Trip Report: Barcelo Maya 8/10-8/19/08

[Eileencc]

The Prologue
Yes, I've been back for over a week and I'm just starting my trip report. I know...I'm derelict in my duty. But let's say that life crept back almost immediately upon my return, and it's been chaos ever since. We're now in the throes of preparing our daughter to go back for her second year of college, so it may take me a few days to actually write this report.

This was our fourth trip to Mexico with the family. We are: Myself (Eileen), husband (Charlie, who posts here as Commando), Kelsey our daughter, and Chris our son.

In a nutshell, we had a wonderful, relaxing, and rejuvenating time at the Barcelo Maya. It's a an exceptionally beautiful place with stately palm trees lining the enormous beach, immaculate and beautiful landscaped grounds, and generally it's just a top notch resort.

Beyond the resort, we went on an unforgettable tour called "Tulum and Beyond" that we booked through this site with Mitch. That day was truly one of the best times we've had in Mexico.

We ventured into town a few times and got to meet some of the peeps we've always wanted to meet, including Tesla and Harold, Susie Q and Babaloo, Shammy and Chris, Mindbender, Silvergirl, Jez, SKM, and many many more.

As I've mentioned on a few threads here, on day 5 of the trip, I pulled a bonehead move and formatted the memory card in my camera, stupidly erasing over 200 pictures from the first few days. I've got one of our fantastic peeps (can you guess who?) working the case to try to retrieve anything that can be retrieved from that memory card, so I'll delay posting my pics until I establish whether anything from those days can be saved.

I still need to review and upload my pictures to photobucket, and I'll do that as soon as time permits. But as ewill (Eddie) says, the hardest part of writing a trip report is starting it, so, now that's done.

To be continued...

[Trish]

Originally Posted by Eileencc

But as ewill (Eddie) says, the hardest part of writing a trip report is starting it, so, now that's done.

I think you're probably right! Now, you're free to just sit back (well, once you get your daughter ready for school), add a few comments as you think of them, and see if you get your pics back. I have a guess on who's working on your memory card... hear he can really do the magic on those things, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for ya! Glad that you had a good time. Now it's my turn to just sit back, wait for you to add comments as your think of them, and see if you get your pics back!

[avagirl]

Yea! Eileens Trip Report!

[Bontongrl]

Yeahhhh, I can't wait to hear all about it Eileen....I've been looking foward to your report......
I know how it is writing these, they take on a life of their own,,, it took me over a week to write mine,,
But its done and now I can relax and read everyone else's..

[Mercy]

Originally Posted by Eileencc

As I've mentioned on a few threads here, on day 5 of the trip, I pulled a bonehead move and formatted the memory card in my camera, stupidly erasing over 200 pictures from the first few days. I've got one of our fantastic peeps (can you guess who?) working the case to try to retrieve anything that can be retrieved from that memory card, so I'll delay posting my pics until I establish whether anything from those days can be saved.

Oh no!!! Oh the tragedy!! I hope you can get your pictures back!

Looking forward to more!

[silvergirl]

Yaaaayyy!!! Eileen's writing her report!

How's it coming along with retreiving your pictures? Any luck?

I'm with you on that whole college thing. UGH!!! Needed a hair appointment to color my gray after this past week with my son! I have a feeling I'll be giving her lots more business.

Trip reports are a lot of work........but lots of fun too.....if you've got the time.

We're headed to Provincetown this weekend and I've already started to my trip report........before we've even gone! It's here if you're interested. I figure P-Town needs a little explaining.....before the pictures! Don't ya think?

[Eileencc]

Originally Posted by Trish

I think you're probably right! Now, you're free to just sit back (well, once you get your daughter ready for school), add a few comments as you think of them, and see if you get your pics back. I have a guess on who's working on your memory card... hear he can really do the magic on those things, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for ya! Glad that you had a good time. Now it's my turn to just sit back, wait for you to add comments as your think of them, and see if you get your pics back!

Yeah, I hope he can work his magic. I may have screwed things up beyond repair by taking more pictures after formatting the card...but I'm keeping all fingers and toes crossed for now.

Originally Posted by avagirl

Yea! Eileens Trip Report!

Soon sistah, soon!

Originally Posted by Bontongrl

Yeahhhh, I can't wait to hear all about it Eileen....I've been looking foward to your report......
I know how it is writing these, they take on a life of their own,,, it took me over a week to write mine,,
But its done and now I can relax and read everyone else's..

I know! I'm pretty jealous that yours is all done, but I've thoroughly enjoyed reading it, as I did with all the reports from the folks we met while down there. I'll be working on it over the weekend for sure.

Originally Posted by Mercy

Oh no!!! Oh the tragedy!! I hope you can get your pictures back!

Looking forward to more!

Me too! I am hopeful!

Originally Posted by silvergirl

Yaaaayyy!!! Eileen's writing her report!

How's it coming along with retreiving your pictures? Any luck?

I'm with you on that whole college thing. UGH!!! Needed a hair appointment to color my gray after this past week with my son! I have a feeling I'll be giving her lots more business.

Trip reports are a lot of work........but lots of fun too.....if you've got the time.

We're headed to Provincetown this weekend and I've already started to my trip report........before we've even gone! It's here if you're interested. I figure P-Town needs a little explaining.....before the pictures! Don't ya think?

Oh, the college thing...one word...UGH! I am literally sitting here arguing with my lovely daughter about how much still needs to be done before she goes tomorrow, and this girl is one overbooked cookie. Let's say that through past experience I know that she tries to cram 24 hours worth of stuff into a 4-hour period. There is still so much laundry, pakcing, and organizing to do, and we're both working today, and she's going out to dinner with her godparents tonight...because GGOD knows she won't EVER see them again...<sigh> I know tonight is gonna be a long night, and tomorrow will be a long day. But when I get home...Mojito time!

But I digress! Kim, hope you have a fantastic time in P-town. I read your pre-report last night but was too tiired to comment. Your pictures were awesome. I love P-town too, remind me to tell you some town about a hilarious dinner we had one evening at the Painted Lady Inn! Too funny...

Have a great time, and I know I'll enjoy reading your adventures later!

Ciao all! More trip report later this weekend.

[Tlyn]

Hang in there, Eileen!! It's just nuts before the kids start school, isn't it?

Can't wait to read your report!

[GreatLakes]

Come on Eileen pic's......................Darn memory card!

We cant wait to get back to the Barcelo, maybe next Feb!

[Eileencc]

Originally Posted by Tlyn

Hang in there, Eileen!! It's just nuts before the kids start school, isn't it?

Can't wait to read your report!

Oh yeah, and it doesn't get easier when they get into college, because they want to take all their worldly possessions with them, and would it kill them to just spend a LEETLE time BEFORE moving day to do their organizing, shopping, and packing? Huh? She told me I was stressing her out. Good one! I wrote the book on stress! Give me strength...

Originally Posted by GreatLakes

Come on Eileen pic's......................Darn memory card!

We cant wait to get back to the Barcelo, maybe next Feb!

Well.....the verdict is in and it's...... those pictures are irretrievable. I want to thank JimmyMN for putting that stupid memory card through every software he had to try to coax even one of the old pictures out. But to no avail...they're gone forever. It's a hard lesson learned. Never never never mess with the camera controls if you're not 100% sure what you're doing. Oh well...I'll get over it, I'm sure.

I still have many great pictures from later in the week, and I'll start uploading them over the weekend. So folks, thanks for your patience. I'll get on with the report after we finish the big college move-in. TTFN!

[silvergirl]

Awww, Eileen......what a shame. I thought for sure they could have been saved.

You'll just have to go back and take some more........sooner than you had planned.

Thanks for your comments on my TR. Where is this Painted Lady Inn? Maybe we should check it out??

[Eileencc]

Originally Posted by silvergirl

Awww, Eileen......what a shame. I thought for sure they could have been saved.

You'll just have to go back and take some more........sooner than you had planned.

Thanks for your comments on my TR. Where is this Painted Lady Inn? Maybe we should check it out??

Yeah, Jimmy warned me that because I went ahead and took more pictures after formatting the card, it was pretty unlikely that much if anything could be saved, but at least I feel like I gave it (or Jimmy did) my best effort. I still feel like such a dummy for the thoughtless mistake though.

Oh well...the Painted Lady...it was on Commercial Street, right in the heart of downtown. I think the place has changed hands and probably isn't named the same anymore either. But back then (this was many years ago) that Charlie and I were there celebrating a romantic dinner. It was a very quaint inn with a restaurant downstairs. I believe it was an anniversary, or one of our birthdays. The restaurant had just a few tables quite close together and we were seated beside a pair of gentlemen who quite clearly had just engaged in some summer lovin' upstairs, and were being quite explicit about their adventures. The tables were so close that we could not help overhearing every single detail. OMG, I thought Charlie was going to spit out his food a couple of times. I was like "guys, get a room...oh you already have a room..." Yeah, it was actually pretty funny, and we always laugh about that night when we're at the cape, and especially in P-Town.

So, hope you have a great time...I know you will! Fingers crossed for good weather!

[silvergirl]

That is too funny!!

Here's hoping I've got stories to tell in my TR!

[maestranba]

Hi Eileen! So sorry about your pics... You'll just have to describe your trip for the first few days, and we'll use our imaginations! Luckily Debbie has pics from your tour.

Kim, have fun in PTown! I was propositioned by other women several times there when I was in my twenties!! It's a cool place to go tho!

[Buggirl]

Yeah!!!! Eileen's report! So sorry about the pics- your words will just have to do

Get to it, miss