What Happens in Cancun...

Somehow after the 21st Century evolved, rock music seemed to take a backseat to hip-hop and pop music. Suddenly, the limelight wasn’t consumed by rockers like Layne Staley and Eddie Vedder, but more so by artists like Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake. As much as I hated to admit it, I actually started liking some of those pop and rap tunes.

In 2003, I took a vacation to Cancun, Mexico for Spring Break with two of my best friends, Erin and Jen. I knew it was going to be fun, but I had no idea just how much fun. It turned out to be so fun that I would actually have to categorize it as one of the best weeks of my entire life.

Erin had never been on a plane before. After a lot of begging and pleading on my end, she finally agreed to get on a plane and leave our hometown for a week-long vacation. I’m pretty sure she’s glad she did.

As soon as we stepped off the shuttle and into our resort, it was like Heaven. We walked out to the back where there were pools with swim up bars, beautiful beaches and gorgeous men everywhere you looked. Erin kept pinching my arm and asking if this was real. I had to reassure her that, yes, this indeed was real.

Every day for the next week consisted of waking up around 10am, grabbing breakfast and heading to the bar. We’d lay out all day, drink, meet lots of great people and party. There was a hotel nearby where MTV would hold contests on the beach and most days we’d go there for the day to watch the contests and party on the beach. There were actually men who worked on the beach and would bring you beers so you didn’t have to get up. I really couldn’t ask for much more.

Every afternoon, after our morning drinking festivities, we’d take a nap, wake up, get dolled up, then head downstairs for dinner and more drinks. After getting a good buzz, we’d head to the local bars. And at every bar we went to, the same song was playing: 50 Cent’s “In Da Club”. It wasn’t long before I actually ended up liking the song. Or maybe I just like the song now because it makes me want to close my eyes and pretend I’m 20 again and re-living the best week of my life.

From the beach parties to the Mardi Gras fiestas, to dancing in staged waterfalls, to the foam parties, we definitely learned how to “party like it was our birthday”. But despite my dislike for rap music, that’s one song that will forever take me back to my vacation in paradise. It also makes me wish I was rich so that I could spend every week of the rest of my life that way. But then again, don’t we all?