Part III - Tales from Ixtapa: Donut Dreams and Whimsical Wishes

So on our second night at the hotel we were talking to another couple who told us the man who started the Capella Hotels used to be with the Ritz Carlton. His concept for the Capella chain was for it to be a “6 star” hotel, meaning that they would do whatever you want or ask for. The couple who told us this said they had requested a special dessert that wasn’t on the menu and they made it for them no problem. Well, you can’t tell Kyle something like this without getting his wheels spinning trying to think of something for these people to do. For breakfast one morning he asked for a steak and egg omelette (off the menu) and they made that for him.

One night we went to the fancier restaurant on the property and the restaurant manager, Carlos, came out to chat and ask how the food had been during our stay. We were chatting and he suggested to use the menu as a guideline for the type of ingredients they have and if you want something else, they’ll make it for you. It may take them a little more time but they will bend over backwards for you.

Um, alright, Carlos, bring it, brother. You’ve thrown down the gauntlet with Senor Kyle.

So Kyle and I talked over dinner and we/he decided we wanted donuts for breakfast the next morning. Carlos came around again and we asked if we could have donuts. He went to pow-wow with the pastry chef and came back to say the chef would work on a recipe and couldn’t have them by breakfast but would have them after 1 PM whenever we wanted. OK, we said.

Fast forward to the next day. Around noon we were hanging at our cabana, chillin’, watchin’ the ocean when the cabana boy comes by with THIS:

Our donuts! We didn’t even remind them. They tracked us down and brought us a donut selection. It was pretty awesome. We told our friends there about our crazy request and they said they noticed donuts at the breakfast buffet the next morning. Looks like the donut surplus benefitted everyone!

Part II - Tales from Ixtapa: The Three Hour Tour

So we decided to plan an activity (gasp!) for one of the days instead of adhere to our usual modus operandi and lounge around all day like beach bums. We asked the front desk about sunset cruises. Sure! The hotel would provide a private boat to take you around the bay, just you and your honey, to watch the sunset. Cost: $1000. Um, we’re thinking more like the Economy Package please? Surely there is a way to take a boat around the bay for under a grand? Oh, says the concierge, there is a little boat called the Picante that will take you around the bay. It’s $100/couple, including a shuttle to/from the marina, open bar, and light snacks. Hello? That’s more like it. Wait, is that what’s commonly referred to as a “Booze Cruise” or “Party Barge”? We weighed our options: $1000 private boat or $100 Booze Cruise. BC, here we come! So we get on this shuttle bus that already had about 5 couples on it. Have I mentioned that Kyle and I have a weird penchant for doing things that old people like to do? Bingo! We’re the youngest couple on the entire bus.

I’d like to paint a scene for you: A bus full of sun-burned, leathery-skinned, fun-loving, henna-tattooed- Midwesterner/Canadian 60-somethings (who apparently lost the memo that living in their 20s was actually something that happened about 40 years ago) who hadn’t seen the sun or temps above freezing in 4 months. And then there’s Kyle and I sitting in a row looking a little out of place. Then I thought to myself, if the guide on this bus greets us with a “ARE YOU READY TO HAVE SOME FUN!?” I know this is gonna be interesting. And wouldn’t you know it, those were the first words out of his mouth. Oh boy.

So Kyle chats with the couple sitting across from us:

K: So is this kinda like a Booze Cruise?

Lady: We went on it 10 years ago. Back then they would make margaritas in your mouth.

K: (Kyle looks around at the aging, silver-haired crowd) I’m trying to picture which one of these people that will be?

Lady’s Husband: (very enthusiastically) That would be me!!!!

**crickets chirping**

There was also our friend, “La Americana Gorda”, as we named her. She was the fun -loving character that stripped down to her swimsuit as soon as we got on the boat and never re-covered. In both senses of the word. Always sporting a beer in each hand, she also decided to pull the shoulder straps down on her swimsuit to avoid tan lines but wasn’t too concerned that her suit was coming dangerously close to just falling off without that critical support system of straps. Might I add that it didn't seem to phase LAG in the least that she was the only one brazenly sporting her swimsuit on this trip. Clothes, be darned!

Our young crew guys, who were making sure everyone had a drink in hand at all times, were playfully threatening to throw us overboard since we weren’t drinking our share. Well, try holding a camera and a drink while sitting on bouncing trampoline netting on a boat. It’s just not sensible! Trying to take pictures here....

It was amusing to poke fun at our motley crew but in actuality it was very nice and I would even do it again if we had stayed more days. We called it the Mullet Cruise: Business in the front, party in the back. Half the boat was partying and dancing and wearing crazy dreadlocked hairpieces, sombreros, and Santa hats (don’t ask….I was confused) and the rest of us were sitting on this trampoline netting in the front watching the sunset and beautiful scenery. It was definitely worth the trip out of the hotel and enduring the freakshows to see the mountains and take the boat around the rock islands.

HERE ARE THE PICTURES FROM THE MULLET CRUISE

Part I - Tales from Ixtapa: Where have you been all my life, Ixtapa, Mexico?

**The following few posts will be a "mini-series" chronicling events of our recent anniversary trip**

Somehow this little gem of a place had escaped Kyle and my radar until now. This was our first trip alone since Anna was born almost a year ago. Our last getaway was when John was 10 months old and we went to the Riviera Maya, Mexico and stayed at the Rosewood Mayakoba. You can read our review of that place here and see pictures here. An excellent hotel but we agreed that the Capella Ixtapa has definitely overshadowed it. If you’re planning a special trip you should definitely check it out.

All the rooms at this hotel face the Pacific Ocean and have an incredible view of little rock islands just offshore. There is no beach since it’s very rocky but we didn’t really miss it. The infinity edge pool faces the same view as the rooms and it’s just as good to chill in the pool and enjoy the view and not get sandy. The pair of us are weenies when it comes to saltwater and sand. We spent our days in the cabanas enjoying the breeze and taking the occasional dip in the pool. Another great thing is that the place seemed so empty. We felt like there was lots of space. Nobody was in your business….until the wedding party showed up on Friday but that's another story and we left on Saturday anyways!

HERE ARE THE PICTURES!