Mexico Six-0
Historically, I'm not a big one for birthdays. But I will admit, my 50th was pretty awesome when a dozen of us headed to Galveston for a 3 day weekend. So with the Big Sixty in the forecast, and mama asking me what I wanted to do ... and motorcycles weren't part of the equation for her... the decision was simple. Mexico!
We decided this almost a year ago. Immediately a few close friends committed out the gate. Michael H. booked within days! Next big decision was 'where' specifically. Mama wanted Cozumel, I wanted Playa Del Carmen. My birthday, I win. Then she wanted Secrets Maroma Beach, I wanted Iberostar Grand. My birthday, I win. Now, the invite list. The tough part. I considered putting it out there to pretty much all my close and good friends.. .. but.. .this sometimes creates a level of chaos when it comes to spending time with everyone. Dinner reservations. Lunch .... breakfast, you name it. So, I did an invite to folks that I'm closest with over the years. If it came up in conversation later with others, I openly invited. Hell, we're all paying our own way and it's a 'free country' (sort of ...... headed to Mexico.... just don't hang with the cartel?) so , 'more the merrier!' At one point we had about twenty committed and ready to roll .. but... shit happens. At the last minute my cousin Michael D' booked which was the icing on the cake. I'd told myself whether we had just the 2 of us or 200, it'd be a great time. There is an upside to high numbers. There is an upside to low numbers. As it'd turn out, only seven of us would head out to the Cancun airport. The upside? Simple to all head to dinner together and hang together daily (finding lounge chairs by the pool and beach together). Game on.
Wuhan Virus 2020. First bump in the road was quite a few people planning to go would have to quarantine upon return to the US thanks to the CDC guidelines. Some, without pay. So 2 by 2, 1 by 1... folks started dropping out. Then several of us early in August got sick with Covid and one, ended up in the Hospital for treatment. So yet another couple had to back out. Then a few weeks out we receive notice the Iberostar resort has delayed their opening to October; crap! Well, mama wins. Secrets is open and ready for business so we get the resorts changed to them and actually save a few bux; score! As we got closer, Lucy and I almost had to back out but our symptoms went by the wayside, we were outside our quarantine window and... I actually tested negative a few days before departure. So, with a lil hesitation .... we were committed and ready to roll last week. Whew..... well.. almost. For several days prior we're watching Hurricanes Marco and Laura headed towards Galveston. Even concerned about about our property in Greenville. But when the sun came up, Galveston was spared any major damage and it skirted out county to the east. No more stress and the brain has flipped to pure 'vaca mode.'
I hadn't flown since last year, had heard about the hassles, but still wasn't sure how it'd all play out. Once you get to the entrance to the airport checking inside the doors, it's masks on. Otherwise, everything seemed 'normal'. Once we got through security and seated near the gate, most of us to include many around us .... were taking them off. Once you got up to head to a restroom or get some food, back on. Once you board, it's masks back on .... the entire duration. I snuck that sucker below the nose most of the time ... but otherwise.. it sort of sucked. I can't imagine flying on long haul flights with this crap. Once we get to Cancun, it's still masks on ....everywhere. But, once outside the terminal we order some margaritas as always and ... it's masks off since I've got to drink the dang' thing :) Once in the van headed to the resorts.. .masks off. Upon arrival masks on. Now here is what I wasn't sure of and was concerned about for a few weeks as we got closer. Would 
we have to wear these things on the beach? Around the pool? Around the resort as a whole? We had no idea. Once we walk into the lobby to check in, the answer awaits us. ALL employees are wearing masks; period. Many have some form of eye protection. BUT, it's not required for guests, just recommended. So basically 99% of all guests all week; no masks! Whew! No BS and a week of good times ahead of us...
My cousin rolled in the evening before, but we five caravan'd together via private transportation. Once we're checked in, it's off to the rooms. We five have 3 rooms side by side, all swim out. This will turn out to be an awesome decision for the week. Within minutes, we've unpacked and splashing in our 'private' swim out pool. Cold ones from the fridge, and we're kicking back saying 'oh yes' as a group! Hour or two later, we're headed to the Steak 
House with my cuz and his bride. Then after dinner drinks at the swing bar a hundred yards away. As luck would have it, we made friends with folks that just rolled in for their honeymoon; David and Bianca from St Louis. What a first night ... Set the pace for the rest of the week.
It's my Birthday! Day two goes into the record books for Michael H'. Most of us wake up to room service/breakfast. In fact on this trip, it's the first time I have never 
gone to breakfast at a restaurant. Every morning was on the back terrace, followed by sipping java .... mimosas.... bloody marys... in 
the water chatting with everyone. But on this day, it was mimosas... one after another .. after another. Between us all in the water (five) .... seven bottles of bubbly will have come and gone by noon. After lunch we head to the beach over at the Premium area (who cares ... no different than the normal side .. but .. had a sign!). Then Don Julio made his presence known. By 3ish ... Michael is feeling no pain. By 4, I've seen a side of his I've never seen. Lets just say ... tequila is flowing! As 5 approaches, we decide to make our way to the rooms for a quick combat nap then a meal over by the poolside for Mexican night. We've got a table for seven but ..... Michael H' won't make it. He's out for the night! Still, we've got great food, a mariachi band playing, great table location. Towards the end of the show, Jesse D. has arranged for the
Mariachi band 
to play Happy B'day for me next to our table. Gotta' tell you, it put a helluva' smile on my face. Then, as we would most nights ... we made our way to the Swing Bar! Every night of the trip, a 2 piece 'band' would be playing. Every night we got a front row seat at a table in the shallow waterway. Funny thing is our last trip, Lucy and I spent maybe an hour here the entire trip. This trip; our go to!
Sunday is here, and we've got a twist to the trip. My cousin has a VIP membership at the resort and had gotten us a yacht for the day. Lucy is a notch under the weather, so she decides to stay back and the six of us head to a Cancun harbor to catch a ride. We've picked up a few bottles of 'good stuff' along the route and soon there and find ourselves aboard a 55' Yacht. Except for the store to buy the liquor, no masks needed. As we
walk up smiling you can hear the twin 800hp diesels purring away, ready to take us to Isla Mujeres. Lets just say, this beats the ferry? As we move away from the dock I realize just how many yachts
and other high dollar boats are here. Dozens of jet ski's waiting to be ridden as well. Soon, we are in 'open water' headed east towards the island. The crew rocks and is pulling out coronas and handing them out the second you finish one, never missing a beat. Folks are moving to the front area getting a killer view and a smoother ride. Michael H. and I are relaxed on the back, smoking stogies and sipping cervezas. Life is Good! Hour or so later we're moving slowly near the island passing yacht 
after yacht..... after yacht. Then, we park it and off for a quick snorkel trip. Few of us are certified for SCUBA so we're busting the crew's balls for the real equipment ... but ... it's only about 10' deep and we're soon floating along with a ton of fish, to include barracudas. Then back on the boat down a ways and we back into party central where a hundred or so boats are anchored and partying. I'm thinking I could get used to this! We're next to the roped are sealing off a swimming area for the beach-side bars and restaurants not 200' from us. Guessing if we'd swam over there we could have grabbed some grub n' drinks? Then ... we're back on the boat and head down to a pier 
with a few restaurants and it's lunch time. Margaritas were really good, nachos hit the spot.. but... I got Lobster skewers and... to die for! Another margaritas.. then 
.... .sigh .. .time to head back. By the time we get back to Cancun the sun has set, we're in a van ... and back to Secrets. The good news is about the time we got on the boat, Lucy was feeling better and back in the game. Soon, we all back together at Secrets. Head to the Premium lounge so we can all visit.. .back to the swim out pool.. then........zzzzzzz
Jesse D' was like "Hey .. lets go to the BIG POOL!" . We've been hanging out for so far in a swim-out area... so, big pool day it is! Everyday has been full of sunshine and this won't disappoint. We get a perfect location, get the hat and sunglasses on and .. *splash* ... pool time. Swim a few laps, grab some margaritas and the day is going to rock. Few of us wander over to the water volleyball game and it's time to burn some calories. I'm not initially happy with the rules for it, but .... all in all .. contributed to a fun game. No Spiking ( 1/2 weren't that good to start with ) and ... continue hitting the ball, even by the same person ... .until it's out and missed and hits the water. I was like 'huh?'... but... for a friendly game worked out pretty well. I found myself on the wrong team , with Jesse/Michael/David, on the 'good' team. Still, had a great time which is what it was all about. I've gotten a lil' smarter as I age so towards the end of the day headed in for a combat nap. Few hours later we all converge at the French Restaurant where Jesse D' has gotten us reservations. The food .... the service... the ambiance .. rocked. Couldn't have gone better. Upon departure it...we catch the
end of a cool rock n' roll show they put on then head over to ... .yep... the swing bar! We do another night of music, drinks and dancing in the moonlight. As we do every night, someone shows up with shot glasses of a drink called 'pink pussy'. Pink n' creamy and pretty good. Turns out Leanne has another rough night which has us scratching our heads. We'll eventually figure out this friggn' drink has amaretto in it, which she's allergic to. Grrr! At least.... problem solved.Decided to change up this day. It's Tuesday and many hadn't been to Playa Del Carmen's 5th Ave. So, after another breakfast at the poolside.... we grab a cab and 7 of us rolled down the road about twenty minutes or so. Gotta' tell you, it felt a lil' weird. I've been on the avenue probably a few dozen times over the years and .... wasn't the same sadly. Was still a good time, but... much of the southern section of the street was ripped out and under construction so you working on a road of packed dirt. The barkers coming out of the shops seemed a lil more hungry, I'm guessing due to the wuhan crap keeping their revenue down. Still we made our way down about a dozen blocks before taking a side street towards the beach with
surprised most of the group since they didn't realize we were walking in parallel to it only a block away. We soon found ourselves walking along the sand to a restaurant that had minimal customers and took it over. Got to admit the view was amazing, even if the ambiance of this place wasn't. Still, the bathrooms were spotless, drinks were cold and we got some munchies before .... moving o
n. Soon, we were back on 5th ave, hitting some shops .. .and I started draggin ass in the heat. Probably didn't help I wasn't drinking any agua? Anyways, found a cool lil place to grab a 
bucket of cerveza and the whole group eventually joined in with some big ol' hats they'd bought, shirts and other items for others back home. We all needed the shade! Didn't notice the heat really at the resort but wa
lking down this street? Friggin' baking! Realized we'd been down here six hours pounding cervezas, margaritas and spending pesos; time to go! Around the corner, grabbed some cabs and headed back to our base camp. Gotta' hit the routine! Jump in the pool, grab a combat nap and grab some grub. Tonight would be Italian but there was another outside dinner and circus acts so we snuck in some snacks off the grill, watch the circus then off our main dinner. Jesse D' set this whole thing up again, but .... he might have have lil' Tequila? Lets just say ... he showed up about and hour later than the rest of us. All good! The caught up with us at dinner for some tasty meals. Found a few things that we weren't fans of, told the manager (positive criticism), told 'em about the great items... then .... back to the room for Lucy and I. Jesse D' had his combat nap so he and Daniella along with David and Bianca closed down the swing bar. Bam!
Well we've been watching the weather thinking Tropical storm Nana is potentially headed our way though it looked to be taking a bee line to Belize. We got lucky as it pumped up to a CAT 1 Hurricane it hit Belize, and all we got was a few hours of rain and wind before the sun was back out. Whew. Lucy and I dodged a third bullet in a single week! Sadly this is departure date for Jesse and his bride. Around noon they are headed to the airport, and we all regroup and head to the main pool. We've got another day of volleyball ahead of us. I'll find myself on the winning team this go around, having as great a time as the previous. Eventually we've got to eat and my cousin Michael D' has set up something special for us that I'm waiting to figure out. We head to the Oceana restaurant where they have a table outside by the pool setup for us. Turns out to be a perfect night, perfect temps with a lil' light show off shore. Someone somewhere was getting wet but it wasn't us. All the meals were excellent as was the service. Awesome way to have your last dinner at the resort. This night, we skip the swing bar and head to the beach-side Premium lounge and enjoy an evening in the sand with the drinks delivered from the lounge. I'm getting a lil wore out and it was the perfect night cap. This trip has been awesome and different from most in one way. Normally we are 'ready' to leave but we're actually discussing the possibility of extending a day .. or two. We've never / ever done that but considered it. We decide to make the decision in the morning.
Departure days always suck. We've made the decision to leave. We don't have to check out until noon so makes for a nice lazy morning for a killer breakfast. Swim with Michael H' and our new neighbors. Then off to both Preferred club lounges for a few drinks n' munchies. Soon we're on a golf cart headed to the transportation area. It's time to leave and I'm still not ready but .... here we go. We're soon checked in and we're searching for Margaritaville for some great margaritas and killer burgers. I'm a notch confused at first because turns out we are in Terminal 4 while 3 is being reworked. I was totally turned around until I realized that.... then we jump into a bus that takes us to ... Terminal 3's tarmac where our airbus awaits us. Back to putting on that friggin mask so we can board the plane. Few more hours of it and we're 'free'. Soon as we walk out of DFW ... couldn't wait to take that damned mask off! Back to reality .... but damned that was a good trip. I'm scheming for the next one... hopefully in January for Holly D's b'day .. we shall see!
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