I travel each year for my birthday (I know, lucky me - and yes, I AM incredibly spoiled thank you very much). My birthday is in February, and when we lived in New England, well, getting the heck out of there was not a hard decision. Over the years we have traveled to completely diverse destinations. 2007 was no exception. I decided on a 10 day trip to 3 destinations in Mexico.
Our first stop was Cancun - the water is a gorgeous clear turquoise, the sand is a fine white powder, and other then that, well, there really isn't anything to recommend it. You can find gorgeous ocean and beautiful sand in many wondrous places - and Cancun isn't one of them. I think I would have preferred to go to Isla Mujeres, and if I head in that direction again I will definitely make that our destination.
Then we got in our rental car and drove along the Riviera Maya to Tulum. Tulum is steeped in archaeological history and culture, amazing vistas, gorgeous beaches, friendly people, and a sense of adventure. We had not only a wonderful and relaxing time, but we learned so much, saw so many amazing things, and really felt like we left the area with a better understanding of Mexico - not just as a destination, but historically.
And then, we flew to Mexico City, and realized that Tulum was just the beginning. First, it is important to note that we were traveling with 2 small children. So throughout the trip, we played it safe. Made sure we were staying in resort areas, with clean drinking water, we didn't take some of the risks we might have considered if it had been just the two of us. (For example, instead of taxis or the subway in Mexico City, we had a car and driver. Which by the way, was insanely inexpensive, arranged by the hotel, and I think maximized our experience since we had a very limited amount of time in the city. But more about that later.) So with "safety" in mind, and wanting to ensure a safe and comfortable stay, we chose the Four Seasons Mexico City.
I need to pause again, to say (and I am paraphrasing Ferris Bueller here and totally dating myself) If you have the means, I highly recommend it. The Four Seasons, at virtually any destination - from the jungles of Africa to the cosmopolitan Mexico City - is flawless. We were greeted at the airport by a driver, sent by the hotel. We were greeted at the hotel by (and I am not exaggerating) a phalanx of staff and management. We were escorted to our room, which was set up with crib, child sized robes and slippers, sponges in the tub spelling out our children's names, brand new games and toys for the children to keep, and a full amenity basket for the baby with diapers, wipes, and all manner of lotion, shampoo and cream. Needless to say, by the time room service showed up with my birthday cake and a bottle of champagne, we were in heaven.
That night, we went out to dinner, again completely arranged ahead of time by the concierge with some input from me. A driver took us where we needed to go, ushered us into the restaurant, and made sure our reservation was confirmed before giving the manager his card and telling them to call him when we were ready to go. As dinner wound down, there he was waiting for us by the door, and we were escorted back to the car like celebrities (albeit with a sobbing sleepy toddler in our arms.)
The next morning we were greeted in the lobby by another gentleman, dressed in a gorgeous suit, who was going to be our driver and guide for the day. We only had one full day in the city, and we didn't want to waste a minute. Having a private car meant the baby could nap between stops, we could stop and use bathrooms or eat when we wanted, and go back to the hotel when we were ready. A full day of this 1st class service in a towncar ended up costing less then 3 tickets on a 4 hour group tour in a bus. I throw up on buses, so I was thrilled with this option.
Our driver took us to all the destinations mentioned in our tourbook as "must see" even if it was just a drive by. First we got a full tour of the city, pointing out all the significant government, cultural and religious sites. Then we headed out of town, and had lunch at the most GORGEOUS renovated hacienda - the San Angel Inn - before hitting the Saturday Market to do our shopping.
At the end of a very full day, we all closed our eyes and snoozed on the drive back to the hotel, where we had a quick shower and headed back out - again with a driver in a towncar - to a renowned restaurant in Mexico City for my birthday dinner.
Although we were only there for a short time, and as my husband put it, we traveled like rock stars, it planted a love in my heart for this amazing country. And I can't wait to go back, again, for MUCH longer (forever ?????) to get my fill of the culture, the people, the architecture, the art, the food, the love......Viva la Mexico !
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