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RANCHO SANTA FE NEWS
OCT. 19, 2012
Reflections and serenity in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico MACHEL PENN SHULL Machel’s Ranch I brought a wardrobe with me to Playa del Carmen. Usually when I travel to Mexico, I travel light. As my husband slept last night, I arranged my outfits perfectly in the wardrobe. I tried on my various outfits for the trip under the silence of our thatched roof in our hotel room. The humming of the ceiling fan added that “white noise” effect that felt like a Zen meditation moment in the wee hours of the morning. Then I actually did meditate. You know, like Julia Roberts did when she played Elizabeth Gilbert in “Eat, Pray, Love.” I sat with my legs crossed, my back straight and I took in those deep types of breath you forget to breathe in everyday normal life. The cold Spanish tiles added another layer of mystery to the ambience surrounding me. During this time of reflection much gratitude emerged from my heart. An overwhelming sense of how special it is to be alive; to share, to experience, to commit to this moment and open your soul to feel the power of love. After meditating, I laid down on the hard mattress in the darkness of the night. I could see bits of light streaming in from the outside behind the drawn curtains. I
stared up at the A-frame thatched roof with thoughts of how my journey has taken me here to Playa Del Carmen in the silence of this place, the foreign surroundings with the smell of sea salt mixed in with moisture dangling above me. The white sheets seemed oddly ethereal in the dark. What is this life but a vapor? Do you know that passage from the Bible? That’s how it feels right now. Like life is so precious. Like each moment needs to be savored, loved, held onto so I do not forget the textures, the smells and the feelings that imbue me. Life can be incredibly short. That’s what I want to tell you from Playa del Carmen. So make each moment count. Be soft. Be bold. Be real. Feel something. Don’t numb yourself to the beauty because there is so much to be thankful for each day. Tell someone you love them. Thank you for reading my column. I am grateful for you. Thank you for that.
Around town On Oct. 13, Robin and I crossed over an International border by foot. What we did not know is that the border we normally cross over was being remodeled. This meant extra walking involved. Picture me running in high heals in my black mini skirt with Robin close behind running as fast as we could across the new makeshift ramps to cross over into Mexico. When I saw the sign ahead, you could say I felt a sigh of relief. Next was the quick cab
Robin and Machel Shull on vacation in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Courtesy photo
ride through Tijuana. Robin spoke to the cab driver about their newest president in Mexico. Then he asked about our election. It seems as if there is no escaping the political banter right now, not even in Mexico. We arrived at our gate to find the doors locked. Luckily for us, the flight attendant took pity on us and let us cross over onto the tarmac to board the plane. We soon flew off into the sky with beads of sweat still dripping off of our foreheads. Our plane first landed in Puebla, Mexico. Luckily we didn’t have to connect there. This flight was headed to Cancun. Later that day, we arrived at Cancun airport. We found a shuttle and then rode with a Polish couple to Playa Car in Playa Del Carmen. Playa Car is like The Crosby of Rancho Santa Fe. Cobbled streets, lined with Mexican villas amidst the most beautiful tropical jungle. “Where the jungle meets the Caribbean.” We tried to make small talk with the other couple, which failed miserably. I've never felt so “Californian” in my entire life in a way that did not feel appealing. The good news is we did not stay at the same resort with them
Morning in on the beach in the Mayan Riviera. Photo by Machel Penn Shull
and were able to wave goodbye forever once we made it to our resort. On Oct. 14, Robin and I walked through Playa Car to the nucleus of town. Imagine bright colors, palm trees and balmy weather lining the blue sea. We walked everywhere. We had researched many boutique hotels before coming here. So we stopped in at each one just to see what they looked like in person. What fun. We then had the most delicious Americana over ice at Starbucks. (Hate to say it, but I've never been happier to be inside of a Starbucks!) We shopped. We walked. We ate delicious skirt steak with a mean hot green salsa on the
side. This trip has felt like a variation of wonderful side dishes. The little things that add so much to the experience. Later that day, we walked back to our resort and swam in the green sea. The sun had set with streaks of orange bursting through the clouds. The gentle waves lapped over us late in the evening. It seems as if we were on a different schedule than the rest of the resort. Everyone had gone in for dinner and we were now swimming in the sea. The white beach lined with lounge chairs were empty. I floated with my ears submerged under the crystal clear water, while watching
Just one example of the Mayan ruins in this region Photo by Machel Penn Shull
the small clouds float above me. Another peaceful moment where life felt as if all had added up to that one moment of perfection and I felt nothing but love for all. Then the sun had set.The lavender horizon met the green sea in such tranquility I cannot fully describe the beauty of it in words. Some fear Mexico. However, the trick is to know where to go, how to travel and what to do. I am writing this to you right now from the hotel computer. This moment is fading. The one of writing my column in a new and unfamiliar setting. This moment is magical for me. I want to say thank you dear readers for reading. I look forward to returning to Rancho Santa Fe and sharing more stories with you. If you have a wonderful one to share, please contact me. I would love to hear from you. If you have a fun event you would like Machel Penn to cover, contact her at mpenn@coastnewsgroup.com.
Playa Car in Playa Del Carmen in Mexico. Photo by Machel Penn Shull
Crossing over the International border into Mexico. Photo by Machel Penn Shull
One of the many excursions to do when you visit Playa del Carmen. Photo by Machel Penn Shull