When we travel, I usually do all the planning myself. I book our flights and accommodations and make all the other necessary arrangements without the aid of a travel agent. We tend to be active travellers who enjoy sightseeing, visiting museums and historical sites, walking the streets and marketplaces of foreign cities, and exploring out of the way places. This time was different though. After the challenges of the past few months I knew we needed to get away for some much needed rest and relaxation, but I also knew that I didn’t have it in me to do the work. I needed help.

When I contacted Pam at Beachbums Travel, I told her that we were looking for a week at an all-inclusive resort. Location wasn’t a priority, but we preferred a direct flight and for me, a beautiful beach was an absolute essential. I needed some ocean time! We wanted good food, good service, and a place where we wouldn’t be hassled about buying a premium membership or touring a timeshare. Pam came through with a list of possibilities and we chose a Sunwing vacation to Hotel Riu Dunamar on Mexico’s beautiful Playa Mujeres just north of Cancun.

The only thing that Pam couldn’t control was the weather. She says that her memo didn’t reach the heavens in time! The wind blew incessantly and there was lots of cloud, especially early in the week, but the ocean is beautiful in every light.

For those of you who are familiar with the beach flag warning system, the flag was red all week which usually means stay out of the water. Wading and playing in the waves close to shore was allowed, but nothing beyond that. Even there, the power of the waves could easily send one for a tumble. We’d hoped to do some snorkelling and sea kayaking, but that was, of course, out of the question. There was also some rain almost every day, but those were quick showers and did nothing to dampen our time in paradise.

Our days quickly fell into routine. After breakfast, we headed for the beach to claim a couple of lounge chairs. It didn’t take long for the beach to begin to fill with people!

We relaxed, we read, and at some point every morning, we headed off on a long beach walk past several other resorts, including some still under construction. Those walks, often with the waves lapping at our feet, were the highlight of my day.

I did take more than one swimsuit with me, but it seems that I’m wearing this one, my favourite, in all the good photos!

While at the beach and on our walks, we enjoyed watching pelicans fishing for food. I was amazed by the way that they could somehow spot their prey in the turbulent surf, hover overhead momentarily, and then dive bomb into the water to catch what they were looking for!

At some point during most days, when we’d had all the wind we could handle or needed to get out of the sun, we’d move up from the beach to lounge beside the quietest of the adult only pools. There, there were overhead screens that could be opened or closed to provide shade (or shelter from a quick cloudburst one afternoon!)

Late in the afternoon, we’d go back up to our room to shower and dress for dinner. We didn’t need to spend any time at the gym. Those beach walks and climbing the three long flights of stairs (60 steps in all) to our fourth floor room several times a day were all the exercise we needed. We nicknamed the stairs Mount Dunamar! There are elevators, but they were a long way from our room and taking the stairs was much more direct.

We loved the location of our room on the quiet side of the hotel away from the central courtyard. Our patio overlooked the jungle, but also had a view of the ocean. I loved listening to the wind in the trees and the distant sound of the ocean waves. With the patio door open, I slept so well!

The grounds of Riu Dunamar are impeccably maintained and the entire facility is kept spotless inside and out. Of course anywhere that has flowers blooming in January looks beautiful to me!

On hot, sunny afternoons, iguanas come out to soak up the sun and nibble the grass.

I called this one Grandpa because he was the biggest of the many that we saw and always perched in the same spot as if he was looking over his territory.

During our final meal there, at lunchtime yesterday, we had to initiate an iguana rescue operation when we noticed that one of them had somehow gotten itself into the partially enclosed eating area outside the main buffet restaurant and couldn’t find it’s way out. It could see through the floor to ceiling windows and was desperately trying to push it’s way through. Hubby alerted the staff and after trying unsuccessfully a few times, one of the waiters finally managed to pick it up and release it outside. Iguanas may look like slow moving creatures, but that one took off like a shot the moment it’s feet hit the ground!

We ate all our breakfasts and lunches in that outer eating area where we developed a great rapport with Ady, the waitress who usually served us there. For dinner, we tried all four of the smaller restaurants, none of which required reservations. Two of them were also buffet style and the other two were a la carte. Those were our favourites and we went back to both of them a second time. All but one evening, when there was a rain delay and we decided not to go back out, we took in the main show at the outdoor theatre. Some were better than others, but overall, they were enjoyable.

We didn’t go on any excursions. In fact, the only time we left the resort at all was when we went on those long beach walks. Had we been there any longer, I would have wanted to book something because the wanderer in me couldn’t have taken much more of the lazy life in paradise, but it was exactly what we needed this time!

Now we’re back home. The suitcase is unpacked, the laundry is done, and the summer clothes are put away, but the memories will be with us for a long time!