In Zurich it's spring

Work has brought me to Zurich, where it's a balmy 10C and blossoms are on the trees.  Got in early yesterday and as usual was miserable from lack of sleep and resetting my body clock.  Managed to pick up the few gifts for the kiddies I needed to get and make it back to the hotel before succumbing to sleep between 5 and 6.  Sunday was a beautiful day.  We watched Canada win gold in the hockey final; first two periods in the train station bar (where our cheering was not appreciated) and then we made our way to a pub that was "hosting" hockey fans of all stripes (although I would say there were more screens tuned in to soccer matches).  About 20 Canadian fans were thoroughly overjoyed at the win - many high fives were exchanged.  Then walked down to the lake to enjoy the remainder of the afternoon.

The lake with mountains in the distance.

View from my room.

 

Day 8 - leaving on a jet plane

Woke up early. Did final pack. Had room service delivered for 6am. Our bags were supposed to be picked up from our room at 6:45. No one came, so we had to call up to the front desk. They arrived quickly. Our transportation was supposed to pick us up at 7:00. It was late. I went to the front desk to have them check for us. First response was we are on Mexican time. Our transportation finally arrived. Still one more resort to stop at before the airport. 

We got to the airport around 8:30. We walked inside to find a really long line up to check in. Thankfully, we were flying 'Option Plus' (not first class), which allows us a separate line for check in. I had heard that people in the long line that were on our flight were being bumped ahead in the line. Security check in was no problem. A quick walk through the duty free shop (because who can't resist looking). No purchases made. We were delayed in boarding, as the flight got in late. 

We took off ~40 minutes late. It was a full and crowed flight. There were lots of screaming kids in the seats around us, thank goodness for noise-cancelling earphones.  We made up some time on the flight. We landed and de-boarded the plane. Once again, Nexus to the rescue. From the time we left the plane to getting our bags was under 15 minutes (and 8 minutes was just walking fom the plane). No one was in line for nexus at the customs station. We walked right up, got our eyes scanned, and walked right through customs (why is it called customs anyway?).  As soon as we got our luggage, we called for a taxi. We learned this trick from a previous trip. This way, you don't have to wait in line to get a taxi. We were home in under 1 hour. 

Would we go back? Maybe. It was a nice resort, but we have been there twice. The people that work at the resort are very nice and go out of their way to help you. However, the resort seems a little conflicted about what it wants to do. It tries to cater to large groups such as conventions, and then also small groups or individuals such as weddings. We would go back to the same chain, but maybe try a different resort to switch things up. All in all, we had a great and relaxing vacation. 

Day 7 - the final day and spa newbies

Well, it's our final day at the resort. It rained last night, and it was cloudy and windy this morning (and the entire day). Slept in a little later this morning. Had breakfast and then settled all our travel and room details for tomorrow. Took a few pictures around the resort and on the beach. We made it to the final bar today, the swim up bar. Dos cheladas por favor. We also hit the only pool, we hadn't been in yet, the infinity pool. 

Lunch was room service again. Relaxed a little. We decided to go to the spa to do the hydrotherapy circuit. It must have been newbie day (maybe due to the weather?). There was one couple that was not quiet at all, making it hard to relax. Another 3 couples came in together. It was definitely their first time. The cold plunge really took them by surprise. Another new couple after that, the girl actually shrieked when she went into the cold plunge. I guess they weren't from Canada. The steam room was wicked hot. I was sweating in seconds. After a couple of hours there, back to the room for our final bit of relaxing before dinner. 

Dinner was back at Bordeaux. Amuse bouche; caramelized apple and fois gras jelly. Appetizer: pear and Roquefort salad for me, fois gras for Jennifer Mains: filet mignon with Roquefort cream cheese for both Dessert: Creme brûlée for me and chocolate cake for Jennifer. 

 

After dinner, a few last minute gift shopping stops and then back to the room for the final pack. We leave the resort at 7am, so we're going to be up early. We'll have to order in room service for breakfast. 

Resort drinks of the day:

Arnold "Partner" - natural syrup, sparkling water, lime juice, black tea

Passion punch - white rum, grape juice, passion fruit syrup, pineapple juice

We saw this flower walking back to the room. 

Fun at the beach. 

Buried in the sand. 

Our room at night. 

Day 6 - Playa del Carmen and not so cold milk.

We woke up this morning and decided to go in to Playa del Carmen in the morning to do some shopping. It was a good thing we went early, because it was hot!  We took a cab in and walked along 5th avenue (Quinta  Avenida), the tourist shopping area to browse.  As you walk, the locals are trying to entice you into their shop. Most are really aggressive. One person even stated that we promised to come into his shop on the way back! Ay yi yi!  We picked up some gifts for our niece and nephews. Despite our urge to do so (and I'm sure their parent's relief) we did not purchase any noise making or musical instruments for them.

We returned to the resort to find the Barefoot Grill finally open. Yippee!  We took lunch back to our room and ate on the deck. The swim out pool was topped up with water.  It must have been warm water, as the pool was warmer.  After eating lunch on our deck and sweating, a dip In the pool was on order, so we did. 

After relaxing for a bit, we walked along the beach to the beach bar (1 more left) for some drinks. Went for a swim in the ocean and back to our room for more relaxation before dinner. 

Tonight for dinner, we went back to the French restaurant, Bordeaux. Our amuse bouche was a chicken terrine with celery foam. We both had the appetizer special: caramel iced apple and goat cheese with fois gras. Jennifer had the filet again, and I aid the veal chop. Dessert was lemon pie for Jennifer and Creme brûlée for me (again). 

Back to Preferred Club to take a drink back to the room. Raoul was not working tonight. Jennifer asked for a cold glass of milk and the bartender said yes. We saw him pour some milk in a tea cup and walk towards the espresso machine. We asked again/confirmed about the COLD milk and again he said yes. He proceeded to steam the milk and serve it to Jennifer. It was not cold. We then got some dacquiris to go and back to the room for a little packing in preparation for tomorrow. 

Resort drinks of the day:

Fresh mint - mint leaves, lime juice, natural syrup, sparkling water

London island - white rum, vodka, gin, triple sec, orange juice, coke

My breakfast creation: French toast (called French bread here at the resort), banana and caramel sauce with a side of grapefruit. 

Outside our room. 

Relaxing. 

One for the niece. 

Day 5 - a day of relaxation

Up for a later than usual breakfast at the buffet. Back to the hotel room. We walked over to the spa for our massages. We arrived early, so we indulged in the hydrotherapy pools in the spa. In the hot tub for a bit, followed by a cold plunge, then a bit of relaxation before being called for our massages. 

We both had 80 minute deep tissue massages. I got a special gel to be used on my back that had eucalyptus and rosemary in it.  It made my back heat up. After our massages, it was time for lunch. They have a restaurant called the Barefoot Grill. It is a buffet/takeout station only open for lunch and serves fresh fish, burgers and other things. Last time we were here, it was our favourite lunch spot. Unfortunately, it has been closed all week. So lunch was room service again. The rest of the afternoon was spent lounging on on our deck. We met our neighbours to the one side of us, Rich from Boston. He is down here with his fiancé and getting married on Friday. 

Dinner was at the seafood place called Oceana. When a waiter askes us 'Como es ta?', we always reply 'muy bien, y usted?' (Very good, and you?). The 'y usted' part really gets them. They get all happy and say, oh, you speak Spanish? (Usually in Spanish). At that point, our Spanish runs out and we have to say sorry, no habla espanol. Jennifer was told by the waiter that she has an excellent accent (2 handed self back pat). 

To start I had the chicken casserole Chilean style which turned out to be chicken soup.  My main was surf and turf, and the steak was done perfectly. My dessert was a goats milk caramel cheesecake. Jennifer had scallop and shrimp ceviche to start. Her main was grilled tuna with a side of creamed spinach and corn. She was concerned that the tuna would be over cooked, but it too was done to perfection. Dessert for her was a chocolate cake with a berry sauce (cake was a little dry, but the restaurant made up for it with the best hot chocolate all week, and it was a special request - not on the menu).

A part of our goal is to hit every bar on the resort for a drink. Last night, we stopped in at the Sugar Reef bar for some strawberry dacquiris. We met the Windsor couple again, whose names are Jessica and Jesse. We talked about the resort, and told them what restaurants we liked. We also told them that we had gone for massages today. They thought about booking them and we told them that you can use the hydrotherapy pools if you book a treatment.  They commented that we knew all the tricks to relaxing. 

We made our way up to the main lobby and checked out the photoshop to see our pictures from the night before. We saw one that we liked, so we bought it (see below). After a really busy day, we turned in.  

Resort drinks of the day:

Red Secrets - cranberry juice, apple juice, sprite, grenadine syrup, ice

Pai-ai - white rum, brandy, cherry liquor, coconut cream, pineapple juice. 

Cheers!

Enchiladas poblanos with rice 

The dude relaxes, man

Jennifer and Steve (the Mayan sacrifice)

Day 4 - the main pool, never again

Buenos Dias! Another lazy start to the morning. A quick dip in the swim out pool to wake up then off to breakfast. My real reason for the dip is to get rid of bed head. Yes, even people with short hair get bed head. After breakfast, we played a round of mini golf at their 9 hole course. Jennifer won by a landslide (Jennifer's edit 6 strokes on 9 holes) and I demand a rematch.  

After golf, time for a Spanish lesson. Aside from knowing how to order food in Spanish now, I can now ask how much items cost and barter vendors down. I will put it to work when we go into Playa Del Carmen. More time on the beach, and lunch from a seaside grill that popped up for lunch. Jennifer had a burger, and I had pork tacos. Good and spicy!

A conference came into the resort the yesterday. I won't mention who it was, but they make power tools, so I wiIll refer to them as the 'tools'.  Something happens to people when they go somewhere as part of a business conference. Otherwise nice people become obnoxious.  In the afternoon, we decided to move from the beach to the main pool (a first for us). The pool had been taken over by the tools. They have a pathological need to congregate around the swim up bar and get really loud. 

We switched to what we have named the grotto. No reference to Playboy for this. It is a secluded area with only a few lounge chairs and a hot tub/jacuzzi. We stayed there for a bit, and even skyped Jabril. I think we freaked him out, seeing us in a pool, but still talking on Skype. 

We left the grotto to get ready for dinner. Tonight, the French restaurant. Amuse bouche: sliced cucumber, rolled and stuffed, salmon, grilled papaya on top with a yogurt sauce. Appetizers: Jennifer-seared fois gras; Steve-seared scallops. Mains: Jennifer-filet mignon; Steve-pork medallions in orange sauce. Desert: Creme brûlée for me and a chocolate brownie for Jennifer. To date, it was the best dinner we have had. Coming out of,the restaurant, there were 2 people dressed in traditional maya costume.  They had a photographer with them and he took lots of shots.  We will look at them tomorrow in the photo studio to see if we want purchase any of them. If we do, we'll include it in the blog. 

Tomorrow, we have our massages booked. Can't wait!

Resort drinks of the day:

Citrus tonic - grapefruit juice, tonic water, lime soda

Mayan dream - black tequila, Xtabentun, orange juice, mango pulp, sparkling water

Hole #4 at the mini golf course. 

Mini golf champion (for now)

One for the other nephew. 

Spanish 101

By request, from one of our many blog followers (ha), a picture of,our room. 

Day 3 - reunited with an old friend

Woke up leisurely, without an alarm clock. I had a quick jump in the pool before going to breakfast. I am really liking the green sauce, very tasty with a little bit of heat. It goes great on eggs, and anything else savoury. 

After breakfast, we went down to the beach for more relaxing (and chiladas) until lunch. Our favourite lunch spot was not open today, so we went back to our room and ordered room service. Jennifer had chicken fajitas and I had enchiladas poblano (yes, there was green sauce). 

More relaxing, this time on our deck, along with drinks. We were going to go on a tour of the kitchens, but we got there a little late (my fault) so we missed it.  So, more relaxing. We stopped in at the preferred club for a drink before dinner.  Behind the bar, was our 'old friend', Raoul, who was here the last time we were here.

Dinner was at Himitsu, their Asian restaurant. It's the only restaurant where you need to make reservations.  It's also the only one we did not go to the last time we were here. We were seated at a teppanaki table. We sat between a couple on their honeymoon from Windsor, and a couple from the UK that had been here for 2 weeks. Both couples were nice, and we had fun talking to them. The chef came out and went through the standard 'tricks': tossing around the cooking utensils, making a big fire, onion volcano, etc...

We started off wth a grapefruit amuse bouche, a piece of sushi and spring roll appetizer, followed by a soup. Jennifer had the miso soup, and I had the hot and sour beef soup. Mine was good, and it had a nice kick to it. More tricks, including the chef throwing a piece of broccoli in the air to each of us to try and catch in our mouth. No one succeeded. Our main was fried rice with a selection of shrimp, scallops, beef (filet or NY strip),chicken and salmon. Jennifer had shrimp, scallops and filet. I had chicken, scallops and beef. Dessert was fried ice cream. We said goodbye to our table mates and went on our way. 

Resort drinks of the day

Orange Tropical - orange, apple, grapefruit, pineapple juice, grenadine syrup

Blue Mojito (no ingredients given)

View from our beach chairs today

A picture for our nephew. Don't worry, we'll be doing the same for our niece and nephew. 

Raoul, the bartender - "it's a pleasure..."