Further along our walk (and yes, we were melting in the late morning sun), are the mega resorts. Huge Sprawling hotels with hundreds of beach chairs and beds, huge concrete structures with infinite poolsand every amenity you could ask for. The beaches out front spattered with people tanned, burnt or fair skinned, waiting for that first kiss of the sun! Interesting to note, the actual beach front and water isn't as nice as out front of Luna Encantada. We seem to be spoiled in that benefit.
Upon arrival back at base camp, a swim in the ocean is required. Our bodies are hot and our brains a bit fuzzy from the heat, we stumble into the bath like water. We spend a good hour just bobbing around in the water, watching the surf crash and the people pass.
Euro is on, and it is France vs Iceland. We decide to stay in the unit for this one. A/C and cheap beer! We order some lunch from Fusion beach club next door and sit down to feast while hoping for an Iceland upset. Alas the cinderella storey was beaten back by the French onslaught, and the hopes and dreams of the entire country of Iceland were dashed!
The decision was made to walk to Walmart for some supplies. A quick google map search (what did we ever do without google?) indicated the store to be about a 9 minute walk. 9 minutes? That's easy we think, lets go! Well, the walking was easy, but the blazing sun, and no wind, felt like our bodies were frying. Just when you think this was a bad idea, the mega store appears and we get some relief from the unrelenting heat. As we gather our suplplies and sundries (basket currently full of beer and rum!), we are approached by a local who tells us we must hurry and pay for the booze, as all alcohol sales stop at 5 pm (4 minutes away!). WTF....it is a Sunday thing. Panicked, Bill sets off to find a short line while I start searching for the girls. Arms full of fruits we search the long lines of casheries looking for Bill, but can't find him. Turns out he was instructed by some other kind locals to pay for the booze at Customer Service....and he just made it. We spot some other tourists in a long line with a basked full of booze and we direct him to the right place....he dashes off in a panic. Ten minutes later, we see him saddly returning his un-purchased booze to the shelves.
A fun note. The grocery baggers work for tips. Something Bill knew. So he tipped him....5 pesos! That is 35 cents....we had some fun with Bill on that one!
With a cart full of food, the wise decision to cab back was made. 70 pesos plus tip later, we are back in the comfort of the unit. We think a dip in the pool is in order as we wait for Cecilia to arrive. Suddenly our phone rings and its her...she has been trying to text us, but the text weren't going through, she is here! We rush back out and down 5th Ave to the bus stop to gather our travel buddy.
Back at the unit, its time for a Cuba Libra and a dip in the pool. The girls join us and we relax in the bath like pool.
The night seems a bit cooler as we walk along 5th Ave in search of our evening meal. We settle on a second floor restaurant, La Caprichoz. They usher us into an air conditioned room and advise us it is Happy Hour....2 for 1 drinks. It seems this place is all about the presentation. The waiter brings out our drinks, with one resting on his head, and two on the top of his fingertips. He tricks me by letting it slip out of his fingertips just as I reach for it, only to have him catch it before it crashes to the table.
Bill orders a Caesar Salad and they expertly make it from scratch beside the table. There is s flare to what they do here. Brenda orders the Ceviche Salad, and when it comes out, it is huge! Fresh and piled high, a meal for two. The food was good, flavourful and filling. We walked the rest of the strip, stopping so Bill could get an ice cream snack on the way back to home base. Another exciting day in Playa comes to an end.
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