City Sweet Travel: Riviera Maya

Jeremy and I just got back from a short getaway to the Riviera Maya in Mexico. It was my first big trip away from Jack, and we all did well, with many thanks to some wonderful friends back here in Chicago. Some of the highlights from our stay at the Maroma Hotel:

1. The beach: Yes, I now know the true color of Carribbean blue. We left behind a foot of snow in Chicago, and we relished the 80-degree weather, the sun, and the soothing sound of the gentle waves. I have never seen a more pristine beach with crystal-clear water.

2. The service: The staff at Maroma were endlessly accommodating. I already miss my turndown service.  A special shout-out to Sergio who was stationed along the beachfront. 

3. Our room: There are 65 rooms at the Maroma - it's a smaller hotel, which we loved. The rooms were tucked away all around the hotel grounds, and each room had its own private entrance. We had a lovely private porch, where we drank our coffee every morning. We were not beachside but could hear the waves at night.

4. The food: How could I not mention the food? Fresh fruit, fresh seafood, the mole, oh my! Just to give you a taste of the quality, here is the bread basket (with freshly made jams) at our breakfast table every morning.

5. The serenity: I'm not sure if I can capture the words to describe how at peace we felt - the everyday worries melting away. For me, it was just the right amount of time away, without going too long with being away from Jack.

We landed back in Chicago, and I turned on XRT as we drove over to pick up Jack from our friends' house. The radio host was saying what a beautiful day it had been in Chicago - albeit in the 20s, it was sunny. I just had to smile. Sunday morning, I found myself reading the Travel section, planning our next getaway.