A week in paradise

We ran to the beach, still in our jeans and heavy boots. The moon was almost full, the night was velvety warm, and the moment when I kicked off my shoes and dug my toes into the soft, white sand for the first time was utter bliss.
We were the only ones on the beach, and we stretched out on two loungers under a sea of stars. The night was bright with the almost-full moon and millions of twinkling stars, and we listened to the endless, gently rolling ocean in front of us.

But then, me being me, I jumped up because I couldn't lie still for a second longer, raced to the ocean to dip my toes into the warm water, and upon returning to Rich's side I accidentally sprayed him with a cloud of fine sand (it was an accident, Richard!). He sat up faster than I thought possible, spluttered (sand had gotten in his face and mouth, too), and yelled in his patented mix of outrage and exasperation "what did you do that for?".
Oops!

We came back a few days ago from a beautiful one-week trip to Playa del Carmen in Mexico. It was a very last-minute decision all thanks to Rich, and I was nervous because this was the first time that he traveled after getting so sick with Lyme Disease last year. The stress of travel can sometimes trigger a relapse, and I had been preparing myself that we may never go on vacation together again. So when he suggested a one-week get-away, it meant much more than simply going on vacation!

It was wonderful. I swam every day, read a ton (I'm on a Liane Moriarty-kick, re-reading every last one of her books after finishing the spectacular Nine Perfect Strangers), and we ate the most delicious food I've ever tasted.
Rich needed alone-time in the mornings, so we quickly got into the routine of me going for breakfast alone, followed by a couple of hours at the beach with my book. Sometimes I would go for a walk, but most of the time I stretched out on a lounger and spent a couple of blissful hours reading.
At noon I picked him up for lunch, and then we would spend the rest of the day together.

Our beach

I'm not gonna lie: the first day I had to head out by myself I was disappointed. I looked at all the couples around me, and felt like I was the only one who had to eat alone. Which is BS of course, because once I got over my self-pity and started paying attention, I noticed a lot of women who were sitting by themselves. Some probably had friends or spouses asleep in their rooms, but there were no doubt quite a few who were traveling alone. And why not? Isn't it better to travel solo instead of staying home just because you can't find a travel companion? If you've been in a couple for a long time you start taking your couple-privilege for granted, and I'm ashamed of that and grateful for the reminder. 

We did an all-inclusive holiday, which for a week of relaxation was the perfect choice. Our resort was the Riu Playacar, which I would recommend for the excellent service, gorgeous beach, and seriously fantastic food. The only complaint I have is that I didn't like the room: it was very sterile looking with a distinct hospital vibe, and I never felt comfortable in it. But room aside (and the overall lack of a Mexican vibe - the design was modern), it was a great place. 

We visited the beautiful island Cozumel, where we snorkeled, explored some beaches, and visited an obligatory Tequila factory. 

Our favourite day was when we visited the ruins in Tulum, and swam and snorkeled in a cenote for over an hour. Cenotes are sinkholes filled with fresh groundwater that were sacred for the Mayans. The one we visited was a cave completely underground with stalactites and stalagmites, and swimming (and snorkeling! incredible!) in it was one of the most special experiences of my life.

In case you ever get to visit the area around Cancun and want to do a tour, here is the one we did (and highly recommend): Tulum Cenote Tour and Yal Ku Snorkeling Adventure.

This vacation was a 10/10! Mexico is simply beautiful. 

I made a little video as well, here it is!

Have a great weekend, and happy December 1!

xoxo Miriam

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