John proposed to me on my birthday in January at Sundance Resort, here in Utah.
But that was Plan B.
As I learned months afterward, he’d been plotting a romantic proposal that involved bathing suits, margaritas, and our passports. But a pesky little hurricane thwarted his plans.
Putting together thoughts on paradise for my guest post on 360 til 30 had me up to my neck in beach photos. My favorites are from our trip to the Yucatan Peninsula last October. We arrived at our hotelito, a teeny resort called Mezzanine on a dirt road in Tulum. I had stalked the website for weeks prior to the trip, and it exceeded my dreams! We were greeted with a margarita and a ridiculous view from our patio.
We spent the next five days with powdery white sand between our toes, exploring the nearly deserted coastline and frolicking in the warm aqua sea. We ate incredible food at a few nearby restaurants and made friends with local crustaceans.
Outside of our door each morning was a basket of coffee, waiting like a gift to be enjoyed on the patio. Oh, if only every morning started this way.
We ended more than one day at the Mezzanine bar with their special coffee cocktail/dessert. Watching the server prepare this concoction was mesmerizing, spilling fire like a waterfall between shakers and ultimately into our glass.
This was a place to stay forever. But our itinerary included a week at a location even more remote, a fishing lodge near the tiny village of Punta Allen. After our week there, we’d end the trip with another handful of days in Tulum- and unbeknownst to me, I would become betrothed. We said our temporary goodbyes to Mezzanine and started phase two of our Yucatan adventure.
When I say the lodge was remote, I mean it. We drove down a dirt road in horrible condition for an hour until the taxi driver would go no further. From there, we carried our luggage on foot down a dirt path, through a swampy water trail, and along a rocky route to a lonely dock. There, our ride was waiting- a panga (fishing boat) driven by Gaspie, one of the guides from the lodge.
We then enjoyed a two-hour boat ride through mangrove trees, populated by birds of every size and more than one alligator. A cold Tecate calmed my anxious thoughts. Where in the world were we going? How exciting! This was a true adventure.
After some time on the open ocean, we came around a bend and I saw our destination- a cluster of buildings on a palm-lined beach. This will do.
We had a glorious few days at the lodge, virtually isolated from the world. We dined on whatever fresh deliciousness the staff placed in front of us, usually fish caught earlier that day. It felt like we were on a deserted island- but with incredible food, unlimited margaritas, and luxurious shelter. John escaped on all-day fishing expeditions a couple of times, and I spent long, perfect days alone (save the fat iguanas) with a book, a margarita, and the sea.
I joined him on the fishing boat twice. It was incredible to be out on the water all day long, nothing around us but the blues and greens of the sky and sea.
One day, the sky changed. The water clouded. The palm trees leaned toward the ground as the wind blew in off of the angry ocean. The murmurs of the guides and the lodge manager included words like “hurricane” and “evacuate.” Apparently, Hurricane Rina was gaining strength- approaching a Category 5- and was coming directly at us.
Government trucks rolled by, headed to Punta Allen to force the residents to evacuate. The dirt road that was in such bad condition that we took a boat here to avoid traveling on it looked like the only way out. Along with a group of fishermen from Virginia (the only other people at the tiny lodge), we packed our bags and awaited the call to learn what would happen next.
At three in the morning, the phone rang. Out time at the lodge was up. We loaded up a few vans and waved goodbye to the perfect tropical secret, doubtfully hoping it would survive the storm so we could return someday. For the next five hours, we clung to the armrests and tried not to get carsick as we traveled through the jungle on the worst road I’d ever seen. We were relocated to an all-inclusive resort in Playa del Carmen that I’m sure would have been lovely… if it wasn’t shut down and boarded up in preparation for Rina’s arrival.
Our trip back to Tulum was clearly not an option. About this time, John decided that he’d have to come up with another plan to propose marriage. While it made for a good story, this was not the magical and romantic engagement he imagined. We made the best of our situation, taking walks through the storm and drinking wine in our beautiful hotel suite. We diligently watched the flight availability to go home as early as possible as the wind and rain built to incredible levels outside. Downgraded to a Cat 4, then 3, and so on until Rina reached landfall as a tropical storm, we still had to block our patio door from flooding. Thank God for the World Series and the bathtub.
As you know, this little tale ends with glimmering diamonds and happy tears on the top of Bishop’s Bowl, just a few months later. John’s plans didn’t turn out the way he thought they would, but in the end, he got the girl.
And we have quite a story to tell about the trip when we almost got engaged.
the usual bliss 
Those pictures are incredible!!!!! I want to go to Tulum soooooo badly:)
You MUST! I have info for you when you do- where to go, eat, etc. I am dying to go back.
You guys are also adorable together! So happy he got the girl.
I feel so lucky!
Pic’s are incredible!
Thanks! I promise, it’s the location and not my skills! The photos don’t do the place justice.
Haha! Congratulations too 🙂
Gorgeous photos, it looks like it was a wonderful trip!
Beautiful post – great story – loving your photos:)
I love the way you intertwine photos with the story, had me hooked 🙂 I love that place, how’d you book it? I wanna go there someday
I think we just went to the website (click the link on the post) and booked it! It’s an incredible place and I want to go back…
That place looks and sounds amazing! I hate my life a little today as I dreamed about beaches last night and then read about them this morning at work…totally lame.
My post did NOT help you then.
I love this story!! Did you have any idea at the time that he was planing to propose?!!?
I knew it would happen at some point, but no idea that it was supposed to have happened in Mexico. Sneaky sneak. I love surprises!
AMAZING.
1. Wonderful story to tell for the rest of your life
2. I HAVE TO GO TO THAT RESORT!!!!
I love telling the story already…!
Amber, what an amazing and romantic story, even with the hurricane! I absolutely love all your photos too. But seriously, what a sweet (almost) engagement story that you will be telling the rest of your life.
Jorie, thank you! It was an incredible trip, regardless of the possibility of getting engaged to my best friend. The hurricane part only added to the adventure the trip already was. My only sadness about it is NOT getting to go back to Mezzanine again. So I call a DO-OVER!
What a fantastic story. Your photos are exquisite. What KIND of photographic equipment are you using anyway? Do you tote around a bag with thousands of dollars worth of gear? Please don’t tell me you’re using a point-n-shoot. I particularly love the “in Tulum” log.
Total point-and-shoot. I keep it in my purse. It’s a Panasonic Lumix. I wouldn’t know where to start with a big girl camera… but I want to learn!
It helps to go to exquisite places- exquisite photos are easier. 🙂
I love this story…
I love this story! So happy for you! And the Yucutan is one of my most favorite places in the world!
I am dying to go back!
You two are one of the cutest couples ever (a close second to Nikki and her hubby!. That fish that he caught was HUGE, and I love the one of you all curled up on the bed,massage table?? not sure which.
The place looks amazing and I hope it still looks the same way now.
But seriously though, who has TWO stories on how they got, or nearly got, engaged 🙂
That’s a barracuda! He caught a few of them! I want to go back…
Insane! A barracuda… omg take me next time i’ll clean the fish if need be! 😉
We ate one of them, ceviche style. It was SO good! Crazy!
Reblogged this on the usual bliss and commented:
Is it weird to reblog my own post? One year ago, John was attempting to propose marriage to me. It didn’t go quite as planned, but makes a great story. A mere 9 days before we get married, the timing seemed perfect to share. Take a look!
I love this so, so much. It DOES make for a great story.
I’m in and out of computer land and want to keep up with you over the next few weeks. More stories! More pictures! Please! I promise I’ll catch up at some point.
I am hoping to be able to at least post a photo or two from our honeymoon! I am not good about setting up guest bloggers when I’m away. 😦
Your life is so incredible. I swear, your posts are like a daily vacation for me!
It’s feeling like an incredible TORNADO right now- so much going on! Yay wedding!
I can’t WAIT for all the wedding posts and the PICTURES! OMG THE PICTURES!!!
SO MANY PICTURES. You know there will be.
I just stumbled across your blog and, although I am very late to this post, it seems very serendipitous as my partner and I have been invited to a wedding in Riviera Maya. He is not the “sit on the beach and relax” type but he certainly is the fishing type. What is the name of the small lodge you stayed at in Punta Allen? I am hoping I can convince him to attend a wedding for someone he doesnt know if the reward is lots of fishing…
It was called the Grand Slam Fishing Lodge, I believe- and it was very special! It was SUPER remote though, so be ready to either fish with him or keep yourself company during the daytime! 🙂
We (my husband and I) will be staying in the Yurt near PC in April, thanks to your pictures and well written snipets of the weekend. I really enjoyed reading your blog. This is the first time I have EVER read one…..You sound like such a fun and adventurous soul and I love that you clearly have a passion for food and wine!
Hi! That’s so awesome that you’ll be staying at the Yurt! I’m not sure where you’ll be coming from, but there is likely to be a lot of snow still on the ground then. Feel free to email me at amber@theusualbliss.com and I’m happy to share info about PC and restaurants and hikes or activities.
I’m so glad you landed here on the site, and really appreciate your comments. Haha, CLEARLY I love food AND wine! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂