Ringing in the New Year
Happy 2017! This is the first New Year’s Eve I have spent outside the USA. Three friends and I went on an adventure to Cancun, Mexico. The weather was warm, the water was blue, and the drinks were frosty and tropical, at an all-inclusive resort that catered to our every need.
While there, one girlfriend had to meet with an event planner at another hotel that she would be using for a meeting at the end of the month. Which happened to be the same hotel three of us stayed at many years ago, so we tagged along to see how much it changed/stayed the same. Upon arrival, some things were the same and yet many were different. We relived our fun memories of days gone by.
While touring the facility we happened to pass by the sales table for their New Year’s celebration and Brenda, the manager asked if we were interested in joining them. Our eyes lit up, but kept steady on the tour. It seemed silly to pay for an extravagant party which was already included at our hotel. This one, however, looked like it would be spectacular. Brenda brought us down to the ballroom to see what tables were still available, and to our dismay only the furthest tables away from the three stages were still open, but we thought it would still be a great show no matter where we sat. As we decided to inquire on table number five, Brenda informed us the organizer of the event was asking about who we were, and thought we might be interested in a different table……..a new ghost table. WHAT? Well, this ghost table would be the one to pick if we had any to choose from. They were so happy to have my friend’s business at the end of the month, they wanted us to be their guests. Holy cow…jackpot! It was a unanimous….WAHOO!
As New Year’s Eve approached we made our way to the hotel and arrived for the cocktail and hors d’oeuvre hour. Then headed into the main ballroom, along with six hundred quests. The room looked elegant and festive, all decked out in black and gold. For the next three hours a seven course meal and entertainment filled the space. Each table had a dedicated waiter and two to three additional support staff. They waited on each table like we were the most important people in the room. Each time I got out of, or into my chair, someone was there to assist.
Our table consisted of ten people from Long Island, NY, Mexico, England, and of course Illinois. We became fast friends and laughed until our sides hurt. After dinner the entertainment continued, but this time the dance floor was open for the guests to enjoy. It was packed every single song.
One of the last courses consisted of champagne and twelve grapes. Hmmm….we had to ask the significance. It is Spanish tradition to eat a grape for each stroke at midnight (one for each month) that will lead to a year of prosperity. However, I kept waiting for the twelve bells or something while everyone was up dancing and finally my waiter was alarmed I hadn’t eaten them….haha. I gobbled them all down (insert cheesy grin).
The party lasted into the early morning hours, but apparently not long enough, because the road back to the hotel was a parking lot and took us an hour to to go just a few miles. We were exhausted, but happy ringing in the new year from beautiful Cancun. It might just become a new tradition!
xoxox…..Sheryl