2022 Ehresmann Family Vacation, Day 5

 Tropical Storm Lisa and Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead Celebrations on November 1 and 2) took center stage to Day 5 of the family vacation. 

The weather changed late yesterday when rain moved into the area in the afternoon forcing people inside. The rain held off until about noon today and then it rained just as was forecasted, all afternoon. 

OFD and I did go to the beach this morning to look at the waves and to put our feet in the ocean.

Surprisingly, the water was warm. I expected it to be colder.

The other E family did go to the beach earlier in the day, but not for swimming.

The red flags were out as was lots of seaweed. The beach has been very clean until this storm moved through. People were walking along the beach and a few idiots were in the water causing the life guards to chatter on their two-way radios and blow their whistles often.

The G'kids met a family of 3 from Las Vegas and have played together for a couple of days. They spent the morning together in the pool. The Las Vegas family left this afternoon.

The buffet staff got into the spirit of Diá de los Muertos. This was one of the 'food' decorations on display during the 3 meals today. The staff also was in the spirit wearing special Day of the Dead shirts yesterday and today.

The E family played some Farkle this afternoon while the pool was closed and the rain moved in. The youngest kept score and won the game!

The grands spent some time at Camp Alltra after Farkle while the elders did their own thing. Three of them played more Farkle!

Staff have been decorating the lobby since October 31. They began building and decorating altars yesterday. I will say the resort has gone all out these past 3 days. They wore special make-up or masks, some wore costumes and some wore Día de los Muertos themed T-shirts. There was a special program tonight of music, food, and the contest of the altars in the lobby. I think there were eight displays.

Many more decorations were on display in the lobby this morning. There was no doubt as to the significance of November 2.

The staff was working on this elaborate altar earlier in the day.

It wasn't until the evening program when we learned it honored artist Frida Kahlo and her artist husband Diego Rivera.

This was one of the simpler displays, honoring a sports figure or maybe movie star. There was the usual food on the altar, some flowers, some lace banners, but palm fronds were also used. Two guys below the green cross were there to share information. (Another altar honored a wrestling icon.)

Marigolds (real flowers) are used because they have a vibrant color. Tissue paper flowers are also used. The resort staff used LOTS of marigolds in some of the displays. In some cases the flowers were stripped and the petals were used to outline things on the floor.

This elaborate altar was in honor of Selena Quintanilla Pérez (April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995)

Many of the displays had staff impersonating the person they chose to honor. They would also willingly share information about their person or the display. I used my interpreters on a couple of occasions.

We had to alter our plans a bit with the rain that was more than the off-and-on showers we thought would be happening. It was interesting to watch the families that did not have a Plan B in case the pools and ocean would be closed to swimming. In fact, one of the patio restaurants was not open for dinner tonight because the tile floors were just too wet and unsafe for staff and guests.

Tomorrow is another day...in paradise!