The seaside ruins of Tulum were amazing, no doubt about it. But they merely wet my appetite for ruins and what was to come. Heading out of Tulum and towards the inland Yucatan city of Valladolid, I had one thing on my mind – Chichen Itza. Continue reading “Chichen Itza – and Some Friendly Advice on How to Get There”
Before arriving in Tulum and seeking out starting points for a day-trip to Chichen Itza, I had never heard of Valladolid. Austin had always planned to go there, of course, but I merely saw it as a stop on my way to one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Little did I know the charm, delight, and teeny bit of struggle that awaited me in this beautiful inland town. Continue reading “Surprises and Cenotes in Valladolid (or, How I Remembered that I’m Not a Good Biker)”
After our sweaty search for lodgings on Isla Mujeres the previous day, Austin and I decided to make reservations ahead of time in Tulum, the next stop on our Mexican tour. Arriving in Tulum it became quickly obvious the reservation hadn’t been necessary – most of the places we passed were maybe at half occupancy. The crowds of Cancun and Isla Mujeres were long gone now – it was official, we had escaped the tourist season. Continue reading “Beautiful Beaches and Mesmerizing Mayans in Tulum”
More to come soon, but for now – here’s a teaser of my Tulum travels. Continue reading “Textures of Tulum”
From Cancun Austin and I hopped the ferry to Isla Mujeres. This Mexican Caribbean island quickly proved to be the perfect respite to Cancun’s noise and traffic. Exiting the ferry terminal, it was easy to see that people move slower here – literally, most of the traffic was made up of scooters and golf carts. Continue reading “Finding Calm on Isla Mujeres”
First things first: we made it! After bidding farewell to my parents in Florida, enjoying some margaritas and chips at the Chile’s inside the terminal at TIA (it seemed appropriate) and two easy plane flights, we landed in Mexico safely. Horrah! Continue reading “16 Hours in Cancun (Mariana’s in Mexico!)”
Twenty minutes north of Bavaro you’ll find a strikingly different kind of Dominican beach. Continue reading “Playa del Macao”
On Christmas day our family group of 17 met inside the resort of Cap Cana to spend the day together at Juanillo Beach. Continue reading “Beaches, Blue Lagoons, & Swim-Up Bars in Cap Cana”
When I was a kid, I spent many summer weeks in this sprawling resort project in the southeast portion of the country. A few days ago we went to visit family who were staying here and I got to revisit some old haunts. Continue reading “La Romana Hotel Review: Casa de Campo”
The first time I can remember visiting Los Altos de Chavon was the summer before 5th grade. I was so completely enchanted by the cobblestone streets, the massive amphitheater, and the breathtaking views of the Chavon River below that I swore up and down that one day, I would get married here. Granted, at the time of the exclamation my marital fixation was Ron Weasley – a fictional character from the Harry Potter books – but the point is that even then I found this place to be incredibly, incredibly romantic. Continue reading “Revisiting the Magic at Altos de Chavon”
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