Cancun, Mexico

Zoetry Resort

Cancun

April 2011

We had a great time last year, so we decided this year to make a return trip to Zoetry with Carrie and Adam, and Laura and Tony. Sitting by the pool, being waited on hand and foot, catamaranning, and drinking endless amounts of booze are just a few reasons why.

Some highlights:

Cancun, Mexico

Zoetry de Paraiso Resort
Cancun, Mexico
March 11-13, 2010

• Brad flew into Cancun on March 10 and Nick on the 11th. Zoetry sent a driver to the airport to transport guests to the resort. The ride there was a stylish one - a Lincoln Navigator, with champagne and air conditioned seats. At Zoetry, lots of peacocks and parrots had the run of the place, as well as a stray alligator here and there. The rooms were great - most of all for the 'endless luxury' that included fully stocked bar, and a bottle of tequila with setup.
• Service at all the restaurants was excellent, as each provided a full dinner experience with several courses served. Breakfast was outside, next to the parrots in their trees, and a harpist playing nice soothing music. Carrie and Laura may or may not have demanded a hamburger from one at dinner, according to Tony. Brad may or may not have attempted to engage in fisticuffs with the server at another (according to everyone). He also may have provided lapdancing at no charge.
• Poolside service was also a bonus - the pool attendants were really quick to make sure that no one had an empty glass, or if anyone was hungry, they provided a menu and brought food. One of them also made sure to save us lounge chairs each morning after receiving a 20$ tip.
• The resort also had games and competitions, like a dart tournament (Adam won) and ping pong tournament (Nick lost in the championship game). Prizes were t-shirts and other resort-branded items.
  
• During the few days we were at the resort, several activities were lined up for us. Brad and Carrie enjoyed a massage. Nick had a reflexology massage. The 6 of us also got to experience a sweat lodge. Around 5 PM, we all gathered outside of a round stucco hut and were led inside (with a few other resorters) by the "shaman" who then proceeded to close us in this dark, unventilated 'room' and pour water on scalding rocks. Whilst doing so, he chanted things about letting the bad thoughts out and breathing in good thoughts. The consensus after this (interesting) experience was that the only thing going into our bodies was steam and bullshit. But we rode it out. It was actually a pleasant, relaxing time for some (Nick) and a nightmare for others (everyone).
• The next day we all went on a private catamaran ride in the early afternoon. The trip was great. The crew catered alcohol and appetizers to start out, then served a full meal. At the halfway point, we anchored, then went snorkeling. There was another catamaran anchored nearby within no time, where those suckers (about 20 of them) also jumped out and were allowed to explore the coral. Needless to say, their boat appeared to be something that one might witness trying to get to Florida from Cuba. Seaworthy, sure. But worthy? Not a chance. After snorkeling, we went to the shore, where the crew allowed us to jump out of the boat and swim ashore for 30 minutes or so. On the ride back the crew pointed out a nude resort, not too far from Zoetry. Brad and Laura felt the need to check it out on their own, so on the last day we were there, they walked down the beach and had themselves a look-see. They weren't impressed. "Gross" people, was the report.
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Phoenix, AZ (Spring Training 2010)

MEM-PHX

Phoenix, Arizona

March 3-6, 2010

• We flew from Memphis to Phoenix on Wednesday, March 3. We arrived around 9, picked up the rental car and headed to the Hampton Inn in Tempe, just east of the city.
• On Thursday, we went for a pretty intense hike at Phoenix Mountain Park.
• After meeting up with Brad's colleague for lunch at a Southwestern restaurant called Z'Tejas, we went back to the hotel, changed and then went to the first of the weekend's Cubs Spring Training games at Hohokam Park. This game was against the A's, which the Cubs won, 9-3.
• After the game we went to Scottsdale, a suburb just north of Tempe, and walked around downtown. We walked around for a bit, checked out some stores, then had a few drinks at a few places.
  
• The next morning we drove to Queen Creek, Arizona to check out the Queen Creek Olive Mill. The mill is Arizona's only olive mill, and produces all kinds of olive oil, and other olive products. We got a bit lost on the way, so we missed the tour that we wanted to take at 10:30 AM. Instead we decided to have lunch there and then do the 11:30 tour. The tour itself was pretty uneventful but educational (and not too boring). After that we went back to Phoenix and got ready for Game 2, against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Cubs took this game, 8-7.
• On Saturday, we went for a pretty short hike at Papago Park then headed to Game 3, against the Chicago White Sox. Lots of die hard Cubs fans as well as some annoying (obviously) Sox fans. Great game, but the Cubs lost 3-15. All the great defense we had witnessed in games one and two was nowhere to be seen. Quite a sad game, really, but made somewhat bearable by the number of beers that were consumed.
• After the game, we had a few hours to kill, so we continued on to a Mexican restaurant in Tempe and had a couple pitchers of margaritas and a bit of food, then went to the airport. At the airport, we may or may not have had a couple beers then maybe a couple on the plane. Once back in Memphis, we weren't quite sure where time went, because neither of us recalled too much of the flight...except for Nick bleeding profusely from the nose after being hit (intentionally?) by Brad. Bloody napkins everywhere. Also recalled was the flight attendant approaching Nick and informing him that his bag and personal items needed to be under the seat during the descent into Memphis. Halfway through her sentence, she looked at the situation (picture a drunk with a bloody nose, shoes off, crushed pretzels everywhere on the floor, and magazines and a bookbag strewn about the floor) and simply shook her head and walked away. Probably best for all of us involved.
  

Phoenix, Arizona

MEM-PHX
Feb 29-Mar 2, 2008
Baseball Spring Training

• Flew from Memphis to Phoenix. Arrived on the afternoon of the 29th and checked into the Homewood Suites in Chandler, a suburb.
• Settled in then made our way to the Spring Training game. We had tickets for 3 Cubs games in 3 days. Cubs play in the Cactus League of MLB Spring Training.
  
• Friday - Game 1: Cubs vs Giants at HoHoKam Park in Mesa. Gametime weather is perfect - sunny and not a cloud in the sky. Nick bought a new Cubs hat and Brad got a new Cubs t-shirt. Cubs lose.
• A banner advertising a place called Culver's in the outfield bragged about something called 'butter burgers'. This is something that can clog arteries just reading/learning about. It is a burger on a bun that has been buttered so generously that the sandwich itself sits in a deep pool of melted butter on the plate. A Google Image search turned up some interesting-looking burgers.
• Went to a bar in the area and had a few beers after the game. Ate dinner then went back to the hotel.
• The next day we went for a hike in South Mountain Park/Preserve. It took some effort to get to the park where the trail starts, off the Maricopa Freeway. It was hard as hell to find. When we arrived, there was nowhere to park, so we essentially had to go to the other side of the park and come in from the north, which ended up working out well anyway, since there was nobody hiking in the area we went. The highest mountain in the park (opened in 1924) is a little over 2,500 elevation. On the hike, we came across some great scenery and lots of wildflowers.
• Saturday - Game 2: Cubs vs Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium. This stadium is easier to access, but was a bit smaller than HoHoKam. Good game, but...Cubs lose.
• That evening we were in Chandler and drove around looking for a place to eat. Ended up stopping at a Greek restaurant called My Big Fat Greek Restaurant (a chain restaurant that clearly had no sense of originality...we ate there anyway). Good food. Annoying belly dancers all over the place.
  
• Sunday - Game 3: Cubs vs Giants at HoHoKam. Entertaining crowd...including the drunk guy in front of us, yelling and waving around a Miller Chill (duh, it's a light lime beer with only 100 calories). Met a couple fans from Chicago visiting Phoenix for Spring Training. Cubs lose.
• After the game, we trek 10 minutes to the PHX Airport and back to Memphis.