09-19-2010
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#17 (permalink) | |
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reposado
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,492
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09-24-2010
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#19 (permalink) |
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way into it
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 169
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Thanks everyone!
(thanks Actran for the compliment on my shoes!  they're not as cool as yours though!)I updated the trip report with some more pics and stories from Day 1 (I just added it to the original entry-1st page), Have to head off to work now. Will finish it this weekend! 
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09-24-2010
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#22 (permalink) |
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way into it
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 169
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DAY 1 - CONTINUED....
With the long flight behind us, we were finally ready to start our vacation. We checked into The Occident Grand Xcaret, Our passport & money were locked in the safe and we had our bathing suits on. We stepped out of the hotel room and slipped the key into my purse. The weather was beautiful, warm and sunny. We began walking down the corridor towards the bottom levels to explore the grounds. The first thing that struck us when we reached ground level was the insane diversity of wildlife. Massive Iguanas perched on rocks sunbathing....  Parrots everywhere, bobbing their heads, ruffling their feathers and schreeching to eachother...  Flamingos..  Alot of lizards scurrying over the rocks and running across the pathways into the bushes  The structures were built into the surrounding jungle and their were waterways running through all of them.   The water was filled a variety with colorful fish  The resort was huge and it’s easy to get lost. The map doesn’t make any sense, so we eventually just crumbled it up and tossed it back into my purse. There jungle pathways lead in all different directions and we kept going the wrong way. I think we were going in circles. It was hot and the sweat spilled down our faces. The parrots watched us from the trees and made cackling sounds  We reached a clearing eventually that led us to the pools. They were beautiful and large.   We eventually found the dirt road that led to the beach  On the way down the dirt road we discovered ruins Markus comment: Yes, we discovered them. They'll be reading about us in National Geographic soon.   During our exploration of the grounds, we didn’t see any other people. It was almost as though we were completely alone in paradise. I know it’s off season, but it was unusual. No tourists taking pictures, no voices in the distance... just the sound of nature around us. Finally we reached the man made cove beach area. It was stunning...I kept pinching myself because I didn’t believe I was really here...   There were also swinging beds with sheer curtains...It was like being on the set of “The Bachelorette”  We went to get a bite to eat at the lunch buffet, which is in the structure right next to the beach cove. We had two cold corona, salad and tacos. It was our first real meal since stepping off the airplane and tasted amazing! I still couldn’t get over the all you can eat and drink - all inclusive aspect of this hotel. How could ALL of this be included in the hotel price? It’s just too surreal...I tipped the waiter though. He clearly works incredibly hard and was running around everywhere making sure everyone was satisfied. I was surprised at how many people didn’t tip a single peso. We went back to the beach and found a nice shaded area next to the shore to drop off our stuff.  and stepped into the water for the first time..  The water was so clear, so blue and so warm. I just closed my eyes and took in all the sensations. The laughter of the people splashing around in the cove, The soft breeze on my skin, the sound of the gentle waves hitting the sand, the feeling of the water lapping around my thighs.. it was truly heaven. All my stress dissolved, I was just there in that perfect moment holding Markus’s hand. I don’t think anyone around us knew how much this one moment meant to us both...how long we had dreamt about a vacation like this. After swimming together in the water for a while, we rested on a swinging bed  Pay no attention to the freakishly pale girl in that picture. um,I have no clue who she is..  The waiters come up with trays and ask “what would you like to drink?” (In spanish - but this I understood) They bring it directly to you on the beach... After some rest and relaxation we headed back to the hotel and got dressed for dinner. I would freeze to death if I attempted to go out at night with a dress like this in San francisco.   It was Mexican Independence day, so dinner was in the open theater area with festive outside seating all around.  The buffet had a massive array of authentic Mexican dishes. I went for the fish tacos, and various salads. Markus attacked the meat section and ate until his stomach ached. It was delicious. There was a downstairs bar in the jungle area where we decided it was time to have our very FIRST tequila in Mexico. We asked for 2 shots. The bartender grabbed two regular sized glasses and poured much more than a shot while I watched in confusion. “No just a single shot... uno shot” I tried to clarify “Uno” He smiled and responded in perfect English “We don't pour single shots here” and slid them over. Oooh boy. I was starting to feel drowsy, That Tequila + lots of food + no sleep in a day. I was ready to call it a night. So we shuffled off back to our hotel room. We “slept” for about 45 minutes. then we realized that there was no way we were going to miss the Mexican independence day celebration. How can you travel all the way to Mexico and then SLEEP through the 200th year celebration?? “We need to go to Playa Del Carmen and celebrate!” But then we realized that might be a stretch for us to take a taxi into town in our exhausted state, so we settled on just hanging out at the hotel. We walked down to the beach area and relaxed on the swinging beds.  There was festive music playing in the distance, the bed swayed in the breeze and we listened to the waves. It was so relaxing... We knew the Independence day celebration would officially be starting soon, so we went back to the main lobby. We sat on the pizzeria balcony and watched.  There were dancers, singers, cheering.. all different performances and then at 11 PM, the famous speech followed by screams of “VIVA!!!” “VIVA MEXICO!!! VIVA MEXICO!!!” horns went off, fireworks.. it was just amazing. A lot of the hotel staff had their family members there for the event. Everyone was dancing and screaming and blowing their horns. It was really an experience that I can’t describe. We followed the celebration into the disco located on the side of the lobby. (I was genuinely shocked that they actually had a real disco in this resort too.. ) I didn’t expect such a night life scene in a remote jungle hotel  We had one last celebratory round of drinks..  Before FINALLY calling it a night.. I fell asleep with a smile. We we're having the time of our lives in Mexico and it was only the end of the first day... To Be Continued... in DAY 2 - MONKEYS IN THE JUNGLE PLACE - That entry will be written by my husband, MARKUS
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Carpe Diem  Trip Report - First trip to Playa Del Carmen - September 2010 http://www.playa.info/playa-del-carm...er-2010-a.html Last edited by claritysf; 09-25-2010 at 06:50 PM.. |
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09-24-2010
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#23 (permalink) |
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reposado
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,492
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Our first Mexican family vacation was at the Occidental Grand Xcaret. We have great vacations together as a family, but I have to say you made this place magical and YOURS. Awesome!
I love you guys! You're like kids on Christmas. More, more! Last edited by actran; 09-24-2010 at 10:28 PM.. |
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09-25-2010
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#24 (permalink) | |
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way into it
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 169
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Quote:
Yes! we FELT like two kids on Christmas! haha! It took us a few days to finally wind down. I think we were afraid that if we closed our eyes for too long Mexico would disappear 
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09-25-2010
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#25 (permalink) | ||
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way into it
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 169
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Quote:
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09-25-2010
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#27 (permalink) |
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reposado
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Fairless Hills, PA
Posts: 1,105
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Great TR & pics. Looks like an amazing place. Its so awesome that on your first trip to Mexico you were able to experience the Independence Day celebrations. How cool is that?! Anyway, great TR. Thanks for sharing.
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09-25-2010
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#28 (permalink) | |
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reposado
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,492
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Quote:
Now get back to writing your trip report 
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09-27-2010
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#29 (permalink) |
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very sparkly
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 30
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Day 2 – MONKEY DAY by Markus
The following section of this trip report contains graphic descriptions of intimacy with a monkey. Reader discretion is advised!  I should also say upfront, that - unlike my wife - I lack the ability to channel Danielle Steel. Except for sections concerning monkeys, this trip report does not contain gems like: ”...In anticipation of our trip his blue eyes sparkled like Kukulcan's Jaguar Throne. The excitement made his athletic form traverse the distance between us with impossible speed. He raised me in his strong, muscular arms and we twirled in blissful timelessness all the way to our hotel room door....” sorry. However, I am an expert in run-on sentences, so enjoy this-here literary art: On the morning of monkey day we were awakened by a cacophony of alarm clocks, set for this purpose. Despite the excitement about my environment (MEEEEXICOOOO!!!!), it just felt too early. ….and it was.  So here is my first bit of real trip advice: Playa del Carmen is NOT in the same timezone as New York! However, it is most likely that the last person, who set your alarm clock, thought that it was (data set: 2 out of 2 hotel rooms). So unless you want to greet the sun before it's up, make the setting of your alarm clock the first thing you do upon entering your new habitación (I guess New Yorkers don't know, that there areother timezones(jk)) – (See, wasn't that useful advice?). So we drowsily made our way to the balcony with hotel-room-peculator coffee (why don't those things ever make actual coffee?), where I saw my first really beautiful bird, the abundant and dazzlingly yellow Boat-billed Flycatcher.  I thought it would be prudent to carry our passports when leaving the hotel – given that we are in a foreign country – and I headed over to the hotel room safe, where we had deposited such irreplaceable items. We had discussed the most memorable code the night before and I typed in the six digits with confidence. However the safe door would not budge. With growing panic I entered the code a few more times, ...only to be faced with the same result. Cursing my own stupidity with the worst English language in my head, mixed with Spanish words I suspected to mean “You idiot!” and such, I made my way to the front desk with a degree of humiliation.  The front desk was not phased and sent maintenance to our hotel room. Help came with great speed and in a blue over-all. Our savior typed a lengthy skeleton-code into the door mounted keyboard, ...pulled ….and nothing! The door remained unopened He repeated the procedure - with no luck. Scratching the back of his head the tool-belt-laden expert took a long intense look at the gap between the door and frame with his nose inches from the steel. He told me in Spanish what he thought the problem was and I answered with a knowing nod having absolutely no thought on the subject: “U-huh!”. The expert then pulled out a prying-iron, wedged it into the tiniest of gaps and... Voila! - our most prized possession where free. I did a little happy-dance, which our blue-collar friend waited out, before he proceeded to show me the superfluous 25th paint job, which had made the proper functioning of the door impossible. He then scratch off the excess paint, continuously explaining the procedure in Spanish, with close attention to my facial clues, as if to make sure that next time I could perform the procedure on someone else's safe without his help. I felt empowered! Don't give a man a fish - teach him how to fish! The early rise gave us a chance to properly wake up after the ordeal, take in some more caffeine and get our excitement on. In good old SF-fashion we still arrived late in the lobby, where a driver, relieved to see us, packed us into a van and cleaned out our ear-canals with rapid Spanish. I gave the usual “U-huh!” responses, which made us friends quickly. On our way to the Jungle place we stopped in Akumal, where in the early morning hours only a single store was open.  We stocked up on Sunscreen lotion and the monkey-safe insect repellant alternative aceite de bebé (baby oil). Shortly after our driver took an exit off the main highway after which the pavement continued briefly. With trained expertise our conductor put on soothing classical music at just the right moment, so that - propelled by the pot-holes - our heads would hit the roof of the car in exact synchronicity with the Mozart's accents and crescendos. See home video Here: YouTube - Trip to the Jungle Place.mpg To the side of the dirt road faded signs pointed out snorkeling cenotes with out any entrance fee or the like. I tell you – The Mayan Riviera is everything one could possibly expect! The vegetation thickened and while discussing Mayan pronunciation we turn through the gate of Kuxi K'aax (phonetic: Coochie k' (brief pause) ush, (Coochies R Us might work).  The next signs read Peligro! Peros!. This is an important sign to take serious, when coming to The Jungle Place. If you are earlier than your appointment, do not exit your vehicle, until Heidi greats you. Her Rottweiler is perfectly calm at her side, but you don't want to be mistaken as an intruder by that enormous puppy! Heidi was a little frazzled and seemed in need of another cup of Joe as we arrived an hour early (So sorry, Heidi!). She was very concerned with our welfare and entertainment while waiting and needed lots of convincing to continue her morning routine not minding us. We were seated on the second floor of her amazing palapa in the jungle, surrounded by exotic plant life, a huge monkey enclosure and loads of very friendly, very skinny cats ( I am feeding my felines too much!....and Fatso Catso is still clawing my leg for more as I am writing this).  Continued next thread... Last edited by MarkusSF; 09-27-2010 at 03:15 AM.. |
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09-27-2010
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#30 (permalink) |
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very sparkly
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 30
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  Others arrived in two's, from Canada, England and Ireland. Due to pending Hurricane Karl, and the fear of cancellations Heidi had slightly overbooked the time slot. Which also gave her great concern. She really wants to make sure everyone has a great time.   As our excitement mounted and mixed with a little nervousness, Heidi began her introduction for non-primatologists. “You probably thought you were coming here to play with the monkeys! - ..well, that's not quite correct. You are here so the monkeys can play with you. You will sit over there and the monkeys will have their way with you.” She went on to explain that monkeys like to steal things – just like humans. Things like stringy things, shiny things, colorful things or just about everything that does or does not grow on a jungle tree are treasure to a monkey. So when you go there, wear contact lenses not glasses, tan sports-bra's not neon string bikinis and clip your toe-nails, so your comfortable taking your shoes off ...and - by God! – take your piercings out! – or they will! “All the monkeys are pet-able” she explained further, ”except for Luna. Luna is the only monkey born here and she had a whole band of monkeys to raise her. It was them, who spoiled her, not us. So she is a brat and she gets what she wants. Her - we don't pet! She will bite. But don't worry, we will point her out frequently: That's Luna. There is Luna. Careful, Luna!”. Thus encouraged, we stripped ourselves of all objects most likely to be destroyed and one by one entered the monkey enclosure. We were directed to plop our butts, with feet stretched out, onto a platform, which stands raised about 10 feet off the ground. Knowing the drill, the most confident monkeys had already gathered around the platform and slowly circled the goofy-looking, half-stripped, gringo-visitors.  We had been given crackers and other snack and the senior-most alpha monkey named “Lady” wasted no time to see what treasures we brought. She gently approached us,opened our hands, took the best bites out and sat at a distance to consume the snack. Other monkeys joined quickly to perform the same routine and it was not long until we heard the dreaded sentence “That's Luna! Hand over what treasure you have!”  Being seated in the furthermost corner surrounded by pale white tourist legs, we had not had a monkey visitor, yet. Luna made no such discrimination. After plundering everyone else, she turned to us and with more force than you would expect in such a tiny monkey hand, our hands were pried open and every last little crumb of food was confiscated. I felt a little bit like I was robbed by a school-yard bully. Why would a monkey come to let me pet her now?  Heidi's charismatic husband, Joel, who was watching over us from with in the inclosure, laden with 4 digital cameras of different makes, immediately saw my disappointment and quickly refreshed our snack stash. We sat hopeful to receive a “pet-able” visitor and I jealously observed the bountiful attention those seated further out on the edge were receiving. But each time we were about to receive a customer, the cry “Luna!” killed our hopes. A quick raid and again I was left without lure for my so desired first real contact with my nearest relative. I made my peace and decided to be a good sport and enjoy the amazing experience I had, even though I did not have a monkey in my lap, as most of my neighbors did. But Luna did not just act like a bully. Her youthful mischief also made her the most entertaining of the bunch. The first object to catch her attention, aside from food, was a hair band, which one visitor against better advice, had not removed from her person. It blended into her hair at first, but - once noticed - became the object of Luna's unstoppable desire. Not being an easy removal the wearer quickly dreaded her decision to bring the damn thing, as Luna tugged and tugged at the band andthe encircled pigtail, giving the Gringo-lady a deep-tissue head-massage she will not forget. Trying to assist in the loosening process, risked giving Luna the impression, one was fighting her over her treasure. So the band only came loose, when the critical mass of hairs had loosened from the scalp and Luna proudly held the band in her hand together with a little tuft of dark-blond hair.  To our amazement Luna continued to put the rubber band over her fingers. And finally - after some struggle – she worked all four fingers through the center (Yes, four fingers! Spider monkeys only have thumbs on their feet, not on their hands. Odd, huh?), and she victoriously raised her arm into the air to show us her fashionable new bracelet. Applause ensued -even from the previous owner - and Luna made off to her secret rubber-band -collection-hiding-spot. In Luna's absence we enjoyed a few more brief contacts with other monkeys, raising my hopes to make a real connection, like the one I have with my cats or a friendly dog passing me on a walk. This is what I came here for, that moment I had heard Jane Goodall describe, when I met her in Florida; the moment when the eyes two individuals of two different species meet and you see something familiar looking back at you with an unexpected intuitive understanding.  But Jane, Heidi and Joel all had given years of dedication to those under their protection, to have such an otherworldly encounter. Maybe my hopes were unreasonable.    Soon Luna interrupted my contemplation. After robbing my stash for the 100th time, she turned her attention to an even bigger treasure: to the golden Nike-swoosh adorning the only pair of shoes into the enclosure (also brought in against better advice) had finally caught her eye. She discovered that she could see her mirror image in the shiny metal and got so excited that other monkeys came to check out her find. Soon a whole gang of excited monkey-girls tried to pry, scratch and bite the logo of the shoe. But thanks to quality sweat-shop worksmanship the emblem budged as little as my safe-door earlier that morning.(Seriously people, wise up and don't buy Nike-shoes! They are made in sweat-shops). Giving up on the logo, Luna now discovered the same girl's neon-colored string bikini -an absolute must have! However, understandably the owner of this item was not nearly as willing to give up this last barrier between her and the deeply engrained social embarrassment of off-beach toplessness. A tug-o-war ensued and the bikini owner became visibly upset at her situation. This did not go unnoticed by “Maya”, a monkey of the same age as Luna, who moments before had snuggled with the girl now desperately clinging on to her last piece of upper-body garment. Maya ignored her lower status to Luna and lunged to the rescue. A brawl of several hissing and semi-aggressively biting monkeys ensued and everyone stayed as still as instructed and thus uninvolved in the mayhem. In seconds the turmoil was over and amazingly the bikini was now established as being off-limits. That's how monkeys take care of business. Go courageous Maya! Eager to make up for the stressful struggle, Joel rewarded us with even better snacks to hand out and everyone seemed quite content, with the rich experience.      Continued on next page.... Last edited by MarkusSF; 09-27-2010 at 03:35 AM.. |
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