Monday, July 27, 2009

Cancun, Mexico – Sunday, July 26, 2009

by dlcasas on July 27, 2009

7-26-09 Last day in Cancun, morning view from balcony

7-26-09 Last day in Cancun, morning view from balcony

Friends:

Sunday was our last day in Cancun. Soleil wasn’t feeling well so she stayed in bed while Antonio, Eliana and I headed to Mercado 28. The locals told us not to visit Coral Negro, a flea market within walking distance from the hotel because it had high prices because of its location in the hotel zone (Zona Hotelera).

7-26-09 Open air market - Mercado 28

7-26-09 Open air market - Mercado 28

Mercado 28 is a market located in the heart of downtown and has souvenirs, clothing, jewelry, and art offered at better prices because the locals shop there.

7-26-09 Jewelry at Mercado 28 at the Esmeralda Store

7-26-09 Jewelry at Mercado 28 at the Esmeralda Store

Antonio and I shopped for silver jewelry. While I wouldn’t say it was a steal, the prices were better than you can find in the United States. Antonio got a thick silver cross pendant on a masculine silver chain. The shop, Esmeralda, had a great shopkeeper and we haggled prices with him. Here, he holds a sculpture I covet (next time?!!). It is a Mayan warrior made of obsidian, silver, abalone and mother of pearl.

7-26-09 Shopkeeper of Esmeralda store with Mayan warrior sculpture

7-26-09 Shopkeeper of Esmeralda store with Mayan warrior sculpture

Antonio bought me an anniversary gift (August 7), an abalone and silver jewelry set with a pendant, chain, earrings & ring. The necklace is stunning – the Mexican sun with a silver crescent moon inside, overlapping a sea of abalone.

7-26-09 Dianne's Silver & Abalone jewelry

7-26-09 Dianne's Silver & Abalone jewelry

It has special meaning for me too. My name “Dianne” is derivative of “Diana,” the Roman goddess of the moon. “Soleil” means “Sun” in French and Eliana’s middle name is “Marisol,” which means “sunny seas.” So now I have a necklace that symbolizes all of us – the sun, the moon, and the seas. The ring is also gorgeous – so different! It reminds me of a peacock and I love how the abalone has all the colors of the Caribbean sea. Thank you, Antonio!

7-26-09 Mexican tapestry depicting Mayan life

7-26-09 Mexican tapestry depicting Mayan life

After the market, we decided to take one last dip in the Caribbean waters before we headed to the airport. As usual, the beach was divine. It’s just that our time was too short! I have to reiterate how splendid the beaches were. The sand was sugar fine and white. The waters gradated from sea green to turquoise to a majestic royal blue. My heart just felt so happy looking at the waters. The beach, the ocean, is my favorite place in the entire world.

7-26-09 Last day on the beach

7-26-09 Last day on the beach

Look at how picturesque this scene is!

7-26-09 Lifeguard stand on the beach

7-26-09 Lifeguard stand on the beach

Eliana and I left the beach but not before absorbing more of the balmy breezes and the stunning Caribbean views!

7-26-09 Goodbye beautiful beach

7-26-09 Goodbye beautiful beach

Here’s another look at the spectacular ocean view from our hotel grounds.

7-26-09 Hotel walkway along the Caribbean Sea

7-26-09 Hotel walkway along the Caribbean Sea

I stopped for my last photo in front of my perfect paradise…

7-26-09 Dianne's last picture in front of picturesque Caribbean waters

7-26-09 Dianne's last picture in front of picturesque Caribbean waters

I am golden brown now! But look at Eliana. She is really “morena.”

7-26-09 Eliana's last picture in front of Maya Riviera

7-26-09 Eliana's last picture in front of Maya Riviera

All good things must come to an end and so it was for us. It was time to say goodbye to Cancun, Mexico and the majestic Maya Riviera.

7-26-09 Goodbye Dreams Resort & Spa Cancun

7-26-09 Goodbye Dreams Resort & Spa Cancun

After flight delays in Cancun and Miami, we finally made it home. Travelers Tips: Do not pack candles in your carry-on. They are considered “liquids & gels” and will be confiscated. Our $25 layered sand & sea shell candle from Xcaret was confiscated and thrown away even though the airport sold the SAME EXACT candles in the gift shop inside the gate! Another tip: Do not take pictures inside U.S. Customs. TSA will take your camera and delete ALL photos on the camera. Apparently, it is a security breach. I didn’t know this and snapped this picture of Eliana before getting fussed at by a well-meaning TSA employee (who did not erase my pictures – TG!).

7-26-09 The forbidden picture inside TSA Customs

7-26-09 The forbidden picture inside TSA U.S. Customs

Cancun and the Maya Riviera was spectacular. I recommend visiting and staying at Dreams Resort & Spa Cancun. The level of service is phenomenal and all the restaurants serve great food. It was wonderful being served hand and foot on the beach by a waiter who constantly brought us drinks and food when we asked. You can eat poolside, barside, or beachside. And it’s all included! We had twice daily maid service with fresh towels and turn down service.

7-26-09 Under the straw palapa at the beach

7-26-09 Under the straw palapa at the beach

The attractions in the Maya Riviera were all worth the money. It’s a great place for couples, family and friends. Eat, drink and be merry… in paradise!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

{ 0 comments }

Cancun, Mexico – Saturday, July 25, 2009

by dlcasas on July 27, 2009

7-25-09 Cancun Day 5 view from balcony

7-25-09 Cancun Day 5 view from balcony

Friends:

Since we had been taking tours all week, we decided to “stay in” and enjoy the offerings of our hotel, Dreams Resort & Spa. We decided to go to the “deep” beach. Eliana and I wanted to collect sea shells so we brought our snorkel gear and wore our beach shoes. While the entrance to the water is a little rocky with shells and stones, it smooths out if you go out a little further. It was perfect for shallow snorkeling and shell collecting, especially for Eliana.

7-25-09 Eliana poses w snorkel gear

7-25-09 Eliana poses w snorkel gear

The water was so clear, it was like swimming in a pool. I am still in awe of the beauty of Caribbean water! Eliana loved snorkeling and stayed under a lot!

7-25-09 Eliana snorkeling

7-25-09 Eliana snorkeling

Soleil stayed mostly under a palapa because the day before, at Tulum, she burned under the scorching sun.

7-25-09 Straw palapas that line the beach

7-25-09 Straw palapas that line the beach

We met a nice family from Iowa and Eliana made a new friend!

7-25-09 Eliana makes a new friend - Erin from Iowa

7-25-09 Eliana makes a new friend - Erin from Iowa

Our hotel hosts many weddings. It’s a perfect location because of the majestic cliff views, the beach access (for the wedding reception), and the balmy, breezy weather. I wish I could get married again here! LOL

7-25-09 Gazebo on the cliff overlooking the ocean, set up for a wedding

7-25-09 Gazebo on the cliff overlooking the ocean, set up for a wedding

I loved the walk on the perimeter of our hotel, which is surrounded by water on three sides. The views are breathtaking!

7-25-09 Rocky cliff view

7-25-09 Rocky cliff view

There were even iguanas on the grounds of our resort. He sort of blends into the rocks.

7-25-09 Iguana on the hotel grounds

7-25-09 Iguana on the hotel grounds

Here I am, after a full day of fun in the Caribbean sun! (Warning: no makeup! LOL)

7-25-09 After a long day at the beach

7-25-09 After a long day at the beach

Because we are situated on Punta Cancun (Cancun Point), the resort has a lighthouse to warn the ships at night. Our lighthouse happens to be a pretty candy cane design.

7-25-09 Dreams Resort lighthouse

7-25-09 Dreams Resort lighthouse

Eliana and I have a cool souvenir – a sea urchin shell found on the beach (A kind woman found it and gave it to Eliana). It still has to be bleached and clean, to get rid of the fishy smell.

7-25-09 Sea Urchin found on the beach

7-25-09 Sea Urchin found on the beach

Take a look at our awesome treasures from under the sea. Wow! What a collection! We have sea shells, sea glass, stones, tile, coral, and even petrified wood. I can’t wait to display our treasures.

7-25-09 Our collection of sea shells & other underwater treasures

7-25-09 Our collection of sea shells & other underwater treasures

Here’s another pretty sunset in Cancun.

7-25-09 The sun sets over Dreams

7-25-09 The sun sets over Dreams

After our day at the beach, Eliana and Soleil ordered room service (24 hour room service is included in the price!) and watched a DVD (the hotel offers a collection of DVDs available free of charge) while Antonio and I dined at the Seaside Grill, an adult-only restaurant on the grounds at night.

7-25-09 Two goofy girls in the hotel room

7-25-09 Two goofy girls in the hotel room

It was our last night in this incredible Caribbean paradise. Sigh. But what a memorable vacation this has been!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

{ 0 comments }

Cancun, Mexico – Friday, July 24, 2009

by dlcasas on July 27, 2009

7-24-09 Cancun Day 4 View from balcony

7-24-09 Cancun Day 4 View from balcony

Friends:

On Friday, we took a tour of Tulum, Mayan ruins located on the coast of Quintana Roo, in the Maya Riviera. The ruins were breathtaking and the Mayan culture is so fascinating. When we arrived, we were greeted by Mayan dancers.

7-24-09 Tulum Mayan Dancers

7-24-09 Tulum Mayan Dancers

Eliana lead the way, entering the Tulum ruins…

7-24-09 Eliana at the entrance to the Tulum Ruins

7-24-09 Eliana at the entrance to the Tulum Ruins

Mayan cities were not built in square grids, like our cities today. They were built in an astrological pattern, following the constellations and positions of the sun and moon. On the solstice (June 21), the longest day of the year, the building below showcases the sun with a spectacular framing of the sun in its exact solstice position.

7-24-09 Spectacular Tulum Ruins

7-24-09 Spectacular Tulum Ruins

Here, an iguana suns himself on the stones of the ruins.

7-24-09 Iguana on the Tulum Ruins

7-24-09 Iguana on the Tulum Ruins

Our tour guide brought us to various points in the ruins, giving us the entire tour in Spanish. The cool thing is we understood nearly every word. The paths that wind around the ruins are white because the light of the moon would reflect upon the paths, providing illumination at night.

7-24-09 Close-up of Ruins

7-24-09 Close-up of Tulum Ruins

The city’s position along the coast allowed it a distinct tactical advantage. They would see anyone coming from the sea. When Spanish conquistadors tried to land at Tulum, they were unable to do so because of the great coral reef barrier that protects the coast. The coral reef that begins in Cancun and ends in Honduras extends some 700 miles and is the second largest coral reef barrier in the world, second to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

7-24-09 Breathtaking View from the cliff

7-24-09 Breathtaking View from the cliff

It was blazing hot at the ruins so we were excited to be able to go down to the beach and take a dip in the tantalizing Maya Riviera. Eliana even filmed a video clip for her website, ElianaCooks.com, on the cliffs overlooking the sea.

After filming Eliana’s video, we headed down the steep stairs to the beach.

7-24-09 The view of the Tulum beach

7-24-09 The view of the Tulum beach

We had to tread carefully. But it was worth the journey! The water felt amazing and the sand was sugary soft, packed hard beneath the waves with no rocks or seaweed present. Soleil said it felt like a floor beneath her feet.

7-24-09 Playing in the waters of Tulum

7-24-09 Playing in the waters of Tulum

To memorialize our visit, we bought Mayan jewelry made of silver and 18K gold. The jewelry artist personalized our pendants for us – a silver sun with a gold Mayan hieroglyph symbolizing the first letter of our name in the middle. Soleil, Eliana and I each got one.

7-24-09 Tulum Jewelry Artist making Mayan inspired jewelry

7-24-09 Tulum Jewelry Artist making Mayan inspired jewelry

I also bought a finger-painted scene of the Mayan ruins and the beach.

7-24-09 Artist fingerpainting Tulum scenes

7-24-09 Artist fingerpainting Tulum scenes

When we returned to our hotel, we decided to explore more. But first, we had to stop and see the dolphins frolicking.

7-24-09 Dolphin playing in lagoon on way back from Tulum

7-24-09 Dolphin playing in lagoon on way back from Tulum

Our hotel, Dreams Resort and Spa, is located on Punta Cancun (Cancun Point) and is surrounded on three sides by water. It has two swimming beaches. One beach is shallow and calm, a great beach for kids. The other beach is deeper and rockier, but perfect for shell collecting. The third side of the hotel is a cliff area that overlooks the deep ocean.

7-24-09 View from back of hotel

7-24-09 View from back of hotel

The sunsets in Cancun are gorgeous.

7-24-09 Sunset at Dreams Resort & Spa

7-24-09 Sunset at Dreams Resort & Spa

Later that night, Antonio and I decided to go to Coco Bongo, a much-hyped nightclub that features an interactive Broadway-type disco show featuring iconic legends such as Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Beyonce, Madonna & Michael Jackson. We enjoyed the show until club management arbitrarily set down a table in front of us, blocking our view and moved us to let another couple sit down. They moved us upstairs, where we were unable to see the show in its full glory. We left early and I was very upset. That was the one negative experience we had in Cancun. Still, the show at Coco Bongo is spectacular and not to miss IF you can get VIP seating.

7-24-09 Coco Bongo

7-24-09 Coco Bongo

Even so, we had a wonderful day full of unforgettable memories.

7-24-09 Iguana on the path to the ruins

7-24-09 Iguana on the path to the ruins

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

{ 0 comments }