Sept 6 to 15, 2010, we decided to embark on a Mexican adventure. This was our first vacation with the newest member of our family, Naiya. She was 9.5 months at the time.A wedding at an all inclusive resort. What could be easier? So we thought.
We headed out via Air Canada from Victoria to Toronto, where we met up with the rest of the group and then off to Cancun. From Cancun we boarded a party bus for the wedding guests and headed to Tulum. Uppi and Miren went out of their way to add special touches like beer on the bus and gift baskets for the guests.
Despite all of the merriment and festivities, the intense heat, bland food and mediocre accommodations had Mike and I at our wits end at times. We hadn't experienced an all inclusive since our first international vacation to Puerto Vallarta in 1996. I guess our tastes had changed. I was expecting a nice, easy, relaxing vacation at the resort, but at times, it ended up feeling more like being trapped in a compound. Were we in Mexico, China, Africa, Hawaii? Who knew? Behind the walls of the compound it was all a mystery. But I was determined to investigate the outside world, come hell or high water as they say.
All this was exacerbated by the fact that we had another human being to take care of. One who was in danger of becoming dehydrated quite easily if we weren't careful. Within seconds of stepping outside of the room, it felt like we were in a sauna. Unfortunately, there was no air
conditioning at the main eating venue of the resort. Great for dieting but not so great for relaxing and hanging out. Thank god for watermelon and ice cubes. That's basically how we kept Naiya alive. I wasn't so lucky as I got dehydrated the day of the wedding. Almost passed out at the lunch!
Apart from that, the wedding, which was our main objective, was beautiful. There were about 40 or so people who came for Uppi and Miren's wedding. The bride and groom glowed. Friends and family were lovely. Bollywood meets Mexico. How often do those worlds collide?
Here are some of the highlights of our trip.
Our resort was The Grand Bahai Principe Tulum. It was one of three resorts in a large compound. The compound was so large that there were shuttles running throughout the resort to transport guests from one spot to another.
A favourite place to relax and have a drink was at the lounge. There was live music on a nightly basis and a relaxed atmosphere. The one downfall of the lounge was that it was a sweat box. Ceiling fans placed way too high did little to comfort guests.
The resort contained a couple of pools and a beautiful beach. The water was clear, beautiful and warm. Most of the guests thought so too as sometimes it was a challenge getting chairs under an umbrella. We had to drag the stroller along the beach so Naiya would have a comfortable place to nap. Have you ever tried driving a stroller through the sand? Not the easiest thing in the world. Tip: if one drags it from behind it's much easier.
Miren and Uppi's wedding.
Starting with the bachelor/bachelorette party. It had us running up to strangers writing on their chests and doing body shots among other things. Feelin' hot, hot, hot.
The pre-wedding. A religious ceremony performed before the wedding.
The ceremony involved smearing yellow paste on the face of the bride and groom.
The Wedding. Bride and groom looked amazing. Picturesque setting. Unfortunately, due to the oven like quality of the air we felt it necessary to depart early. Consequently, I got heatstroke. Baby was ok. And I recovered in time for the evening reception, where there was lots of dancing, singing and even late night swimming.
Heading off the resort.
After the wedding was over, we had a few days to ourselves. We decided to venture beyond the compound and this is what we did.
Playa del Carmen. About 20 min north of Tulum. This is where the action is. Bars, shopping, restaurants etc. The main strip is totally catered to tourists. And as with any tourist trap that means it's overpriced. Even so, it was good to get out and experience a different side of Mexico. We actually did experience an authentic mexican restaurant off the beaten path but for some reason I don't have any pics!
I thought this was an interesting combination. Drugs & Deli....
We came across this crazy playground. Imagine your kids climbing on that contraption.
Tulum Ruins - formerly a commercial port. It was a redistribution center for foreign and local products. Within the confines of the walls lived an elite class. There was a gorgeous beach down below. A welcome relief from the overwhelming heat.
Grand Cenote.
Tulum had many cenote's. Cenote's are like sinkholes with rocky edges containing ground water. They were incredible. While snorkeling you could see the depths of the caves below which was pretty freaky. I only wish we had a chance to see more. Definitely a highlight of the trip and well worth seeing.
Mexican cemetery
Our trip to Mexico had it's ups and downs but well worth the visit. We barely touched the surface of the Mayan Riviera. It would be nice to go back sometime when Naiya is old enough to enjoy it's beauty.
