NO PHONE, NO TV, NO INTERNET? NO PROBLEM

OK, I’ll admit it: while our rooms had no phones, our cell phones did work. And while our rooms had no televisions or internet reception, local bars had TVs that allowed us to catch a football game or two, and we could get internet reception in the lobby. So it wasn’t as Spartan as I may have made it sound in the headline.

But the whole idea of my recent trip to Tulum on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico with a new travel company – GustoMexico (www.gustomexico.com) – was to “lose my mind, and come to my senses.” The brainchild of my daughter, Kaylee, GustoMexico is intended to give you a great vacation, but also more of Mexico, and even more to YOU.

We stayed in small beachfront cabanas, quiet, away from the hecticness that the larger, more popular Cancun area to the north has become known for. Yes, we had indoor plumbing, celling fans to complement the air conditioning. We were a small group ranging in age from 23 to 73. But everybody was there to experience, to immerse themselves in, Mexico, the people, the culture. Our sense of taste was used to enjoy a tequila and mezcal tasting, to participate in a ceviche cooking class. We enjoyed the sounds of the ocean lapping at our feet. The sights of beautiful sunrises and sunsets and the Mayan ruins at Tulum. We rode bikes, swam through underground cenotes and snorkeled the largest nature preserve in Mexico. Afternoon yoga sessions were offered. Everything was well organized and offered a nice combination of activities and leisure time.