When we returned from the restaurant the night before, we had found on our bed a list of all the activites that were available around the resort the next day. The hotel reminded me of the Kellerman's Hotel in the movie Dirty Dancing - for some reason, this resort just made me chuckle. There was: a golf camp for children, a core circuit class (are you kidding i am on holidays!) wild wonders animal visit, Chef's class at the Five-Star Five-Diamond restaurant, inspiring yoga, film night on the tennis lawn, horse racing, perfume making and photography lessons.
We decided to have breakfast first, then we would explore the resort. We started our walk by checking out the pools. There were four pools - some had underwater music, spas, and all were heated. The weather was overcast but i was hoping the sun might start to peek through.
I had surprised Terry the day before we arrived at the hotel with the news i had booked him a round of golf on our last day, so we headed to the club house to find out about it. They confirmed his game time and told him he would be playing with another guest. Will asked his name, and after they told him, Will said, "Oh, I was just checking to see if he was playing with Adam Scott again." The man told Terry he could arrange for him to have a practice at the driving range - Terry looked like all his Christmas's had come at once. Well that was the end of exploring the resort - Terry and Will were off! A cart and caddie was arranged for them and they headed off to the range. As they were leaving Terry heard someone say, 'that guy has played with Adam Scott!' Good one Will. Later I would hear that Terry reversed the cart into another cart - oh dear! How much was this gonna cost?
James and I decided to head to the pool, just as the sun came brilliantly out! I just wanted to relax but there would be no rest for me - I had to go in the pools with James. He wanted to play! A few hours later, Terry and Will had finished and met us at the pool - finally James could play with his brother and i could relax!
Sitting around the pool was an eye opener. There were so many nannies! The parents would come and go but the nannies were the ones in the pool with the kids, feeding them and keeping them amused. I had said to James when we were in the pool, "See those ladies, they are the kids' nannies." After explaining what nannies did he asked, "Why would you want to be with a nanny and not with your mum?" Fair comment!
The other funny thing was all of the men were older and had much younger wives! Terry and I fitted perfectly in - apart from the fact we weren't dripping in gold. Terry and I had been laying around the pool and this guy who i thought would have been 70 jumped into the pool - then we heard these little girls (about 6 and 7) calling, "Daddy, daddy, come here, play with us" Then i'd worked it out - there had been two ladies lunching with this guy - i thought they were his daughters - but one was his wife. The young kids were his daughters. Terry and i felt right at home - all we were just missing was a nanny and the gazillions!
The kids were told about an Explorer's Club (kids club) that had an air hockey, table tennis, Wii, PS3 and Apple computers. The kids were begging to go there so I arranged for them to go while Terry and I had dinner.
We headed up to Club M for a few drinks - this Club overlooked one of the holes on the golf course - then back to the Amaya! We had an amazing dinner again. Whenever you leave the room someone says to you, 'welcome back' or 'it's great to see you again'. I kept thinking - i only left the room for a minute for goodness sake!! This time we enjoyed a few muscats around the fire before heading back to pick up the kids.
The kids didn't want to leave so we were chatting to the girls who worked there. They were 19 and really wanted to go to Australia. We talked with them for nearly an hour - when we were going one of the girls told us we were the most hilarious family they had met there ever. Hmmmm, was this a good thing??
When we got back to our room, we found rose petals and chocolates scattered over our pillows. The question now is - when we get home, who is going to fold our toilet paper into a little triangle every time we leave the house?
Strolling the Grand
No Mazda 3's in sight
Prince James
Flowers in the lobby - changed each day
Checking out the resort
James and I lost again
Just one of the hundreds of original artworks around the hotel
One of the holes close to the pool
Pool time!
I look at this and wonder how James will go one day on his first trip backpacking around the world?
And yes, there is a blood orange mojito in the background - it was after 5pm somewhere!
And yes, there is a blood orange mojito in the background - it was after 5pm somewhere!
Pool time after golf
Kids at kids Club - back to the Amaya!
I could get used to the good life - no cooking or cleaning for nearly 7 weeks!
'Welcome back, it's great to see you again'
Getting lost (once again) picking up the kids after our night out - so many staircases, elevators and halls
Papa Doug - this is the guy who built the Grand Del Mar and appears to run the world. There are photos all around the resort of him with celebrities, presidents and of course, great golfing legends.
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