Off The Grid

The Cancun heat hits you immediately.  It's hot! I was so excited when the driver held up a sign with our name on it.  I've always wanted that to happen.  It was very welcoming and a good start to our trip.  It took us about 35 minutes to get from the airport to Playa Del Carmen.  Our hotel is off the beaten path.  There are no signs; just a long curvy roads with jungle on either side of it.  If Azul Fives hadn't gotten such great reviews on Trip Advisor I would have been really worried.  I would have been even more worried if we'd had to try to find this hidden place on our own.  We went to lunch to kill time until our room was ready but what I really wanted to do was rip my clothes off because I was being suffocated by my own clothing.  It's the kind of humidity that makes your skin feel moist.  I'm not used to that at all.

Countless military men and women including my husband have survived exercising in 100+ heat wearing long sleeved military fatigues, boots and gear in dangerous countries.  "How did you do it?" I asked MJ.  "Well, there is nothing you can do about it so you just get used to it."  All week I saw staff working hard in pants and long sleeves in the hot sun and I felt so bad for them.  I was wearing yoga pants and a T shirt on vacation so what I really needed to do was just get over it, but I don't do discomfort very well.

We never did get around to drinking that champagne-we brought it home. 

Our room was gorgeous.  The first thing I did was take those awful clothes off.  The hard cold tile floor felt amazing under my hot sweaty feet.  We had to get used to sleeping in a double when we've been sleeping in a King for the last four years but it was fine.  I don't complain too much about having to be closer to MJ.

Our first day there started with lunch, check in, shower and an impromptu nap.  MJ collapsed on one of the beds and I went down on the other one. 

When we woke up we went to the main pool area.  "Seriously?"  That's the first thing I said when I saw the turquoise water glimmering in the sunshine.  It was positively stunning.  MJ got in the pool but I was feeling too out of sorts and freshly showered to deal with chlorine.  We didn't stay for very long before going back to the hotel and changing for dinner.  After that we went to the Zky Bar where they have something fun every night at 9:30pm.  Saturday was Michael Jackson night.  I honestly, wasn't expecting that much but I was blown away by the dance performance.  They did about six choreographed routines to Michael Jackson songs and it was really good.

We were totally off the grid for the entire week. They had Wi-fi plans but I would feel ridiculous paying for Wi-Fi just so I could peruse Instagram or post a status update.  I'm on vacation.  The whole point is to get away.  No phones, no social media, no web surfing, no blogging and very limited TV channels in the English language. I only missed it for about five minutes when we checked in and were welcomed with blue champagne and a cold wet towel that I couldn't Instagram but  after that I was glad not to have it.  Every single day we were really in the moment with each other and our surroundings without the added distraction of time sucking mindless web browsing that takes up so much time at home.  Instead of Instagram it was InstaLife and that's ALWAYS a good thing.

Later on during the week at dinner there was a group of four ladies who got seated near us.  All four had their heads bent into their phones.  One of them had her phone clutched her in her hand and I don't think she put it down even once until their first course appeared and then it wasn't too long before she picked it up again.  It was kind of sad to watch.  It made me really glad that I did not have Wi Fi and very aware of how ridiculous it is to be so absorbed in your phone when there are so many beautiful and wonderful things going on right in front of your face.

DAY 2
We went to the gym first, then to breakfast and finally hit the beach.  I couldn't wait to get into that gorgeous ocean, but that wouldn't last for too long.  More on that later.   We discovered the Iguanas on our way over.  They are harmless (so I'm told) but I was still scared because I'm scared of everything.  There was one facing us about a foot away from the path we had to walk down and MJ practically had to drag me along to get me to walk past it.  I got used to them after a while-sort of.  There are spider monkeys on the property too.  We kept looking, but never saw any.

One of many activities they had going on all day every day was Salsa lessons.  They promised us a free coconut drink for participating so we were in.

Sorry about the under boob.  Sometimes that happens at the beach

They had water polo once a day and beach volley ball twice a day at 11:00am and 4:00pm.  MJ played water polo twice and Beach Volleyball every single day we were there; sometimes twice a day.  He's good at everything.  He loves organized sports and it was good exercise.  

Meanwhile, I mostly laid on the beach with drinks in my hand.  They'd come around to ask if we needed anything and nine times out of ten I said yes, because why not?  I did get up and do a 30 minute walk way down the beach by by myself.    My feet were digging in the sand with every step making it a pretty good leg work out.  I had my iTunes and a spectacular view.  I also saw an old naked guy.  It was one of the best walks I've ever had in my life!! And not because of the naked guy.  I was so sweaty I had to jump in the pool shower to cool off...and then it was more relaxing.

This was our favorite show watching spot.  There were only two but we usually got there early enough to snag one.

That night they had a magic show.  I was randomly selected out of the audience to think of a famous singer in my head. Okay, Justin Timberlake.  He opened up the manilla envelope that he was holding in his hand the whole time and inside was a picture of Justin Timberlake.  I still don't know how did it.   Is it magic or are people (me) just that predictable?  I'll call it magic.

Cancun Day 3-4