Weekend at Gran Bahia Principe

There was another gathering last weekend of members of the RETA group of which I'm a member, at the Bahia resort about 1/2hr south of Playa. The resort is all-inclusive, so whatever you heart (and belly) requires, it can be yours. That includes their wonderful selection of cocktails - Tropical Sunset being my current favourite!

The 3night 4 day event was free for members, but someone was paying for it, so my plan was to get there early and get their money's worth. But check-in time wasn't until 3 and the resort was full, so I had to cool my heels with lunch and then a swim before my key was handed over. I decided a snooze was in order before the evening cocktail party, but I had hardly nodded off when a knock came at the door and a young man wanted to set up my champagne and fruit basket. I hadn't ordered anything but I wasn't about to say no to free champers! The 2 waiters took a lot of care with aligning everything just right, and it did look very pretty.

The cocktail party was only 75 minutes away, so I filled the spa bath and climbed in. After a false start where I sprayed the whole bathroom with water, I got the nozzles adjusted and laid back to relax. Ah, I have missed having a bathtub!

I met the other 16 attendees over drinks in the Lobby Bar, then we headed to Portofino restaurant for dinner. We had eaten there the last time and it was fabulous, but they must have changed chefs and the food was very average this time.

Friday was a busy day starting with a walk through the Tao construction site. It's an interesting concept, a community built around the premise of healthy mind, body and spirit, and focused on lifelong learning. There will be a community centre built with glass floors over the cenote below, so you can do your downward-facing dog looking into the cool blue underground river. There will be a community garden, cooking and language lessons, even salsa classes (the dance, not the sauce). They have employed some famous guy from a health ranch in the US to run it all.

We saw the new Golf Clubhouse and drove around the edge of some of the fairways. Your golfcart here has a GPS so when you get hungry you just push a button to order your favourite food and beverage, and a waiter will bring it to you on the course. I would imagine play might slow down considerably while you enjoy sushi and a cold beer.

Then back to the conference room where we were given info about legal and immigration matters, and told about the new airport. The Cancun airport which currently serves the Riviera Maya brings in 9 million visitors each year; in the peak season, 500 flights per day arrive here, and the income from this 80 mile stretch alone makes up 60% of Mexico's tourism revenue.

After lunch at the buffet we headed off to see Tulum village, and then to have a swim and a drink at the Om bar on Tulum beach. The beaches here are superb, fine white sand, clear water and almost deserted. We spent a few very pleasant hours swimming, chatting and relaxing here.
On Saturday we had 1 on 1 meetings with the TAO salespeople, no I didn't get out my chequebook! And then we were free to enjoy the resort's facilities until the farewell cocktail party that evening.

I hung around on Sunday, drinking pina coladas and enjoying lunch at the buffet until about 5.30 and needed nothing more than toast for dinner.
Nothing like a relaxing weekend and a variety of cocktails to make me feel that all's right with the world!
Now back to yoga and deal with the excess pounds this trip has added!