Playa del Carmen - relaxation, sea, engagement!

Sunday 21st October – Merida – Playa del Carmen

Another early start today as we had a bus to catch but none of us had any sleep the night before as our rooms were so hot! We got a taxi to the bus station at just before 6am then bought tickets to Tulum which is cheaper than buying tickets directly to Playa del Carmen. The bus journey took around 5 hours which was an hour longer than advised but we managed to play scrabble on board which kept our minds occupied. We then bought second class bus tickets to Playa so Riff and Alex could jump off at their hotel on the way which was in between Tulum and Playa. We agreed to meet up next Sunday and they very excitedly jumped off the bus at their stop.

We ended up catching the bus all the way into the centre of Playa as we needed to go and buy small suitcases from Wallmart and look for a few other bits and pieces. So with all our backpacks and bags we went shopping. An hour or so later we jumped in a taxi which took us directly to our hotel for checking in. We were both overwhelmed at the size of the resort – at full capacity it sleeps 2000 people, it is simply massive. We were both happy to see all the sports offered and all the bars with whichever cocktails you want. It was all a bit strange as for the past 5 months we have spent most of our time looking for a cheap hostel, finding an affordable but good restaurant and trying to keep safe but now we are here it's all a bit easy!

The weather wasn't that great so we wandered down to another one of the resorts which we have access to everything there as well – food, drink, pool loungers etc and walked along the beach. The beach is beautiful but the waves where pretty powerful and lots of people were getting dunked. On the way back we stopped and looked at one of the resorts howler monkey's climbing around trees, which we had seen on one of our volcano walks in Nicaragua. We then decided to head back and try some of the cocktails. We decided to sit in the lobby and thought it would be a good idea to try every single cocktail on the list, so we began. Of course not as good as Mooch or Jeremy's cocktails we still enjoyed them and listened to all the poms visit their tour reps asking about tours they could do which were super affordable if you have no clue on the real prices of things outside the resort. We had a chuckle to ourselves at why these people had come all the way from the UK as it is not too dissimilar to a resort in Spain and they would have less of a flight! After a shower we went out for dinner to the buffet which was just gigantic. It was a massive hall that would seat around 1500 people and had every type of food you could think of. We tucked in and both agreed not to eat as much for the rest of the week! We then watched the Red Sox qualify for the World Series so Leigh was in a super good mood!

Monday 22nd October – Playa del Carmen

Today the biggest decisions were – what shall we have for breakfast, which pool shall we play in, what activities should we do and if having 15 cocktails within half an hour was too greedy. After struggling to determine our answers we agreed the procession for the day. Aqua aerobics for Jo while Leigh played volleyball, then water basketball followed by lunch. A quick play in the pool followed by swimming up to the poolbar to taste about 30 cocktails between us. Then was the hard bit, putting on shoes to play tennis. Although Leigh thinks he is much better at tennis than Jo, Jo did let him win as she knew he would winge about it for the rest of the day. So after he won 6-4, the rain poured down so we thought we needed to reward our vigorous activity with a few more cocktails.

In the evening we headed to the buffet, which just isn't a good idea if you don't wont to feel totally stuffed. The food is actually quite good for a buffet and we had to work hard to only have 3 plates full of lots of different types of food. After dinner we walked past all the overpriced stalls selling art and jewelery at our hotel complex where Leigh decided to start bargaining for something he really wasn't going to buy... he just loves the challenge! We then sneaked on the overpriced internet and managed to get it for free as the prices were extortionate! Again more relaxing and TV, well sports on TV in the evening and chilled out with very full puku's!

Tuesday 23rd October – Playa del Carmen

Another totally stressful day, although Leigh had to get up at 7am to book the steak house restaurant which books out by 7.30am. After sleeping until 10am, totally needed, we had another yummy breakfast. We then played water basketball, followed by beach volleyball which was so much fun. Jo then laid in the sun reading a book while Leigh did some blog. Then the next big decision came about, what to have for lunch. Answered quite easily by a little bit of everything we sat there after finishing feeling very full and decided to jump in the pool in an effort to work off lunch. Another game of beach volleyball, which wasn't as good as our team sucked and kept getting knocked out, so Jo did a dance lesson while Leigh played in the pool. We then played bingo and jumped in the pool to visit the bar to indulge in more cocktails. It's just so weird to go give me 2 of everything and they actually do it and you don't have to pull any money out of your pocket. Argghhh this place is dangerous! We then grabbed a bowl of popcorn and headed back to our room to get ready for our dinner date at the steak restaurant.

A storm was brewing and the next thing we knew there was thunder and a massive downpour. It's quite nice when you've had a good day in the sun to hear a storm. So we grabbed our umbrellas and walked to the steak restaurant. The meal consisted of a salad, tempera veges, soup, then steak with mash and a desert. Again we were both totally full, almost feeling uncomfortable. It's so hard not to over indulge here! We wandered around the resort before heading back to our room and watch TV.

Wednesday 24th October – Playa del Carmen

Today was another slow start. We enjoyed breakfast at around 10am, then had a wee lie down in the sun until beach volleyball was called out over the speaker. We dashed over as it is our new favourite game. There only ever seems to be a few players in the morning session, but it was still good fun as we got the opportunity to practice our technique. Afterwards we had a wee snack and Leigh went back to the room to catch up on some blog, while Jo lay on the sun lounger, annoyed that the sun was nowhere to be seen in what was the worst weather day for the trip. However she managed to read quite a bit of her book!

We then had a play in the pool before it was time for afternoon beach volleyball. Now this is when the competition starts. There is a team of Germans, all with hairless buffed bodies, the type that probably stare at themselves while they are lifting weights at the gym! Anyway they are super competitive so as soon as we won our first game we had to take on these guys which Leigh calls the All Stars. They unsurprisingly got quite close to match point, but our team was actually playing really well. Then we won 5 points straight and took the game. The kingpin of the other team whose name is Fabian, was devastated. He was out looking to recruit new players, he was not happy with his team. We were both in hysterics and had filled a lady from the UK in on what was going on, so she too enjoyed the victory! We played and won another game, then had to play the All Stars again. They were totally psyched and had obviously played volleyball for years as they were really good. Unfortunately they won the next 2 games and Fabian regained his manhood, although he was smashing his serves so hard at Jo and one of the other girls, but hay he helped the All Stars secure victory. We both throughly  enjoyed the games and look forward to playing them again and bringing our A game!

In the evening we had dinner at the buffet restaurant before heading back to our room, quite early as Leigh wanted to watch the Red Sox play.

Thursday 25th October – Playa del Carmen

Today the weather was much better and Leigh got up early to make a dinner reservation at the Mexican restaurant. We caught up on a bit more sleep then had a yummy breakfast. Leigh then went back to the room to catch up on some blog – he likes the piece and quite, while Jo read her book in the sun! It was then time for morning volleyball and we had a good session, both our techniques are getting much better. Straight afterwards we went on to a game of water polo, which can be rather vicious in fact Jo got dunked on several occasions! After all the exertion we then have lunch which is a massive buffet of every types of food, drink machines, beer on tap and wine all available along with whatever cocktails you fancy. It is just so hard to say no!

In the afternoon we played in the pool before some more beach volleyball. It was another good afternoon session and we are both totally hooked on the game. In the evening we walked down to another one of the hotels in the chain to go to the Mexican restaurant. The dinner was delicious starting with soup and salad buffet which included fajitas, followed by bbq'd fish and desert. It was super good and the restaurant was right on the beach, so it was a nice evening. We went back to the sports bar on our hotel complex so Leigh could watch the Red Sox play and had a few liquors. Leigh was very happy as they won again!

Friday 26th October – Playa del Carmen

After another yummy breakfast we headed straight to the tennis court to get a game in before it got too hot. Although Leigh cheated as normal, he ended up wining 6-4. As we were going back to put towels on our beach chairs we got called over to play beach volleyball. Well we just can't so no, so we played a few games with all our fellow volleyball friends. Afterwards Jo relaxed in the sun while Leigh tried to get our cheap camera fixed, as our digital got stolen on the trip to Tikal and we really wanted to take some photos of the resort. Not having much luck, we then went out for lunch – another buffet and our eyes are still bigger than our stomachs!

Following lunch we lay in the sun for a while before we had a game of pool volleyball. This was no ordinary game as if you miss a shot it is 5 pours of Tequila that you had to down in the pool. At the end of it you had to yell out Tequila otherwise the guys would pour another 5 shots in your mouth. Oh it was so strong and Leigh got caught out quite a few times! We were then called over to play beach volleyball which we didn't hesitate to join. We played on the same team, although not sure if that's the best idea as we try and give each other “tips” as soon as one of us misses the ball. Anyway we had the strongest team as we paired up with the Germans. Again in the evening another delicious but filling buffet!

Saturday 27th October – Playa del Carmen (ENGAGEMENT DAY!)

By now we were totally relaxed and really enjoying how easy life is when you are in one place for a longer period of time – not having to fight the hustle and bustle of a city in order to find affordable accommodation and places to eat that aren't going to give you food poisoning! We were loving having all the activities organised for us and food and cocktails ready whenever we wanted it.

We did our usual – woke up at a leisurely hour and had breakfast before heading to the pool. Jo finished reading a book and we both chatted to all our friends we had made through playing all the sports. As usual we played morning beach volleyball which was awesome, we are now finally starting to get the hang of it! We then had a yummy lunch followed by more chilling out around the pool when waterpolo was announced. Straight afterwards was another few games of beach volleyball and we both agreed we wanted to build a court in our backyard, once we have bought a house.

After getting changed we went out for a really yummy dinner enjoyed in the massive terrace where the waiter again kept topping our wine glasses up. Leigh was really starting to like a drop of rose, while Jo stuck to the white. Leigh had mentioned that we should go for a walk down to the beach after dinner and Jo thought that would be a good idea to work off dinner as we have tended to overeat since arriving here! First Jo checked out the internet while Leigh watched a bit of baseball, then we wandered down the lovely covered pathway towards the sea. It was such a beautiful evening and there was a lightning storm in the far distance. So we wandered along the beach for a while and then all of a sudden Leigh stopped Jo and said a whole lot of nice things so Jo was like hang on what's going on. Then all of a sudden Leigh got down on one knee and  proposed and Jo went into total shock! In the words of Leigh, Jo looked like an overloaded computer! She just couldn't believe it as even though we've been going out for 4 ½ years we had decided we wouldn't get married for another couple of years at least. But it was such the perfect place as we had an awesome relaxing week and the beach is both of our favourite place in the world. Leigh gave Jo the cutest star ring that had the same colours of the sea. Leigh did so well not to let on anything at all to Jo that he was going to propose, although thinking back Jo did notice him sweating a bit more than usual during dinner. Leigh had already rang Jo's parents the night before and after proposing he handed a phone card to Jo so she could call her family, so that's what we spent the next few hours until 2am doing so, although we couldn't get hold of everyone. Very exciting, overwhelming, memorable day and Jo's most perfect idea of a proposal... well done Leigh.

Sunday 28th October – Playa del Carmen - Cancun

Jo woke up very excited, still in disbelief, while Leigh was like the Iceman his rugby team have described him as - just chilled out. After all he had months to digest the fact that he would pop the question. We wandered down to breakfast at our usual time – 15 mins before it closed, but noticed there were heaps of people around. We eventually found out that the clocks went back so we got up an hour earlier than normal grrhh! But anyway we were both excited that champagne was on the menu for breakfast – very appropriate, so we toasted each other. As soon as breakfast was over we raced down to the phone booth by the shops so Leigh could ring Barbara. He did so and broke the news by asking if the Newlands fire brigade was outside her house as he had some news. It was great to talk to her and Jo got through to Rich and Carmen which was awesome also, although Rich may have had a bit of inside knowledge that it would happen on the trip! After all the phone calls we headed down to the beach to do some snorkeling, but the sea was quite rough, so the visibility was poor. We ended up just swimming around in the gorgeous turquoise water that was again so warm like Isla Mujeres was. Later on we went back to the pool at the hotel and chilled out there as we had arranged a late checkout and they said it was ok to have lunch there. But as we always like to stretch deals, we managed to get dinner there and a shower also!

Later that evening we caught a taxi to meet up with Alex and Riff in 5th Ave. We dropped our bags off at their nice hotel and headed down to a sports bar so Leigh and Riff could watch the world baseball series. Leigh was ecstatic when Boston won and was giving all the Bostonians high fives. We were surrounded by very interesting plastic Americans that were well into their 40's attempting to look like they were finishing up high school. It kept Alex and Jo entertained for hours! We then headed back to their hotel to get our bags and were both so upset to say bye to both of them. We really enjoyed travelling with them and hope to meet up again in either the UK or NZ as we had just so much fun. We caught a taxi to the airport and were so annoyed to find out there was no where to sleep as our flight wasn't until 6am the next morning. We tried to crash at Starbucks as they had couches there but the security guard kicked us out, so with another guy, we had to sleep on the hard marble floor which was cold and uncomfortable. Long gone are the resort days, back to challenges and hardship!!