Cruising to Alaska.

All aboard the beautiful Royal Caribbean! Graduation has finally arrived, and the gent and I have set sail onto the Royal Caribbean that heads towards Alaska. Oh, how I love cruises! Endless food, beautiful views, fun activities, and entertaining shows every night. Each night the gent and I would treat ourselves to one, maybe two, okay more like three slices of pizza at the cafe (I mean it was only one floor below our room- how could we not). Every morning I would make myself a delicious mocha from the cafe and walk back to the balcony in our room to enjoy the view and the air outside. To top it off, this glorious ship took us straight to Alaska where each breath that was taken seemed to have made the air clearer and the view illuminate even more. 

Alaska is known for its wide-open spaces, breath-taking mountains, beautiful forests, abundant wildlife (like bears!), and adorable little towns. This is definitely the destination for outdoor activities including: dog sledding, kayaking, hiking, site-seeing, etc. We were able to visit cities like Juneau and Skagway, where both were enriched with many greens, eagles, bears, glaciers, and souvenir shops. 

Oh, how I wish I could turn back time to fall in love with Alaska all over again. Every day felt like a dream and every day I wanted to stay in Alaska longer. In a total of seven days, I unfold the collection of our little getaway. So, all aboard as we set sail on some delicious adventures! Amuse-toi bien!

After landing in Seattle and getting onto our cruise, the gent and I immediately went food hunting #foodies. On our first night on the cruise, we treated ourselves to a mojito and a delightful dinner. Every night, at the dining restaurant, the menu would change including: starters, main course, and dessert.

Our first stop was Juneau, Alaska. Oh, how green this little city was! We were fortunate enough to visit Glacier Gardens  . This beautiful botanical gardens features its unique flower towers set in the Tongass National Forest.  

As we continue our journey, our next destination was Skagway, Alaska. There really isn't much to do around Skagway- but maybe that's the point. To stroll off and realize your surroundings and how beautiful nature is. When the gent and I got off the ship, we decided to skip the shuttle to town and instead use our best mobility- our feet. We took a nice stroll into town in the cool but sunny weather, shopped around, and grabbed some fudge and ice-cream to-go.

Now, it wouldn't be a cruise-ship post without some food photos. Here are some delights featuring a few of my favorite eats throughout our trip. 

One of my favorite part of our little getaway, was waking up and grabbing a cup of mocha or hot chocolate in the morning or afternoon, and just sitting outside our balcony to enjoy the view.

Another one of my favorite parts of the cruise was how every night after dinner, when the gent and I retired for the night, we would return to our room with an animal towel sitting on our bed or hanging from our ceiling! I mean how adorable are these creatures? 

Fortunately, the gent and I received a special invitation to visit the kitchen of the cruise. After our tour around the kitchen and meeting some of the wonderful chefs, we were lucky enough to eat a buffet-style of some of their delicious numbers!

If Alaska has been on your list, I highly recommend it! From little towns, to beautiful views- it is the perfect little getaway. This has been one of the most peaceful and relaxing vacations I have been on and it is the perfect place to celebrate our love and graduation.  Cheers- To a successful #tayfunnygetaway!

Cancún- #chuangcation.

Oh, how I already long for another vacation here. As someone who comes from a globe trotter-style family, it's quite surprising how we haven't visited Mexico- till now. And let me just start by saying, this was a true vacation: no exhausting tours, no routined meals, no bus rides, none of- not knowing where you are the next day. All this vacation called for was pure relaxation, crystal blue waters, bikinis, Piña Coladas, and a rightful hashtag: #chuangcation.

Cancún is a Mexican city on the Yucatán Peninsula, which borders the Caribbean Sea. And as most of us know, not only is Cancún probably a popular spot for Spring Break, but it is also known for its beaches, resorts, and nightlife. For a week, my family, Beverly, and I stayed along the beachfront strip rather than the more traditional downtown area. 

Once we arrived in Cancún around 8:00 am, the first thing we did was run to the beachfronts of our hotel, to see how blue and clear the water was. Nothing brings me more joy and satisfaction than knowing how visible my toes are under water; not to mention how soft the sand feels against your bum and hands. 

So, of course, after checking in, we immediately threw on our bikinis and hit the beach. Right before you hit the beach, there is a pool-side bar. Immediately, we were offered a drink menu, and without-a-doubt I ordered a Piña Colada- a perfect start to a perfect morning.  

It is with that spirit that I invite you to see the adventures that have stolen my heart on this trip! 
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I would be lying if I didn't tell you that this vacation included a day of historic learning when we visited the Chichén Itzá. And despite the pestering mosquitoes and the ridiculous humidity, it was quite beautiful. The Chichén Itźa was a large pre-Columbian city built by the Maya people of the Terminial Classic period. The architect of the site is quite speechless. Unfortunately, we can no longer climb it, however it is a must see place if you are in Mexico- also it calls for a perfect opportunity for awkward photo status.

And what's not to say that every morning we had a delicious breakfast that would color every single palette of the rainbow. 
Near our last two days, we decided to visit a turtle farm: Tortugranja on Isla Mujeres. This small turtle farm is a turtle hatchery created in 1994. Tortugranja's main goal is to help reestablish fading local turtle populations. Their collection of turtles were precious, and they have provided a venue for these underpopulated species to lay their eggs far from predators. Everyday, these turtles can wander near incubating eggs, be fed proteins, and live in specific pools before they are released back into the wild.

To get to Isla Mujeres, we hopped on a ferry boat that took us across the oceans to the island. Because the island is so small, once we got to the island, we rented a golf cart big enough to fit us. Golf cart + island= windy hair and romantic sceneries.

Of course, I must show you our hotel's beach. For a whole week, we stayed at Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancun Resort, where the turquoise-blue beach was- as promised- in our backyard. Everyday we would at least spend a few hours on the beach to soak in every inch of relaxation and Vitamin D- not to mention the complimentary sips and bubbles we were able to get our hands on. 

Not only was the beach a plus, but our hotel featured an amazing spa that soaked all our worries and stress away.  Nothing beats having your mind slip away and your tensions to melt as we are guided through the hushed corridors. After our transformation, you feel a sort of cleanse, purity, and peace. Our spa treatment was the Gem Spa Treatment that is inspired by gemstone therapy, unique amenities- including a 90 minute 10-step hydrotherapy ritual. And at the end of the 10 step, we were lead to the Gem Spa boost (that basically looked like an indoor pool to me- and it was breathtakingly beautiful). Once our treatment was over, we were asked to shower before our dinner. Our dinner included a 7 course meal- fine dining and fine tasting- yes please! Oh, this was definitely a ladies night.

The following day we decided to go on an adventure to swim with dolphins, I mean come on- dolphins?! We booked our swim with the dolphins in Cancun with Delphinus, which is the world's leading company responsible for the management of these marine mammals. The dolphinariums was in Xcaret Park where we got to play, dance, ride, and kiss with their beautiful and adorable dolphins.