Cancun

It felt like another life while we were there, but now it's like worlds away.

Zach's parents graciously invited us to their week long time share in Cancun and we hurriedly accepted that offer back in the fall. I couldn't imagine and entire week by the sea, by the pool, in the Mexican heat. The holidays happened, busy schedules happened, and then it started to get warm here, and all of the sudden IT WAS TIME TO GO.

We have been given really wonderful gifts to travel these last couple of years-for work, for a quick step away from responsibilities, or to visit far away friends. 

I always figured I was not a resort kind of girl-if I was going to spend PTO and money on a trip-I want to see, do, eat, drink, explore wherever I am. HOWEVER. I now know I am a resort girl. Zach is also a resort girl :) 

We flew through Chicago early on Saturday morning and then stepped into Cancun. A quick transfer to our hotel and we had arrived! 

We tried really hard to do nothing. When you are there, activities/excursions/deals/adventures are offered to you constantlyyyyy. It's amazing that jungle tours, deep sea diving, and snorkeling are that accessible. However, we opted to not do a bunch of things (like our usual get away) and spend time together, with Zach's parents, and not mindlessly scrolling on our phones.

Most of our days looked like this: 

Wake up around 9AM and put on swimsuits to go to the beach to walk for an hour. We found work out lifeguard stands, beautiful resorts, sea shells, birds, and abandoned buildings.

And then we would jump in the pool and swim laps for awhile. Dry off, go get coffee and make breakfast in our villa. 

The resort had checkers, chess, dominoes, and backgammon for rent. I had never played and it seemed the most intriguing of all the retirement home past times :)

We got really good. And pretty competitive.  

After brunch, we usually pulled out the backgammon briefcase and played a few rounds on the deck.  

And then we would take a break (clear the mind) and go for a walk - to get ice cream or a bev. 

I made Zach stop and look for iguanas with me every time. I touched the tail of one :)  

And then we would put on our UV blocking shirts -to ensure a full week in the sun was not ruined by a bad sunburn early on- and head down to the pool for reading, backgammon, chips and guac, and pina coladas. 

And then after an hour or so, we would wander on down to the beach-pack the backgammon board into the beach bag and crack it back open once we secured a palapa. 

And then we would find Walt and Jean somewhere or another and talk about dinner plans. We ordered in pizzas when Playoffs were on tv, or ate at one of the restaurants on property.  

We ended almost every evening with a few rounds of Eucher.  

Sunday was Walt and Jeans 34th anniversary!! Monday was our little 2 year anniversary! 

We went acrosss the street to the marina and had some seafood and wine at Captains Cove. We sat on the deck that looks out over a huge lagoon-and watched a crocodile swim up near the docks...

AND we had the best. THE BEST. Key lime pie there. And this Cheddar cheese flan. So very good.  

One of the afternoons, Walt and Jean put together a scavenger hunt for us :) We followed hand written riddles through the lobby, beach, and hotel that brought us back to a little anniversary gift. 

It was amazing! It was like being a little kid again. Zach just giggled the whole time.  

Tuesday we took the city bus to the Coral Negro flea market. The bus drivers would make a cautious driver extremely uneasy. I had a great time :) 

The market is so many people trying to get you to come in their store, try things on, or get a tattoo or get your hair braided. It was a good time to just look at everything. There was no reason to buy anything, but fun to change up the daily routine a bit.  

And then we worked our way up to the outdoor shopping mall-which is like the malls I grew up going to-pretty normal stores and no hagglers. And I saw dolphins!! Sad to see them in a tiny pool, but so sweeet to watch them. My childhood dream come true. 

And then we ended at the luxury mall-Which was a few designer stores and a Forever 21... 

One of the afternoons-the weather looked promising for a game of backgammon and a pina colada- and then a storm rolled up and took over. It lasted maybe an hour? And then this beautiful amazing sunset finished it off.  

We stuck to our goal of relaxing and went to the spa on our last morning. We woke up and headed over sleepy eyed. We have had massages but this was our first spa experience. We went through the 1 hour HydroCycle (eyuculptus, sauna, cold shower, steam room, cold shower, jacquzzi) and ended with hot tea while waiting for our masseuse to come fetch us. 

I was already in such a sleepy relaxed state when I was done, that the Swedish Massage just sent me to a wonderful place for an hour. Zach opted for the Deep Tissue and just got beat up for an hour.  

We spent time at our resort's sister-site  - the Royal Sands before heading back. 

We packed. We played Eucher. We slept. We tried to say good bye to the beach (but it rained our last morning). We waited. And then we flew!  

We did pick up a local mezcal before we left. Harvested from agave in the valley of Durango and double distilled in copper. This is way smokier than the other mezcals we have tasted. It does a good job and bringing back quick sudden memories of Mexico :) 

Thank you unending thank you's to Walt and Jean for giving a lot of people the gift of relaxation in Mexico. But mostly thank you for wanting to spend your week with us and gifting us this villa to relax in. We had an amazing week off and miss the sound of the waves very much. 

If you don't think you're a resort girl, you probabaly are.  

-Emily