The length of this trip compels guests to “hit a stride” in a way that a mere weekend trip cannot. Settling into new routines, you are more able to leave your everyday life behind and fully appreciate your new surroundings. The upscale nature of Classical Music Journey also helps: on most trips, guests partake in camp chores, but on this outing your biggest job is to consume lots of great food and wine so guides have less to reload on rafts each morning. We did our best that first night, but something about camping makes people extra sleepy in evenings. After fresh guacamole and chips, blackened halibut, and fresh grilled vegetables, we weren’t too full for warm brownies — we were too tired. That was okay, though. Brownies are great for breakfast.

Violins, violas, and cellos are soft-spoken instruments. However, place them before huge backdrop of a red-rock amphitheater, and sound of a string quartet will carry a long way. At our first camp, we heard a morning performance of Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in a nearby side canyon. Many of us moved to far side, several hundred feet away, to hear music reverberating all around us. There were no bad seats in this concert hall.

Rowing all day is strenuous work for guides, and at lunch I observed Bill spreading peanut butter on a leftover brownie for extra energy. It reminded me vaguely of some old television commercial. Oh, never mind.

Besides musical instruments and wine, crew had brought another unusual bit of baggage: a massage table. A professional massage therapist was on this trip, and she offered everyone a complimentary five-minute sample of her skills. Guests could receive longer massages for a fee, and I opted for a half-hour working over. Tonight was Italian night, and I later slouched like a wet noodle in my beach chair, enjoying Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and aroma of baked lasagna.

I still can’t say I’ve ever seen a bear in wild, but I know what they sound like. Late that night I dreamed a freight train was passing by my tent. I awoke in time to hear a large animal crashing carelessly through nearby woods and headed in my direction. I sat up, peered out mesh window, and just made out a round shadow, a hole in night. It grew closer until it was about ten feet from me. The loud snuffling and snorting could only have been from a curious bear, since no properly maintained freight train would make such a racket. More annoyed than apprehensive, I made a loud noise of my own: “Pssssst!” The cowardly shadow bolted — knocking down several large trees in process, to judge by sound. I felt a bit sorry for him as I went back to sleep. It’s a good thing roots and berries don’t have ears.

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By Rob LaGrone, Las Vegas Correspondent, Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com

The hotel has several rooming optons, including:

» Superior Guest Room — Two double beds, living area, with a breezy private balcony hand tiled in ceramic, marble, and stone. Located in The Main House, with views to main entrance of hotel and some with views to a part of Archaeological Zone.

Junior Suites — Have a Jacuzzi; terrace has views to Observatory of Chichen Itza and of hotel gardens. These rooms are located in Main House, with two double beds, and private bathroom with tub. The rooms are tiled in ceramic, marble, and stone, There is a small living area within room.

» Master Suites — Spacious two bedroom suites with two double beds in each room. Amenities include a living room and private bathrooms with tubs. The room is hand tiled in ceramic, marble, and stone. Master Suites are located In The Main House, with a breezy private balcony.

» One Bedroom Deluxe — These rooms are built in traditional Mayan-style, with wood, stone, native marble, and thatch. In addition, each comes richly decorated with work of local artisans, with a shaded terrace and verandahs.

» Deluxe Bedroom — Clustered around secluded swimming pools, deluxe rooms were built with materials native to region — handsome hardwoods for which this part of world is known. These rooms are individual masterpieces, whose appointments are handpicked from work of local artisans, with generous use of rich, aged mahogany, and ethnic ceramics, textiles, and artwork. The doors are intricately carved with Mayan motifs — stained glass windows set rooms aglow with understated colors. Rocking chairs and hammocks await your pleasure on terrace.

» Deluxe Garden Bungalows — Built in traditional Maya-style with wood, stone, native marble, and thatch. In addition, each comes decorated with local artisan artwork. These have shaded terraces and verandahs.

The ambiance of hotel is something right out of Disneyland. Birds of all colors chirp and fly overhead beautifully manicured grounds. Enormous century old trees stand tall, shading hotel and restaurants. Shuttles run along lush path roadway which leads way to private bungalows, all with a hammock to laze around in after a day out at pyramids. Wild peacocks clearly own territory and take great pride in letting everyone know it as they spread their beautiful feathers.

During check-in I have opportunity to sit down and speak with hotel’s public relations representative, Quincy. The two of us are into a discussion about pyramids and how they were founded by a Mayan priest, la Qin Chan, in 15th century. He explains to me how Chichen Itza is a place of magic, spirituality, and mystery, which is taken very seriously by Mayan people. He went on to say, (without my lead) that many tourists come to Chichen Itza to climb pyramids. Apparently this lack of respect for structures is upsetting to many Mayans who watch their historic kingdom trampled upon by a pair of Nikes visiting for day. I remember him mocking how mankind feels need to “conquer” everything put in our path instead of appreciating and respecting from a distance. A clear view of Caracol Observatory catches my eye, provoking a greater and deeper interest in ruins, but now in a very different way.

Lunch that day is in an open courtyard restaurant. The authentic Yucatan - style buffet is crowded by hungry guests, young and old. A nice surprise during meal is traditional native Mayan dancers. The women wear “Hipiles” an embroidered Mayan dress that takes approximately one month to make. They sing, dance, stomp their feet, and balance bottles in trays on their heads as we all clap and sing along.

The hotel also operates main lobby bar and a restaurant overlooking pool, as well as a poolside bar and grill. Three huge palapas are also within grounds designed for large groups and special events. The palapas can hold between 25-400 people.

Stuffed from lunch it is time to explore Chichen Itza!

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By Joanna Neibler - Jetsetters Magazine Editor - at www.jetsettersmagazine.com