carmen was tossed about relentlessly on the ocean for 30 minutes. I lasted maybe 15 before one of the staff herded me from the back of the boat to the bathroom... The final resting place of my breakfast, as it turned out.
We joined out tour bus on the other side, gobbled down the continental breakfast and sped inland toward the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza. (Food on top of a squeamish stomach does feel better, in case you're wondering.)
Chichen Itza is a rather large national treasure. Ruins are still being uncovered and somewhat put back together. Our guide, a Mayan man with 30 years experience with tourists at Chichen Itza, was a wealth of knowledge. For several hours he tutored us on the Mayan calendar, games, rituals and community life. He showed us where to take pictures and advised us on the times of year that we ought to come back for more - the Mayan stone structures were built with the calendar in mind. Summer and winter solstice was vitally important.
There was a "walk the plank" type stone ramp that overlooked this cenote. The Mayans (influenced by other cultures perhaps) sacrificed virgins here. Not just unlucky little girls... But those born at the right time in the calendar, revered as royalty and groomed from birth for the ultimate ritual. All 48 skeletons found by modern day divers at the bottom of the cenote had flattened skulls. We are not talking about traumatic brain injury inducing, quick skull-flattening, but a slow process of deforming a skull using a flat board strapped to a head for many years while the girl grew.
Then we were off to lunch, shopping and that dreaded ferry ride again. This time, with not one but two anti-nausea tablets dissolved under my tongue, I felt sure I could handle the rough chop of the crossing. No such luck. Oh well... At least the resort offered that fabulous buffet dinner again once we reached "home" and let's face it, I had plenty of time to recover and feel better again under my palapa tomorrow. :-)
For me, Cozumel was an entirely relaxing break from a busy home and work life. Doing "nothing" is a luxury that I think I'm not alone in saying, is rarely embraced in our daily lives. I couldn't remember the last time I had read a novel from start to finish, before I got to Mexico. The idea of sitting still on a reclining chair and enjoying the sunshine for several hours at home gave me anxiety... Or guilt... Or both.
Everyone needs a little R & R once in a while and this place was just perfect for it. The chance to stop and smell the flowers, taste every delicious morsel of food over slow dinners with good friends and wonder if tomorrows sunset could be as breathtakingly beautiful as today's, is a gift.
I am ever so grateful for the friends who put this together and invited me along. Thank you Mark, Gail, Doedo, Stefania, Steven, Amy, Steve, Julia, Jon and Stephanie!
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