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| Entrance to Mayakoba resorts: Banyan Tree, Rosewood, Fairmont Mayakoba |
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| Playa beach |
It's been almost two months since we returned from our family trip to Riviera Maya, Mexico but I've been so busy I'm now posting pictures. As expected, Mexico was a lot of fun and the beaches were beautiful beyond imagination. Every view looked picturesque and perfect as if it jumped out of a travel magazine or a postcard. I now understand why people say the caribbean is more beautiful and swimmable than the pacific side.
Our 8-day stay was full of adventures and surprises- and everyday brought something new. We walked along 5th street at Playa del Carmen, swam in cenotes under sleeping bats (eek!), ziplined upside down & rode sand buggies at Selvatica, engaged in tons of family friendly activities at XCARET and visited two famous ruins: Coba and Tulum.
Coba was fun because we were able to climb up the ruin and Tulum was breathtakingly beautiful. It was hot and humid so tons of sunblock, water bottles and frequent breaks were a must but the efforts were well worth it. The rich history and culture of Mayans were fascinating and educational, and even though my kids are still a bit young, I'm glad they got to see and feel the remnants of such an influential and historic civilization.
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| Tulum |
The only downside of the trip was our flight back with Aeromexico, and I would not recommend this airline to anyone especially families with children. They are rude, unprofessional and extremely outdated in their amenities and service. I wrote a long review regarding my experience on Yelp but for some odd reason, it keeps getting deleted. Hmmm...
Traveling is priceless as it provides so many educational opportunities for children. Not only do they learn more about different cultures, languages and heritage, they also learn how fortunate they are to be living in a place like America where water is drinkable and every toilet stall comes with seat covers.
Here we have an abundance of food, supplies, and technological tools while many parts of world still struggle to possess what we have. I explained this to the girls while passing by little kids playing in the slums and paying pesos to use clean restrooms. I hope they understood- or at least, remember so they can one day understand and wish to share with the less fortunate.
All in all, our trip to Mexico was memorable and despite our concerns about safety, we felt safe most of the time. We were bold and adventurous and drove everywhere on our own. Despite the occasional weird stares by natives, we were okay-- and I'm glad we got to experience a part of Mexico on our own without tour buses and expensive guides.
I'm thankful for my family who make traveling more fulfilling-- my hardworking husband who makes these trips possible and my beautiful and boisterous children who turn everyday into an adventure.
Thankful, thankful & thankful- and I'm looking forward to our next family trip which I hope takes place in Asia.
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| Last dinner at Rosewood Mayakoba |
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| Mayan tapestries and artwork, Coba |
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