Birthdays have a way of showing up each year. A good thing, no matter how many we’ve had. As we age, they hold a special significance. There’s the old bucket list looming ahead in some cases. Mine is fairly simple, one last time hiking the Niagara Gorge, creating a distinctive abstract painting, a day trip to some of my childhood haunts, and compiling a collection of fiction short stories to publish. There is one wish though, that my body won’t allow, climbing up and straddling a horse for a bridle trail ride. This is something I haven’t done since I was fifteen years old. Unknown to me, a new adventure not on the list awaited
My daughters know I am no fan of our Southern Ontario winters, so they watched with glee as I opened their Christmas card to reveal a combined Christmas/ birthday gift to fly to Cancun, Mexico! We would leave in less than three weeks and I was gobsmacked. What would I pack? Where did I put my summer clothes? Would they still fit after all my holiday indulgences? Lucky for me I still have an active passport and the kids know their way around an airport much better than I do.
I couldn’t imagine a more wonderfully relaxing time. Sure, the weather was hot and sunny, but it was the hospitality that blew me away. The resort was all-inclusive with everything laid on. We had our own facilitator, a lovely young woman who answered any questions and made note of anything we desired. We had lush views of the pools, abundant greenery and of course the ocean. A photographer’s paradise and I took full advantage of that.
There were sumptuous buffets at any time of the day. Beautiful, well-appointed restaurants offering succulent cuisine from a variety of cultures. Each evening, guests gathered around the open air bars to view main stage entertainment from Karaoke to a Michael Jackson tribute. We perused an artisan market along the promenade between hotels. Silversmiths plied their gorgeous creations of rings, bracelets and necklaces next to exotic, silky clothing and scarves. Wood carvings and ceramic paintings were designed while we watched in wonder.
As we lounged around the pool, tropical drinks in hand, we planned a day-long island excursion through a trip co-ordinator. We would travel by catamaran to Isla Mujeres, a small remote island, best traveled by golf carts. There we observed the ruins of a Mayan temple, with a backdrop of blue sky and churning ocean waves below. Our golf cart followed the other revellers around the island, stopping for photos or cold refreshments.
The last day of our holiday was my birthday. I was told reservations were made for lunch and dinner. What surprised me was strolling up to our cabana to see our pool attendant, Demaris, making a card for me out of funneled sand on a beach towel! Not only that, a yellow birthday banner hung over our lounges with a coiled towel cake and gold ribbons taking centre stage. Our final cuisines were Italian for lunch and grilled Surf and Turf for dinner. Platters of colourful sushi were brought to our table, along with appetizers too numerous to mention. I didn’t know where I would find room for the entree of snow crab and octopus that was fired up by the chef at our table. Our server appeared to enjoy our attempts at Spanish and laughed when we declined dessert by grinning and holding up our hands.
I’m not a world traveler by any means, but I can’t imagine finding more hospitable, welcoming people than our hosts in Cancun.
“Adios mis queridas amigas!”