But at least we're home. I expect that some people we were traveling with are still at the airport.
Here we are in the airport with Dusty and Laura. We were supposed to have left before got there.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Sunday: we're home
We got home today after the worst traveling I've ever had. I'm going to ask for a refund. When I don't get it, I'll share the details.
Saturday: review
I'm in the plane, so I thought I'd take some time to write a review of the resort.
As a disclaimer, I had a lot of fun there and would definitely do the trip again.
We'll start with the hit and miss items.
1. The food. Most of it was just ok, although we had some bad things and some very delicious things. For the most part it seemed to be substance rather than carefully prepared, although everyone had found some favorites by the end of the trip.
2. The service of the restaurants. Some days we were waited on promptly and never lacked for anything. One night we waited 45 minutes to place our orders and one morning I never got anything to drink at the buffet.
3. Towels. They usually had towels in the morning for the beach, but when we wanted them in the afternoon they were often out. They usually got more within an hour.
4. Housekeeping. One day our toilet didn't get cleaned (and it needed it) and we only had one bath towel. However, about twelve hours later housekeeping brought more towels and remade the bed after our nap. Besides that It was fine...nothing special nor anything bad.
5. Key cards. Everyone in our group had their key cards turn off a day or two before they were supposed to leave. I don't understand why, but it was rather annoying.
6. Room location. We had asked that all four rooms be close together and that was completely ignored. They couldn't have been further apart. I'm not sure if we could have asked sooner to prevent this or if they just ignored the email.
7. The Bulter. Some of our group had a very attentive butler, while we had a slightly hard time getting a hold of ours. He told us about the room service, but then didn't give us a menu.
8. aroma therapy. At the beginning they ask what aroma therapy you want in your room. Ben and I got something once, but no one else got anything.
And we'll end with the good things.
1. Grounds. They were beautiful, well maintained, and clean.
2. Rooms. The rooms were nice...a large open area, nice bed, sitting area, and balcony. The showers had a head on top and some side spouts. We could fit eight people in the room pretty easily.
3. Restaurant seating. I don't think we ever had to wait more than five minutes to be seated with a party of eight.
4. Things to do. We only attended a few shows at night, but between the shows and the daily activities there was no reason to be bored.
5. The beach. It was beautiful. The ocean bottom was a nice sand. there was some seaweed, but it wasn't bad. There were kayaks, boogie boards, and snorkel gear to use. (Although there wasn't much to see by our beach)
6. The special elegance club. This extra part was worth it. There were some snacks close to the beach and pool that you could just grab. It gave you access to close bars and emptier pools. It also provided a nice air conditioned area where eight people could play games.
7. The street vendors. If you negotiate well, you can get items much cheaper than the gift stores. However, they were only there one day for a limited time
8. Drinks. Drinks were easy to get.
As a disclaimer, I had a lot of fun there and would definitely do the trip again.
We'll start with the hit and miss items.
1. The food. Most of it was just ok, although we had some bad things and some very delicious things. For the most part it seemed to be substance rather than carefully prepared, although everyone had found some favorites by the end of the trip.
2. The service of the restaurants. Some days we were waited on promptly and never lacked for anything. One night we waited 45 minutes to place our orders and one morning I never got anything to drink at the buffet.
3. Towels. They usually had towels in the morning for the beach, but when we wanted them in the afternoon they were often out. They usually got more within an hour.
4. Housekeeping. One day our toilet didn't get cleaned (and it needed it) and we only had one bath towel. However, about twelve hours later housekeeping brought more towels and remade the bed after our nap. Besides that It was fine...nothing special nor anything bad.
5. Key cards. Everyone in our group had their key cards turn off a day or two before they were supposed to leave. I don't understand why, but it was rather annoying.
6. Room location. We had asked that all four rooms be close together and that was completely ignored. They couldn't have been further apart. I'm not sure if we could have asked sooner to prevent this or if they just ignored the email.
7. The Bulter. Some of our group had a very attentive butler, while we had a slightly hard time getting a hold of ours. He told us about the room service, but then didn't give us a menu.
8. aroma therapy. At the beginning they ask what aroma therapy you want in your room. Ben and I got something once, but no one else got anything.
And we'll end with the good things.
1. Grounds. They were beautiful, well maintained, and clean.
2. Rooms. The rooms were nice...a large open area, nice bed, sitting area, and balcony. The showers had a head on top and some side spouts. We could fit eight people in the room pretty easily.
3. Restaurant seating. I don't think we ever had to wait more than five minutes to be seated with a party of eight.
4. Things to do. We only attended a few shows at night, but between the shows and the daily activities there was no reason to be bored.
5. The beach. It was beautiful. The ocean bottom was a nice sand. there was some seaweed, but it wasn't bad. There were kayaks, boogie boards, and snorkel gear to use. (Although there wasn't much to see by our beach)
6. The special elegance club. This extra part was worth it. There were some snacks close to the beach and pool that you could just grab. It gave you access to close bars and emptier pools. It also provided a nice air conditioned area where eight people could play games.
7. The street vendors. If you negotiate well, you can get items much cheaper than the gift stores. However, they were only there one day for a limited time
8. Drinks. Drinks were easy to get.
Thursday: first thing that doesn't fit
My brown skirt is the first item of clothing that officially doesn't fit. My jeans have been periodically tight (although I now haven't worn them for several days) but still fit. The skirt was not going to close or even come close to closing...unless it was at my true waist, which is not really comfortable.
luckily, I had a plan. It had been too big when I bought it, so I had put two darts in it. I just removed the darts. Yay
luckily, I had a plan. It had been too big when I bought it, so I had put two darts in it. I just removed the darts. Yay
Thursday: this and that
We varied our routine slightly today, but not by much. :)
After breakfast we got boogie boards and rode the waves into shore. I'm pretty sure that I don't know what I'm doing, but they made nice floaty things. The few times I let myself go all the way to the beach I got super sandy. Oh well...the boards were still fun.
We had lunch at the CNC again. I had pizza for the first time there and it was really good. Most of the food there has been good. Then nap time and Dominion.
The girls went to check out some "street vendors" that were set up by the shops. I ended up with a blue necklace. I've been thinking that I need a new one for a while now, so the timing was good. The guy said $35. I said $10. The guy said $25 and then quickly saw I was going to walk away so said $15. I said I don't want it for that, he so he said fine. $10. I don't think it is a steal, but I do think it is a fair price. And it is really pretty.
Some pool time followed. There were more jumping pictures.
Then we went back to the steakhouse. They sat us pretty quickly, but that is about were the service stopped. We had one menu ( which was fine because we had plenty of time to pass it around). We had to wait a little bit for drinks, but one of the waiters noticed fairly quickly and got them promptly. I asked for two rounds of bread before they took our order...we probably sat there for about 45 minutes by the time we ordered. I'll grant you that there were two large parties in the me area, but still...
After dinner we went to a room and hung out for a while as it was the last night we would all be here. I found out that Im not the only one that doesn't wear makeup, which was an awesome find. The night was fun and a little sad.
After breakfast we got boogie boards and rode the waves into shore. I'm pretty sure that I don't know what I'm doing, but they made nice floaty things. The few times I let myself go all the way to the beach I got super sandy. Oh well...the boards were still fun.
We had lunch at the CNC again. I had pizza for the first time there and it was really good. Most of the food there has been good. Then nap time and Dominion.
The girls went to check out some "street vendors" that were set up by the shops. I ended up with a blue necklace. I've been thinking that I need a new one for a while now, so the timing was good. The guy said $35. I said $10. The guy said $25 and then quickly saw I was going to walk away so said $15. I said I don't want it for that, he so he said fine. $10. I don't think it is a steal, but I do think it is a fair price. And it is really pretty.
Some pool time followed. There were more jumping pictures.
Then we went back to the steakhouse. They sat us pretty quickly, but that is about were the service stopped. We had one menu ( which was fine because we had plenty of time to pass it around). We had to wait a little bit for drinks, but one of the waiters noticed fairly quickly and got them promptly. I asked for two rounds of bread before they took our order...we probably sat there for about 45 minutes by the time we ordered. I'll grant you that there were two large parties in the me area, but still...
After dinner we went to a room and hung out for a while as it was the last night we would all be here. I found out that Im not the only one that doesn't wear makeup, which was an awesome find. The night was fun and a little sad.
I apparently didn't take many pictures today. We're all going to share photos, so sometimes I just wasn't the one taking them.
Friday: last day
Four of our group left today. We had a nice breakfast and just hung out until it was time for them to leave in the morning.
dusty: who is the governor of Minnesota?
Ryan: Durnham. From the Durnham family.
We then had lunch at the air conditioned buffet place. It had all the same food as the CNC by the beach and fewer people but I didn't like it as much...the lines for the foods I wanted seemed longer.
The beach was next on the agenda. The breeze was so nice,as always, so we didn't get in the water but just read and slept under the shade makers. Ben and I walked the big main pool on our way back...it was nice and curvy with some cool features, but it was also very full and there weren't many extra chairs.
At the Italian place I tried ordering a double portion of raviolis, but it didn't work. I thought he understood me, but somewhere I guess the communication didn't work. Ben and Dusty gave me some of theirs to help out.
dusty: who is the governor of Minnesota?
Ryan: Durnham. From the Durnham family.
We then had lunch at the air conditioned buffet place. It had all the same food as the CNC by the beach and fewer people but I didn't like it as much...the lines for the foods I wanted seemed longer.
The beach was next on the agenda. The breeze was so nice,as always, so we didn't get in the water but just read and slept under the shade makers. Ben and I walked the big main pool on our way back...it was nice and curvy with some cool features, but it was also very full and there weren't many extra chairs.
At the Italian place I tried ordering a double portion of raviolis, but it didn't work. I thought he understood me, but somewhere I guess the communication didn't work. Ben and Dusty gave me some of theirs to help out.
Wednesday night: a dialogue
Scene: Amanda is asleep and Ben just finished reading, turned off the light and is cuddling with Amanda
Amanda: Is that Ben? I need to know if that's Ben.
Amanda: Really...is that Ben? it's important.
Ben: who else would it be?
Amanda: I really need to make sure it's Ben.
Ben: sigh. It's Ben.
Amanda: Is that Ben? I need to know if that's Ben.
Amanda: Really...is that Ben? it's important.
Ben: who else would it be?
Amanda: I really need to make sure it's Ben.
Ben: sigh. It's Ben.
Wednesday: fun sun take 3
We've fallen into a semi-routine, but it sure is a nice one. we went to the sit down restaurant for breakfast, just to try it out. It was better than the buffet, but did take longer with fewer options. I had a chocolate banana omlette. It wasn't very chocolately...really just ok over all.
Beach. Beautiful with a lovely breeze and nice waves.
lunch and nap.
Pool. More jumping pictures. I got water in my ear.
Get ready for dinner...while showering I got more water in my ear and it didn't come out. I think I can hear most things, but they're a little hazy.
French restaurant. the appetizer (a modern salad with fried goat cheese) was delicious. The seafood trio in vanilla air was odd (and small) (again). The vanilla air was about what it sounds like...it was white bubbles that covered everything and gave it a slight smell, but could barely be tasted.
Beach. Beautiful with a lovely breeze and nice waves.
lunch and nap.
Pool. More jumping pictures. I got water in my ear.
Get ready for dinner...while showering I got more water in my ear and it didn't come out. I think I can hear most things, but they're a little hazy.
French restaurant. the appetizer (a modern salad with fried goat cheese) was delicious. The seafood trio in vanilla air was odd (and small) (again). The vanilla air was about what it sounds like...it was white bubbles that covered everything and gave it a slight smell, but could barely be tasted.
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