Spring Break Cancun Craziness

Well this past 3-day weekend was crazy, to say the least!

Friday night we went to Party Center in the Hotel Zone with some of Jorge’s guy friends to see some of the Spring Break 2012 action.

Line outside Coco Bongo

This shirt was a Christmas present, and it didn't fit me until this month! yay weight loss!

Mandala - filled up!

We wandered around Party Center for awhile, then decided on XX Bar because it was cheap, and the only place that wasn’t 100% packed yet.

**Note to my female readers: Dancing on bars is fun, but I recommend wearing jeans, not miniskirts. It may seem fun at the time, but you won’t like that YouTube video filmed by some stranger once you’re home from vacation.

**Note to my male readers: Don’t dance on bars. Ever. You may fall into the concrete bar pit like this one shirtless body builder we saw. Hilarious for us. Not an easy embarrassment to shake off for him.

The best part of the night: I got hit on! Since I’m always out with Jorge, I haven’t gotten hit on much in the past 5 years. 30 seconds by myself at the bar, and I was turning guys down. Nice to know I still got it!

We left XX Bar around 4 am and snuck into went to Plaza Forum for some late-night pizza. Yum!

What I’ve Been Up To

So the past few weekends I’ve taken tons of pictures to share with you guys! Things have been pretty busy at work, but I figure I’ll keep ya’ll updated. Here goes…

Last Weekend:

Went to my friend Dama's birthday party at Black Pub Friday night

Saturday: Went to another friend's birthday party, complete with palapa and a taco stand

My "gringas"... flour tortilla, pastor, onion, cilantro and pineapple

Saturday night: Burgers in a friend's backyard (it had very cool design, but I only managed to get a shot of this light-covered palm tree)

 

This Weekend:

On Saturday I bought this... I'll tell you why later!

Sunday afternoon: Puerto Morelos

Saturday night: Carnaval parade in Playa del Carmen (all pictures were either blurry or blocked by pedestrians, but the costumes were great!)

What did you do this weekend?

My Christmas Posada Parties in Cancun

I’ll be straight with you… I’ve lived in Mexico for 6 years and I still don’t know much about what a traditional Mexican posada entails. I know they’re parties held in December, kind of like our Christmas parties in the US, but with more traditional elements like star-shaped piñatas and bowls of ponche to drink. People also go from house-to-house singing a traditional song to pedir posada (or “lodging”, a la Mary and Joseph looking for an inn) until they reach the home of their party host, who lets them in.

And yet, I have seen none of this in Cancun. No ponche, no donkeys, no songs and no star-shaped piñatas for this gringa.

I have, however been to several Cancun posadas in my time. Young people in Cancun just do things a bit differently than the rest of Mexico. Why? Because who needs tradition? Bring on the dancing and the crazy house parties!

Here are some pictures from my first ever Cancun posada at a house party with my univeristy friends, circa December 2008… whoa.

That's my logistics professor in the background!!

Gotta love living in a city where you can wear spaghetti straps outdoors in December.

In 2010, I was a bit more tame and I only went to my office’s posada. It’s nice to see everyone dressed up and out of uniform.

2011 promises to be the best year yet for posadas and me! I’ve been to two already, including yet another work posada. For our first posada of 2011, Jorge and I went to Muellecito bar with a group of his friends from elementary school, then the group headed out to Alebrije nightclub, which I hadn’t been to yet.

Jorge with his friends from elementary school

Screen in back translates "Welcome to Mexico Jesus!!" I like to think they're referring to Jesus Christ and the posadas tradition, but since we're in Mexico it's probably just some guy named Jesus.

Tomorrow night we’re hosting a posada party at our house. Just as with all my other Cancun posadas, it’s looking to be very untraditional with no singing, no donkeys, no piñatas… because apparently our friends want to grill burgers.

BURGERS.

Whatever, that’s how we roll in Cancun.

 

This post is part of a Blog Hop on posadas! Want to read more about Mexican posadas from some of my friends, or add your own posada post to our Blog Hop? Check it out below…

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Disclosure:  I am being compensated for my work in creating and managing content as a Community Manager for the Mexico Today Program.  All stories, opinions and passion for all things Mexico shared here are completely my own.

Mexican Independence Day Parties in the Riviera Maya

While all my fellow Americans are fast asleep in bed tonight, everyone in Mexico will be partying it up Independence Day style. Here, we don’t just shoot off some fireworks, eat some apple pie and call it a night… oh no. In Mexico, it’s not September 15th if you’re not staying up until the wee hours singing banda music with friends, family, or maybe even several thousand of your closest friends. I mean come on, the party doesn’t even officially start until El Grito just before midnight.

Home to some of the best nightlife in the world, Cancun and the Riviera Maya are no exception.

A local Independence Day show in downtown Cancun

In the early evening most Mexicans spend time with the family, maybe having dinner, going to a bar, or enjoying a local Independence Day show. At midnight, everyone crowds around the radio or TV to hear the president give El Grito. Cheers are made, hugs and kisses are given, and then it’s every man for himself. The older crowd will usually spend the rest of the night chatting, drinking and laughing at a friend’s house, while Cancun’s younger crowd will head out to the clubs in the Hotel Zone (if they’re not there already).

September 15 is a great night to explore Cancun’s Party Center since it fills up with both tourists and locals, all looking to celebrate Independence Day the best way they know how. Music, cheers and the green and red of the Mexican flag all come together in a rush of energy. Nightclubs like Coco Bongo, Dady O and The City host excited locals and visitors, and the thrill in the air becomes contagious. This is the best way to experience Cancun nightlife.

Another great spot to celebrate Mexico’s Independence Day is in the laid-back city of Playa del Carmen in the Riviera Maya, where you’ll find a much more casual vibe along with excited crowds. Fifth Avenue and the surrounding streets overflow with partiers. Here, you can grab a beer at a local store and party in the street with crowds of thousands, or duck into a chic yet laid-back tropical bar to celebrate with your closest friends.

No matter where you are in the Riviera Maya on Mexico’s Independence Day, you’ll find exciting parties lasting all night. This is a country that really knows how to celebrate!

**Note: This is a blog hop! Feel free to check out any of the following blogs for more Mexican Independence Day fun! (Listed manually because WordPress is a jerk and won’t let me post the linky… WordPress, I think we need to talk.)

Mexico's El Grito de la Independencia

Celebrating Independence Day Around Mexico

Dolores Hidalgo: Cradle of Mexican Independence

The Story of El Grito and Mexico's Independence Day

United Mexico: Their Independence Day Traditions

16 Tips for a Great Mexican Independence Day

16 Little Known Mexican Facts

The Mexican Tequila Bandera

Viva la Independencia!

Mexican Independence Day Parties in the Riviera Maya

Where to Eat for Fiestas Patrias

10 Ways to Celebrate Mexican Independence

Mexican Independence Day in Cancun

 

 

Chiles en Nogada

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disclosure:  I am being compensated for my work in creating and managing content as a Community Manager for the Mexico Today Program.  All stories, opinions and passion for all things Mexico shared here are completely my own.

Girls Night Out at Barezzito

This past week, my friend Juan was out of town and Jorge was sick, meaning Viri and I had to fend for ourselves in a very rare “Girls’ Week”. Tuesday night we did something we haven’t done in years… go out to a club without any boys! A group of us went to Barezzito, a chic lounge in downtown Cancun with live music, contemporary design and an outdoor terrace with amazing views of the lagoon and Hotel Zone on the horizon.

Turns out lots of other friends ended up being there as well. I ran into a friend from the office, as well as Jorge and Cesar, two of my best friends from college.

Cesar, me, Jorge (not my husband, another Jorge)

The live band that night was very good! I had no idea there was a Spanish pop version of the song “Going to the Chapel”, but it was pretty catchy.

My friend (and former roomie!) Cyndi has a birthday this month… meaning that on any Tuesday during the month of August, she can order a free bottle at Barezzito and only pay for the drink service. The table ordered whisky, which is surprisingly popular here in Mexico. (All my Mexican friends love whisky, but I can count on one hand the ones who enjoy a good tequila shot.)

Viri and Cyndi

The following night, Viri, Cyndi and I got together for a Twilight movie night. We watched Eclipse. Friends, pajamas, sushi and Taylor Lautner (or Robert Pattinson, depending on who you ask) all make for a fun evening.

What’s the best girls/guys night you’ve ever had?

Cancun’s Party Center Spring Break 2011

Well, we did it. We went to a nightclub in the Hotel Zone during Spring Break, which is something I had NEVER done before! I used to go to the Hotel Zone every Friday and Saturday night, except during Spring Break.

Spring Break is winding down a bit, and this week is Mexico’s Semana Santa, when they have their vacations. It was a crazy mix of Mexican and American tourists, which made for a pretty fun atmosphere.

So Friday night, we headed down to Cancun’s Party Center.

Partygoers on their way to the clubs

Party Center in full swing

We decided to go to our favorite spot, Congo. It’s an open air club that has a more casual atmosphere than some of the more upscale clubs. The ambiance was insanely good, but the service was womp womp… the waiter kept forgetting to bring my bottled water (yeah, I don’t drink much), and stopped waiting on tables entirely around 1 am. Other than that, no complaints!

They closed the bar pretty early at 4 am, which was a bit disappointing. (Most places in the Hotel Zone don’t close the bar until 5:30.)  So we got onto the bus back into downtown Cancun, and went to get some tacos. I’ve never gone to a club in the US, but here in Mexico it’s a tradition to go get tacos or tortas after a night at the club.

What are the nightclubs like where you live?

Cookout at Our Place

Last Saturday, Jorge and I had some friends over to watch the big Pacquiao vs. Margarito boxing match. I was worried about our space being too small, but it worked out really well!

Meat, quesadillas and cactus leaf all ready to go on the grill!

Making the pico de gallo

Chile, green tomato and red tomato being cooked for making salsa

We brought out TV downstairs and hooked up some rabbit ears to watch the match

Our friend Viri lent us her grill

Me and Jorge

Juan es 100% guapo!

Dolly enjoyed being pampered throughout the evening

Konan and Suki were also there... but Suki insists on staying in my lap the entire time, so it's hard to get pictures haha. Konan, however, was more than willing to pose.

After dinner (and Margarito getting his butt kicked), we cleared out the table and spent the rest of the evening salsa dancing.

Great friends, great food, great night, and great music!

Halloween at Roo Nightclub

This weekend was pretty awesome! I have so much to write about… not sure where to begin!

I guess in the spirit of Halloween, I’ll start with the Halloween-y things.

Saturday night we went to Roo nightclub in the Hotel Zone. We didn’t dress up, but almost everybody else was in costume. Jorge, our friends and I sat near  the entrance most of the night, which was a great choice because we got to see all the costumes walking in and out of the place. Later we moved to a table by the dance floor.

Cancun's famous Party Center (about 1 am)

Inside Roo nightclub

HULK ANGRY!

Guy taking a shower (my favorite costume of the night)

Viri and Juan, our partners in crime

Mr. and Mrs. Gringation

The dance floor

Overall, a pretty entertaining night. We were among the oldest people there. In Cancun, the minimum drinking age is 18, but clubs will often let you in if you’re at least 14 or 15… so at 24 years old, I felt ancient. That’s just not right!

Anyway, the people-watching was interesting to say the least. I saw 2 ladybugs making out (boy and girl), Wilma Flintstone crying in a corner and being consoled by Fred, a cavewoman whose mom came to pick her up (she hid from her mom in the bathroom), and some underage girls with their butt cheeks hanging out.

At the end of the night, we all agreed this just might not be our scene anymore. Since we’re older than most people there, 2 of us don’t drink (I had 3 glasses of water) and we’re all married/engaged, there just doesn’t seem to be much to do at a nightclub anymore.

Plus, nightclub music seems to have changed. They used to play awesome music for dancing, like hip hop, reggaeton and salsa. Saturday night, all I heard was pop and techno. Not my favorite.

I felt kinda sad to realize this since I used to be the nightclub queen 5 years ago, but I guess we all have to grow up sometime.

I did get hit on by a mummy, though… so that made me feel a little better 🙂

My Bachelorette Party

I’m going to limit the pictures for this one for obvious reasons, even though my dad’s seen them all anyway (thanks to cousin Aubrie for documenting it all in such detail on Facebook haha)

Overall, nothing too crazy. Nobody threw up, there was no stripper involved, and everyone made it back to the hotel rooms at the same time (4 am) It was a TON of fun!

Me and my entourage in the hotel room before heading out

First we went to Carlos and Charlie's for dinner and drinks.

Needless to say, it was a great time.

"Logan", the "sexy" manager had a thing for misplaced quotation marks. My poor cousin Aubrie was tattooed in permanent marker (yes, it did come off before the wedding)

Meghan and Noelle 🙂

 While we were eating dinner, Sarah and Noelle asked me some questions about Jorge and myself. (Jorge had written down his own answers beforehand) Our answers matched for almost everything, but I still maintain that he lied on a few of those questions haha

me and the girls

Next, we went next door to Cancun's most famous nightclub.

There were some pretty awesome shows, including these acrobats. We also saw "Beyonce" (a hot mess), "Austin Powers" (cheesy), "Michael Jackson" (awesome) and "Jay-Z" (pretty sure they just picked out the first black guy they came across, because this guy looked nothing like Jay-Z)

Apparently Noelle was having a GREAT time.

Aubrie and me 🙂

Some *cough*all*cough* of us may have danced on the bar... and the stage.

Around 2 am, guess who coincidentally showed up at Coco Bongo?

My fiance.

And all my guy cousins.

So anyway, we hung out with them for awhile before everyone headed back to our hotel.

What’s the craziest bachelor/bachelorette party you’ve been to?

Caribbean Carnaval Cruise in Cancun

Last Saturday, my friend and bridesmaid Viri called me up to tell me that our friend Choco had gotten some discounted passes to go on Cancun’s Caribbean Carnaval. I was PSYCHED. This party boat sets out from Cancun’s Hotel Zone at sunset, and takes you out to Isla Mujeres for a buffet dinner on the beach. The entire time there’s a super cheesy pirate show going on, which was kinda fun! On the boat, there’s also tons of dancing. (Kind of difficult and awkward, but fun nonetheless!)

We set off from Playa Tortugas (Turtle Beach) in the Hotel Zone

While we were on the beach waiting to board, Choco informed us that in order to get his discount, he had to lie and say we were from the city of Tantoyuca, Veracruz. (It was never really explained why we had to lie, but hey, it’s Mexico right?) I think someone had mentioned where the different groups on board were from, because the head pirate would occasionally shout out, “Let’s hear some noise from Tantoyuca!!” This was followed by excited cheers and lots of giggling from our group.

waiting on the beach... I spotted the moon through the palm tree above me. 🙂

The dock and our boat

The top deck of our boat

Sunset over the Hotel Zone

Moi

Me, Juan and Viri (with a pirate ship in the background from another cruise tour)

 

Viri 🙂

Once we got on land at Isla Mujeres, some of our "people" were "captured" by rogue pirates. This was followed by the cheesiest show I've ever seen. (There was some cool dancing and games throughout the night, though.)

 

The bar

 

Yara, Viri, Me, Lilian and Julieta at dinner

Overall it was a lot of cheesy fun with bad drinks and average food… but the sunset and the company were hard to beat.