Tag: Mexico

Food & Drink, Travel Adventures

Solo Mom trip Day 4: Zero Plans (!)

As I mentioned yesterday, I’d had hopes of snorkeling while here. Well, sometimes reality takes hold and changes the plan. Thanks to some sunburn and highs of 69 degrees and 25 mph winds, I opted NOT to go on the 7 hour snorkeling and boating adventure. One important lesson parenting has taught me is “Quit while you are ahead.”

The sun finally came out at 4pm

Since I decided to skip the snorkeling and poolside, I planned my day around food. I hadn’t yet explored the buffet, not for any good reason except I didn’t know where it was yet. I hunted it down for lunch as online reviews gave high praise.

6 types of ceviche
24 hr pastelería
Fresh salad bar
Churro donuts with chocolate and caramel

Pro tip (not medical advice): if you skip breakfast, you have more room for lunch. The buffet spread was vast and international including ceviche, sushi and even hotdogs.

After lunch I stopped by The Vine Bar to sit down and formulate a game plan. Little did I know but my “plan” turned out to be having drinks and fun with two amazing Hungarian women, tequila shots and all. At 4 they decided they should probably eat lunch, so we parted ways and I headed for a walk.

Toes in the sand

4 pm turned out to be the first time today the sun made its presence. A bit disappointing but my reality was with a bit of sunburn, I wasn’t going to be lounging poolside catching rays anyway. I walked for an hour and headed back inside to regroup.

The resort has daily activities including live music. I sat and watched a saxophonist, pianist and a Broadway singer while sipping a cold glass of Sauvignon Blanc. She seemed to appreciate the applause, while I found myself pining for home, thinking of our mini concerts Lidia, our au pair, treats us to.

For dinner I chose the Italian restaurant, Nebbiolo. I was able to be seated and immediately, but was not rushed to make a choice. Time here is in a nice balance – not like some countries where things seem to happen too slowly or in a rushed way, here time is less intrusive.

Caprese Salad
Fruta del Mer

Alas, tomorrow I head home. I won’t lie and say I wouldn’t mind another day here, but I feel sufficiently recharged and with some renewed perspective. Esta es la razón que viajamos, ¿no?

-Steph

Food & Drink, Travel Adventures

Solo Mom Trip, Day 3: Mexico instead of St Maarten

Today was my first full day here in Cancun. I arrived after dark last night, so I wasn’t able to appreciate much of the resort until daylight.

I took my time getting out of bed and may have spend a full hour in the dual head rain shower before lathering myself in sunscreen and climbing into one of three bathing suits I brought.

I sat next to a nice couple from Canada – they both work in healthcare, so we had some good conversation about the state of affairs in both the US and Canada. We tried not to talk too much shop but sometimes you can’t help it.

Despite dousing myself in SPF50, I still managed to get too much sun today. The older I get, the harder it is to protect my pale self – I’m starting to see why old ladies like big hats and linen outfits.

This afternoon I went to the spa for a hydrosubmersion experience and massage. I didn’t exactly know what a hydrosubmersion experience was but figured the surprise might be part of the fun. Turns out you sit in a dry sauna for 10 minutes, a steam room for 10 minutes, then do a full-body submersion in 11 degree water à la a Polar Plunge. Immediately after that, you enter the last pool which is not quite a hot tub. It was fun to try, but the massage was what I was really there for.

Vietnamese Summer Rolls
Spicy Tuna Roll
Shrimp Pad Thai
Tres leches Cake Bomb
Shrimp Tacos
Piña Colada

There are six restaurants at the resort offering everything from local Mexican fare to Asian Fusion. I ordered lunch poolside – three Shrimp Tacos which was just the right amount of food for me. I was happy to see they weren’t serving “American-sized” portions. For dinner, I’d decided yesterday to try Dragons, the Asian Fusion spot. It’s casual dress, but with a menu spanning Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese or maybe a mix of all of the above.

I think the sun wiped me out a bit. I found myself back in the room at 7:30pm, in Jammie’s again after another hour-long shower.

I booked a snorkeling trip for tomorrow but am now reconsidering given the sun exposure. It may be safer to hang back here at the resort in the shade rather than on a boat where I’ll have less flexibility to dodge the sunshine. I’m going to sleep on it and decide in the morning.

-Steph