Almost 2 weeks into the trip to the US and still struggling
adjusting to the Pacific time zone, we took a United Airlines red eye flight to
Mexico for 5-days. The flight from Las Vegas commenced at midnight and was
broken with a 5-hour layover in Houston, Texas.
It was raining hard and there was a thunderstorm that
evening in Vegas delaying our flight for 2 hours. The flight and connection was a blur to me as
I slept the whole way through but Kim always has a problem sleeping in moving
tin cans especially if said tin can is a few thousand feet above ground.
Our proudly Pinoy made Laggu towel that we brought
specifically for this purpose has served her well as she desperately tried to doze
off in a fetal position behind the seats on the floor of our boarding gate during
the 5 hour layover in Texas. She looked a bit kawawa (pitiful).
Views of Cancun were awesome from the sky as I have observed
from the brief and few times I’ve braved to open my tightly squeezed shuteyes
during the pretty turbulent descent. I think it was the tensest landing for me ever
and I was praying very hard and squeezing Kimbee’s hand just as hard the whole
time. It was so rough that Kimbee was a little bruised and I wanted to kiss the
ground the moment our, well, my a little wobbly feet hit the ground!
Philippine passport holders with a valid US visa do not need to apply for a Mexican visa and we breezed through immigrations.
We were stationed at the all-inclusive Ocean Spa hotel in
Zona Hotelera. A pre-arranged van picked us up at the airport and delivered us
right to our hotel’s doorsteps about 40 minutes after. The airport transfers
was included in the package as well as unlimited food and drinks but we heeded
the sister’s advice and brought 1-dollar bills for tips and we were greatly
appreciated and well taken cared of by the locals.
By then it was past 1 PM local time and some confused body
time. Cancun time is 2 hours advance than in California.
Check in wasn’t until 3 PM so we left our stuff at the concierge,
ate lunch at the hotel restaurant sat sumptuously by the Carribean on one side
and flanked by the pool on the other, then back to the lobby for the
orientation with a muscly concierge who looks straight out of a Mexican telenovela.
And then our room was ready.
The cool sea breeze from the ocean and the sweet view of the garden, the
pool and the beach from our balcony more than made up for the struggles and
brutalities of transit and long and delayed flights were soon forgotten.
The spacious cool room, big beds and crisp fresh white linens were
practically calling our name so we laid down for a long nap and just woke up in
time for dinner and a little tour of the hotel grounds and the sorrounding
area. This is what our holidays is mostly about, lots of lounging and eating
and some sight seeing.
A money changer, a convenience store, a taqueria, a church and a bus stop
are conveniently situated just across our hotel.
Well settled and rested from a good night sleep, we were bright and early
on our second day. Fueled with a big and satifying breakfast by the lake at
Sunset Yacht Club Marina and in our swim wear, we are better prepared to take
on Cancun.
Cancun’s strip of sand facing the Caribbean is lined with huge and luxury
resort one after the other boasting of great views. The extravagance of the
Zona maybe somehow got into our heads and we checked out some million dollar
beach front vacation places and pretended for a moment that we could afford
them! I’m half a mind to blurt out, “Dudung, bring out the diamonds, I’m
playing bowling!”
That’s all with zero alcohol in our system! Julio, Enrique and Emmanuel
from the bar were commendable in their efforts in trying to spike our virgin smoothies
and fruit juices with tequila but I was nursing a pharyngitis and on meds so I
had to decline, sadly, their generous offer. I think they were more
disappointed that they missed the chance to extol the virtues of their proud
and famous local flavor.
Next up: Tulum
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