You just can't say no in Cabo

By Katie Powers

Dancing on the third floor of what seemed to be a club for strippers-in-training, I witnessed oodles of sweaty young people grinding against each other. The scene was offset by the lovely poles, cages and platforms just inviting the amateur dancer to get up and start her career. In the middle of the dance floor, the ring leader shouted: "This is Cabo, get crazy!"

Then, standing from that balcony of the infamous El Squid Roe, I was thrown a black spaghetti strap tank top -- the same cut as a periwinkle tank I bought from Gap in 1997 -- with a lewd hand signal and the phrase "Shocker 2009 Spring Break."

It's OK, it's an energy drink?

That's when I knew I had really arrived.

When I thought of spring break in Cabo, I thought of watching MTV Spring Break late at night at childhood sleepovers. I was entertained, or at least shocked, I suppose. I never identified myself as someone who would want to be a part of that.

But when I was offered a free place to stay for a week of fun with my best friends, I couldn't say no.

There's something to be said for living out stereotypes while steadfastly rejecting them. I guess some people call it hypocrisy. Regardless, my spring break in Cabo was a fine balance of an outsider's perspective in an insider's party. I wanted to witness all the rage -- without necessarily being all the rage.

The majority of spring breakers spent their post-hangover days on the beach, oozing sweat, sand stuck in unmentionable crevices, watching the waves crash with a beer in hand. Instead, my friends and I read by the pool under the comfort of our hats and SPF 30, avoiding the more active games like water aerobics, though most of those "exercisers" were drinking Bud Lights or Tecates.

Though we did meet peers when we went out at night, the older spring breakers -- as in retired and 60 -- always seemed to be the most drawn to us. One woman, my favorite, chain-smoking with a beer in hand and thick Wisconsin accent, was delighted to tell us of her days of old as machinist at Harley Davidson. She liked us so much she ran up to her room and brought back a bottle of tequila she swore she and her husband weren't going to drink.

It's not like we could say no!

Tequila is like water in Cabo. One night, we walked into the all-you-can-drink and all-you-can-eat Mexican fiesta, and we were greeted with shots of tequila.

I repeat: It's not like you could really say no.

That night after the fiesta we were too full to do anything so we lied on the couch and watched TV. Did you know they show nudity on E! in Mexico? Spring break is so crazy.