cancun & puerto vallarta, mexico

11-17 July and 24-30 July, 2014

Why hello there! Hope everyone out in blog land is doing well. To interrupt your busy schedule, today's blog comes from Sayulita, Mexico, and is written by none other than yours truly, Damien, with oversight from editor in chief Katherine, ensuring I don't say anything rude, or post anything that could be detrimental to my health (the main health risk being a punch in the arm from Kath should I post anything too embarrassing). 

Compared to previous blogs, today's blog is a little slower paced. Broken down into two sections, Cancun and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, it describes our adventure pre and post Cuba. So, without further delay, I present to you the latest Damo and Kath travel blog! 

Cancun
Cancun is a funny place. Having met up with Elise and Cazz, we didn't really know what to expect. Sightseeing, exploring, nightlife, culture, we had no idea what was waiting for us. It turns out we experienced all of it, in a very Cancun sort of way. Sightseeing meant the sights within our all-inclusive resort, including the sister resorts where our all-inclusive included. Exploring meant eating at 4 different restaurants. Nightlife meant CocoBongo (remember the film The Mask, with Jim Carrey? That's the place!). And culture meant Cancun culture, understanding how the worlds best all-inclusive town delivers a unique experience.  Now all-inclusive means food, drink, and food is included. Also food is included. I feel that's a special mention, considering some of the restaurants we ate at would rival Sydney's best, and it was all included. We must have asked ourselves 100 times, how do they make any money? Each dinner alone would have equaled the amount we paid per day. Perhaps they didn't expect Australians? Perhaps they hadn't planned on these particular 4 Australians? We found out this particular resort had only started offering all-inclusive a couple of months before we got there. After we left, I wonder if they still think it's a good idea.

The highlights

• Catching up with Elise and Cazz, and sharing travel stories and news from home. 
• All inclusive bliss. Three course meals at brekkie, lunch and dinner. Cocktails in the pool. Room service at all hours. Fancy dinners where four waiters emerge to individually serve us dinner or bring us palet cleansers. For Kath and I, after travelling through Central America on a budget, we were like kids in a candy shop. By kids, I mean delirious adults, and by candy shop, I mean a luxury resort where you can eat and drink whenever, wherever and whatever you want. 
• We even managed to stay somewhat healthy, with daily gym visits, aqua aerobics, yoga, tennis and volleyball. 
• Coco bongo... the pics will explain that one! 

Puerto Vallarta

PV was very different from Cancun. We had an awesome Mexican villa and basically just chilled, played wizard,  and swam in our rooftop pool. Unfortunately Elise couldn't stick around, but cazz, kath and I had some proper rest and relaxation.  

The highlights

• Doing nothing and enjoying every second of it! 
• Rooftop pool with incredible views. 
• Cooking our own meals and cocktails again. 

The Summary

Weather: Hot! Can't go outside between 11 and 2. 
Surf: Nil, but plenty of pool action though
Food: Cancun was some of the most exuberant food so far! Multi course meals like kings! PV was mostly home cooked and delicious! 

Beverages: I'd say margaritas and mojitos were the drinks of choice. 

People: Exciting Elise and Cool Cazz made for great company
Accommodation: 5 star resort and a 5 star apartment in PV. Luxury! 
Budget: Ha! Well and truly blown in Cancun, but worth it. PV about 20% under, so not bad. 
Overall: A uniqur experience in Cancun, our first ever all-inclusive. Whilst we couldn't do this all the time, it was a luxurious break from our budget traveling and we were stoked to share it with close friends.  

Now we are in sayulita. Xxxxx

Hasta luego, 
Damo (and Kath)

Cancun

Sometimes it's difficult being really, really, ridiculously good looking

The view of our resort, from the balcony

Pick a chair,  have a swim, drink a cocktail,  repeat. 

Sporting our trendy wrist bands and loving the balcony

In the middle of the day, when it's too hot to be outside, we would wear our robes, play wizard, and order in room service. Luxury at its best. 

One of the fancy restaurants available with our all-inclusive package. Slightly different to the beans and fried chicken we're used to! 

Could not take the smiles off their faces

Mmmmmm, buffet. 

Pre CocoBongo...

Outside CocoBongo...

During CocoBongo, where balloons and confetti would periodically rain down on us...

Nappy wearing acrobats amidst smoke machines

Sometimes it's the little things that create all the fun, like a kid with bubble wrap :)

And after CocoBongo. This was when we got out of bed. I think it was about 3pm...

Puerto Vallarta

I figured out how to take a panorama, and this was our view from the balcony

Prepping dinner

Hoping to get sponsored by Sol

The three amigos enjoying the rooftop pool

Time just slowly disappears up here

Smoking one of the Cubans and pondering life. Hmmmm. 

After losing pretty much every game of wizard, I finally won one! 

There's gotta be an easier way to scratch the back of your head... 

Cazz's final night of holidays

The Damo, a secret concoction of 4 mysterious ingredients. Guaranteed deliciousness.