Well and Wonderful

What a day we have had. I finally think I may live. I haven't run any fever at all today...only a low grade fever early in the day yesterday.

Today started with breakfast and a yoga class with Susan. It would have been fine with me if they had left me there on that floor because I was completely relaxed and actually asleep.

After that, the group was scheduled to go to a remote beach here in Tulum for a great time at the beach. No one else decided to go, so it was just Susan and I. We ride about 10-15 minutes down the road in our van, they let us off and we find ourselves on this beach with nothing around us for almost as far as we can see. Not only that, but the hotel had already stationed a beach butler there for us and TWO large ice chests full of drinks, food and miscellaneous provisions. There were multiple mexican blankets for our beach laying pleasure not to mention large thirsty beach towels.

To begin with we laid out a blanket and decided that we were living in a real live Corona commercial. So, we decided to to stage a Corona commercial. The result is the picture you see above. Pretty good, don't you think?


Here is me reading on the beach. We also spent alot of time in the water and did actually eat lunch. What a fabulous time we had.

We noticed on the way to the beach that if you leave this hotel and turn left and just walk down the very nice road, there are a multitude of little "Cabana on the Beach" sort of places. We are supposed to check out at noon tomorrow. My plan is to wake up pretty early tomorrow and walk down that road and go from place to place taking pictures and assembling information about each place. With some regularlity people ask about huts on the beach, and it will be fun to have such a great place to send people to.

Tomorrow, Dallas!

Okay so, I'm still sick....

Yesterday morning, since the rest of the group wouldn't arrive until later, I decided to take advantage of the free Internet and the lovely bed and spent the time completing some things I'd been putting off for our Legacy Travel website.

As I worked I noticed that my back was really hurting and that from time to time my stomach was hurting too. Finally I IM'd the office that I really had to get out of this bed. I took a shower and put on my swimsuit. As I was moving around the suite getting ready to go outside I noticed that I really just felt awful. Finally, I took my temperature. 100.5

Great. Maybe if I go lay in the sun for a few hours the sickness will bake out of me. So, I went to lie down on a deck chair. I just felt AWFUL! I couldn't get comfortable, I was just miserable.

So, I came back to the room and have been here ever since. Tylenol doesn't seem to even touch the fever. I had one more dose of Advil left and I finally took that yesterday evening and it did help for a while.

I haven't quite decided how I feel this morning. I'm thirsty, and it certainly feels better to be laying down, but you know how after you've been sick it's hard to rejoin life again? Like, laying around begets laying around?

The rest of the group did get here yesterday, but no one came to see me. (Can you blame them?)

My friend and heathcare advisor at home thinks I have either a flulike virus or Type B influenza. She recommended that I get some Tamiflu (which does not require a prescription here) and start taking it. I gave the butler some money and the hotel sent someone to town to pick it up. Several hours later I got word that they could not find it anywhere in Tulum. I guess my immune system is on its own to battle through whatever this is.

So, I guess I'll contemplate getting up in a little while.

More Later.

Azul Blue

Here is the bed from which I am blogging.

It's been quite a day. I had a high fever last night so I was quite miserable. With the aid of Advil I have felt better most of the day. I am starting to get a little achy now though.

Lomas came and picked me up at 11am to drive me the two hours down to Tulum and my home for the next four days, Azul Blue. Philip and I got to see this new property when we were down for the 500 Club trip earlier this month.


"Created for total tranquility, AZUL Blue is the world’s first stress free hotel. Why stress free? Because we realized that with today’s hectic lives, people around the world have a growing need for inner peace. So we created a vacation sanctuary designed especially for rest, relaxation and tranquility. Everything at AZUL Blue was developed with this thought in mind. The property overlooks the Mexican Caribbean, affording calming views of the ocean. With just 96 luxurious suites, the size and layout of the property are not overwhelming. Everything is reachable within a few steps. The oversized suites have been crafted from fine materials and have top of the line equipment, such as iPods, and plasma televisions. The bedding is first class, of course, and the bed linens are premium Italian cotton. As a special touch and to ensure perfect repose, guests may even select the firmness of their pillows from a pillow menu. "

It just feels wrong to hurry in this place. On the other hand, I have four bars of cell service and free wireless Internet. It's the perfect balance between work and relax.

More Later!

Cancun Buses

This is a bus stop in Cancun. When you wait for a bus, stand not right by the sign, but rather more mid way down the paved indention where the bus pulls in off the street. You'll see these signs everywhere. The bus is very easy to use.

This is a sign you'll see on most buses. At first I thought it meant something like "Be sure your kids behave." Google tells me, however, that it means that kids have to pay the full fare...they're not free on the bus.

This is one of Cancun's hard working bus drivers. If you're standing at a stop you might need to signal to the driver that you indeed want to get on the bus. Likewise, if you find yourself standing at a bus stop and you don't want to get on the bus, be sure to shake your head "no" at the bus driver in time for him not to stop.

When you're on the bus you, you'll need to let the driver know when you need to get off. You can tell the driver when you get on..but he may or may not remember. Some of the buses have buttons that make a "beep" up by the drivers seat. Alternatively you'll need to stand up and walk to the front of the bus and let the driver know you need to get off.

The Cancun bus system is quick efficient and easy to use.

Go Exploring!

Great First Day...Everyone is Here

Today, I spent the entire day in a hotel lobby. Group members arrived throughout the day and I welcomed each one of them and assisted in their check in process.

Everyone has now arrived. We met at one of the bars and have all eaten dinner. The next thing for me is that I will be there for the beginning of their 9am meeting tomorrow just to show my face and make sure that everyone is taken care of.

Another task tomorrow is to catch as many people in photographs as possible. I prepare a photo slide show set to music and distribute it to each group member. Additionally I will take a group photograph, print it out 31 times, enclose it in a photo folder and distribute that as well.

For now I must go to sleep, tomorrow will be another great day!

From Cancun

Here is my room at the ME by Melia. Formerly the Melia Turquesa, this completely post Wilma reconstructed hotel just reopened two months ago. It is an EP property, that is it is not all inclusive. I so much prefer an all inclusive. Right now, for instance, I'm hungry. I won't eat anything here though because it's all over priced. If I were at an all inclusive I would be sitting out somewhere enjoying the evening with some Vino Tinto. But no, I'm here blogging and being hungry.

They do have high speed Internet in the room, which is somewhat unusual down here.

I can't remember if I wrote about my schedule change on this trip. Originally I was supposed to fly home Tuesday, then come back here on Thursday. Then, the 2nd trip was changed to a Wednesday departure. So, I am going to just stay here. I will be here for 8 nights before finally going home next Saturday night.

The first part of the trip is hard work. The 2nd part should be much more fun and relaxing.

Here is the view from my room. Lovely, isn't it?



In other news, recently a friend told me about this company:

All Makeup Just $1 at www.eyeslipsface.com


I'm putting together an order right now. All the makeup is $1.00 each..and the shipping is just $5.00. Amazing!

I'm headed to bed now. Tomorrow the group arrives. I'll be waiting in the lobby of the Riu Palace Las Americas until the afternoon welcoming people.

More Later.

General Life Update

1) Philip left for a meeting in Phoenix a couple of hours ago. Yes, I know it is 6am on Valentines day.

2) I leave Friday morning for Cancun to escort an incentive group. Philip will return about 8 hours before I leave. I'll be back next Tuesday. My group is staying at the Riu Palace Las Americas, but they had no more rooms by the time I got around to reserving mine. So, I'm staying at the ME by Sol Melia and will be purchasing daypasses and spending my days at the Riu.

3) It currently looks like I'll be in Mexico three out of the next four weekends. Do you think at some point I'll look like I actually got some sun?


4) I received a request to see the other half of the award winning "Best Dressed" couple at the 70's party last weekend in (where else) Mexico. I can't seem to put my hands on a picture of both of us, but here is a picture of Philip's shoes.

I understand there is a picture around somewhere where we are holding hands and he is "looking at me like a Goddess". I'm still waiting for that one to show up. It could get him out of hot water at some point.

More Soon!

Back from the 70s

Our trip to the wonderful ElDorado Royale last weekend was tons of fun. Funjet Vacations, Lomas Travel and the whole staff at the ElDorado Royale and the ElDorado Seaside Suites did a great job hosting us and making sure we had a fabulous time. Philip and I brought home the "Best Dressed" trophy.

In this picture I am singing "It's Too Late" by Carole King. I also sang "Money Money Money" in the style of Mamma Mia.

Really a great time all around.

This Friday I will depart again for Cancun. I am escorting an incentive group at the Riu Palace Las Americas. If you know me or have been reading this blog for very long, you're very familiar with how much I LOVE doing incentive groups. I really think that's why I was put on this planet. People often give me a "wink wink" when it comes up in conversation that I am going to a beautiful beach resort for work. Make no mistake, I do have lots of fun doing it (doesn't everyone have fun at work? If not, you're in the wrong profession.) It is, however, hard work.

In other news, this morning I took in for repair the external hard drive on which is stored several years of digital photo images including many not yet posted on hotel photo tours and many many wonderful family pictures. I got a phone call from a friend last night just after I had gotten all set up to work for a few hours from bed. My laptop was on my lap and my external hard drive was snuggled in close beside me. I jumped up when I got the phone call and knocked the hard drive two feet to the carpeted floor. Now it won't work.

Lovely.

I'll find out Monday if they're able to get the data off of it. I'm thinking they'll be able to, but I was really hoping to get lots of those pictures posted this weekend. Oh well, maybe I'll be able to do it from Cancun.

More Soon.