So the second morning I woke BEFORE the familiar rattle of coffee and fruits being placed in the “magic” box and the very UNFAMILIAR feeling of no first morning hangover.  I managed NOT to be a trashcan on day one!   So unlike me! I always sleep so well in that bed. I love the mattress, and I order the temperature control pillows (Viscofresh).  They’re fabulous, too.

I sat out on the balcony for a bit, watching the resort begin to wake up before I went back in and had the fruit and coffee.  It was a blustery day that looked like it was THINKING about storming, but wasn’t actually doing it, yet. (The weather report for my trip said 90 percent chance all day, every day.)  I also realized that if I looked to the right from my balcony I could see ocean.  I wasn’t able to really get it in the pictures.  Trust me, though, it was there.

“Pre breakfast” was okay.  It wasn’t my favorite EPM fruit plate.  It somewhat lacked flavor and the pastries weren’t great, but I was in paradise, I didn’t really care much!

I put a little Bailey’s in my coffee to get the day off to a start!   I think I realized I need to steer clear of the coffee there.  I was trying to figure out what was giving me such insane heartburn.  It’s the coffee.

I told the bear I was ready to get the day started and was going to head down to the beach.  He said he’d be there in awhile.  I didn’t have any true hope of getting a Bali bed as it was almost 830 by the time I got down there, but there were still two available on “my side” of the massage hut.  (There are actually 8 total, but I like to be on the side near the building 8 pool–with quick restroom access)  I also LOVE how close my room was to the beach!  Cesar set me up and I plopped down with a book for the morning.

I was amazed how quickly I entered full on relaxation mode!   Originally, I had wanted to spend about an hour there and then go to breakfast, but by the time the bear came down, I told him I wasn’t that hungry and wanted to wait.  He agreed.  So, for the next two hours, I drank bloody Cesar’s carried over by the lovely Viviana and became comfortably numb.

We had hydrotherapy scheduled for 11 o’clock that morning, and I was really thinking of rescheduling it, because I was having such a wonderful day.   Then, however, the skies opened up and changed my mind for me, so off we went.  We walked through pouring, warm rain to the spa.

I don’t love massages, but I LOVE hydrotherapy!   So much fun!   I was a little disappointed that they have gotten rid of the shower scrub part, and they shoved both my husband and I in just one shower together instead of having us switch in and out as in the past, but it was still fun!   I forgot that the giant inside water cannon is meant for lower back and let it power down on my shoulders for a long time.  Eventually, one of the attendants came over and told me “lower back only, please”  and as I opened my eyes and looked around, I could see it was because I had flooded the entire deck.  Ooooops!   (Felt great though!)

After that, I suggested that we put on some “real” clothes and go get something to eat.  Usually, I just hang around in a swimsuit and cover up all day, but it was still raining on and off, so I wanted something else.  We walked through the theater first, and they had the Las Olas stuff set up in there, but I’m not a huge fan of Yucatan roots day.  We settled on Toscana because I always feel like I should do the big buffet at least once.  There was Tonatiuh again to greet us!!!   I struggle so much with buffets.  I never know what to get.  I ended up back at my table with sushi, some cheese, a piece of pizza, chicken in mole, and some steamed cauliflower.  It was all good, but so odd all together.  I did get plenty of french fries.  I LOVE their fries!

Then back to the room, and I decided a nap on the beach or the pool sounded great.  We looked by the club pool on the way to see if there was any room, and there really wasn’t any in the shade, so back to the beach we went.  At around 4, I heard the sounds of the drums further down the beach and knew that the butterfly release had started.  It’s on my list of things to do, BUT we had been lucky enough to get a bali bed for the SECOND time that day, and I decided I’d rather enjoy it. Then, at around 4:30 we decided it was time to go get cleaned up.

For dinner that night, we had decided on Magna.  I didn’t like the first dress I put on OR my shoes.  I swell so fast in Mexico it’s unreal, but once I settled down and decided on something I wanted to wear, we were off.  We had one cocktail at the bar with Cesar, then went to Flavor Market for a plate of manchego and one of charcuterie.  I had heard that the sangria was excellent, and it didn’t disappoint.  We love Flavor Market, and will probably go for a whole meal the next time we go back, but Magna was new, and we hadn’t been before, so up to the third floor we went.

I had the foie gras, which was fantastic and the cauliflower soup… also wonderful.  The bear had the foie gras and the fish soup which he said was quite good.  We ordered a tasty bottle of Mexican wine for $100 that was excellent with the food.  I had the lamb, which was okay.  The vegetables weren’t great and the chops were VERY small.  The bear said his steak was okay, too.  The desserts were fantastic.  I had a pistachio cake that was very good!  I got to see the gin cart near the martini bar on the way out.  We didn’t choose to have one, but they all looked excellente!!!

From there, it was outside to Prelude to check in on the one, the only, Tona!

We had to enjoy a drink or 4 with him on the full moon night.  There was a great band playing some live music, and some dancers came out to preview the show.

From there, someone told me about a craft vanilla porter that I needed to try, so we made our way over to the sports bar for the Cowboys/Vikings game.  (I’m a Bears fan, who hates the Cowboys, so the best I could hope for was a tie.)  The bar was pretty packed, and the porter was good.  A group of guys at the bar convinced me to do a tequila shot.  Who was I to turn it down?

We decided to wander back near the room and stop in at Havana.  It was Diego’s night off, but there was still no shortage of drinks.

Turn down had been by the room, and we even got a cute elephant!   Day 2 had been a wonderful time of relaxation and some tipsiness!   We decided NOT to order our pre breakfast for the next morning, and instead see what day 3 would bring us.

I do love EPM!!!