Love and Weddings in the Times of COVID — Act III, A Quarantine Oasis

Well, we made it! From a June 2019 proposal to arriving in Cancun, Mexico after a long, long year of ups and downs.

It’s a strangely odd feeling to be so far away from home. I am clearly not used to seeing people outside my bubble.

We’ve been wearing our N95 and shields for almost 9 hours straight. All the first responders and essential workers are in my thoughts and prayers right about now!

After a shuttle ushered us out of the airport, we entered the secluded Belmond Maroma Resort at Riviera Maya in the Quintana Roo province. We crossed two checkpoints, a jungle, and there we were! A calm oasis in the middle of nowhere on a secluded beach!

Now I understand why my son and daughter-in-law picked this place. They have been here many times and they never tire of it. I could not think of a better place to be in isolation!

The wedding party was small, only 25 people out of 110 that would have come pre-COVID. We all felt like kids in a candy store. After our welcome margarita and a big greeting by the soon-to-be newlyweds, we made our way to the bar and adjacent beach after we got situated in our room to get settled.

There’s comfort in luxury as the resort went the extra mile to keep its guests safe. There were little black boxes filled with a blend of Clorox and alcohol to step into as you go into your room. The staff showers and changes upon entering and leaves the resort and they also don face coverings and goggles.

I reiterate this is a dreamy place to be!

Here we are in the tropics! This luxurious rustic hotel has a secluded private beach and a tropical jungle full of fauna (alligators, pythons, monkeys and you name it) and roaming wildlife (read on!).

Once in our room, we noticed the breathtaking Riviera Maya ocean known for its turquoise blue hues. The beach is only a short walk from our patio. A hammock that reminded me of my childhood in Latin America caught my eye. I sat in it and gazed upon the landscape. My thoughts of COVID suddenly vanished. It doesn’t get much better than this.

I have a tendency to explore the room amenities in every hotel I stay at. There was a “his” and “hers” white caftan neatly folded on a table. A little different twist, not your usual terrycloth bathrobe. Nice touch!

My husband also fell in love with the honey-scented shampoos and lotions. Included in this collection of swag was an actual honey pot that I promptly ate. Scented candles were lit every evening to sweeten the mood!

We were ready to greet our new family for dinner. We sat outside in a restaurant overlooking the beach. I love exploring new foods I don’t eat meat or strange things. But I enjoy hearing about local food and the history. Our waiter recommended, chapulines, a traditional Oaxacan dish. Yes, it involves insects! Local Mexican chefs add something extra to the otherwise delicious traditional dishes. Perhaps I should have been more adventurous.

Breakfast was included in our stay. There is no breakfast without Dalia! For over 19 years she has been greeting guests with her unique Mayan quesadillas. She prepares her handmade tortillas in a large comal with fillings like Huitlacoche and Flor de Calabaza. My son and daughter-in-law share a great fondness for her. I should also mention that the Belmond’s most famous drink, the “Dalia” was created in her honor. The smoky flavored “black” Margarita is a must try.

This article would not be complete without mentioning our new friends. A shy Macaw named Adelita, an iguana Sebastian along with two of his comrades, and a friendly, active monkey that is fond of stealing shoes and towels. A couple of majestic peacocks sat outside our room and would greet us every morning with cooing sounds.

I looked forward to drinking the hot spicy Mayan chocolate delivered to our room around 8 am. That’s of course if my coati (a raccoon or possum-like creature) friends allowed me to drink it without getting there first. I woke up to a disaster theft scene a couple of times. Strangely, my adversarial coati drank up my beverage with absolutely no shame or fear and munched on the sugar for my husband’s coffee.

The days were vanishing as if by magic. Sunsets turned into sunrises and before we knew it the special days arrived — the rehearsal dinner, wedding ceremony and banquet and of course the many speeches to fill in the blanks!

Stay tuned…