It stormed pretty badly last night, but by 9 o´clock it cleared up.
The majority of visitors here are from Mexico (they are probably the only one´s who could tolerate this heat!) In December and January, there are a lot of Americans. There is a small group from Italy and a handful of Americans, but that is it.
There is a huge group of visitors with Downs Syndrome. They came with a school or other facility and it is really amazing.
Our Morning
Well, the headache is gone. I was getting worried that it was a sinus infection, but at least I am in the right place to buy some antibiotics. LOL We went to breakfast and then to our Apple orientation. (Alejandra from the Barcelo Premium Club called before we left and said she would like to show me the Premier Club, so I told her that I would go after our orientation.) We signed up for a free tour, which goes to quite a few places tonight. That was the first presentation that I attended where they had food. I found out while we were there that there are two other Travel Agents on this trip from the Chicago area and I am a little embarrassed for them. They asked some crazy questions! Oh, well! Not my problemo!
Mom went to the pool and I went to meet Alejandra, who is a very nice girl from Venezuela. I thought that she was showing me the Premium Club because I am a Travel Agent, but then she started telling me everything that she could do for me, so I asked what she was talking about and she told me that we had the Prmeier package. It is normally $25 per person per day. Truthfully, I would never opt for that package on my own because it upgrades you to premium liquors and I have already started drinking Virgin Piña Coladas today, which are known as Piñadas here (cute name, isn´t it?). It also includes nicer rooms (but I don´t think that you can get a nicer room than ours.) It does, however, include free Internet, and that is a bonus for me!
I walked the beach for exercise and found very cool seashells. The sand is tan and more coarse than in other places I have visited (sort of like raw sugar from Maui). The views are just spectacular. Mom went in the pool and read her book. Down at the end of the beach, near the Gala, there are a bunch of fish in the water. Some were very big (I thought one was a shark.) I tried to take pictures, but I don´t know how they will turn out. There was also a crab in someone´s footprint in the sand. It was staring at me.
Stalker
The solo traveler was at breakfast with a guy and his parents. He ditched her and left her alone with his parents. I guess he felt the same way we did (not to be mean or anything). Then, she found us later in the afternoon and was asking if we made our dinner reservations yet, etc. She went on towards the elevators and we went in the gift shop, but then she showed up in the gift shop too. Then, she booked the complimentary tour, but luckily was in the other van. When we were in La Crucecita, she was ditched by her new-found drinking-smoking buddies. She´s just too pushy and probably should not travel alone if she is not comfortable being alone. Kind of like the Glenn Close type.
Our Afternoon
We went to lunch at the poolside restaurant. Then, I walked the beach again and when I came back, mom & I sat in the pool and read our books. I am reading the third Traveling Pants book. Mom went to get ready because it takes her a million years, and I read a bit more than came to Premiere blog. When I arrived, Alejandra told me that she wanted to introduce me to someeone, and it was Manuel Ramos! Talk about embarrassing...I was in my bikini and cover-up with no make-up on. He was very nice and told me that he would see me in the evening before the show. That is the power of networking! I bet the other Travel Agents do not know as many people. My mom said she "loves" traveling with me for this reason. She really likes this place too. (By the way, I was wearing the infamous, silver bikini that I got from Woolworth´s in Playa. It is pretty much water repellent and I like that.)
Complimentary City Tour
When we went to the lobby to meet our tour guide, my mom noticed that my All-Inclusive bracelet was missing. I did not take it off and I freaked out when he told me that it would be $150 to replace it. I decided to look in the room quickly first because I got ready in a hurry and wanted to double-check. When I looked in my beach bag, it was in there (it had unsnapped because it was not put on correctly). When I came back to tell them, the Security guard was at the beach looking for it for me, which was very nice. I gave him a tip for looking.
Our Tour Guide was Moses. He has 10 brothers and one sister and they are from Santa Cruz. (That goes to show that there wasn´t much else to do in Huatulco until 20 years ago! LOL) It was about 105° today, and it was even hot in the van. We were melting. Huatulco is a very nice and safe town that is only about 20 years old. There are no banditos here! They also have a university and only one Pemex gas station. Gas prices are a little less expensive then back home (approximately $3.00/gallon).
He told us that he could only do the tour speaking Spanish, so I tried to answer him. He was surprised that I could, and this was quite embarrassing...my mom told everyone on the tour that I went to school to learn Spanish (and it was obvious the way that I was speaking, that I am not fluent)! Then, I had to explain that I really only had 1 week of school, which doesn´t count for much. What was she thinking? Moises and I did continue to speak Spanish to each other throughout the trip though and I did pretty well.
First we stopped at a beautiful non-all-inclusive hotel called Casa Del Mar. It had an infinity pool. Mom and I are going to go back their for lunch one day.
We went to La Crucecita and Santa Cruz and we visited a shop to see how Mezcal was made. They had roasted grasshoppers there and I was going to bring some back for all of my co-workers. That would be yummy for treat day! However, I couldn´t bring myself to put them in my suitcase. LOL
In La Crucecita, I had to stop at the infamous "Tipsy Blowfish" bar to see the big, Great Dane. She was so sweet and posed for some pictures with me.
Then, there was another dog in town who was practically attacking me. He was jumping all over me and kissing me and play biting. He was very cute, but a bit stinky. Couldn´t wait to Purell.
You will not believe that I did not buy one thing yet. (There is a very cute pair of jean capri´s at the hotel gift shop that I am considering if I don´t buy anything else. They are expensive, but they are similar to the one´s that I bought in Rome, which are too big on me now.)
Mom & I stopped for some coconut helado. Yum!
There was a family from Schaumburg who are originally from Poland on the trip with us and they really do not like the Barcelo. It can´t compare to the other resorts that they have been too and there aren´t enough activities for kids. They are used to the Iberostars in the Riviera Maya. I gave her one of my cards because apparently, her Travel Agent isn´t matching their needs.
When we got back from our tour, the Mariachi´s just showed up because tonight is Mexican night. With the Premium club, they reserve tables for us at the shows too.
Our Evening
I stopped to use the computer again and Manuel was waiting for us. He took us to the bar and inroduced us to someone who was going to escort us to our seats at the theatre. Then, he walked us to dinner and showed us around (although we had been there before). There was a Mexican-theme night at the buffet and we had about 10 people waiting on our table. Manuel made me try some Tarmarind-flavored water, which was very good. I had Tacos El Pastor, which were yummy and Pork Pibil, which is a Mayan dish. For dessert, they had churros and hot chocolate, which was very good even though it was soooo hot out.
The entertainment was a Mexican theme also and they had Mariachis, a cock fight, the Mexican Hat Dance and more.
Mom and I also played a couple games of Air Hockey.
When we returned to our room, we had more fresh fruit and chocolate covered strawberries waiting for us.
