Lola’s

According to the bellman, a 15 minute walk or so down the beach is a popular restaurant called Lola’s. Other than the 4 or 5 restaurants within the resort, it is not only the closest place to get something to eat, but supposedly a great place to just hang out and relax. Our hotel seems to be filling up a little more each day with restless kids another inattentive parents, so getting off property seems like a perfect plan.

The beach right in front of the resort is a little mediocre and we haven’t really spent much time on it, but just around a rocky outcropping it opens wide up with soft sand and gentle waves. Not much has been built here yet, so we have it almost to ourselves.

We walk for about 20 minutes, but according to Google Maps, are still a very long way from Lola’s. Even the local guide that joined us for part of the way has given up and abandoned us.

By this point it is clear we aren’t going to make it to our destination on foot. We abort the mission and return to the hotel, vowing to try another day in the car.

We are getting into the final days of our trip and to celebrate all that we have seen, my trusty sidekick wants to treat us to a nice, hassle-free dinner. After looking at all of the menus, we settle on the restaurant where we normally eat breakfast. Tonight, in addition to all of the regular items, they also have a buffet. We always say we’ve learned our lesson, but after checking out what is available – ceviche, fresh whole fish, a hamburger bar, and a compelling assortment of desserts, we decide to give it a go.

There is no rush and we take our time warming up with some salad and cheese. I’m mostly interested in the whole fish, but it is pretty picked over and I figure they’ll roll out a new one by the time I’m ready to fill up another plate. They do indeed replace it, with an artistically arranged assortment of chicken fingers. We ask the server about the fish and she assures us that what they have is chicken fingers, pointing confidently to the little sign that does in fact agree with her. This is how, for $32 each, we find ourselves at a hamburger and chicken finger buffet. Lesson learned (until the next time of course).