Thursday - Day 4 - best day at EPM EVER!

Seriously had the most fun Ive ever had at EPM today!!! And it was jam packed with friends, old and new, and lots and lots of laughing!!

Im going to junp straight to lunchtime (after a lazy river morning) which saw the four of us, Kev, Fiona & Marcus and myself heading to the grill for lunch, picking up Jill & Dale on the way.  Once inside, our merry little band spied Gill & Dave who when added to our party, made a nice fat 8!

It was a great long lunch, filled with lots of laughter, stories, goid food and wine! (Btw, fish tacos are yum)

A little late afternoon sleep left us prepared for our early evening out at the White Party.  I cant beleive we've never experienced this before! For newbies, its a party thats put on either (weather permitting) on the beach, or in Kafe Kafe.  Guests are invited to wear white, but its not obligatory and many guests dont.  Last night the square was decorated in white and silver and looked wonderful!

On arrival you are greeted with veurve cliquot champagne or a cocktail and seated at a table.  We were honoured to have the wonderful Angel looking after us all evening, and were given a fantastic table at the front of the stage.  Before the main show, There were wandering entertainers wending in and out of the tables and live music whilst guests ate from the extensive buffet.  

Ive included some buffet snaps below!

The food was delicious, and Angel kept us all very happy with wine and champagne.

Towards the end of the meal the main show started - the is called the light and fire show and we all agreed they were AMAZING!!!

Lots of acrobatics, spinning lights then flames! And our front row seats, whilst hot, were perfect to really enjoy the fntastic show.  Every one of us were impressed - and as most of you know, we never go to the shows anywhere! We loved it!

Heres a few snaps to give you a flavour!

After dinner there was dancing on the dance floor and Fiona took part in a conga around the square!

About 10pm we retired to the martini bar, where cheeky Hugo, looked after us too well! The lovely Rhonda and Jeff from Chicago joined us then a couple of 'Randoms who shalt not be named! 😉😉😉) swelled our party to 10!!!!

Yep, it got messy................but the laughter came thick and fast!!!

Literally carried this lot back to their rooms long after the bar had closed!! Roll on tomorrow........

Ps loads loads loads more photos on Kevs camera, Ill try to do a recap once I can get the wifi connected! 

Wednesday - Day 3

Today was a seriously fun day!! Breakfast and a laugh with the ladies at Toscana, then an hour of putting the world to rights with a lovely american teacher from sacramento who I stood in the lazy river with, great great conversations on Education, politics, Trump etc!! Lol!

Lunchtime we headed to Las Olas for the reggae party! Oh my! What great fun! A couple of hours of live reggae classics, some seriously good JamaicanJerk Chicken, a couple of sol beers, blue, blue sea and the totally non-stop hardworking Alain looking after us! We went down with Fiona & Marcus, then Jill & Dale drifted along.  If you havent experienced the lunchtime reggae, its so worth spending an hour or two just chilling!

After lunch Fiona and Marcus went off for a walk, whilst Kev and me wandered back to the lazy river.

The four of us had booked the wine tasting which was due to start at 5pm at chez, with the new sommelier, Senor Raul, so we headed to our room at 3.30 to shower and change for the evening.

As usual we were late arriving, but the group (including the lovely Gill & Dave from TA and the WLEPM forum) had kindly waited outside for us.  So in we went to chez.  Now, this is where it started to go wrong........ for anyone who has enjoyed the wine tasting at EPM will know, this is traditionally done in the wine cellar at Chez, 5pm on Wednesday when Chez is closed for the evening.  However, last night Chez was due to stay open, and there was a booking at 6pm in the wine cellar - I'm guessing because the hotel is so busy. So, Raul took us all out to the balcony where the wine tasting had been set up.  Honestly, it looked lovely, heavy white tablecloths and napkins, rows of beautiful wine glasses at each place setting, some beautiful food etc.  However........the humidity was killing, and, Id just dressed for the evening and spent 90 minutes applying makeup and blow drying my hair!!! I was so diapsappointed, so much so, I said to Kevin I didnt want to do the wine tasting.  Seriously, I dont think I would have enjoyed two hours im the heat sipping wine.  My face must have said it all, and looking around the group, my dismay was clearly mirrored in the other ladies faces.  I asked Senor Raul could we please move inside to Chez, and that when he nicely explained about Chez being open that evening.  I apologised and said that Id rather not do the wine tasting and would leave it till next week.  One of the other ladies said the same, she is only at EPM until Friday, so would have been really disappointed.  However, a quick walky talky chat and our knight in shining armour, Nelson Kalixto, came to the rescue!  He took over, made a few walky talky calls, asked everyone to step into the lobby for five minutes and quickly had everything reset up at Spice.  He was our hero!! And he showed just how professional and efficient he is at his job within those five minutes, turning what could have been a big disappointment into a very happy hour (or two)!

So, to a review of the wine tasting.  If you are interested in wine, then the wine tasting class at EPM is definately worth booking.  Its usually held at 5pm on a wednesday, the price is $25 per person,  usually in my exoerience you get to sample three excellent quality mexican boutique wines which are paired with some small food bites.  Theres advice and guidance from the resident sommelier and usually after the initial hesitancy and first glass of wine, some chat between the guests.  Its a great way to pass an hour between the beach and dinner.  We go ready for the evening as it usually finishes around 7pm, so we head straight down to the martini bar after.

As my regular followers know, we were huge fans of Senor Martin the previous sommelier at EPM, who now works at the Finest next door.  Senor Raul, is different, but his methology is very very interesting.  This was our sixth time wine tasting at EPM, but we really really enjoyed it again!

Senor Raul had chosen three wines, a crisp citrussy white, an interesting dry rose and a full boded cabernet.   He choose brie, some seared tuna, some seriously divine brisket, and a chocolate truffle to taste with each wine.  It was very interesting to see how each wine reacted with the foid, particularly when tasted in an unconventional pairing i.e. The red with the tuna! 

As always, we learnt a lot and had a great couple of hours and if you get the chance to book this at EPM, just do it!!!

So, to a review of the wine tasting.  

After the wine tasting, we headed to the martini bar for some of Hugos french Martinis, but not before I had a kiss and cuddle with Caesar!

Gill and Dave (sporting a fabulously close shave 🤣🤣🤣) soon joined us, but the Bradjollies had overslept!! Lol! We had a goid hour laugh at the martini bar before the six of us headed to Basmati for dinner.

As always, basmati did not dissapoint, lots of laughs, good food and excellent service, before a nightcap and bed.  We packed a lot into this great fun filled day and had a final little surprise when we got in - a gift from Senor Raul.  Perfect end to a perfect day! 

Tuesday - Day 2

We actually slept through 6.30am! Well I did, Kevin managed 8am lol!! Not bad as we are still on UK time!

As Id bought a few gifts for staff members so I spent an hour on the balcony, wrapping and writing cards, looking at the sea and watching life unfold around the resort.  

Dale sent me a message at 8 to say the ladies at Toscana were looking for me and to get our arses in gear and get down there! Lol! 

It was lovely to see the three of them again, and we had cuddles all around with Shehily, Lizzeth and Jacqueline and gave them their little gifts from England, before heading in to breakfast.

For newbies, Toscana's breakfast buffet holds a wide variety of choices, lots of different cereals, breads and pastries, cooked meats, eggs and omelettes, fruits, cold continental meats and cheeses, and smoothies.  Coffee and mimosas are brought to your table, but for everything else you browse and choose yourself.  The restaurant is air conditioned, and most mornings theres live music, yesterday there was a pianist, in previous years there's been a saxophonist or the wonderful harpist Michelle, whom I hoping to see this year.

Our friends Fiona & Marcus were waiting for us in the restaurant to have breakfast.  For those that have been before, there have been some recent refurbishments and new chairs have been installed, together with 'handbag trees' a sort of large mug tree for your handbag and hat.

After a light breakfast, coffee and mimosa for me and french toast and bacon for Kevin, we headed down to the lazy river to set up for the day.  I love this spot, its quieter than the main pool, and Im not keen on the beach (I dont like sand!!!), so the lazy river is where we spend 90% of our holiday! 

Yesterday, Raul was our server, he works really hard at keeping everyone along the lazy river happy with drinks.  Not easy in such heat, when he goes back and forth to Kafe Kafe multiple times a day.

Ive enjoyed watching Fiona and Marcus experience as newbies to all that EPM offers.  Yesterday, floating around the lazy river was Fiona's favourite EPM thing until we went for lunch at the grill, which quickly became her new favourite thing lol! I have to admit, Just sitting with the breeze coming through the restaurant, watching the sea, with a chilled glass of wine and some pretty good food on offer - I can see what she means.  

We had a long leisurely lunch - two hours! I can recommend the spicy wings and the club sandwich! During which time the wonderful Nelson appeared at our table.  We hugged for ages, Ive really missed him, and for me, he's a major reason that we return to EPM. We chatted for a while, catching up on whats been happening since we last saw him, before he headed off to continue working.  

As our lunch was ending we met up with Senor Pedro and Angel who were starting the late shift at The Lobster House.  More hugs and catch ups.  Its really strange not seeing Senor Pedro at Chez, which is where we've always known him to be. I know the hotel rotate staff, but he's so suited to the elegance of the french restaurant.

After our catch ups, Fiona wanted to dip her toes in the sea, then we visited the Bradjollies on the beach.

Another little laze by the lazy river, and it was time for a nappette before the martini bar and dinner.

At the Martini bar we met up with Nelson & Carolina to give them their pressies, and get some cuddle time. Nelson, Jill & I wanted to recreate a photo of the three of us that we love.  Needless to say the boys and Carolina wanted to get in on the act!

Dinner was at Chez, where we had a lovely meal, al dente salad with brie, duck, and chocolate dessert for me accompanied by some sublime off AI wine, all finished with a grand marnier.  Lots of laughs, chat from Kevin(!) and an overall feeling of comfort.

Good times!