End Of The World!: Riviera Maya Vacation

Let's take a little tour through the Grand Palladium Resort complex........shall we?

The complex has four hotel lobbies........this is one of them. As you can see, there are golf-cart styled people movers which will take you from the lobby to whichever building your room happens to be in. There are also similar vehicles that carry your luggage to and fro. To get between hotel lobbies, there are "trains" that come by every ten minutes. Otherwise, there is a ton of walking.............which is not too bad........but I wouldn't want to walk such distances in the summer heat.

The Grand Palladium Resort is huge and spread out all over the place...........it seems endless and we probably did not roam everywhere to see everything that this place has to offer.........but we did roam around.......as you can see. Very clean and well kept.

Along the way, I always stop for the flowers and absorb the colors with my eyes.

This is one of the "trains" that can take you from lobby to lobby.

On this particular day we had chosen to walk around and take in some of the sights on the premises. At every turn, there are placards on display that identify particular things of note.....such as this one that informs you about "cenotes". Other placards describe various kinds of wildlife that roam the mangroves..........some describe fauna and flora.........others point the way......and more. It is almost like being at a zoo at times and yet at other times it feels like Disney......can you imagine that?

This is a cenote. There are many cenotes and they were very important to the native Mayans.

Palladium staff are constantly on the move.........here's one on a tricycle.

The great thing about this resort is that they built everything to blend in with the environment and not disrupt the eco-system here.

And yet........there are two soccer fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, an archery range, miniature golf.............imagine that.

Monuments.........art...........something to see and analyze just about everywhere.

Lots of water everywhere..........and loaded with fish......and this was just in one of the lobbies.

The fish appreciate some food...............

..........and I suspect that the crocodiles also appreciate some food.............but I wouldn't even try such a thing.

No worry, though.........the crocodiles are kept in fenced off secure areas.

Yep.......that's one of the many restaurants.

Lots of open air places..............I cannot imagine this place ever seeming as if it is over crowded.

Is it just me or does Mayan artwork look psychedelic to you too?

Beautiful wooden walkways throughout the resort........all made from trees that grow on the premises.

And where there isn't wooden walkways, you will find amazingly tiled walkways.

There is water throughout the resort. Water surrounds the hotel lobbies.................a man-mad lake surrounds the pool...........the mangroves grow in water and there are many mangroves here. Then you have the huge pools and the beach itself. As I said.........water everywhere.

There are also some cabana type cabin rooms which are right on the water. You even get a canoe with your room........and each porch has a hammock.

Waterfalls................

............and pink flamingoes!

I could look at them all day.

Located to the right of the hotel lobby where the sports bar was..........imagine this...........

..............a Catholic Church!...............this was unbelievable! The Grand Palladium Resort has its own church!

For those who come here to get married..........they can have the ceremony inside the church..........

..........or...............

............under this kiosk. Aside from that, you don't have to miss church on Sunday......that is unless you are a Jehovah's Witness........hehehe.

The resort also has many activities and programs for children. This is the fenced in area at the beach where kids can play safely while supervised by hotel staff so that you can get a break from the kids while on vacation. This is very nice.

Oh.........and here is the other kiosk located right on the beachfront. Imagine getting married right there on that spot.

Another food area on the beach.

Raccoons live next to the food area on the beach. They ain't stupid........

...........they wait for some food.

And somebody will surely bring them some food............it was startling to see them come right up and take food from human hands..........but they seem to do this all day long.......and I did not see anyone get bitten.