4-6-2011 Akamal Beach Resort '- Mexico

4-6-2011 Wednesday Akumal Beach Resort – Mexico

Dancing in the sand on the beach to a live band is harder than you’d think. Your feet sink in and your knees ache as you accidentally step in the uneven surface of the sand.

The music is great. A three piece band: keyboard that mimics many instruments, drummer and vocalist might seem a little corny, but not when they all know how to play and sing all types of music really well with lots of energy it lifts your spirits.

We heard this band our first night last Saturday when they played at the bar in subdued lighting. Tonight we heard them in front of the beach bar at the far end of the resort play in the dark with dancing on a dance floor at the edge of the ocean. During the day this place is known as the regular ole’ beach filled with sand castles and the ebbs and flows of beach sand.
I was surprised the band would bring out their instruments and equipment to these sandy conditions, but they did. I tried to video a Latin song, but it was just too dark. We could barely see silhouettes of the dancers in the darkness.

This is the same beach we went snorkeling today. My equipment came from a dive shop in Australia. Stan’s came from a small shop on Wadsworth in Lakewood where he could order a prescription insert for the facemask so he could see something in the depths below. We have hauled them all over the world. It still works. It was so interesting seeing the fish swimming and patches of coral shaped like fans. Some folks we met said they saw a few large turtles in the grasses. We’ll need to look closer tomorrow.

Stan was so excited this morning to join the water aerobics again today. It is fun and sure doesn’t impact your body like regular aerobics does. We’ll need to try that back home. Vacation willingness is so much easier than breaking everyday routines.

We met Günter from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada early in the morning at the pool. He does laps. Lots of them. He was on number 64. We had a little chat about getting older and keeping the body working. He had a heart attack three years ago at age 57 when he was working 12 hour days driving a truck for the coal industry - too much work and stress. He mentioned that overeating and drinking brought him to well over 300 pounds when this happened. He had really trimmed down since this eye opening experience when he took charge of his own destiny with daily exercise and weight lifting for strength training. We commiserated on the aging process and how youthful activities sneak up on you. Then one day you’re practically, if not literally, taken out as if by surprise.

Lots of people we met here are from Canada. They seem to have a stronger economy than the USA. Out of work people just don’t take vacations when they are trying to put food on the table.
One Canadian woman, originally from Uruguay, has been to this same resort about 22 times. She loves it here as so do many others. The beaches are nice and long, snorkeling close by, and food is really pretty good. They serve four or five meats every night, not that I’m a meat eater, but most are. Stan had the first slice of a big turkey breast one night and beef kabob another, along with a chunk of pork in sesame sauce. There are lots families with well behaved children enjoying each day.