Mexico was muy bueno.

We had a terrific time in Mexico!  Our trip in a nutshell:

Arrived in Cancun and were greeted by super nice people in the airport who helped us get a good taxi to our resort.

At the resort entrance, we were given cold towels and champagne to refresh us (it worked). At check in, everything was already in the system, so we were sent straight to our room, where a bellboy showed us everything and had our bags delivered.

The room was fantastic - all marble and granite, with a huge comfy bed, couch and TV, huge terrace outside, big gorgeous bathroom with stone shower and large jet bathtub for two, stocked fridge, safe and closets with drawers, etc.  As Wes said, you couldn't help but be relaxed in that suite.


After checking out the room, we headed to Le Marche restaurant to have lunch - a gorgeous restaurant with outdoor patios and a big thatch roof that went up a few stories.  Natural light, etc.  The lunch buffet was marvelous, with just about anything you could ask for, and any drinks you wanted included, of course.


We explored the resort and went to book our outings (snorkeling, Mayan ruins, and fishing for Wes).  We were amazed at the efficiency and organization of the resort - everything was already paid, in the system, and ready to print for us.  


We made our way to the (huge) salt-water pool, complete with every sort of cabana, swim-up bars, chefs outside making paella, chairs in the water for cooler sunbathing, etc, etc.  I could go on.  We got some sun and had a couple of drinks before going in to shower for dinner.


That night, there as a large outdoor Mexican fiesta, with lots of authentic Mexican food (think various stations of chefs making all sorts of fresh dishes), folk dancers, mariachi band, etc.  We talked to a nice couple from Canada and enjoyed the food and music before heading to bed fairly early - we had to be up at 6:00 AM the next day!


After getting up so early, we caught a bus (the nicest bus I have ever been on) with guides Hugo and Paco to pick up folks from some other resorts and head to Tulum, an ancient Mayan port city that was at its height between the 1200's and 1400's - VERY OLD.  It was pretty interesting to tread the same earth as such ancient folks, and the beaches at Tulum were fantastic.  Lots of people, but still gorgeous.  Wes took his first dip in the Gulf waters there.


After Tulum, we were off to Xel-Ha (pronounced more like "shell-ha"), which is a huge natural aquarium - an inlet where the sea converges with natural fresh-water rivers, and the snorkeling is fantastic.  We had lunch (also all-inclusive) and started snorkeling, and didn't want to stop - it was so cool - my first time, really.  I was following tropical fish all over the place.  It's a strange feeling to see a huge stingray right by you underneath the water.  


We had to stop snorkeling to do the Sea Trek, where we put on pressurized breathing helmets (you breathe normally) and went down a ladder to the ocean floor, where we walked on the bed of the inlet with fish and stingrays - awesome experience.  The divers brought the stingrays right up to us so we could touch them, and they were giving Wes little nudges on his legs.  How many people can say they've walked on the ocean floor? :)


We were exhausted after all the walking and swimming, but had a lovely dinner at the seafood restaurant on the beach at the resort, and then we headed to one of the courtyards to listen to the band that plays there each night (cover band).  Folks were drinking and dancing - fun atmosphere.


The next day, Wes had an early fishing charter scheduled.  He got up and headed down to catch his ride...and came back an hour later, as no one had showed up to get him.  The trip was canceled due to rough seas, apparently another vessel had capsized, so trips were canceled for two days.  BUMMER.  Wes was totally sad all morning, but we had breakfast and spent the morning on the beach under a shady thatch umbrella - super relaxing.  The beach waitress kept the drinks coming, I read my book, and Wes ignored the red "danger" flags and went swimming in the ocean, which exhausted him because it was so rough out.  After a lunch at the beach-front restaurant (again, the terrace was so nice and breezy), I made a spa appointment and Wes had a nap.  My massage was fabulous and relaxing.  After showers (bath for me), we headed to the Japanese restaurant for a sushi/hibachi dinner, chatted with other couples there, and then looked in on the evening's theater entertainment (there was a show every night), which was a Michael Jackson show - pretty cool.  


This doesn't cover everything, but does cover some of the highlights of our trip.  We were amazed by how clean, beautiful, and well-run everything was.  Everywhere we went, things were organized and efficient, and the Mexican people were fantastically nice.  The resort was run so well that it seemed miles ahead of any American resorts we've visited, and even the other companies we came into contact with (tour folks, Tulum, Xel-Ha) had everything crazily under control and running beautifully.  The weather was lovely and sunny (minus the bad water that took away Wes's fishing).


We'd definitely go back to Mexico - and for people who love to see new places, that's saying something!