Post Vacation Party!

Just returned from a fabulous week at an all inclusive resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico!

Making up for not tagging along with our son on his Spring Break this year…..and celebrating our 28th Wedding Anniversary…albeit a month late.  The old adage, 'work hard to play hard,' is perfect for this vacation.  Our summer getaway was postponed as I helped cover a maternity leave at work.
We were off to a great start as we got bumped up to First Class on our flight to Cancun!  Our 3 hour flight arrived on time and after an hour shuttle south, we arrived at our favorite resort.
Greeted with a champagne cocktail we checked in to our suite and couldn't change into our swimwear fast enough!

A welcome cocktail on a hot August day.  Simple Recipe:  Cognac, Grand Marnier and Brut Champagne - Cheers!

The pool was incredibly welcoming and the bartender at the swim up bar made a perfect pina colada!

 We kicked the week off with dinner at the resort's fabulous French brasserie!  The waiters lined the stairs and clapped as we entered through the doors!  Talk about feeling special!  Escargot, lobster, crepes and creme brûlée were decadent delights.

escargot!

OK, so the red wine was from Argentina, not France!
but we strayed from our usual white wine to keep with the  iconic French Red!

creme brûlée

Dessert Crepes

 Entertainment did not disappoint as we celebrated with the Divas at the theatre.  We returned to our suite to find a bottle of champagne and an anniversary cake waiting for us!

This was the 1st of two Anniversary Cakes!  A story for another time!  

 The cocktails, sun, and travel got the better of us as we found ourselves asleep before 10:00 PM!   The bonus to the early bedtime meant I was up at 6:00 AM and got to see my first sunrise!

The rest of the week was much more of the same relaxed, romantic, completely satisfying, indulgent activities.  We sampled all of the resort's restaurants, including Japanese, Brazilian, French, Seafood and of course Mexican.

The food was a welcome feast for the eyes and the palate.

Chocolate Surprise Box!  (truffles inside a chocolate box!)

my favorite part of the breakfast!

Room Service was a delight we indulged in almost every morning!

breakfast on our terrace!

 
The calorie intake was balanced with lots of fun activities!
                                        Yoga, Pilates,

                              Zumba and Aqua Aerobics

                             Also, lots of swimming in the beautiful pools and pristine beaches.

OK, so I use the term "swimming" loosely!

  The crystal clear ocean water made it possible to enjoy lots of tropical fish and four large sea turtles swimming next to  us - without the need for snorkel equipment!  We actually passed up a catamaran sunset dinner cruise in Cancun, to stay on the resort and enjoy the accommodations!  We chose to spend the late afternoon at the spa and indulged in an 80 minute relaxation massage.  Loved it so much that we returned the next day for 50 minute facials.  Evening entertainment included a night at the Circus, Fiesta Mexicana, Cuban Dancing, Karaoke, a Donna Summers Tribute and Jaguars Discotheque, among others.
Lots of opportunities for shopping as well!  My husband and I both enjoyed a fashion show poolside

and besides clothing we bought pottery, art and of course, tequila!
 I got lucky at the Fiesta Mexicana and won a 30 minute massage - which I saved for the last day of our vacation - what a treat!
Mariachis in the cocktail lounge made for a fun pre-dinner show.  Talented musicians with amazingly powerful voices!

The decor throughout the resort was a beautiful balance of      traditional and modern.

lovely artwork in the resort lobby

I'm always amazed by the tropical landscape and enjoy taking pictures of both flora and fauna.

These unusual animals were Lemurs…I heard a little boy say that anyway...

Now that we've returned home, I'm planning a "Post Vacation Party" with friends to share the food, drink, music and of course, the decor that makes Mexico such a colorful, exciting and welcoming country!

I brought home a few small gifts to share with our friends and planned a fun menu of my favorite food and drink, including Tostadas, Tacos, Margaritas, Flan and Rice Pudding!
A new drink we enjoyed at the swim up bar was called a Chelada.  I took the recipe from a book in our suite….just for you!

A few pictures to highlight our vacation and of course more than a few funny stories that always seem to follow us wherever we go!

Post Vacation Parties are a fun way to share your summer travels with friends and family at home!  Celebrate your memories!