Earlier this month we went on a holiday to the Mexican resort Hotel Xcaret, in Playa del Carmen, with some of the Bartz family members.

1_02A2578 Here is the group on the bus from Cancun airport to the hotel.

2_02A2793 _02A2729 This is the same image from a previous post. I use it to show all 15 of us who were on this trip.

3_02A3021 4_02A3145 These are two views of the resort showing some of its pools and restaurants and the chapel tower lit up.

This was an all-inclusive vacation package. We could eat all the food we wanted and drink all the beverages that we could handle.

There definitely was an abundance of both. The staff were most courteous and obliging, always checking if we wanted more.

5_02A2617 6_02A2660 We used most of the half dozen pools and the beach lagoon where we could take a cooling dip and sometimes float to the bar. If the pool had no swim-up bar, the staff were there to serve you at your lounge chairs.

8_02A2605 7_02A2595 Stand-up paddle boards and kayaks were there for guests to use at all times.

9_02A3013 You could swim to or walk up to this in-pool bar.

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This was the one meal where we all ate together. It was to celebrate Veda's birthday, Japanese menu.

11_02A3188 12_02A3032 Some of us did leave the resort for an excursion to the Mayan ruins of Tulum.

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After a morning in Tulum, we taxied back to the resort. Annie was back at the children's pool and slides.

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One evening the resort held a festival with the turning on of the chapel lights.

Food and entertainment followed a parade down from the chapel at the top of the tower.

17_02A2911 15_02A2892 16_02A2904 18_02A2998 Food carts such as this were always available at different locations, so you did not have to go to one of the restaurants. A large buffet restaurant was usually open. Other sites specialized in Japanese cuisine, Mexican foods, a dinner theatre, or Brazilian-style barbecue fare.

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Nancy was typical of the greeters at the restaurants. They would cordially guide you to an available table.

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Kate and Monte with Annie.

Thanks to Emma for providing our souvenir t-shirts.

21_02A2832 Of the different on-site parks that you could visit, this one was for wildlife viewing and conservation. This is a toucan.

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One week flew by very quickly. It was time to leave the hedonistic life and head home to celebrate Christmas.

And a return to reality - winter weather.