What a Trip!!!!

                                   

Lani 's work was taking her on an amazing trip to a all inclusive resort not far from Cancun, and she invited me to go with her to The Grand Velas.  It was the most incredible place I have ever been! Every room had a balcony with gorgeous flowers.

It was right in the middle of a jungle and right on the beach.

Here is our front door.

The bedroom

and living room are one BIG room!

and a Huge bathroom!

There was a beautiful balcony

with a plunge pool.

On Sunday morning, we went with Lani's boss and his wife to church in Playa Del Carman.  We were wishing we had Jamie, Jordan, Tatia or Chandler there to translate for us, but we enjoyed watching all the darling little children and feeling the spirit.  

On Monday we checked out the beach

and the pool.

Tues. we went to a place called Tulum that was build by the Mayans and just uncovered in the 1840's.  It was incredible what they could do with the tools they had back then.

There were large iguanas EVERYWHERE!

They totally blended in with the stone.  There is a huge one on the left on the ledge

.

A few you can see their little heads poking up on the roof.

Pretty cool place!

We loved watching the sun come up in the mornings.

and the guy on the beach smoothing out the sand

it looked a little tricky going around all the chaise lounges.

On Wednesday we went to the spa.  They have this cool water experience that takes 80 minutes.  You start out with a shower, then the sauna, with cucumbers on your eyes.  Then into the ice room with an ice cube wash cloth.  Then off to the steam room with a tall glass of cucumber juice.  (We think they might have used the cucumbers we had on our eyes to make the juice)  

Then they had a warm shower, and right in the middle of the hot shower, ice cold water comes shooting out, I have to admit, I SCREAMED when it surprised me!!!  Then we did a walk 3 times through hot bubbly water on one side and freezing cold bubbly water on the other side.   (you have to experience the evil to appreciate the good)

Then we went through something like a power wash.  There were blasters that gave you a crazy massage.

Next came these awesome bubble beds that you lay on and bubbles just come up everywhere. 

Next was a little soak in the hot tub, and then a VERY quick dip in the freezing tub.

After our "water experience" Lani had a massage and I had a facial.  Very nice!

They had these tiny little girls with the tiniest little hands  working there.  For 80 minutes, they put all this crazy stuff on your face and then take it off again.  On Thurs. Steve, Lani's big boss, and his wife were all signed up for a facial, but decided not to go.  "The Boys"  (the 2 cute little guys who were running the show with their adorable fiance's)  called and asked us if we would like to take their place and go again.  After thinking about it for 1 second, we decided to do it, so we did it all over again on Thurs!  (I am happy to announce that I did NOT scream when the cold water hit me this time!)

We ate at amazing  restaurants, and sat under huge umbrellas by the pool, and I read 4 books!!!!  What a relaxing time we had.  Friday morning, we had breakfast looking out over the beach for one last time, packed our bags and headed for home.  (Here I am sporting the sweet new Maui Jim sunglasses we got, Lani got some too, but she is wearing her red ones to match her outfit)

We will miss Ricardo and all the others who took such good care of us on our trip!

At the airport in Cancun, we had this amazing Volcano Nacho plate, I even ate the jalapenos, yum!

It was so fun to see Lani in action. There were 52 or 54 people that came from all over the world with their spouses and she knows every one of their names, where they live, and how many kids they have. They all ADORE her!  I think she had more hugs and kisses during that week than anyone there.  They had a welcome dinner on Monday night, and when her boss welcomed everyone, she was the first one they honored and  thanked for all her hard work.  Lots of people call her Lady Elaine, just like we do.  It was a GREAT week, thanks soooooooo much for letting me share it with you Lani.  I LOVE you!!!!

Top 5 favorite people I met

1. Angie from England-LOVED her accent and sharing our first spa experience with her

2. Tracie who has three 9 year olds.  (she couldn't have kids, so they had a surrogate mom carry twins for them, 4 months into the pregnancy, she found out she was pregnant)  she was HILARIOUS!!!  

3. Creesha with her cowboy hat and glass of some kind of liquor, also HILARIOUS!

4. Anna who was just made a Beehive advisor and is terrified!  

5. Kirsten, the tannest gal on the beach!