Tulum is a dream. The kind you never want to wake up from. If I had to describe it in a simple sentence, I would say, it’s a bohemian wanderland. I was struck by the way this little coastal town could, so effortlessly, be host of such grand dichotomies. Like, it’s marriage of modern and rustic that allows you to be surrounded by nature but luxuriously housed in new age type architecture with engineering that rivals any thing you’ve seen in the first world. Or even the fact that it can balance it’s quintessential relaxed vibe while being so high spirited. But most importantly, I was captivayed by its ability to make a foreigner, like me, feel so much at home in a place that was alien in many respects.

In case you need me to spell it out for you: I am deeply infatuated.

Two years ago my cousin got engaged. Not long after came the "Save The Date" with just the news I needed to hear: It would be a destination wedding, all white, beachfront on the pristine sands of Playa del Carmen, Mexico! Cue incessant outfit planning, ridiculous amounts of IG inspo bookmarks and constant reminders to everyone with ears, "Oh, I'm going to Mexico." I daydreamed for weeks about eating tacos while wearing a sombrero, throwing back tequila shots, shaking my culo to Duro by Daddy Yankee while wearing a striped poncho and juggling margaritas in both hands, that and all the other cliche shit one imagines would happen in Meh-he-co. I know this isn't exactly a fair portrayal of what life in Mexico actually looks like, but its a reality I wasn't opposed to.

Finally, I got a real taste of Mexico last week. I spent 5 days roaming the country's Caribbean coastline of Riviera Maya where I lodged between Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Cancun.  Although the trip wasn't exactly as I had fantasized (refer to above depiction), I can say for sure that Mexico was absolutely lovely.  I fell especially in love with Tulum and I will definitely find my way back, sooner than later. Beyond the great tequila, bottomless margaritas and unlimited tacos, here are a few things everyone travelling to Mexico should know:

1.  It's hot as hell. Now, for context, I grew up and still live in Jamaica so I am pretty seasoned when it comes to tropical climates. But this Mexican heat is NEXT LEVEL. Sunscreen and water by the gallon are not optional- issa MUST. My makeup pretty much melted when I attempted to make my way along 5th Avenue in Playa Del Carmen. We ended up seeking refuge in a few stores solely for the A/C and after stopping for water and then ice cream just a few meters away we decided to head back to our Airbnb until later in the afternoon because unlike the little steam engine, we simply COULD NOT anymore. Our AirBnb host told us that the May heat was a joke in comparison to August. So, let it be known if you see me in Mexico during that month, I'm having some sort of existential crisis and I'm actually crying out for help. I wish I was exaggerating but I'm not. It's sweltering heat.