That's all folks! - Live from wrap up

So that's it, 21 fabulous nights at EPM.  If you've been following my live from on Trip Advisor and or the blog, then I think I've pretty much covered everything we've seen, done, eaten or drunk!!  So it's just a quick wrap up from me and I'll be writing my review and posting during the week.  If you have any questions re EPM or anything else, then feel free to PM me or leave a comment on the blog.  I'll be carrying on the blog in the future with other travel related stuff, love you to follow me if you enjoyed this one.

I would like to thank so many people for coming to see us off on our final morning -  the wonderful Nelson and Aldo, big thanks for all you did for us making sure we enjoyed every moment of our holiday.  To Lirana, our maid, who bought me a beautiful personal keepsake on our last day, thank you Hun for all your hard work, smiles and little touches in our room.  To the great team of hostesses and servers, who all managed to pop by for a hug - Angel, Alberto, Freddy, Lizeth, Shehily, we're both going to miss all of you and to Eric Cervantes who personally came to say goodbye, and to chat with us before we left.

So that's it, except my final staff member of the day - dedicated to all 780+ team members, who work so hard to make sure guests enjoy all the facilities at this wonderful resort.  I can't name them all, but here's a big shout out to:

the plumbers, electricians, painters, decorators, pool staff, beach staff, maintenance team, stone masons, laundresses, gardeners, cleaners, IT Support, administration, kitchen assistants, chefs, bar staff, room service staff, hostesses, maitre d's, waiting staff, concierges, maids, receptionists, bell hops, customer services officers, the sommelier, all the managers - thank you very much for making our vacation so special and we look forward to spending time with you again very soon.

Mandy & Kevin Webb ;-)

Our last full day..............

Thursday, Our last day at EPM, was everything and more that we could wish for, the perfect end to a fabulous holiday and a memory that will keep us going until the next time.

We woke to bright sunny sky's, a beautiful blue morning.  We toddled off to Toscana to spend one last leisurely breakfast with the team there, Angel, Marcos, Lizeth & Shehily especially.  I took down my little pocket LG photo printer and printed off photos for all the staff that we had taken over the three weeks we had been there, well they all loved them and we then had to take photos with them and print more so they could have keepsakes of all of us - such a little thing but all of the team loved them and there were so many exclamations, laughter and smiles over the little photos!!

So we then went and rested up by the revive bar until lunchtime and then strolled around to the grill, Angel set us up facing the sea, and we have a really leisurely lunch, no rushing and excellent service as always.  For lunch I had my favourite chicken wraps, with some cold Sauvignon blanc and Kev had the burger with a few pacificos.   We just spent nearly two hours chatting and watching the world go by with a perfect turquoise sea in front of us and the sounds of the musicians drifting up from las olas. 

After lunch we went back to the revive bar for a couple hours more, then retired to our room to start the gently art of throwing things in the suitcase for our trip home!!!  Lol!!

A little while later, Nelson arrived to give us a little tour of some of the resort we missed, including some of the more select rooms - well you have to dream don't you! We then finished the afternoon at the excellence club Chocolate Tasting with one of Ceasars seriously fabulous chocolate mint martinis! Oh my! Liquid after eights! They were so so good!

A little rest before dinner, then I dressed up in a new dress I'd been saving for the last night (yes I actually had clothes to take home that I hadn't even worn in the three weeks!!! Lol) and for once, my hair went perfect! (Told you it was a good day didn't I? Lol!!! It's the little things ain't it!!!! )

A final French martini at the bar before dinner and then off to our favourite restaurant, chez Isabel for the last time, and oh what a meal! Señor Pedro, Christian and the lovely Martin (with a more than a little help from Aldo!) ensured our last evening was truly memorable.  A beautifully decorated table, then starters of pear and blue cheese salad for me and bouillabaisse for Kevin - Christian had warned us to keep the starters light as the chef had prepared us a special main.  The pear salad, with thinly sliced small pears, frisée lettuce, little gems of Roquefort cheese, a delicious dressing and then literally teeny zings of orange, was delicious - every mouthful just burst with flavour.

Kevin had decided he really wanted a Monte Xenic red wine for our last meal, Martin had introduced us to this wine the last time we came to EPM and it's still one of our favourites.  So we relaxed with a glass until Christian came with our three main courses.......

The chef had prepared us a main course each of Duck Confit on a bed of herby potatoes and delicious braised apple and cinnamon.  This was accompanied by a sharing dish of Filet Mignon, cooked in a red wine reduction, with lobster sans shell.  Oh my, where to start - well for me, it was the duck, which was butter soft, melt in the mouth Devine and the accompanying cinnamon apple, even now I'm salivating! Both Christian and the chef knew duck was my favourite and they had conspired together to surprise me!   Seriously seriously delicious!!!  And the third main -  rich, deep, steak, with delicious soft buttery lobster.  Kevin was in his element!

We had said we would skip dessert, but Christian - the little devil - had let us relax for a time with the wine before bringing out another gorgeous surprise - the best one yet!!!  Two Chocolate baskets made from white and bitter dark chocolate, filled with soft dark chocolate mousse, complete with candles, and large blackberries, and 'happy anniversary' iced on the side with chocolate.  So whilst I was full, one taste and there was no way I was leaving it!!! They were so delicious and right up my street!  

One last surprise, Señor Martin brought us both over a special liqueur each which he thought would go with the chocolate dessert.  It was delicious as always - You can always trust Señor Martin to choose something perfect.  

Finally, our meal was over - we were fortunate enough to visit Señor Martin's wine cellar before we left and have a chance to spend a little bit more 'one to one' time with him, then a very quick au revoir to both Señor Martin and Señor Pedro as I was getting a bit teary by this time.  Until next time my friends 😘

After dinner a quick bye with Caesar and we retired back to our room to sleep - or so we thought! Nelson had arranged a romantic send off, rose champagne, a Marble slab of delicious chocolates, fruits and tarts, rose petal strewn floor and a rose petal strewn, foam bath jacuzzi.  Told you it was a perfect day, didn't I!!!  

Now, I'd like to finish with a romantic story, about how we both enjoyed the jacuzzi, sat sipping champagne whilst gazing into each other's eyes and how it was all so perfect..........but as you all know, Kev has a history with this jacuzzi, so this is what really happened.......

I thought it would be good to get a photo of him in the tub for the blog, Kev said, no, I'll take one of both of us using the timer on the camera.  So we both put cozzies on (no topless photos of me on the internet peeps!), moved the little side table into position, I gingerly got in (well I had had quite a bit to drink and didn't want to slip and beak my ankles on holiday again - long story!!!!........) and proceeded to pose so he could check the angles of the camera.  

Everything set up, choccies and champagne in the foreground, me ready with a glass of bubbly, smiling like a nutter! Kev then pressies the timer and literally leaps for the tub, does this mad flip, dive bombs and hits the water, which leaves the tub at 50 miles an hour straight up, then down on my head, drowning my 'perfect hair, champagne, chocolates, walls, towels etc.  Then, the camera flashes.  I took one look at him, then at my 'bubbly covered' champagne glass in my hand, then at the foam covered chocolates and literally fell back in the water laughing my head off!! You can take the boy out of the east end, but not the east end out of the boy!!!  

So that was our last full day, great or what?!!!  ;-)

Nearly at an end............

Ok with our holiday nearly at an end, we started yesterday by the revive bar, in 'our' spot.  We love this spot, we spent our last holiday there and with the exception of our days out and the one day at the beach, we've spent the last three weeks there - PJ we well and truly have these loungers under control - beaten into submission more like!!! Lol!

As usual the wonderfully attentive Emiliano looked after us, moving me gently through the day from sparkling water, to sparkling water with menthe, to mohitos, to strawberry mohito (a real surprise that one but yummy!) a gentle transition over many hours I should add! Lol!

Lunchtime saw us at the grill with Angel, my favourite herby chicken wrap for lunch, for Kevin mixed fajitas.  Gonna just comment about the salsa - I love the fresh salsa - lots of teeny pieces of tomato, onion and coriander -  it's delicious! but I especially love it in Toscana at lunchtime where I sprinkle one of the little dishes of it over my salad! Yum!

So after lunch we wandered back to the pool until 4.30ish, and then went in for a cool down and rest.  Kev to sleep, me to sit in the hot tub watching re-runs of friends and the Big Bang theory and again, I do mean the comedy show! Lol!

So last night saw us sipping Caesar's finest French martinis and g&Ts for Kev.  Caesar served Kev a drink up in a slanted glass - he thought he'd drunk too much at that point!! Lol!

Off we went to the flavour market for dinner - and oh what a dinner! We put ourselves in Luis's capable hands as the chef Señor Rafael wanted to make us something special and oh my, he did himself proud!!

A beautiful cheese and fruit platter to start, then a dish each with the famous steak and blue cheese topped with a grilled prawn, scallops on soft creamy risotto and lastly the most delicious price of Chilean Sea bass that actually melted in the mouth - everything tasted so good!!! Really well seasoned, and cooked to perfection.  Dessert was the little round chocolate ganache cakes, so good, but I really could do them justice !

This little restaurant is fabulous and we've loved every mouthful we've eaten there. The service bu Luis and the team, together with the ambience has put this restaurant at a close second to my favourite Chez.

Before we started dinner, Señor Martin had sent down a little Tempranillo for us to try - very dry, very aromatic with spices and a deep chocolate smell.  He then picked us out a delicious Merlot to go with dinner, he said it's a fairly new addition to the wine cellar and it was the perfect accompaniment.  I have to admit to learning so much from Señor Martin, were by no means experts, but everything he's chosen for us has been delicious!  Perhaps it just I'm a lush? Lol! ;-)

So a nightcap of brandy Alexander, then as we strolled back across cafe Kafe to our room there was a cracking salsa band playing, so I risked the mossies to sit and enjoy the late night music.  Perfect.

Ok staff member of the day - has to be Señor Rafael - perfection on a plate is all I have to say - and the foods good as well!! Lol!    

Freedom of speech..............

I noticed on Trip Advisor my other thread about what I dislike at EPM has been closed down! Obviously I hit a nerve or someone was worried that if I said anything negative at all about EPM it might reflect badly on them, particularly if they are in line to get a free upgrade if they keep all EPM discussions on a positive note.

I particularly hate that TA'ers are not allowed to speak freely about all aspects of their holiday, good or bad.  How on earth can you trust some bodies opinion if they never ever say anything negative? Or allow anyone else to say anything negative?

If you missed yesterday's discussion, it started with my comments on how some guests - a very very few minority - are very selfish, and that I'd noticed some gobsmacking acts of rudeness and selfishness by other guests - from reserving six beds in the morning for a single couple, to literally hiding floaties under beds, mattresses, and in rooms to stop other guests from using them.

The thread spurred other comments about guests rudeness towards staff, playing music too loud by the revive pool, drunken behaviour in the pool area etc etc etc.  This sort of behaviour doesn't happen every day or week at the resort, and the 99.9% of guests we've seen are very respectful of other guests and staff alike, however, like everywhere in the world, there are some selfish people out there and EPM guests are now exception.  Nobody was named and shamed in this discussion, it was more a general discussion on what irritates TA'ers at the resort - there wasn't even anything negative about the resort itself.

To report and close down an honest discussion on this subject is beyond me.  At least on my blog I can speak honestly without fear of upsetting so someone's hard earned pitch............

@loriworld.......

Hi loriworld, here's the entertainment from last weekend.  Hope this helps.

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Antsy.............

So where to start......the last couple of days, my moods changed a little bit, and I've become a little antsy -  don't know if it's because we are coming towards the end of our holiday, and I'm mentally preparing to go home, or if it's that we miss our mates the BradJollies and that dare I say it that I'm a little bored(!!!!!) - well three weeks is a long time peeps!!!! - or it's just that I miss my Mum, family & Friends and my two girls - Lizzie & Minnie (my cats before anyone thinks I'm a home alone mum!!!).  I really don't know what it is, but I have to say, wonderful as it's been, I'm nearly (nearly!!!) ready to depart.  Apart from anything else, my week three clothes are starting to feel tight!!!  Need to get back on Weight Watchers track Fiona!!!

But we still have two full more days and nights, so we're going to try and get as much out of them as possible before we do!!!

Since I've last updated the blog, we've rested and enjoyed lots that EPM has to offer, but it's been with the thought in our minds of what do we really want to do again before we leave (I did try to persuade Kev to go back shopping at Place de Las Islas, but he wasn't having none of that!!! Lol!!) 

So with this in mind we're returning on our favourite restaurants one last time and Spice was the chosen one, night before last.  We had a lovely decorated table, and excellent service as always.   We both had the mixed spicy combo starter, then shared Dale's favourite teriyaki beef and mixed pad Thai, both the main courses were seriously delicious, and they are deffo on my list of recommended dishes here at EPM.

This photo is of the gorgeous wall art at spice.  Fabric rolls covering a whole wall - one of my favourite art work at EPM.

Yesterday, as I said in my previous post above, Kev really wanted to go to the beach, so off he went for his early morning constitutional, and found us two beds and parasols, right beside the x lounge.  We agreed to meet at 9am at Toscana for breakfast - I like to potter in the our room in the mornings!

At breakfast as usual we were greeted with 'Hola Mr & Mrs Garcia!' and taken to our table with Angel & Marcos by the lovely Shehily.  She always has a laugh and joke with us, and her and Kev banter with each other - she's taken to giving Kev a friendly nudge when she goes by - I've told her to feel free to smack him if he plays up - well girls have got to stick together ain't they? Lol!

As always the boys are super efficient and look after us and the other guests really well - it's a marvel just to watch them work in tandem with no guest waiting for anything and with them anticipating guests needs.

During breakfast a guest who was sitting next to me asked me if I was the lady writing on TA and the blog everyday, she said she really enjoyed it and had been reading it for a few weeks before she flew from the states.  Her husband said she loved the blog.  The lady really thanked me and I wish I could have thought to get her name so I could give her a big shout out on here - but fellow guest if you're reading this today, thank you for your wonderful comments yesterday, they really set me up for the day and I really appreciated them.

So, just as we were getting ready to leave, Shehily came up with a beautiful little blue bag - it was a gift from her and Lizeth.  The day before, the girls commented that they were going to las Islas for ice cream after work, so I gave them 'ice cream' money each and told them the ice creams were on us! - (it's a family tradition that my mum started, by giving all the children ice cream money before a holiday - she still keeps it up, even though all her nephews and nieces are grown up and married - she gave me and Kev $30 this holiday for ice cream!! Lol!).  The girls wanted to thank us for the sweets we gave them every day.  Shehily told me to open it later and let her know what I thought.  I was totally gobsmacked at this kindness.  It's our job to thank the staff, not the other way round.  When I opened it later in our room, it was filled with beautiful coloured Mexican candy and nuts.  Such a thoughtful gift and I'm going to treasure the little cloth bag the gift came in.

Here we are being photo bombed by Marcos!!! Lol! 

So after this emotional breakfast, we went off to the beach - as I've said, not my favourite place, I just don't like the sand on my skin, but I always do it one day to please Kev!  The beach looked pristine with no seaweed to be seen anywhere - the sargasso hasn't hit EPM that I can see.  It was VERY VERY hot by the beach, so I stayed in the shade of our parasol, painting pictures for the girls - hope they like them!

At noon, there was a fabulous mariachi band set up at las Olas, so we went off to have a listen and a margarita for me, a pacifico for Kev.  

As I've already said in my previous post we met the lovely Maria, then went off to the Grill for a leisurely lunch!!  So after lunch, feeling no pain from my margaritas and wine, we toddled back to our room for an early nap stopping in to the concierges office on our way through to arrange our anniversary champagne breakfast.  It's Nelson's day off today, so the very efficient Vincente and Maricio helped us out - especially when I couldn't find my reading glasses and they had to read the menu for me!! Big thank you boys!

Back at our room, the WONDERFUL Lirana had surprised us with some beautiful petal art, best viewed from my steps!!  We've been wowed so many times by Lirana, - her hard work makes us feel very special ;-)

In the evening, I really was tired and feeling very very lazy, so we ordered room service and watched Sandra Bullock in Gravity on the TV.  Perfect end to a lovely day! 

Staff member of the day - Angel.  I love Angel, he's always so considerate and helpful.  Going to miss him.

;-)

Thank you!......

Can I say a big big thank you to everyone who's sent me such kind words of encouragement - either by commenting on trip advisor, via my blog, via pm or even yesterday a lady who introduced herself to me in Toscana and said she was really enjoying the daily updates. 

I'm sure like lots of the peeps on TA who take time to share their experiences you hope people read and enjoy what you write, and I did wonder (again!) if it would be worth it, but I've really enjoyed it and enjoyed your enjoyment - if that makes sense? Just a few days left on this visit, hopefully I can find something interesting in the next few days to write about.

Big thanks peeps! ;-)

Moments in time...............

I'll update on our regular 'doings' tomorrow, but for now, I just want to post about a 'perfect memory'.

Today, Kev wanted to go to the beach - not my favourite place, but off we went. At lunch there was a fabulous mariachi band at las Olas who played both international and Mexican traditional music.  We were sat at Las Olas drinking pre lunch Margaritas, when I noticed Maria, singing along to the music beside us.  I invited her to join us, oh my, what a wonderful lady!  Maria is from Boston, Massachusetts.  We sat and chatted, then put the world to rights, then moved up to the grill for lunch! Maria is well travelled and had so many great stories and experiences to share with us.  

We had the greatest time with Maria, and what started out as a chance meeting ended up as a perfect afternoon! I love it when something so unexpected can turn into a great memory.  Thank you Maria,  we had a fab time with you! Xxxx

Flavourful!..............

TLate start today, we had a bit of a lie in before breakfast at Toscana.  The girls had set up a special seat for us, señoras Garcia, where I could paddle in the ornamental pond!!! They are so cheeky!!

So in with Marcos and Angel to our regular seat! They really do look after us.  The girls all came by for their candy, there's lots of good natured squabbling about who has what! shehily likes the M&S butter mints, the girls like the werthers and the boys get whatever's left!!  Everyone comes by for a sweetie every morning - thanks mum for getting them for everyone!!!

So lunchtime we went down for rock and burger on the beach, sans burger!!  This is a cracking couple of hours, watching the world go by,and listening to the rock music with the live band whilst drinking margaritas.

We went for a late lunch to the grill, herby chicken wrap for me, shrimp cocktail and tuna sandwich for Kev, before retiring to our outside day bed on the patio.

For dinner we went off to our first visit to the flavour market, Kev was t keen, but boy, did he change his mind!! One of the best evenings weve had here! Flavour market is all tapas style small portion plates - We took Luis's advice and choose three staters each and three main courses and we both LOVED everyone of them.  Kev could decide on a cerveza, so Luis said leave it to him, so he brought back 3! And three glasses, opened them all and invited Kev to try!! Lol! He did!! He was one happy bunny!!

Small platter of cheeses and meats whilst we looked over the blackboards, then This was what we had

Starters

Green beans with ham on toast

Chicken with garlic aioli on toast

Iced fruits marinated in alcohol (!)

Red sausage on toast

Smoked meat on skewer 

Mains

Tenderloin in garlic sauce x 2

Bell pepper stuffed with crab

Egg, potato and ham

Scallops with peaches

Courgette stuffed with goats cheese

Dessert

Pistachio turron

Fruit fitters

Saffron ice cream

It was a super meal, and I wish we'd gone earlier in our holidays!

So after dinner we retreated to the martini bar, for Brady Alexander's for me and pacificos for Kev (we had a quick look at the madonna show, but it wasn't really our thing).  When we just left, Ceasar called us back, he'd designed a special cocktail for me to go with my mint green blouse - no name yet he said!! It was delicious and had a melon base, we then had to creep out before he stopped us again!! Lol!

Staff member of the day - Freddy - we have to share the love around every day at lunchtime, some days it's Alberto, some days Angel or Marcos, yesterday it was Freddy who looked after us - he's very funny, always got a smile and is super efficient, he usually knows what I want before I ask! Love Freddy!

Mariamexico - vino Verdi information

Hi Maria, well Aldo and then Martin caught up with us last night, and Martin confirmed there was no Vino Verdi at the resort, however, he does have another fresh green white wine, made from the same grape as Vino Verdi called Lagar de Cervera, from the winery, D.o Rias Baixas in Spain.  The grape in vino Verde is an Albariño and the Spanish wine is produced in the north west of Spain very near the Portuguese border.  (I do listen Señor Martin! ;-). )

The wine is on the EPM wine list for $45 a bottle, and Martin would be happy to talk to you about it when you arrive.  He brought a bottle down for me to photograph for you for the blog.

Hope this helps!