We are starting a new social media campaign to have more travel experts talking about the Catalonia Experience in the Caribbean. We would like to present you our first guest: Kelly McLaughlin, professional travel writer, sharing compelling first hand stories of adventure, culture, history and life as an ex-pat mother in Mexico. Most people think that living in Cancun is an endless beach party, cocktails, sunshine and bikinis.
OH how I wish that were true. The reality is that we work and work and work and work and that very few people actually take the time to enjoy the beauty that is around us or to relax and enjoy a “touristy” moment. Fortunately, my job entails taking those moments (work, work, work) and writing about them. Perhaps not often enough, but enough that I recognize just how fortunate I am.
I was recently invited to spend a weekend at the Catalonia Riviera Maya Resort in Puerto Aventuras. And OH how we needed this escape. Boyfriend and I jetted (ok, drove) down to Puerto Aventuras on a Friday night, had a very welcoming and friendly check-in and settled in to our suite. Ooooh, sweet suite in the “privileged” section of the hotel (a little upgrade from the standard rooms, more amenities, privacy and tranquility). I had purposely starved myself that day knowing I would be spending a weekend with unlimited food (DANGER DANGER screamed my waistline) so I was “hangry” (hungry/angry) and ready to chow down.
Boyfriend and I are both super fans of Asian cuisine so we headed to the “Mikado” restaurant for some teppan fun and sushi treats. I started off reaching for the cocktail menu and enjoyed an “ojos verdes”, a totally yummy green drink made with local liqueur “Xtabentun”. The restaurant features a set menu enjoyed in a group setting with a chef cooking for all with Japanese “flair” (though our chef was from Yucatan, he did a great job). The sushi was really really good, I actually asked for more of the tuna sashimi (joys of all inclusive!) The veggies in the teppan were super fresh and crispy and we walked out so full that we didn’t even have dessert (shocking, I know!)
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