Traveling the world one color at a time.
Need to escape? Looking to be whisked away? Itching for travel inspiration?
Look no further than a warm, melting sunset in Loreto, Mexico. As the last light of day was coming to an end, fishermen pulled up their nets and shore birds dove in for the leftovers.
A curtain is pulled back and I descend a set of stairs to a tiled floor below. Huge masks and multi-hued skirts hang on racks lining a long, dim hallway. On the walls and on the floors sit a variety of props — drums on shelves, baskets filled with fruit, stacked headdresse. Every once in awhile a person with face paint walks by as if on a mission.
I am behind the scenes of Mexico Espectacular, a grandiose production with more than 300 performers covering hundreds of years of Mexican history in just over two hours. I’ve been invited to step backstage in the minutes leading up to the start of the night’s show, and even in the neat and clean staging area, it feels like I’ve stepped into an entirely different world.
Held in a giant arena, Mexico Espectacular is part variety show, part cultural experience, part sporting event. It’s also a massive operation involving not only a huge number of performers but also countless costume changes, animal management (there are a few scenes with horses) and complicated staging with actors arriving and leaving the arena from four different places on the floor (additional scenes place them high in the audience and even dangling from an acrobatic platform).
I’m not a fanatic about candy, but I’m also known to feed my occasional sweet tooth when the opportunity arises. Though I can indulge in tasty treats just about anywhere in the world, I’m particularly drawn to those with a local twist. What makes a certain brand special? Why should I chow down on a particular piece of coagulated sugar over another?
During my last trip to Mexico, I discovered Ah Cacao, a chocolate café that can only be found in three locations in the Riviera Maya. Chocolate shops are found around the world, but Ah Cacao isn’t the typical chocolate shop. Sure, there are glass covered cabinets packed with sweet treats (chocolate cookies, brownies, chocolate mousse), but there is so much more! These shops are truly cafes with chocolate snacks to munch on as well as a large selection of cacao-accented beverages including mochas, hot chocolate and chocolate milk (non-chocolate options like iced tea and lattes are also available). It’s also worth noting that Ah Cacao chocolate is the real deal. Unlike the sugar-packed sweets found in the United States, the chocolate offered by Ah Cacao is natural in every sense of the world.
Everything is splashed with “green” and “eco” these days. For those interested in staying at places with a light carbon footprint, it can be hard to sort out which are legit and which are simply green washing their hotel policies. On a recent trip to the Riviera Maya in Mexico, I was surprised to discover that there are several resorts that have truly embraced environmental awareness in just about all aspects of the property.
It’s easy and possible to be eco-friendly without giving up luxury. If you’re heading to the Riviera Maya and want to do your part to help the environment while still feeling pampered, consider staying at one of these two Earth-hugging resorts:
Whether you’re planning on sampling the culinary delights of Puerto Rico, hitting up the beaches in Jamaica, hiking in the U.S. Virgin Islands or exploring any other of the many Caribbean islands, there are a few things you should always take with you. Whether you’ll be within a short flight of South America (such is the case in Curaçao) or are as close as the Bahamas, don’t leave home without these items:
Sunscreen
The sun in the Caribbean is brutal, so apply sunscreen frequently and in copious quantities. Chances are you’ll spend a fair amount of time waterside, so make sure you choose a brand that is waterproof and sweatproof. If you dip into the water, reapply when you get out, and if you’ve been outside for any length of time, don’t hesitate to slather on a little more sunscreen. Even with the heavy applications, chances are you’ll still go home with some sort of sun.
A sarong
Whether you’re a guy or a girl, packing a sarong can serve so many different purposes. Wrap it around as a beach cover-up, use it to dry off when you don’t have a towel handy or throw it over your shoulders if you need to protect your skin after a swim. Sarongs are small and easy to stuff into a day bag, so take one with you whenever you leave for the day.
There’s something clean and classy about a hotel with marble floors, stately furniture and large, glass doors that open to a fabulous view of the ocean as the sun reflects into the still waters (and, yes, it is still … there are no loud, obtrusive water sports here).
Serenity uncovered.
I’ve stayed in some really nice hotels during my travels. Some are so ridiculously over-the-top (remember my private villa in Vietnam?) that I don’t always know how to react to them, but some, like La Mision Hotel in Loreto, Baja California, Mexico, are sophisticated without being pretentious.
Weary from a long car ride, I wandered through the door of the hotel expecting just another boutique accommodation, but I was immediately struck by the fact that there is no distinct front desk. Instead, there is a large sitting area, lots of windows and easy access to the pool, all of which is located in an open space that invites people like a friendly living room instead of a stuffy hotel lobby. After taking this in, I discovered that off to the left-hand side of the reception area there are two small desks, and those working here are friendly, accessible and willing to go out of their way to make guests feel comfortable.
On the second floor of the hotel there is a fine dining restaurant and a casual bar. If you get the chance, take advantage of happy hour specials … drinks are poured generously for a fraction of their original cost. The atmosphere is low key and relaxed, much like the town of Loreto itself. In the evenings, lights are dimmed and the warm colors enhance the atmosphere.
Bad Behavior has blocked 0 access attempts in the last 7 days.
