Gotta love Billy Crystal!
Did you ever see the 1995 chick flick, Forget Paris? It’s a really funny comedy about love…after marriage. The two love birds meet, have a marvelous week in Paris, & return stateside to get married when everything starts falling apart. Of course, they fall back in love by the end… and live happily ever after.
At one point the dialogue goes like this:
Mickey: “We were great in Paris.
Ellen: Forget Paris.
Mickey: Forget Paris? How do you forget the best week in your life?
Ellen: Maybe that’s just all we were – just a great week”.
(I love this movie).
Before you draw too many conclusions about what I’m trying to say as I connect the movie to mine & Dave’s 10 Yr. Wedding Anniversary Vacay in Cancun: don’t!
Dave & I aren’t “just a great week,” though, we did in fact, have a great week alone together. As Toulouse Lautrec said in my favorite movie, Moulin Rouge: “totawee awone.” (totally alone) 
In fact, it was such a great week that we now keep comparing everything to it. I.E. “remember that steak at Pelicano’s in Cancun?” “Let’s try to make that shrimp like they did in Cancun.” “Want to go for a walk like we did everyday in Cancun?” “Will we ever go to Cancun again?” “I miss Cancun.”
Yesterday, I finally I said, “forget Cancun.” Not really forget it, of course! Just, you know, realize that real life is back upon us.
So, what did we love? Besides all of the glorious kid-free time together…
1. The facilities. We stayed at The Royal Cancun Hotel. Trust me, there’s a reason why it was voted #4 out of 160 hotels in Cancun. The hotel made the trip for us. One doesn’t want every vacation to be sitting around doing nothing but getting chunky by the minute, but one sure didn’t mind this one.
I loved that everyone there was super friendly. The waitstaff went out of their way to get you what you need. We love Jorge, Pamela, Miguel, Alex & Leslie! If you asked for anything the answer was always, “of course, Seniorita!”
We loved that they came up to you at the pool & offered to clean your sunglasses & asked you all day long, “can I get you a drink? Anything you would like Seniorita!” And then they brought it to you whether you were beachside or oceanside. And that’s if your too lazy to swim up to the bar stools that were inside the pool.
We loved that they offered us free spa services. I got a facial and a body massage. Dave took daily Pilate Reformer Board classes. (I, uh, tried one day & left early to hit the pool!) I played beach volleyball everyday with my new friends from various countries & took part of the daily water aerobics which was about the most fun I’ve ever had with perfect strangers. I was just cracking up at things I can’t even say in my blog.
We loved the nightly entertainment in our hotel lobby. It was a mix of Latin dancing, salsa & cirque do soliel type of stuff every night.
I could probably go on & on with my love for the hotel. I can’t wait to write a glowing review on trip advisor and try to convince as many as you as possible to get away without your kids to the glorious place. It was SO AWESOME to be at a hotel that doesn’t even allow kids! I didn’t hear a single baby cry for 7 full days – do you know how incredible that was? Amazing. Yep, amazing.
On the other hand, I could have done with less drunk nasty men. I guess that’s what happens at a place that keeps rum, vodka & tequilla on tap in your room. Most guys were at the poolside bar starting their drunken escapades by 8am. I’m surprised half our hotel didn’t drink themselves dead that week. That’s the one downside. Too many alcoholics tripping all over the place.
I loved that the hotel made you dress up to go to dinner. At night, every one looked and smelled good. They dimly light everything with hundreds of candles every where and play Nora Jones type music all over the lobby & bar area. The lobby was filled with hundreds of comfortable couches with a lovely cool breeze. It was just so relaxing to sit there with my blue hawaian & chill.
2. The Food! The hotel had 8 gourmet restaurants that you could eat from any time day or night. It was all part of the all-inclusive auction we got. The food was top notch. With a variety of show cooking of everything from prime rib & steak to fresh omelette’s & pancakes or waffles.
And if that wasn’t enough, they have their own (free!) starbucks where you can get any coffee any time with numerous pastries, fresh fried doughnuts and other fat inducing objects, as well as a 24-hour lounge with any possible snack or drink your little brain can come up with.
Can somebody say: gluttonous indulgence?!?! I knew the 1st day would be our skinniest day all week. After that was about a pound a day.
Our favorite was Pelicano’s. A restaurant right in between the beach & the pool, which made for a beautiful view, a nice breeze and the most relaxed atmosphere imaginable.
3. The animals (& lack thereof) – Dave & I were curious as to why there were no bugs & I mean no bugs anywhere?!?! It was odd to be on a beach without pestering sea gulls vying for your every chip. Mostly, it was awesome to see animals I don’t typically see in boring old Michigan. For example, I swam with dolphins! What an amazing experience it was. Do you know how gigantic a dolphin is? I didn’t either until it was next to me snuggling up next to my life vest. Huge!
Last, but not least, it was just good fun to be able to have time to talk to Dave, to take prayer walks on the beach, to deal with a myriad of issues in a restful productive way in a relaxing atmosphere.
In case you can’t tell, I had a good old time.
If you want to see (almost) all the pictures in normal size, you can view them in my facebook album.
Well, it’s time to ‘forget Cancun,’ both the health of getting back to our normal life but also rejoicing in such a wonderful gift God gave us.
May you take spaces to get away & enjoy life & marriage !
