Cancun 2007
I've now been home for about a week and have finally slept well and become semi-organized again. The vacation in Cancun was outstanding and it all sort of runs together so I'll describe the events more thematically than chronologically.The Resort Barcelo Tucancun weighs in at about 3.5 stars and we had an enjoyable stay. We had an all-inclusive package so the meals and drinks were included along with our lodging. There were a number of buffet areas to eat as well as nicer restaurants that required reservations. Most days, I ate lots of fresh fruit and delicious salsa that was very picante. Two of the better dinners we had were at the seafood restaurant and the Mexican restaurant.
The view from our oceanside room couldn't be beat; waking up everyday to turquoise water, white sand, palms, and a healthy dose of sunshine was amazing. We spent a lot of time poolside and also enjoyed wading in the sea. The waves were incredibly powerful and the lifeguards were constantly whistling and herding people into safer areas.
Our balcony
The view of the sea from the balcony
The hotel
The City It goes without saying that Cancun is a highly touristy area and many people spoke English although I was able to use a good amount of Spanish (though my vocabulary is not very Mexican, I quickly learned). I was reminded of the Vegas strip because so many large resorts and hotels were being rebuilt after Hurricane Wilma struck two years ago. The mild weather and seeing places like Jimmy Buffet's restaurant, the Hard Rock Cafe, etc also added to the parallel. The hotels were all on a strip that was surrounded on one side by the sea and on the other by a natural lagoon, clearly a difference from the desert!
The flea market was like another world, with one or two clerks posted at each shop entrance, haggling passers-by to enter. They all spoke English but when it came to bartering, I used as much Spanish as possible and asked for a discount for using it. Austin got a t-shirt, I got some flowy pants to wear over my swimsuit, and a few other assorted kitschy tourist items.
We also went to La Isla, an open air type mall (reminded me of what are now called "lifestyle centers" or something similar). A number of the shops were easily found in the U.S., some offered Mexican souvenirs, and there was also a big aquarium. The real find was the Trio Gallery where Austin and I spent hours looking around. The art was interesting; even the pieces that we didn't care for were still fascinating. We ended up buying three 8" squares of wood painted in oil. Austin and I both had birthday money that we earmarked for Mexican art and we were not disappointed.
Austin's Art
My Art
Our Art
The Hut We had a good conversation with one of the gallery owners who was able to give us a restaurant recommendation, La Palapa Belga (The Belgian Hut). The restaurant was located behind a somewhat dodgy hotel with the waters of the lagoon slapping up against it. It was truly a hut and the chef hails from Belgium, hence it's name. We had a rich appetizer of scallops and asparagus in Hollandaise sauce and for dinner I had mussels while Austin had duck breast in black cherry sauce. Dessert was chocolate mousse. The atmosphere and the food were outstanding and it was a perfect, romantic way to pass our last night in Cancun.
The Ceremony Last but not least, the whole reason that we were in Cancun was to celebrate Sean and Angie's nuptials. They have vacationed there nearly every January for the past several years so the location had special meaning to them. In addition, a casual beach ceremony suits Sean and Angie's personalities to a T. Since the legalities were already processed, their close friend and former roommate, Jim, was able to officiate. Jim tailored the ceremony to the couple and we laughed most of the way through while the waves crashed in and the wind blew. It was exactly what Sean and Angie wanted and it was truly a pleasure to be in attendance and celebrate a unique, spunky, and happy couple.
Etiquetes de comentaris: cancun, travel
posted by Kelly @ 2:54 p. m.
0 Comments:
Publica un comentari a l'entrada
<< Home