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Visit to Hard Rock Hotel, Riviera Maya
(Cancun area) July 13-17, 2019 (Sat to Wed)
Before heading to Mexico, we stopped at a provider of high fashion to get some new shades.
![HR 712 Dollar general.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b57502_335c0787662646c892bf4802cb8814e2~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_537,h_402,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/HR%20712%20Dollar%20general.jpg)
Arrived at Cancun airport uneventfully, but just as was noted in the youtube videos (like this one at about the 4 minute mark), as we were going from customs to the ground transportation area, the sales people were super aggressive.
(Note to self: next time bring pepper spray or machete...)
After check in, first order of business: lunch!
![HR 713 lunch at Ciao.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b57502_b7e13da9cc204c66960c5c7b571d3e60~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_669,h_503,al_c,lg_1,q_80,enc_auto/HR%20713%20lunch%20at%20Ciao.jpg)
Then went off to meet our luggage in the room, which had access to the roof, where there was a terrace with a great view. It was pretty warm, so after the pic, we went back inside to enjoy their awesome air conditioning...
![HR 713 view from roof of our room.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b57502_45e4177cfbcf4e3bb50232ab2be550fa~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_121,h_91,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/HR%20713%20view%20from%20roof%20of%20our%20room.jpg)
...and so Merle could take a nap!
![HR 713 Merle napping.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b57502_ad7ced5e282a4ebf8d6f76ceae77888e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_115,h_67,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/HR%20713%20Merle%20napping.jpg)
![HR 714 at HR sign.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b57502_625c5f99ed35460b8f1b992a95b38f79~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_99,h_74,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/HR%20714%20at%20HR%20sign.jpg)
Did a little more exploring and looking for photo ops, in case they needed to use us for their commercials.
Although the restaurants require reservations for dinner, by arriving a little early, and practicing my Spanish (!!), we were able to get this beachfront table at their steakhouse.
![HR 714 breakfast at Touro.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b57502_a1f78223b3d04083937200adb94f24c7~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_113,h_85,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/HR%20714%20breakfast%20at%20Touro.jpg)
Next day, Sunday, aside from eating, we mainly relaxed, except here Merle prevents the alien from exiting through my belly button.
![HR 714 adult wading pool.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b57502_c582341c524740b985dee2182cc5f387~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_114,h_86,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/HR%20714%20adult%20wading%20pool.jpg)
![HR 714 poolside w selfie reflection.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b57502_4f447045e98347c9aced264bede201e8~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_117,h_88,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/HR%20714%20poolside%20w%20selfie%20reflection.jpg)
So why did the monkey cross the road?
As noted below, to show me what the banana looks like from the other end.
![HR 714 monkey pooping.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b57502_2c731ff8d04e4d31841e74fa51323891~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_108,h_97,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/HR%20714%20monkey%20pooping.jpg)
Iguanas, or as the staff called them Godzillas
(probably translates better into Japanese...)
![HR 714 iguanas.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b57502_f3015c17ca5e4050b4743b8b7c6adfcb~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_117,h_75,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/HR%20714%20iguanas.jpg)
Here in a poolside contest for whiteness, I got second place to a seagull.
![HR 714 MW posing for whiteness contest.j](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b57502_6e5a4f8fdfb7456fbf5c53781e4b7331~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_103,h_138,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/HR%20714%20MW%20posing%20for%20whiteness%20contest_j.jpg)
I woke up early a few days to go swimming (see path of arrow), before the party started . Having goggles allowed me to see the residuals of parties in the pool, with pieces of napkins, sequins off bathing suits, hairballs, and even some pepperonis, which was cool, 'cause swimming makes me hungry. :)
![HR 714 pool view w arrow stock footage.j](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b57502_928593a15d03475e93794610284e5d9c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_123,h_120,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/HR%20714%20pool%20view%20w%20arrow%20stock%20footage_j.jpg)
![HR 714 pool view w arrow.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b57502_b5bb2aa73b0b4853b95ec106ca8885aa~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_90,h_68,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/HR%20714%20pool%20view%20w%20arrow.jpg)
On Monday, we went to visit a local popular tourist attraction, Xcaret.
Like most tourist places, we are guided initially to the souvenir shop.
Hey, they gotta make a buck.
![HR 715 entrance gift shop.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b57502_5665e34b31e547619750a43f58c76ae9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_93,h_70,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/HR%20715%20entrance%20gift%20shop.jpg)
![HR 715 entrance w mccaws.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b57502_debcd1849e2d4839b97f8f40a4efff5b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_121,h_91,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/HR%20715%20entrance%20w%20mccaws.jpg)
One of their main attractions were three underground rivers, which were both visually, and thermally cool. We floated along these rivers under caves and with some openings to air, and since we had no waterproof camera holder, these pics from online show what we saw.
![HR 715 Xcaret river stock pic.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b57502_3eb4a9e97fa44a4887d5d8119a7a6382~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_127,h_95,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/HR%20715%20Xcaret%20river%20stock%20pic.jpg)
We even went under a colony of bats, which was simultaneously super interesting, and also difficult not to think of guano.
![HR 715 Xcaret bats stock pic.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b57502_cb0f4c73944e4b11832e907a1e5fb310~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_99,h_74,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/HR%20715%20Xcaret%20bats%20stock%20pic.jpg)
They also had snorkeling, which looked like this in the brochure, but in real life was quite a bit more crowded, especially when we were in the water.
![HR 715 xcaret snorkel stock photo.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b57502_f30132d178144826a673a5bd5aa7a9fe~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_109,h_54,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/HR%20715%20xcaret%20snorkel%20stock%20photo.jpg)
![HR 715 snorkel place.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b57502_d0b2457fb5c8497392857a78248fa2ca~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_120,h_90,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/HR%20715%20snorkel%20place.jpg)
Giant sea turtles were just next door.
![HR 715 turtle.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b57502_bfab7de858e24de5a2739fceafda89f3~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_125,h_144,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/HR%20715%20turtle.jpg)
They also had an opportunity to swim with dolphins for the low price of only $160 USD per person for half an hour. Somehow, I wonder if trickle down economics means they get better fish to eat.
![HR 715 dolphin swim.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b57502_eefa90b2bb0a449bb2e6dc8e83b3dc3b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_119,h_89,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/HR%20715%20dolphin%20swim.jpg)
Our admission included lunch, which was great, and we were glad to be in the shade at least.
![HR 715 lunch.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b57502_319f9e9cbe714c2c93840e3382d8d3af~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_121,h_91,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/HR%20715%20lunch.jpg)
Following full day, Tuesday, we mainly hung out and relaxed, but had our final dinner at a Japanese restaurant called Zen, but we did not order the Godzilla (aka iguana).
![HR 716 Zen.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b57502_28c621c657d0419182e806d67729a45c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_113,h_150,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/HR%20716%20Zen.jpg)
In summary, it was a nice experience, though probably a better deal for guests who drink a lot.
They had shows every night which were good, but the amazing part is how audience members, like right in the middle of an act with a guy doing a handstand on top of four tables, that were perched on a piece of wood that was balancing on a cylinder...would choose that moment to just walk out with their family.
Also, they had some aggressive marketing for future vacations, so if you go, be prepared to just say no. :)
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