Resort Review - Catalonia Royal Tulum - Day 2

So last the entertainment was a Mariachi band and a dance troupe called Raiz/Raices de Mexico who did what they called a Prehispanic Show. It was entertaining, but I'm not sure just how Prehispanic it was, although they did their renditions of several dances I had heard of/seen before. The show overall was entertaining, that's all I'd give it, entertaining.

Today, after sleeping in (till 8:15) we putzed around a bit then headed for the breakfast buffet, I managed to curtail my gluttony and ate only one piece of bacon and that was for my husband!

We headed to find the guy we spoke to yesterday to set ourselves up for some spa services, took us a while to find him, but we are all set!

The grounds here are really quite lovely and you can get a pretty good workout just walking around exploring.  The walkway are  overhung by large trees so the walking is mostly in shade, there are natural areas with small ponds, beautiful plantings, areas to sit...  They have soft music coming out of speakers that look like rocks.  We've encountered critters; coatimundi, black and spiny iguanas, what I was told by a groundsman is a 'ceriquito', don't know if the spelling is correct, by my internet search makes me think it is an Agouti, lots of birds...

I actually participated in a water aerobics class being offered; it's crazy these all inclusive places, they offer all sorts of entertainments for the guests; Do we need entertaining? They have quite a staff of fit, tanned, attractive young'uns to entertain. Offered water aerobics, salsa lessons, volleyball, scuba lessons, catamaran lessons, all sorts of activities, guess it keeps the guests on site rather than having them going out or off property.

The pool area is lovely.

Suk and I prefer to pass out day on the beach

I must say I am impressed with the staff, they are all very well trained, very attentive, friendly, eager to help, actually anticipate,  quite lovely.

She's off!

I head out tomorrow for a week in Tulum.

Friend Suk is visiting and is MORE than eager to go to Tulum. Tulum is her decompression place, where she goes to forget about work and all her stress. It also just happens to be her absolute favorite beach in Mexico.
She asked me to go with her, and what, am I crazy, NO! I said Yes! Duh!

I've been to Tulum a few times, way back when the ruins were accesible; back in the olden days. I've never been to a beach at Tulum. A few years ago I was on a bus excursion that visited QUITE a few ruins in Yucatan, Quintana Roo, and Campeche. We stopped at Tulum. The ruins are still awesome, even if you can only see them from varying distances. I was agast, shocked, distressed, and upset to have seen people walking around this incredible site in bikinis, speedos, and varying styles of beach wear.

Tulum is the first, and to this date the only ancient site where I have experienced a moment of communion with the ancients. It was WAY back when you could climb, enter, touch and experience the ruins free and unmolested. There is a small Temple with a rock seat in it - you can see the small Temple in the right foreground of this photo I snatched from locogringo

I was able to go into that small Temple and sit on that seat - it was a magic moment, I still get gooseflesh thinking about it.

Here is a picture I took when we were last there, 2008 - you can just see the little seat. Oh, and you can see the rope barrier preventing you from getting anywhere near the Temple.

A little respect people - swimsuits are for the beach, the pool, and the tanning room.

More on my trip later!