The Epilogue

Okay, now that Thanksgiving is done and the nasty little winter storm has left the area, I now have the time to complete this final entry. It's obvious when I say our trip to Cancun did not go the way we had wanted. It was not a restful vacation, but it was very educational. We learned so much while we were down there...and it wasn't a few "learn and forget" tidbits, the things we learned down there will probably stick with us the rest of our lives. For those of you who travel (whether it's every once in a while, occasionally, or frequently), there are some items we will never leave behind again: First, we will always carry a pocket-sized multi-use tool (kind of like a swiss army knife, but with more than just a knife...it will have the pliers, screwdriver, etc.). I know they're not allowed on the plane, but pack it in your checked baggage then pocket it once you get to your destination. Also, a batteryless flashlight. I think the cost around 25 bucks, but I think it's well worth the investment. Lastly, if you're staying in the states, buy a calling card. If you're going out of the country, buy an international calling card. Our cell phones died within a day and a half. No electricity meant no charging (I even bought a hand-held wind-up charger for my cell phone, but that didn't work so well).

We also learned a lot about Mexican culture, how it differs from our own, and how it is similar. It was a real eye-opener to see how an average Mexican family lives and how lucky we are to have everything that we do here in the United States. This was a family with two incomes and they still lived in a very small house with only a few extra amenities. They get by with very little and are just happy to have what they do have.

If I had to narrow down the single reason we made it through Hurricane Wilma, it would be because of the people of Cancun. These people, who had to deal with one of the worst natural disasters to ever hit Cancun, realize how important tourism is to their economy. Despite all the terrible things they have to go through in terms of getting their own lives back on track, they made us (the tourists) their priority. They know that if we leave Cancun with a bad taste in our mouth, we will tell people about our experience and advise them not to go. The people of Cancun know how critical it is for us to leave there with the feeling of being cared for and to realize that despite all the chaos and trouble, that Cancun is a nice place with friendly, helpful people...and most importantly, the desire to want to back to Cancun for a future vacation. So, they took care of us before taking care of themselves. One of our FunJet representatives had three feet of water in his house...basically his house was a total loss, but he was at the shelter everyday making sure the evacuees were okay and helping us get on a plane and get back home. They had a commitment to us and they stuck by that commitment. It wasn't the people from the hotel, it wasn't the police or civil protection, it was the citizens of Cancun who helped us get through this ordeal in one piece.

Last but certainly not least, I learned how well Amanda and I work as team. Through all the stress and chaos, we worked so well together. We talked out problems and solutions, and with the exception of the airport, we stayed pretty close to each other. I give Amanda all the credit in the world too. She was strong and tough when she needed to be and kind, caring, and helpful when it was needed. That's why I love her so much and why I'm so glad she's my wife.

I guess the final question is will we ever go back to Cancun. I think we might. Will we go during hurricane season? No way in hell!!! This final picture is how I would like to remember Cancun. It was a picture I took the evening we arrived: Back to baby stuff (including pics of Amanda) later this week!