Ciub Med, in fact,

IS very civilized

YEARS AGO, in the distant age of steam-driven type- writers, my chief reporter once rapped me cn the knuckles for joining in the applause at an assignment. “The press never claps. You are neutral. Don’t forget it.”’

Some specialties, however, re- quire the reporter to show his hand, and it’s usually noi too hard to tell if a restaurant writer or drama critic has enjoyed what has been served up.

Travel is in the same boat, which leads me to confess I like Club Med. The current slogan. antidote to civilization, | don’t agree with, because nothing could be further from the truth.

Club Med is very civilized in that the vacationer only has to make one decision, write one cheque, and once at Club Med everything is offered on a plate at no extra charge (other than for drinks and excursions),

At Cancun, on the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico, anyone can learn scuba diving and windsurf- ing, go sailing and play tennis. If that’s not enough for one holiday there’s water-skiing and volleyball, plus a big swimming poo! and the deep blue sea stretching to Africa and back.

It is, as sports director Alain says, the biggest sports resort in the world. (Everyone at Club Med is on first name terms.)

Take windsurfing, coached by Roberto from Brazil and Linda from Vancouver. There are 50 boards, which proved to be more than enough for the club when it was almost full.

Kiss a camel in Yuma

From page 30 sional bus tour — cali them at 602-782-2567. If you are sincerely in the market for a Polish pedi- greed Arabian, 627-2553 will get you an appointment. Or, if you’ve a driving need to buy a camel or a musk ox, this is the place.

kak

If you’ve a sweet tooth, visit the Peanut Patch. It’s outside of town and a working peanut farm. They specialize in local products such as peanut butter, peanut brittle (Brian ate every bit of the bag I bought), fudge, olives, dates, honey and cit-

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travel talk

David Wishart SE

Compare this with the average beach hotel which might have half a dozen boards, and where you have to pay for rental and instruc- tion.

Not long ago, at a hotel resort in Florida, | noted a Hobie-cat rental station which advertised boats for $26 U.S. an hour, a $15 capsizing charge, and $15 per half-hour for rescue,

Several of the boards are moored just offshore so guests (GMs in Club Med lingo) can have instruction or practise on their own. GOs (the staff) give lessons twice a day and stand by with a Boston Whaler to rescue neophytes before they drift into oblivion.

The village also has 1° sailboats, including Lasers.

Scuba is the big draw at Cancun. Chief scuba instructor Dan, from Ottawa, says every week 100 to 125 guests (out of 820 max.) pitch up

tus fruits. Don’t go near the place if you’re dieting.

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Finally, if you’re dying for an old-fashioned hamburger or hot dog and chips, visit the Lutes Ca- sino, 221 Main St., probably the west’s oldest pool hall. About as big as a warehouse, it’s one of

at the scuba shack, and of those 50 are already certified.

There is no extra charge to earn the Club Med ticket, which te- quires four lessons and a deep dive (35 to 100 ft.). A doctor examines everyone and he is present on the dive boat at all times.

Some come to Cancun especially to get their ticket, and before they leave they take a diving excursion to Cozumel, one of the world's great dive spots.

Many take day trips to Mavan tuins at Tulum and Chicken Itza. Don't miss Chicken Itza; this would be like going to Cairo and not driving out to Giza to see the pyramids,

Meal arrangements are very civi- lized. Breakfast starts at dawn for tennis players and goes on till almost noon for late-rising night owls.

Lunch starts then in the main restaurant and picks up again at the Palapa beach restaurant. Wine with meals is included.

The Palapa, as the name sug- gests, is a thatch building hanging over the water, whose main role is to deliver delicious seafood every night. It is a place to watch the tide cover up the day’s footprints in the sand, a pelican soaring in the breeze and the sun sink into the sea.

There is always entertainment afterwards, although the nightclub was sadly sold short by a young DJ who played only old disco or rap music.

Having said that, there’s no place easier in the world to meet people. Just turn up at the tennis courts for the morning lesson and you’ve got a dozen acquaintances.

A week’s stay at Club Med tanges from $950 to $1,250.

THE places to go. A burger and beer will set you back about $3.50.

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I'm going to take a break from Arizona for a week or so. Laughlin can be reached by bus for $3 from Yuma. We drove — up through Lake Havasu. More about that later.

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JOIN US FOR DINNER 6 ON TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY NIGHT BEFORE 7?m, AND WE'LL TAKE 50% OFF YOUR FOOD BILL. Then dance the night away with our band, which plays your favourite music from contemporary to big band, starting at 8p.m.

OR COME FOR AN EARLY SUPPER ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS AND WE'LL ALSO TAKE 50% OFF. All you have to do is finish your meal and head out for a night on the town by 7:30p.m. For reservations, call 684-3131.

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ith] ) 7

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