By Eileen Ogintz
PUERTO MORELOS, Mexico – It’s raining in paradise. Pouring in fact at the Grand Residences Riviera Cancun in Puerto Morelos.
It’s raining too hard to explore the town, we think. We hit the gym and think about the spa, but it is expensive.
Rainy day at the Grand Residences Riviera Cancun
We linger over breakfast where besides omelets and tacos made to order, plus all varieties of fruit, smoked salmon, pastries., yogurt, there are Mexican style eggs with serrano chili served with refried beans , Moutuleno Eggs, crispy corn tortillas served with refried bean , fried eggs, tomato sauce, ham, fried plantains and peas.
As we leave, they are setting up for lunch. There are “rainy day” activities – Spanish lessons, dance classes, a ping pong tournament, Jenga Tournament an Texas Holdem poker game.
Rainy day lunch is served – Grand Residences Riviera Cancun
“I just like that it is Monday and I’m not rushing to work,” said a Chicago physician, visiting here for the third time with her husband and four year-old daughter.
“We brought a 2,000 piece puzzle,” said Wahmei Kodimer, here with her parents, old friend and six year-old son who fortunately loves the kids club. “They have a different activity every hour,” she explains. “He asks to go.”
On this rainy day, the club is humming with activity — some kids playing air hockey; others doing a paper Mache craft. In the afternoon, they will feed iguanas as well as try other crafts like making pirate masks, painted t-shirts or dream catchers. J.C., the six year-old, especially likes the Lego competitions “because we get prizes.”
“It’s nice that he’s old enough to go,” said Wahmei Kodimer, adding that she can get a break.
Boats on the beach – Grand Residences Riviera Cancun
I am here with three of my oldest friends from grade school. My friends opt for a board game, Chronology, one has brought along, as we wait for the rain to stop.
Maia Capp, 13, played ping pong with her mom while her younger sister enjoyed the porch hot tub and her dad read in their room.
No one was complaining. “This place is awesome,” Maia said.
“It’s warm and it’s light out and I’m not going to work,” says Kimberly Capp, a physician here with her husband and two daughters from Sitka, Alaska. “It’s great.”