Mexico bliss.

Lessons and realizations during a week in Mexico:

• 95 degrees is quite bearable, as long as there’s a breeze.
• One can get impressively sunburned in complete shade.
• I can quite happily live on some form of taco for many days. However, when given a choice after a week, I’m ready for a slice of pizza.
• In rural BCS, using your left-turn blinker does not mean you are about to turn left. In fact, it is an indication to the person behind you that they should pass you. #necessaryinformation
• Lawn sports with cocktails and friends: perfect summer fun in any country.
• If you let me, I’ll get lost in a book for an entire day.
• I can converse in Spanish better than I think I can. Tequila helps.
• Scorpions are absolutely the scariest thing in the desert.
• The possible presence of sting rays and jellyfish in the ocean will not keep me out of it.
• Flowers will bloom in the driest and most desolate place.
• Regardless of how many people are nearby, mosquitos prefer me.
• The sound of waves crashing works equally well as a sweet lullaby or pleasant alarm clock.
• Time away from home always makes me love it more.

As with any trip, there were unexpected snafus, like the mean little Mexican bug that lived in my tummy for four days. The internet went out for most of the trip, an “issue” that turned out to be the best thing that could have happened. There were mid-day naps and all-day swimming interludes and reading for hours on end under the shade of the palms. There were epic meals of aranchera steak or grilled tuna tacos, enjoyed by candlelight in the palapa. There was a date night that included drinks at a hotel with incredible wall art, the bougainvillea-lined streets of San Jose del Cabo, and lobster burritos that I’ve been dreaming of since our last visit (three years ago).

There were long walks on the endless, empty beach, John casting his line into the crashing waves. There were margaritas with fresh-squeezed lime juice and big bowls of homemade salsa or guacamole. Most mornings, I woke up before John. I sipped coffee with a book on the balcony or watched the quail family skittering around the arroyo or counted the desert flowers. Then I’d take a wake-up dip in the pool and say good morning to the mama bird guarding her nest in the thatched roof of the palapa.

Friends joined us for the second half of the week, and they and John had a common goal: to fish. One day, we drove an hour and a half to the “Cabo Riviera” (East Cape), where I devoured a book in a teeny pocket of shade and the gang chased a feisty rooster fish all day (John had him on the line!). It’s a foreign feeling these days to literally have nothing around you but the sights and sounds of nature. When I got warm, I dove into the sea. When I felt drowsy, I closed my eyes and let the waves lull me into a nap. Talk about hitting the reset button.

On my favorite evening, our friends introduced us to the “Baja Fog” and we laughed our way around a croquet course. At dusk, we ventured to a restaurant called Flora Farms. Believe the hype: it was an unexpected desert oasis serving incredible cocktails (hibiscus martinis and carrot juice margaritas), farm-fresh and local deliciousness (kale and spicy sausage wood-fired pizza and chilled squid ink pasta with tuna ceviche), and DONUTS. I simply cannot wait to return and am so glad our friends were there to experience it with us!

By the morning of our departure, I had acquired A LOT of mosquito bites, a sneaky little sunburn, a new respect for the habanero pepper, and probably a few freckles I didn’t have when we got to Mexico. It was time to head north, to our home and garden and squiggly Cholula, who would squeal with joy when we walked in the door. But as we bid adieu to our friends and enjoyed one last plate of scrumptious chilaquiles at the beach club, listening to the birds chattering and the waves rolling in, we felt sad to leave.

Sometimes what makes a place so special is knowing your time there is limited. I got on the plane knowing that I’d enjoyed our week in Mexico fully, and we’ve already chatted about when we’ll be back.

Next time, we’ll go to Flora Farms more than once. Lo magnifico.

For more of my travels, check out the TRAVEL BLISS page. 

One year ago: A fantastic stay-cation in a yurt!

For information on renting the house featured in this post, contact me at amber@theusualbliss.com.