El Dorado Maroma
One of our favorite boutique-style resorts on the BEST beach in all of the Riviera Maya! As always, photos first and then our review. Back to Mexican Resorts. El Dorado Maroma is an incredible resort. I have had the opportunity to do two site inspections at this resort as well as stay here with Ryan for four days. For photos and commentary from our last stay, visit: El Dorado Maroma 2011 El Dorado Maroma is a beachfront gourmet all-inclusive resort for guests age 16 and older. For people looking for an intimate resort… Read More
Day 64: Why Not Rather Suffer Wrong?
The timing of this strange question could not have been more perfect. Since we arrived in Playa almost two months ago, we have been cheated over and over again. I know that seems a bit harsh, and I don’t mean it to be. I love Playa del Carmen and I especially love its residents! Hopefully you already know this through my other posts. Many of the taxi drivers (taxistas), however, have not garnered the same affection in our hearts. To them, we are ‘turistas’, naive, ignorant, Gringos! Apparently, we also have plenty… Read More
Mayan Meals, Games to the Death and More
Mayans had meals that may not be appealing to many of us in some ways, though they ate things that we would eat today, like fruit, cornmeal, corn. They would also eat rabbit or turkey as well as soup and beans. Even chocolate. Sounds pretty yummy, right? Hey, they even ate tacos. Did I mention the tacos were bug tacos? Did you throw up or lick your lips in anticipation? You may want to skip this paragraph, or maybe you want to grab a notebook and pencil so you can jot down some… Read More
Secrets Silversands Riviera Cancun
Photos first and then our review/thoughts on Secrets Silversands. Make sure to scroll all the way down to the bottom! Back to Mexican Resorts. Secrets Silversands is a lovely, adults-only, beachfront, all-inclusive resort just north of Puerto Morelos. It is close enough to both Cancun and Playa del Carmen for the adventurous traveler who likes to get off property and explore the surrounding areas and towns. One great thing about this all-inclusive resort? No wristbands! Size: Secrets Silversands offers 433 luxurious suites. That said, I would not describe it as a… Read More
Azul Sensatori Puerto Morelos
Family-friendly beach resort. Photos first and then our thoughts/reviews below. Back to Mexican Resorts. Azul Sensatori: Fact Sheet Azul Sensatori is a family-friendly active beachfront resort with about 435 suites. It is located about fifteen to twenty minutes south of the Cancun International Airport. While it says it’s in Puerto Morelos, please note that the resort actually sits just north of the small town of Puerto Morelos, next to the Secrets Silversands Resort. This resort is part of the Karisma chain of properties that offers “gourmet inclusive” vacations. Since the Karisma Resorts are pretty… Read More
Generations Riviera Maya
A picture paints a thousand words, so photos first, reviews later. Back to Mexican Resorts. Generations Riviera Maya: Generations Riviera Maya is a new resort built right next to El Dorado Casitas Royale. It is also a part of the Karisma Chain, but offers an upscale option for friends and families with children. This family-friendly beachfront all-suite, all-butler resort is located about thirty minutes south of Cancun International Airport. Playa del Carmen sits about twenty-five minutes further south of the resort as well, so day trips to either Cancun or Playa are… Read More
Day 36: Relational Plates Too Full To Care?
We are thankful for new friends here in Playa. They have warmly embraced us as family and that always means so much but even more so now because we are temporarily wandering as Nomads for the next year. To feel connected to others in a ‘strange land’ is truly a gift. The very first evening we arrived at the Lighthouse Church, we were greeted by almost every single member – hugged, kissed, embraced. At the end of the evening, our new friends refused to let us take a taxi back home. Instead, Eduardo González (aka… Read More
Day 31: Discovering Cozumel
Cozumel is not what I expected. I feared it would be crowded, commercial, and pushy. And while it may be that at times, especially when more than one cruise ship is docked, we found it to be a lovely island with friendly people, gorgeous beaches, and beautiful sea life. It is very easy to reach Cozumel. You can either fly directly onto the island or you can take a ferry from Playa del Carmen. At the time this was written, the ferry cost $162 pesos (about $13-14 USD) for those 12 years old and… Read More
Day 27: A Cozumel Sunset
We enjoyed our first Cozumel nightfall yesterday! Being on the “West” side of the island, we were treated to a spectacular sunset over the water. The colors emerged slowly as the sun disappeared behind clouds. For a moment, we feared the clouds would obscure our view. Moments later, however, the sun peeked through the bottom of the clouds and the sky burst into colors…red, orange, purple, yellow. It was brilliant and though I wasn’t able to capture the full beauty of what we experienced, I just wanted to share this captivating moment with you. God’s glory… Read More
Spanish Lessons and Theft!
Day 25: We’re well into our second week of Spanish lessons and they are going really well. We have the kindest teachers, one from Mexico, the other from Guatemala. They patiently take time to explain everything to us, making it fun along the way. We’ve separated into three groups. Danny and Katie are in one group and here they are below, laughing with Annabela as she teaches them. Ryan, Mikayla, and Ryan Thomas are in the second group. You’ll see them below, working with Isabel. We are extremely thankful for our teachers…. Read More
Deena Gainor
Six Hearts One Journey 
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