Iberostar Quetzal Trip Report May 2008

[morphasia]

Monday and Tuesday were relaxation days at the resort. Lots of walking along the beaches south of IB Quetzal and lounging by the pool, or having naps in the hotel room. Mom and I read 3 books each while on vacation. They were good ones! I caught a sinus cold and the salt/sand of the ocean mixed with my earwax to form cement head. I was deaf and mighty plugged up. I put oil drops in and later in Canada had my ear flushed.

On Monday, a Star Friend named Lara asked my mom if she'd be willing to be a contestant in the Miss Iberostar 2008 contest at Tuesday night's entertainment. Always up for adventure, mom said sure! We rested up for the big event ...

[Nerak936]

What a truly wonderful Trip Report! Thank you for taking the time!!!

We've stayed at the IB Quetzal three times, and your photos make me yearn for it once again!!!

[morphasia]

Oops I forgot. Before I tell you about Miss Iberostar, I must tell you about my mom's 75th birthday. We celebrated it in the Japanese a la carte restaurant. I ordered a cake and the staff made the evening really special. After supper they came out with pots and pans and made music and made mom drink a tequila shooter and put a funny hat on her head. We sat at a table with another family whose mom turning 80! It was great fun.

[morphasia]

Well the moment had finally arrived ... mom and I were sitting in the big entertainment palapa, listening to the awards for day activities, sipping on a banana daquiri, when Star Friend Lara came up to mom to invite her backstage for the Miss Iberostar contest.

In a short while, the curtains opened up to reveal a beautiful stage with four plush armchairs, and sheer curtains with two portholes on either side.



Mom sat in the chair closest to where I was sitting. The MC introduced the four women; Danielle from Germany, Kayla from Texas, Maria from England and mom from Canada





Their first task was to dance with a feather boa





Next they had to kiss as many men in one minute as possible. The other ladies were going guns. 18 men, 29 men, how was mom going to do that? The Star Friends secretly had told all the men in the audience to line up.





See how far back this line-up goes?



She kissed young, old, handsome, stubbly cheeks, every male in that building!



Next they had to collect as many shoes in a minute



Followed by as many shirts as possible in one minute ...



And finally as many pants as possible in one minute ...

Sorry HA HA no picture. I didn't want to appear lewd.

Finally mom had to do a skit where her husband goes to buy smokes and her Hollywood lover comes to visit



After all was said and done, mom had the most points (wonder how that happened) and she was crowned Miss Iberostar 2008.







Thereafter, she was a celebrity and people in the resort recognized her. She thanked several men for their pants.

[emc]

I didn't notice it till now, but you are a carbon copy of your Mom.
Both beautiful women!

[morphasia]

thanks Elaina. We hear that from time to time. I hope I have her energy and joie de vivre at that age.

[morphasia]

Originally Posted by Nerak936

What a truly wonderful Trip Report! Thank you for taking the time!!!

We've stayed at the IB Quetzal three times, and your photos make me yearn for it once again!!!

Thanks Nerak; it's my pleasure. I hope I stay at the Quetzal a third time. I've taken my sons, my mother, next time ... my lover. lol

[emc]

Originally Posted by morphasia

thanks Elaina. We hear that from time to time. I hope I have her energy and joie de vivre at that age.

I wish I had her energy now. I don't know what joie de vivre means(I'm too lazy to look it up) but I'm sure I wish I had that too.

[Nerak936]

Oh, my!!! That Miss Iberostar 2008 contest must have had you ROLLING in the aisle!

What a wonderful, fun memory to share with your mother! I'm so happy for both of you for that!!!

[morphasia]

Originally Posted by emc

I wish I had her energy now. I don't know what joie de vivre means(I'm too lazy to look it up) but I'm sure I wish I had that too.

lol I'm sure I wish I had that too ... it means joy of life, but the french mean it more joy of everything, eating, conversation, dancing, etc. I surprised myself at the resort ... my friend had told me Lili, you have to promise me you will dance on this holiday. The last night (Friday) I got up and danced to that fabulous band that comes on after the night entertainment is over - they were playing some good R&B

[morphasia]

Originally Posted by Nerak936

Oh, my!!! That Miss Iberostar 2008 contest must have had you ROLLING in the aisle! What a wonderful, fun memory to share with your mother! I'm so happy for both of you for that!!!

Thanks Nerak; My face hurt the next day from constantly grinning and laughing. And my siblings loved the pictures.

Xcaret was our next excursion and we decided just to cab there and back. Xcaret is an ecological park where conservation meets culture, entertainment and history. They have flora, fauna, animals, beaches, swim with the dolphins, and the glorious night show!
What can I say? If any of you haven't been, Go Go Go. You need a whole day to enjoy the day time things and you can't miss the night show. First thing we did was go into the underground river, a long winding river with a slow current. We wore life jackets but no snorkelling equipment. There's really too few fish and it's more a swim experience. It was cool and refreshing. We bought some great pictures, 4 shots in total, that staff take along your journey. But they are hard copy and 8X10s so unfortunately I can't share them on here.
Next we saw the zoo, parrots, turtles, monkeys, tigers, deer, lions, underground aquariums of fish and coral reef, all kinds of animal life in huge natural settings.

[morphasia]

We toured the greenhouses and I got carried away with the flowers

[morphasia]

The night show actually starts early, walking to the theatre











The theatre is amazing, open at the sides but covered entirely and the acoustics were ridiculously good



There are over 200 performers in this show, starting out the Mayan culture, their soccer where you can only hit the ball with your hip, their dress, the music ... it's spectacular. Then the Spanish coming and the race of Mexicans that come from Mayan and Spanish roots. And all the Mexican culture that follows. I didn't take pictures because it's too far away and there's so much movement and often dark. But I have a couple

[morphasia]

I thought I'd take some pictures of the buffet restaurant on the Quetzal side where we ate breakfast every day and usually supper

Center


Right wing



Left wing



And that doesn't even show how big it is ... there are more wings that jut out and all along the sides, you're surrounded by the beautiful outdoors, jungle, waterfalls, ponds, fish, birds, etc.

We went to four a la cartes and could have gone to more, but we loved the buffet. We went to the Mexican, Italian, Japanese and Steak House a la cartes. I think my favorites are Japanese and Steak house but they were all good. Yum

[morphasia]

Caught Andy teaching a yoga class after breakfast and he struck a Vogue pose for me



We spent the day under a palapa on the Tucan beach and it was great. Lunch was always at one of two huge beach palapas so we didn't have to break up the hard work of beach/pool.

Dessert at the Steak House





At the night entertainment I had a long chat with a Star Friend dancer who's from my province of Saskatchewan. Her name is Kerri and she is a super accomplished and lively woman who's moved back to Saskatchewan now, but plans to live in Mexico in the future.