SUNNY CANCUN

By:Christopher A. Pape

After the dreariest winter, I woke up one morning and said, "Make it sunny and make it snappy." I couldn't take a rocket to the sun, but I could jet to the moon, and that's where I went – the Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort. This outpost in fabulous Cancun has a 27-hole golf course, luxury spa, Brazilian, Italian, Asian, Caribbean and Mexican restaurants and promised to take all-inclusive care of all my earthly sybaritic needs.

In just a few short hours, I found myself on the Sunrise Terrace of the Moon Palace, gazing at the shimmering sapphire of the Mexican Caribbean. Unable to tear myself away, I dined al fresco, trying to imagine exactly which section of the parti-colored sea before me had been home to the fish I was eating.

As the shadows lengthened, I retired to the Sky Bar, where top-shelf spirits flowed like a spring from the rock struck by Moses. This, along with the modern minimalism and chic ambiance of the place, noticeably improved my already heightened mood. I could only wonder what otherworldly wonders awaited in this pleasure dome.

The next day, a breakfast of tropical fruits and fresh juice in my room prepared me for my journey of discovery. Little did I know that dolphins live on the moon. I spent a good part of the morning swimming with the playful

cetaceans in their dolphinarium.

Then it was beach time. "Beach" does not do justice to the sugar-white confection lapped by crystalline waters that stretched to the horizon. Steps away, I investigated a pool of awesome dimensions with a swim-up bar where I drank a fresh margarita while simultaneously being in the drink.

As night fell, I moved to the Moonlight Terrace to savor more of the traditional cuisine of Mexico. Dining in the moonlight while overlooking the ocean redefines what relaxation can be. For a nightcap, I retired to Noir. The club's onyx-toned walls and luminous accents mimic the night for which it is named.

I rose early the next morning to golf on the Moon Spa's Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. Players navigate through native vegetation, wetlands and strategically placed bunkers. Each of the three nine-hole courses offers a distinctive environment that challenges professionals and amateurs alike.

Long before I could sample all the cuisines and delights offered at the Moon Spa, it was time to return to earth, or at least New York City.

I can happily report the inhabitants of the Moon Spa & Resort are friendly and well worth visiting. •