The next morning we woke up to some sad news from home. As we made our way to Azul (restaurant for breakfast), the smiling and friendly staff lifted our spirits as they wished up good morning. We made our way to Azul and were completely impressed by the breakfast buffet served here. If you couldn’t find something fabulous to eat here, you weren’t hungry. Just the juice selection alone was not only delicious but also very pretty. I ordered a Bloody Mary, and they wheeled out an entire cart full of booze....perfecto!
After breakfast we joined Anna Marie for a tour of the property, which included a visit to the Ambassador with its piano bar, karaoke bar, pool, boutique and restaurants; the Master with its restaurants, spa, convention space, jungle area, pool and boutiques; and the our own Grand Class that also has its own boutique, pool with swim up bar and restaurants.
After the tour, we made our way to the swim up bar for some much-needed cocktails. After we informed Oscar that we were grieving from our sad news from back home, he insisted we do tequila shots. After we finally gave in, he informed us we needed to do them while laying on the bar. We finally agreed, and the tequila helped ease our sadness. We laid out by the pool with our frozen cocktails, enjoyed the pool area and ordered a perfect lunch of fish ceviche, salad and grilled vegetables. The best “pool food” I have ever had!
After lunch we were transported to the award-winning spa (located at the Master location) by the resort’s on-property shuttle service. We arrived 90 minutes before our spa treatment appointments in order to experience the spa’s Water Journey. This terrific water experience starts with a sauna and steam room session, followed by time in the “ice room.” After going from very hot to very cold, we were sent to the clay room for some skin and hair therapy. After this, we went to the hot and cold wading pools, then on to the big pool for water massage therapy. This was super cool. Did we have to leave???? Yes, but the fact that we were leaving our water journey for massages made it a little easier. As someone who gets massaged a lot all over the world, I can easily sa this was definitely in the top 10 of massages! Thank you Grand Velas Riviera Maya!
Dinner that evening was at Frida, the resort’s Mexican restaurant. Grand Velas Riviera Maya celebrates the legacy of the famous Mexican painter Frida Kahlo at this restaurant that offers Mexican cuisine with a modern twist. Each dish is itself a masterpiece that reflects the rich culinary heritage of Mexico with a menu that features grilled flank fillet with roasted cactus leaves and Chipotle chili pepper stuffed with cheese, red snapper fillet in zucchini flower sauce with corn mushrooms, and grilled portobello mushrooms and endives covered with Guajillo chili pepper cream. Desserts are equally impressive with options such as tres leches cake with caramel sauce, Mexican chocolate mousse, or homemade sorbet.
The next day we shopped at Bridgeport Village during the day, then headed downtown for cocktails at Departure (it has a great rooftop bar) followed by dinner at Deschutes Brewery & Public House for some home brewed Portland beer. In addition to the beer, I had to try the Root Beer Braised Pork Belly....AMAZING!!!
