Back from Vacation and Back to Blogging!

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Hi, friends! After an extended vacation in Cancun, I’m resurfacing in the blogosphere. We actually returned late last Friday but it’s taken me several days to catch up with email and social media. I think I’m back on track now and will be resuming my regular blog rounds. Vacations are wonderful, but sooner or later you have to come down to Earth. I had a wonderful time visiting Mexico. There was a large group of us who went, so we dubbed ourselves the Cancun Nine.

Group shot outside the Royal Solaris

The Cancun Nine

The photo above is before we headed downtown to Carlos ‘N Charlie’s a restaurant/bar, the likes of which I’ve never experienced. That’s me and hubby on the far left (and yes, that’s what my hair actually looks like when I let it dry naturally, LOL). My sister is the one in green.

At Carlos ‘N Charlie’s there is a costumed balloon-maker who visits each table and makes balloon hats for all the customers. Everyone in the place ends up with one of these things on their heads. The photo below isn’t very clear, but you it should give you a good idea of the atmosphere.

Wearing balloon hats and Carlos' n Charlie's

We also got to experience the wait-staff doing several dance performances as the music was constant and the energy level off the wall. I’m more of a low-key person, so it was an experience to say the least.

The highlight of the evening for me was when the wait staff passed out softball-sized white balls. I think they must have been made of Styrofoam, but they had a light covering to give them some weight when tossed. We had no idea what was going on, and then—BOMBARDMENT! Everyone in the place pummels everyone else. No one is spared—wait-staff, DJ, bartenders, customers—a freefall of everyone pummeling each other for a good five to ten minutes with white balls rolling around everywhere, on the tables, bar and floor. What a blast! After that, it was across the street to Senor Frogs for a quick stop, then back to the resort. I don’t think anyone goes to Cancun without stopping at Senor Frogs.

Obviously a great vacation. Throughout the stay we got to see a Mayan fire dance on the beach, a Moroccan dance inside the “Black Bar” (our name for it because the bar top was black marble). Below is a shot of the chandelier inside the Black Bar area. I thought it was so different and couldn’t resist a snapshot.

Chandelier inside Royal Solairs in Cancun, Mexico

We set one morning aside for shopping—or I should say the girls did, and the guys chilled at some tables in the mall.

Chilling at the mall in Cancun

The pools were spectacular, one with a swim up bar and one with a walk up bar. Both had food stations or buffets offering a variety of snacks, fruits and meals throughout the day. There were restaurants just a step from the pool, and as the resort was an all-inclusive (all meals and drinks free of charge), there was plenty to choose from. The grouper (fish) was fantastic!Pool with Bali Huts

In the evenings we hit the restaurants, switching up between open-air beach casual, and semi-dressy. We got spruced up for the “Members Dinner” in which the women were given roses and the main entree consisted of filet mignon and shrimp. Since I don’t eat beef, they gave me double shrimp. Best. Shrimp. Ever!Dressy for the Members Dinner

Many nights we closed the evening listening to live music or hanging out in the “Premier Bar.” Even on those nights when we headed to our room near midnight, hubby and I would grab a few minutes of unwinding on our balcony. We had a bay view, rather than a Gulf view, but who could resist a few moments relaxing with this breezy vista…Night time view from a hotel balcony overlooking bay

We discovered a mobile passport app which made the return through customs go much quicker. I came home with many wonderful memories, along with an early tan. Of course, Raven had to make her presence known while we unpacked suitcases.

Black cat, Raven, with suitcaseBeing away from writing for so long makes me eager to get started on my next project. And to return to blogging and making the rounds of seeing what all of my friends are up to, including those at Story Empire. Today SEer, Harmony Kent, shares how to offer autographs for your digital books using the free service Authorgraph. Check it out!

I had a blast on vacation, but it’s good to be back! 🙂

 

67 thoughts on “Back from Vacation and Back to Blogging!”

  1. I bet Raven was standoffish for about 30 seconds when you got home. Then she was ALL OVER you & your stuff & just SO VERY HAPPY you were HOME!!!!

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    • Uh-oh. They know. They always do 🙂

      Thanks for the welcome back, and I hope you enjoy your vacation next week. Extra hugs to your cats when you leave and come back 🙂

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  5. Looks like so much fun! We’ve thought of taking a cruise down that way. Wouldn’t be hard if we sailed out of Galveston. I’m sure Raven was happy to see you back home. And welcome back! You were missed.

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  8. Oh, man, sounds like you had a blast! And awesome weather, too. I’ll bet Raven stuck to you like a shadow when you got home–she missed you 🙂 After a wonderful vacation, it’s tough in a way to come back, but in a way it’s nice to get back into things. Welcome home, Mae!

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    • Thanks, Julie! And you’re so right about Raven. She was stand-offish with us for the first fifteen minutes or so, and then she became my shadow. My cat sitter kept sending me email updates about her while we were away, so that helped, but the highlight of getting back home was seeing her 🙂

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    • Aww, thanks, Marcia. I had soooo much fun and it was great to experience Mexico. A number of the people in our group (including my sister and her husband) have time shares there, so they were really able to show DH and I the ropes 🙂

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  10. What a fabulous vacation!!! Love the pictures and the chandelier in the bar is fascinating. Wish you were here in Atlanta at RT with Linda and I. I am trying to get an appointment with a Kensington editor. Don’t know if I”ll have any luck. 🙂 Hugs! And, Welcome back!

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    • I would love that chandelier on a smaller scale for my house, Jan 🙂

      I’m sure you and Linda are having a blast at RT. I’ve got my fingers crossed for you with Kensington. There are also ways to submit online if you can’t get a face-to-face. K is really a class act. I would love it to be sister authors in the same house! 🙂

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      • It’s a foot in the door. I’m not familiar with her but I’m on the digital line and you’re pitching the main editors, I’m sure. You go!!!

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    • Thanks for the welcome back! I think you and your wife would love it. We also did an all-inclusive in Punta Cana two years ago. They’re definitely the way to go for that type of resort. We really splurged for upper end everything in PC but Cancun was highly affordable!

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    • Thanks, Judi. The resort and restaurants were fabulous. I only wish I could have brought back some of the beach and the wonderful meals. They were so healthy and delicious. I need a cook like that, LOL. Thanks for welcoming me back! 🙂

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    • We had a blast, Jacquie. I normally don’t go with a big group, but I have to admit it was a lot of fun. And I did like the security of having that many people while being out of the country. Thanks for visiting!

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  15. Thank you for sharing your trip with us. Wonderful experience. I actually danced naked on a table tat he Carlos and Charlies in Cozumel many years ago…lol while on a cruise (I figured nobody knew me and I’d be gone in twenty minutes so what the heck.)

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  16. Let me join the other comments and wish you welcome back!
    Thanks for sharing the photos you took from what sounds a great unwinding after all the year’s work and writing.You are the classiest ‘gal”in the group. Your DH, too! A fine pair.

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    • Aww, Carmen you are so sweet 🙂

      Thanks so much for the warm welcome back, my friend. It was indeed a wonderful way to unwind after a busy year and even more on the schedule moving ahead. I had a blast, but it’s great to be back with my friends!

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  21. Looks like you had a fantastic time, Mae! Almost didn’t see Raven – just the eyes. Looking at the group pic, I figured you were either in green or on the left – funny you said that was your sister. There’s definitely a resemblance.

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  23. Looks like you had great fun, Mae. Shouldn’t take more than a month of R&R and a few sessions of therapy to get over it! Whenever I have thoughts of Mexico as a holiday destination, though, my next question is ‘How hot is it?’ So, how hot was it?

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    • Hi, Teagan! So nice to have you drop by. I’ve been thinking a lot about my recent trip given this is Cinco de Mayo, and appreciating all I got to experience. Thanks for sharing in my memories! 🙂
      {{hugs}}

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  25. Oh my gosh, Mae. Such lovely pictures and memories with family and friends! Thanks so much for sharing these gems with us. I’ve been to Mexico twice and absolutely loved every minute.
    Welcome back! Your presence was missed. Cheers! 🙂

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    • Hi,Natalie! What a lovely welcome back.This was my first time in Mexico but I would definitely go back again. We had so much fun and I got to experience so much that was new. Thanks so much for dropping in and for such a wonderful “welcome back!” 🙂

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  26. Hahahaha, love the zany atmosphere of that restaurant. You look beautiful all dolled up, and what a great group of 9. Gorgeous place! That chandelier is quite unique and attractive. Most of all, I’m glad you got away and had a wonderful time, Mae. I bet Raven was delighted to have you guys back home.

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    • Zany is a great word for Carlos’ N Charlie’s, Flossie, LOL.
      Thanks for the lovely compliment on the photo, and yes, we had an amazing time. I kept worrying about Raven but my cat-sitter did a great job of sending me emails to update me on how she was doing.The only downside of going on vacation was leaving my precious girl behind! 🙂

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  27. Sounds like a fabulous holiday, Mae Clair. I have never been to either South or North America. We always seem to either end up in Europe or going in the other direction to Oz or NZ. Lovely to read all your fun holiday doings.

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    • Robbie, I’ve never been to Europe or Oz or NZ, so I envy you those trips. Someday I’d really like to visit NZ or the land of Oz. I bet they’re amazing places. Of course, all vacations are excellent when you can get away 🙂
      Thanks for checking out my post!

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  28. Pingback: Wiing Links 5/8/17 – Where Genres Collide

  30. Interesting post , wonderful clicks !!

    As for my own wanderlust , well I too visited a beautiful Hill station in north India. And here ‘s a short write up from my recently updated Travel Diary :

    My ‘With Family’ story of a near perfect Hill Station !!(Photograph based )

    https://the-passport-souls.travel.blog/2017/06/10/my-with-family-story-of-a-vacation-at-a-near-perfect-hill-station/

    Hope you find it interesting !! 🙂

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