Wednesday was our first and only day away from the resort. (Thanks, Mom and Dad Wiley!)
The first stop on our tour of Mayan ruins was the Pre-Classic civilization of Coba, which is located about 40 km off the coast. We explored the site with five other tourists and one very knowledgeable guide.
We visited the “stadium” where athletes moved a ball up sloped walls with their hips. We rode bikes along the dirt paths from one temple to another. We met Oscar the Coati. We climbed Nohoch Mul, the tallest pyramid in the Yucatan, which rises 12 stories above the jungle. We learned the Mayans cut down a lot of the jungle to expand their city, thus changing the environment and having to relocate when the rain stopped falling.
After we left Coba, we drove for almost an hour through the jungle on an incredibly bumpy, unpaved road to reach one of the 80,000 cenotes in Mexico. Cenotes played an important role in Mayan rituals, and we witnessed a reenactment of a fertility ceremony. We were each given four kernels of maiz (corn): two to toss into the water (where life originates), one to leave as a gift to the Gods, and one to keep. The Mayans believed the pools of water in the cenotes were pathways to the “afterlife.”
The term “cenote” refers to any location where groundwater is accessible. We climbed down a very steep ladder to get into the first cenote. We had to repel into the second cenote! There were seven of us on the trip, and only three of were brave enough to repel. Once we got inside the cenote, we swam in the cool, clear water. It was about 15 meters deep, and we saw lots of catfish … and bats!
The final stop on our day trip was Tulum, a Post-Classic Mayan civilization. The Mayans moved to the coast to be closer to the water and built the city from recycled materials from Coba.
The sky was gray during our visit, but the water was beautiful shades of blue.
We were exhausted after our 12-hour excursion, so when we returned to the resort, we grabbed drinks from the bar – Banana Mama for me and Mudslide for Nick – and headed straight to our room.
El Dorado Maroma offered a special five-course Italian dinner that night, and we obviously had to participate. The appetizer course was salmon marinated for 20 hours with green pepper, dill, rosemary, salt, and sugar. And it was succulent. While we enjoyed the delights of the talented chefs, we were entertained by an opera singer with the most lovely voice.
Antipasti: Flambé Pear with Brandy, Honey, and Gorgonzola Cheese
Nick’s Pasta Course: Meat Ravioli Portofino style with fresh Tomato and Garlic in Basil Sauce
Emily’s Pasta Course: Spinach Fettuccine with Wild Mushrooms and Creamy Gorgonzola Sauce
Nick’s Main Course (and his favorite dish of the week): Sole Fish Fillet with Eggplant Parmesan style
Dessert: A sweet Cookie with Mascarpone Cheese and a “Basil Slushy”
Salud!
Next: Fish on the Beach and Souvenirs from Playa del Carmen
On Tuesday we decided it was time to work off some of the calories we’d consumed, and so we joined another couple for a morning of kayaking and snorkeling off the coast of the resort. We paddled into the open sea, docked, and jumped in to explore. It was my first sight of a coral reef, and I was completely mesmerized.
After lunch we explored the beach and discovered “the cube,” which became our favorite secluded spot. We played in the jungle and in the sand and walked through the water until lunchtime.
We worked up quite an appetite and couldn’t wait to enter the pavilion on the beach for the Potato Festival. We were skeptical of the gourmet potential of a potato, but the chefs at El Dorado Maroma turned us into believers. We chose from a variety of toppings – shrimp, pork, pineapples, scallions, shredded cheese – that were piled onto a golden baked potato and served atop a fried onion ring. Washed down with cold Tecates, of course.
Tuesday night was a very special one. We cleaned up after our outdoor adventures and headed back to the beach in more formal attire.
A waiter escorted us to our table – the largest and most private one on the beach! The table was covered with an elegant white cloth and set with refined flatware.
A saxophonist played ’80s love songs while we sipped coconut martinis and watched the sun set. Cheesy, yes. But incredibly enjoyable. We felt like we were on the set of a romantic movie.
And dinner was divine.
First Course: Duck Ravioli with Brown Butter Sauce
Second Course: Spinach Cream Soup served in Cappuccino Cups
Nick’s Main Course: Rack of Lamb with Mashed Potatoes
Emily’s Main Course: Mahi Mahi over Risotto
And dessert that was almost too pretty to eat … But we did.
Following our romantic, gourmet dinner on the beach, we were led to our very own beach bed. (Thanks to my brother for making the reservation!) There we found chocolate covered strawberries, a bottle of champagne, swan-shaped towel animals, and a pile of rose petals.
The pampering continued back in our room where we discovered more rose petals floating in the Jacuzzi tub, surrounded by aromatherapy candles. Yes, we were spoiled!
Next: We visit Mayan ruins and explore cenotes.
We woke up Monday morning to clouds and, eventually, rain. It had followed us from Pennsylvania!
Fortunately it cleared in time to wonder down to the pool for breakfast. We shared a decorative fruit dish, followed by apple pancakes for me and huevos con mole (eggs with a spicy, chocolately sauce) for Nick.
Monday, our first full day in Mexico, set the routine for the remainder of the week. Wake up when our internal alarm clock rings. Savor breakfast and coffee by the pool. Change into our swimsuits and claim chairs and an umbrella on the beach. Enjoy our first cocktail before noon. Return to the pool for lunch and margaritas. Read/nap on one of the king size beach beds. Wade through the pool to the swim-up bar for afternoon drinks. Converse with other honeymooners from Chicago, Texas, and Nebraska. Return to our rooms to shower and primp for dinner. Oh, we lived the good life.
For lunch on Monday, I indulged in a seafood platter with shrimp, scallops, salmon, and mahi mahi while Nick discovered spicy chicken fingers with mole sauce.
Believe it or not, we were ready to eat again when dinnertime arrived. We thoroughly enjoyed the intimate and exotic atmosphere of Kiyoko, the Asian restaurant at the resort. The food was fresh from the sea: spring rolls, shrimp tempura, miso soup, lemongrass soup, and several varieties of sushi, including volcano, kiyoko, tiger eye, and spicy tuna.
Next: Sea Sports by Day, Romance by Night
After Eggs Benedict and coffee at Stone Crest Inn on Sunday morning, we packed the car and set our sights south. We thought surely we’d have enough time to catch our flight to Cancun, but we had a brief moment of panic when we recalled the recommendation to check-in earlier for international flights.
So Nick dropped me off at the departures gate at BWI and frantically looked for a parking spot. I proceeded to the check-in desk where I called Nick my “husband” in public for the very first time.
A friendly man with dreadlocks assured me and my husband that we still had plenty of time to check luggage, pass through security, and board the plane.
The flight was smooth and just over three hours, and our first view of the Caribbean Sea was crystal clear.
Our travel agent had previously advised us to look for a man wearing a turquoise polo shirt and white pants when we landed in Cancun. Sure enough, he was waiting for us just past Immigration and greeted us with an amiable, “Hola, Mr. and Mrs. Wiley.” He then led us out of the airport and into a Lincoln Navigator.
The driver spoke with a thick Mexican accent and offered to stop for Coronas on the 45-minute drive south to our resort. We politely declined, but we were thoroughly impressed.
We passed mammoth resorts with six-story entrances and fountains at the gates. When we spotted the sign for El Dorado Maroma, we turned off the main drag and onto a narrow, winding dirt road with thick brush on either side. It did not have a spectacular entrance, but it led to paradise.
We were pampered from the moment we stepped foot inside El Dorado Maroma. The air-conditioned lobby was a welcome relief from the Mexican heat, and we joyfully accepted wet towels to wipe our faces and cold Tecates to quench our thirsts.
After a tour of the grounds – three restaurants, two swim-up bars, a spa and a sauna, king size beach beds, and more – we were taken to our room on the third floor. It was the picture perfect honeymoon suite with a romantic four-poster bed, a Jacuzzi tub, an indoor/outdoor rain shower, and a private infinity pool overlooking the Caribbean Sea.
The gourmet all-inclusive 72-room resort sits on Maroma Beach in the Riviera Maya, which is considered to be one of the top beaches in the world. It’s intimate, rustic, and lavish all at once. And because it was only one-quarter occupied at the time (thanks to swine flu scares and a struggling economy), we had an amazing amount of attention from the staff. Every person – from the housekeeper to the pool cleaner to the bartender to the waiter – was ready and willing to indulge us.
We had saved our appetites for our first taste of Caribbean cuisine, and it most definitely did not disappoint. We enjoyed lunch poolside, and the waiter, knowing it was our first Mexican meal, promptly brought us warm tortilla chips with Pico de gallo and guacamole.
To drink, we each received a Tamarindo Margarita. (The tamarindo is a sweet and acidic fruit native to the Riviera Maya). It didn’t take long for us to order seconds. We shared a Caesar salad, I relished in the very best plate of shrimp fajitas I have ever tasted, and Nick enjoyed a chicken and mushroom burrito. We had officially arrived in paradise!
With no watches, clocks, cell phones, or computers, we completely lost track of time. We walked along the beach and through the salty water and lay in the sand until the sun set. We then returned to our room for hot showers and room service.
Next: Fruity Cocktails and Gourmet Seafood
We’re off to Philadelphia tomorrow for the wedding of a dear old friend. My parents and sister are attending, too, and my brother is flying in from London! It will certainly be a joyous occasion.
I may not have finished the recaps of my own wedding yet, but I fully compiled the stories and photos from our honeymoon into a Blurb book for Nick. I couldn’t be more pleased with it. And so, I give you the first installment of our week in paradise.
Our honeymoon began at Stone Crest in York. We left the soggy Sunken Garden at Lauxmont Farms and headed to a secluded bed and breakfast on top of a hill. A wide stone staircase led to a stately front door with luxurious furniture and ornate accents inside. (Thanks for the find, Mom and Dad Rowlands!)
Our room was located at the front of the house with two balconies and a bed that required a step stool to climb into. We also found a bottle of champagne and a box of chocolates on the Ottoman in front of the fireplace, compliments of Laura and Stephen.
The next morning we enjoyed breakfast in our bare feet because we had forgotten to pack a change of shoes. Our host did not mind at all. After visiting with our parents, we returned to Stone Crest for Italian takeout and champagne in the hot tub.
Next: We arrive in paradise.
Nick is finally home, and he promised not to leave again for a long, long time.
I surprised him last night with homemade brownies, a growler of Apricot Wheat from Otto’s, and a Blurb book of our honeymoon at El Dorado Maroma in the Riviera Maya.
Stay tuned for photos and stories from our fabulous honeymoon! (I know, I know, I still haven’t finished our wedding recaps. If you really can’t wait, check out my posts on EAD.)
Have you every come across a pair of tall boots or a ceramic vase or a black and white print that you just had to own? Or, in Nick’s case, a cutting board or a corduroy jacket or a workbench?
Well, most recently, we found a piece of furniture that we just couldn’t get off our minds.
We’d been searching for something to store our TV and media equipment in our new living room. My criteria: It had to compliment the red couches and mahogany coffee table we already owned. Nick’s criteria: It had to be sturdy. (I’m not kidding. He spent a lot of time analyzing the craftsmanship and knocking the surfaces of every piece we saw.) Well, the Kavari media console from Crate and Barrel fit the bill.
It was at the very top of our list … until we calculated the shipping costs. C and B charges almost half the cost of the piece to ship it further than 50 miles! We couldn’t justify it, so we continued to look. But nothing compared to the simple rustic nature of the Kavari collection.
I called C and B to ask if we could pick it up at the store nearest us — 200 miles away. They said, yes, we could pick it up at their warehouse. So the next step was to find a vehicle large enough to transport it.
Remember the trees that fell over in my parents’ yard? And totaled my dad’s Passat? Well, Dad recently replaced his beloved car with a Ford F-150 pickup truck. It’s red, and so it was appropriately named “Lil’ Red.” Perfect timing! He measured the bed, and it was just the right size for the media console.
My dear father really loves his daughter and son-in-law because, on Saturday, we drove Lil’ Red from Dover to Baltimore (70 miles) to Duncansville (200 miles) and back to Dover (150 miles). All in the name of home decor! (Nick is still training in New York and so missed out on our little road trip.)
Fortunately it was a beautiful day with no threat of rain, and the piece was snug and safe in the truck bed. Dad and I chatted along routes 83, 70, and 76. We stopped for burgers and fries from Five Guys and snacked on Girl Scout cookies. And, when we were about 10 miles from the exit to my house, I realized … I’d forgotten my house keys! Holy crap. My heart dropped.
I called and texted our property management and, luckily, she was able to meet us within 15 minutes of pulling into the driveway. Crisis averted! I really don’t know what we would have done otherwise.
We unloaded the piece with help from Nick’s cousin, and it’s just perfect.
I can’t wait for Nick to see it when he gets home on Thursday!
Our bedroom is still in a state of disarray. There are a few unpacked boxes of books and purses in one corner and a stack of picture frames in another. There are several lamps on top of the wardrobe and a hodgepodge of candles on a shelf that doesn’t belong. The furniture that felt so large in our old bedroom, now feels lost in this much bigger space.
This furniture set is very special to me. It originally lived in the bedroom of my great grandmother. When she passed away, my mother inherited it. At the time, it was bruised and scratched, and so my dad helped to bring it back to life. We painted it black and white to match the safari theme of my high school bedroom. It followed me to Locust Lane, and now here it is on Noelani Drive.
The bed frame has a very different history. It has no connection to me or to Nick. In fact, Nick rescued it from the trash pile outside of his Hoboken apartment. We cleaned it up and now it looks as good as new. Plus it conveniently matches the black paint and dark wood stain of the other pieces.
And we finally added some color to the room last weekend with the purchase of pillows from Pier 1.
Some day we plan to buy a new suit and move this furniture into the guest bedroom. But not yet.
Now let’s talk about arrangement. Typically I like to see the bed first when I enter a bedroom, but the placement of our windows does not allow for such a set up. This leaves a big blank wall opposite the door. It’s just begging to be filled.
We need a “statement piece.” Colorful art? A collage of photos? A unique piece of furniture? Ideas?
The bedroom feels especially large and empty this week while Nick is in New York training for his new job. I slept alone in a queen size bed for plenty of years — even as a married woman while Nick and I were still living in different states — but I miss his warmth. I miss wedging my cold feet between his calves and settling my back into the curve of his torso.
I’m anxious to turn this space into our oasis. Tell me, what do you love about your bedroom?
Six months ago, today, I said “I promise” and “I do” to the love of my life.
Nick is in New York training for his new job, but he decided to drive home on Friday night. He walked in the door just in time for sausage and lentil soup, red wine, and the Olympics. On Saturday we bought decorative pillows for our bed and picture frames for our walls. Then he assembled his new workbench in the garage while I filled our new hutch in the dining room. We are nesting. And this is exactly where I dreamed of being six months ago.
I love you, Nick. And I love building a home with you. Here’s to many more milestones.
Also: Our love story started in a lab and intensified in a kitchen. Read more.
On Saturday, Nick and I ventured out for our first night in our new town. I can’t say there’s a thriving cultural scene here, but the establishments are quaint and historic and the people are friendly and hardworking. Plus, we have family close by.
Nick’s father grew up in nearby Altoona, and his aunt and uncle planted their own roots there years ago. They are very well connected to the community and invited us to a Wine Dinner at the U.S. Hotel in Hollidaysburg on Saturday night.
So are you ready for a history lesson?
The U.S Hotel sits along the Juniata River on the original 1814 homestead of Adam Holliday. The completion of the turnpike in 1818 made Hollidaysburg a convenient stopping place, and the opening of the Pennsylvania Canal in 1832 made it a desirable location to settle. The new canal allowed Hollidaysburg to connect with Philadelphia and two years later the Allegheny Portage Railroad connected the quaint town to the Great American West.
The Hotel opened in 1835 to accommodate westward travelers. Shippers and traders kept the tavern bustling and the rooms occupied. Unfortunately, Hollidaysburg’s glory days were numbered. Altoona — about 10 miles northwest — became the new hub of transportation in 1854.
The Hotel was destroyed by a fire in 1871 and was reopened by a German immigrant in 1886. A Bavarian brewmaster by trade, Engelbert Gromiller established a brewery next door. The barroom was added in 1905 and still boasts the original hand-carved mahogany bar, stained glass, and one of the last working spittoons in the state.
The Hotel changed hands many times over the years and is now owned by Karen and Jason Yoder. It offers “the best fine dining in the borough.” (AND it hosts Ghost Dinners once a month, complete with an informative session presented by the Allegheny Mountain Ghosthunters.)
I just love to immerse myself in the history of a place, don’t you? It makes for a much more meaningful experience.
Now let’s get back to present day.
As I said, we joined uncle Frank and aunt Mary, cousin Justin and his girlfriend Lindsey, and new friends Nick and Marcy. We mingled and conversed while juggling appetizer plates and glasses of wine. (Has anyone mastered this party trick? If so, please advise.)
The wine was poured from bottles wrapped in brown Kraft paper and tied with twine. When we were seated we found worksheets to record our guesses for variety of wine and region of origin. Now I am by no means a wine connoisseur. I know I prefer red to white and dry to sweet, but I have a difficult time identifying flavors like banana or oak or chocolate.
I swirled, I sniffed, I sipped, but I was uncertain of all of my guesses. Friend Nick, on the other hand, is quite the accomplished taster (and brewer, apparently) and correctly identified the variety AND origin of three of the five wines. My Nick and I have a lot to learn.
Nevertheless, it was a very enjoyable evening, with the highlight being an absolutely delicious and decadent Peanut Butter Creme Brulee. It was so decadent, in fact, that I wasn’t able to finish my serving. But Nick polished off his Ramekin and mine! (It’s a Wiley talent, really — the ability to devour every bite of anything involving chocolate and peanut butter. I’m not kidding — both his uncle and cousin cleaned their dishes, too.)
We look forward to exploring much more of our modest little town!
Appetizer Course with Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand
- Shrimp and Spinach Crepes with Saffron Garlic Sauce
- Artichoke and Cheddar Jack Bruchetta
- Sour Cream and Chive stuffed Tomatoes
- Baked Brie Puffs
Soup Course with Cabernet from California
- Smoked Turkey Vegetable Soup
Salad Course with Chardonnay from California
- Fresh Mixed Greens with Apples, Gorgonzola Cheese, Toasted Pine Nuts, and Dried Cranberries, tossed with Vinaigrette
Entrée Course with Shiraz from Australia
- Grilled Angus Tenderloin topped with Sautéed Crabmeat
- Scallion wrapped Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce and Bacon
- Chive and Cheddar Jack stuffed Redskin Potatoes
Dessert Course with Riesling from Washington
- Peanut Butter Creme Brulee
