Let Go

This is our third time to Cancun. We keep coming back because it’s absolutely gorgeous and relaxing. The fine white sand somehow remains cool under the scorching sun and the green water with different shades is nice and warm. It’s a place where we wine and dine and enjoy life as a family. Since Cancun is Jane and Michelle’s most desired vacation destination, it’s become our family’s favorite.

We came here the first time during the spring break of 2009 and stayed in GR Solaris that at the time was a three and a half star resort. We loved its guacamole, the nighttime buffet and show (not as good as the ones on cruise ships but comparable) and the gift stores that sold beautiful jewelries. Back then Internet service was free and Joe was able to make phone calls and surf the web while relaxing on the beach. I’ve heard it’s not free any more. We went on a couple of excursions, one of which was a submarine ride to explore the underwater coral reefs. To my disappointment, it was not a colorful world and everything was sort of brownish. I also got a bit motion sick.

The full-day tour to Chichen Itza visiting the ancient capital and most important archaeological zone of the Mayan Empire was exhausting but well worth it. That afternoon, we were taken to swim in a cenote that was breathtaking. Be prepared to get toasted in Chichen Itza because there is no shade, but you have to see it if you are in Cancun.

Last year after New Year, we revisited Cancun with a few other families and stayed in Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe. It’s a beautiful resort with stunning scenes. There are a number of gourmet restaurants that require reservation. The group tried each one of them and loved them all with the exception of the Asian restaurant. Night show was inferior to that of GR Solaris. You also had to pay for Wi-Fi. I was there the first week of the month when I had to generate a series of forecasts for work. I did that on the beach with a Margarita in hand. Those forecasts turned out really accurate!

We visited the Xcaret Eco Theme Park on the second trip. Xcaret Park is Mexico’s sacred paradise, a beautiful place full of culture and nature attractions. We loved the butterfly pavilion and being surrounded by colorful and talkative birds. One danced whenever you sang to it. At the end of the day, we watched the Xcaret Mexico Espectacular, a musical show that takes us on a journey through the history of Mexico since pre-Hispanic times to the most traditional and typical. It was a little long for Jake, but awesome.

This time our family resides at Fiesta Americana Condesa with Joe’s brother, sister-in-law, my niece and two of Michelle’s friends, altogether ten of us. Fiesta is a hut-styled resort with lots of open space. I remember at GR Solaris and Grand Park Royal, it was freezing at night when we were dining or watching the show. Most of Fiesta’s common areas and restaurants aren’t air-conditioned, a nice feature for the tourist I think, but not so much for the workers. Both Fiesta and GR Solaris offer Kids and Teen clubs, and therefore parents can leave their kids there while enjoying some alone time.

I didn’t bring any office work to Cancun, but I’ve been writing on the beach or by the pool because to me writing isn’t work. Being a four-star resort, Fiesta is one of the few that still offers free Internet service. I am fully enjoying and taking advantage of it.

Weather wise, our first trip was in March, second in January and this one in May. It was already quite hot in March but January was still a bit chilly. I guessed it’d be boiling hot in May but it has been quite comfortable since we got here. The sun has been hiding behind the clouds and the gentle breeze caresses and soothes the bare skin. This morning a fierce tropical T-storm sent all us vacationers running for shelters. I guess the hurricane season isn’t too far behind.

All five girls can legally drink in Mexico and have been sipping on the fruity alcoholic drinks. By Monday afternoon, they were getting giddy. Joe and I sat by the pool watching them singing, laughing, flipping like fish and throwing Jake in the water over and over again. I told them no more drinks for the rest of the day. Monday night I called the girls’ rooms before going to bed. Michelle and her friends didn’t answer. Joe went over to check. They didn’t respond to the doorbell and the knocking on the door either. It turned out they had been sound asleep since 9:30 pm.

The Michael Jackson show on Monday night was impressive. Jake was so tired that he could barely open his eyes, but he watched it till the end. I am looking forward to the Caribbean show tonight.

Today we went to swim with dolphins. The bus driver dropped us off in the middle of nowhere in the rain. Another nicer one told us to hop on and took us to where we needed to be. Joe and I stood on the deck taking pictures while everyone else took turns kissing and playing with the dolphins. We could hear their laughter from afar. Oh, what a good time!