Leaving El Paraiso

This morning’s view from the lobby as we left…



We had our last breakfast which included excellent Mexican hot chocolate. Also our waiter knew we needed hot water for my mom and chamomile tea for me without us asking - he obviously knew our routine!

Today, we are returning to mid-20 degree weather back on the east coast. It was mid-70 degrees as we left Tulum and folks were saying it was cold with which I agreed as my travel outfit felt very comfortable. Oh, the irony…

Our hotel arranged our airport transfer and the less than 90 minute ride was filled with Spanish music and our driver spoke to us through his Google translate app Bluetooth-ed through the car speakers. It was pretty comical and reminded me of my mom using the same app at the beginning of the trip.

At the airport, we saw lots of Koreans and our flight time was just about 3 hours due to a tailwind. My brother picked us up and we headed to Flushing for Korean food which is a family routine when we return from a trip.

What a great trip and my first extended resort vacation. I had so much fun with my mom and Anne - I can’t wait for more in the future!

El Spa

This morning, we said our goodbyes to Anne. I’m grateful that she wanted to join us in our rest and relaxation vacation! I know she was unsure if I could decompress, but with our visits to Chichén Itzá and Tulum Ruins, my sight-seeing desires were assuaged and we had a lovely time catching up and resting!

After breakfast, I convinced my mom we should check out the pool in front our building, but on the way, we took a photo in front of the main pool:



We lounged and slept at the quiet pool which was nice as there were only a few people. Around the time we were going to head inside and get ready for the spa, it started to pour. What perfect timing and we called for a golf cart to take us to the spa facilities which are in between the Conrad and Hilton. The spa was luxurious and the hydrotherapy options were wonderful. I had booked us treatments that I thought suited our needs - a de-stress / lymphatic drainage massage for me and one focused on joints for my mom. She said she didn’t feel like they focused on her joints as much, but it was relaxing nonetheless. I took some quick photos while it was empty in the women’s only area which had an oculus:





My mom wanted a photo in the co-ed pool, but I told her she couldn’t because there were people, but here’s a snippet of the marketing material for the co-ed area:



After the spa, we returned to our room for some face masks and rested some more. We waited for dinner as we had reservations at Kengai, which on the surface is teppanyaki, but really was pan-Asian. The service was attentive and it felt good to have Asian flavors. We ordered lettuce wrap tacos, bao buns, yaki udon, Pad Thai, and a matcha roll. Here’s the obligatory collage:



As we left, we took photos in the tunnel:





We!re at the end of our vacation, but it’s been fun and relaxing!

Just Another Mexican Monday

After breakfast today, Anne was off to the spa and my mom and I checked out a new pool and made ourselves comfortable in a cabana. Here was our view:



The day was filled with walks on the side of the pool, watching news, and enjoying a refreshing mint and lemon drink that was being served. We even chatted with another Korean guest from Pennsylvania who heard us speaking Korean.

My mom wanted this photo for a friend and you can see her on one of the walks:





I sat on the ledge here and my mom took a photo of me as well walking around the pool:

This guy was also doing his own walks - the waiter called him mini-Godzilla:



We ordered coconut waters and a quesadilla as a midday snack:

The only other agenda for today was heading back to the Tulum hotel zone for dinner. The same taxi driver, Gabriel, who drove us to Arca drove us to Hartwood - he was very friendly and kind. A few photos of the drive into town:

Here we are at Hartwood which was recommended by several folks and in many food articles:



We enjoyed cocktails, jicama salad, sea bass collars, pork ribs, octopus, and roasted beets:

We were so full, we skipped dessert and headed back to the hotel. As my mom pointed out, she was familiar with all the signs and establishments that let us know we’re almost back at the hotel or home! Although a relaxing day today, it was an interesting day as we watched the news of back home. But we tried to soak in the sun and relax on this Mexican Monday!

Tulum Trifecta

Today we got to see more of Tulum! As Theresa told us that the Tulum ruins were the 3rd most famous and important in Mexico (after Teotihuacán and Chichén Itzá), I felt that I needed to complete the trifecta with Anne! So after breakfast, here we are waiting for our taxi in the lobby:



The ruins were only 20 minutes from our hotel, but as Theresa explained, we had to get the new tickets for the Parque del Jaguar (and there are no jaguars) which took about 40 minutes. Luckily, it was shaded and Mama Kim amused herself with phone games on a bench.

We then took a ride in the new golf carts where they bring you to the entrance to the ruins and pay again. Apparently it used to only be this 100 peso charge and Theresa felt the extra amenities weren’t worth the cost, but the golf cart rides was better for my mom - not sure the walk would be bearable in the sun.

When we entered, there were clear and pretty shaded paths - Anne called it “muy tropicale!”



Apparently, the word Tulum in Mayan means wall, and the ruins was a walled city - here I entered and erased the German tourist behind me with Apple Intelligence:



The Tulum Ruins are known because they are on these cliffs and right next to ocean - apparently very unique to be a coastal ruin. Many were here to enjoy the public beach as you can tell some locals and tourists had bikes and bags to enjoy the park itself. I guess that’s why there is the new park fee because not all actually came to see the ruins. 



Here’s the house of the cenote where they relied on the fresh water supply and the underground caves that pervade throughout the Yucatán peninsula:



There were several ruins of platforms and palaces:



Here’s the main ruin or El Castillo:





The site might have been called Zama, meaning City of Dawn, as it faces east and the ocean. Here are more beach and ruin pics against the backdrop of the crystal waters of the Caribbean:











We saw an iguana again enjoying the sun:



We descended the bluffs, exited through a wall, and hopped on a golf cart. We returned to the front entrance of the park which were lined with souvenir shops, a Starbucks, and performers like these guys:



They were performing Danza de los Voladores, or the Dance of Flyers - a ritual where one plays a flute on top while others hang and spin from the top using ropes. We didn’t see them hang off the top yet as we were off to our next destination.

We climbed into a taxi to head to Tulum Centro. I had researched taco joints and asked our driver what he’d recommend, as he knew all the ones I had mentioned. Anne had initially suggested the idea of taco crawl, and through various blogs pinned a few on my travel map. Our driver explained Taqueria Honorio had handmade tortillas, so we decided to head there. We each enjoyed pulled pork and skirt steak tacos treated by Mama Kim - they were so delicious and my mom said it was so fun! Here, she is intent on squeezing the entirety of her lime and a collage of the lunch:





We were then in search of ice cream from a popular shop but it recently closed. But we did get to see Tulum Centro as we walked several blocks on the main drag:



We then found another taxi for our return and were back at our hotel in 20 minutes. At the hotel, we convened at the main pool where I ordered a piña colada and we all enjoyed the pool, jacuzzi, and setting sun:







We had dinner reservations at Autor, the signature restaurant of the resort and our waiter, Bernardo was very attentive as he offered to take this photo:



A collage of our meal including pineapple with worms on top! We enjoyed a more classic haute Mexican cuisine and ate tuna, duck, tamale, brisket, and desserts of pumpkin and chocolate with Mexican vanilla ice cream:



Multiple trifectas were completed today - the three top ruins of Mexico and sight-seeing Tulum - the ruins, tacos, and the town! What a day in Tulum!

Tulum

On our first full day in Tulum, all we did was beach and eat! We had breakfast at the buffet which was quite busy and then we headed down to the beach. It was windy, but we enjoyed resting and listening to the waves!







I also did some walking…



Anne took some dips:



And my mom rested, but I didn’t manage to get a picture of her. We had early reservations near Tulum Beach, and due to the speed bumps, traffic for the electronic music festival, and the one road, we budgeted about an hour. So here’s my mom ready for dinner off-resort by the pretty flowers in front of our room:



We arrived at Arca which was highly recommended not only for its food, but for its cocktails. You could smell the food in the lively restaurant while we were instructed to join the WiFi and get ready to order at the entrance. Anne and I coincidentally wore white dresses while my mom rocked her white pants!



The dishes are meant to be shared and we delighted in scallop crudo, broccolini, soft shell crab tacos, smoked trout tostada, pork, prawns, sea bass, and a cacao dessert:



Then we hopped into a cab and returned to our hotel much quicker - indeed it’s only 20 miles but takes about 45 minutes to get to, but the return was closer to 30. I wish I had taken a photo of the liveliness of the beach side town which was backpackery, but looked fun and spirited. Well, we’ll see it again on Monday when we return to try another notable restaurant and as Mama Kim says, “this is fun!”