Ellen and I found a last-minute deal to a place called Club Caracol just outside Playa del Carmen, on Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. Canada 3000 had just negotiated the all-inclusive destination and we were the first to visit. Pioneers we were in the world of all-inclusiveness. Actually it was us and a Canada 3000 pilot and his wife. As it turns out Club Caracol was new only to North America. The Spanish and the Italians had been coming to the place for some time. And it was reflected in the menu. We'd never had buffet style food like we did at Club Caracol. The cheese table alone measured five metres in length. The wine list was extensive, only the best, from the vineyards of southern Europe. Europeans simply demand a higher standard of food than North Americans.

On the flipside: The ancient Maya ruin of Coba, fifty or so kilometres away was untouristed and fabulous . Sad, when you think that a week of gorging can win over an ancient ruin.