Los Cabos Press Trip: Serenity Called. And I Answered.

Serenity comes in different forms for different people depending upon where one is in his or her life. It can be wrapped in the warm embrace of a loved one. It can be found in a church, a temple, a mosque or a shrine. It can be discovered on the sandy shores of a tropical isle. Or even in a bottle of the hard stuff though we know this type of serenity is fleeting at best.

Serenity must have been breezing past Chicago on one of our notoriously brutal winter days and stopped dead in it’s tracks when it saw me frantically trying to meet the demands of my life. Did it witness me moving quickly along Lake Michigan to get my five mile run in before a hectic day at the office or did it see me yelling at my kids as I tried in earnest to get them out the door and to school on time? Did serenity watch me pass out at 9 o’clock at night after a long day of non-stop client meetings and strategy sessions or did it see me stressing in my home office over my bills? When serenity came calling, offering me the opportunity to travel to Los Cabos, Mexico on a press trip with my friend, Marian, I answered. This trip took place in mid-May and the moment I decided to go, serenity wrapped its arms around me and didn’t let go for five, count them, five straight days!

I cannot recall a time in recent memory when I felt so relaxed and at ease with my place in the world. It all started when I boarded the flight at the international terminal of Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. Although I was inhaling jet fuel, in the recesses of my mind I imagined that I was already inhaling the scent of the ocean as it kissed the shores of Los Cabos. Just the fact that I needed to whip out my passport to hop on this flight to Mexico was a clear sign that I was about to make a grand escape to a land far, far away, where no one could find me unless I really wanted them to. And believe me, I didn’t.

Upon takeoff, the Boeing 737 quickly hopped the fence at O’Hare as though being chased by US Air Force fighter planes for flying in a no-fly zone. After the pilot propelled the plane onward and upward, it dipped then swayed and soared into the clouds. I smiled thinking of the days that lie ahead of me. I pulled out my earphones all set to create my Leslie in Cabo soundtrack, which mostly consisted of the soothing, contemplative sounds of Ledisi, Esthero and Chrisette Michelle. I must admit, I was somewhat conflicted about “creating” my own vacation soundtrack for fear that I wouldn’t truly absorb my new surroundings and enjoy the moment. Screw it, I thought to myself. I really needed to hear Chrisette Michelle’s rich, deep voice in my ear as she sings about the virtues of loving and being loved like they did back in the days when commitment was golden…

Landing in Cabo was one of many sweet moments for me as I was determined to stay in the present and enjoy each and every bit of this experience without letting the frustrations of yesterday or expectations of tomorrow take up any mental space in my head. When I got off the plane, I was greeted by smiling local faces and intense heat from the Mexican sun. My heart leapt from excitement like it did when my cousins Stephanie and Todd would come to Chicago during the summers of my childhood or when my mom would buy me a new Judy Blume book to read. (See, it’s the little things, man…the little things that thrill me although I have to say that today I’d be more thrilled with getting a Gucci bag than a Judy Blume book for anyone who may be thinking about surprising me!)

Arriving at Marquis Los Cabos, the resort I would call home for the next few days, I was pleasantly surprised by the breathtaking view of the ocean and the amazing architecture and design of the resort that evoked this thing called serenity.

No, this wasn’t the kind of trip where the resort staff thrusts a cup of rum punch in your hand and leads you to the limbo line on the beach the moment they run your credit card. Instead, Rodolfo, the staffer who checked me in, welcomed me to Marquis Los Cabos with a warm smile and helped me to the casita that oozed with Mexican charm and splendor.

The moment I put my bags down and looked around my temporary digs, I whipped out my bathing suit, grabbed my beach bag, iPod, sunglasses and an ice cold Corona (now you know beer & alcohol in moderation, people, would eventually be weaved into this story) and made my way to the sunrise pool that appeared to flow right into the ocean. I settled myself into the pool experience right away, listening to Esthero, who sang of my melancholy moments that prompted me to escape to Cabo when serenity came calling.

I took a moment to reflect on how my life has being going of late. While Esthero and I had this mini-pity party that I would allow to last only a hour or so, I enjoyed the sophisticated poolside energy from other guests. I entered into serious chill mode and couldn’t even believe how free I felt having countless hours to myself to just lay poolside, drink a cocktail and THINK while a slight breeze cooled my soon-to-be sunburned body. I couldn’t have possibly been happier except if a sexy man was lying next to me rubbing my back with oil and whispering sweet nothings in my ear. Okay, never mind that fantasy. While the thought is titillating, this short vacation wasn’t about that. It was about my new-found serenity so let me stay focused!

As luck would have it, my friend Marian wasn’t able to get on her flight from Denver to Los Cabos that day so I ended up being solo which worked out fine. It would have been great if Marian arrived on time but I welcomed every moment of solace I could get and required no entertainment whatsoever though Marian and I spent an hour or so texting back and forth amusing one another. So I hung out by the pool until the evening, went back to the casita and laid by our own private pool listening to more of my Leslie in Cabo soundtrack (which also included a little Biggie Smalls, Maroon 5, Creed, Thelonius Monk, Donny Hathaway and Eric Roberson…I’m versatile like that) and feeling no pain from the two margaritas I had consumed over the course of evening. I then showered, got myself all cute and went to the resort’s quaint Dos Mares restaurant for dinner. The food was fabulous and spicy just like I like it. I enjoyed the meal in solitude, had another margarita (watch out now!), and listened to a live performance of some Mexican and American classics on the veranda. The breeze and the temperature were perfect and the waves that crashed loudly against the shore were a constant reminder that I wasn’t anywhere near Lake Michigan or home for that matter. The almost full moon in the black Mexican sky painted a perfect picture of…uh huh…serenity.

The next morning I awoke early to a breathtaking sunrise and decided to run in the sand along the beach which was just a few steps from the casita. Though it seemed like a good idea at the time, it was hot as all hell on that beach and the uneven sand wasn’t good for my ankles. As I ran, I was reminded that I need to steer clear of injuries because I’m training for my ninth marathon. I lasted only twenty minutes or so and gave up. The verdict on working out in the sand? Pretty to look at but not to run in! I went back to the villa, showered, changed and hit the pool. Later that morning, Marian finally arrived at Marquis Los Cabos and joined me by the pool. She shared her travel woes, we chilled some more and agreed that we wouldn’t join the other journalists until dinner. Serenity was the order of the moment.

Around seven that evening we went down to the beach to meet the other people there for the press trip. They were waiting for us as we had missed dinner the night before and the Canyon Canopy Tour on ziplines (which sounded awesome, I’m sorry I missed it!) at Desertica Cabo Multi Adventure Park, an adventurer’s playland about 30 minutes from the resort. Clearly we missed some serious bonding time and everyone seemed to be getting along splendidly. Our first evening with the group set the tone for what was sure to be a wonderful time with savvy, fun and talented journalists and their spouses/friends. We viewed Saturn and the moon’s craters through a high-powered telescope that first night and continued to bond over tequila and wine with a heavy dose of laughter at the resort’s Dos Mares bar.

The next morning after I worked out in the very clean and accommodating Marquis Los Cabos health club, we met the group and made our way to the dock to board the Marquis Yacht where we sailed along the Sea of Cortes for the afternoon. There were isolated coves and pristine waters where we saw sea lions and unique fish. We enjoyed seeing the famous Arch of Los Cabos and Lover’s Beach where the waters of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortes come together under the shadow of the arch.

Some decided to go snorkeling and others went kayaking. Back on the yacht we all laid in the sun, drank, ate, listened to great music and laughed and laughed and laughed. I must admit that never have I been part of a group of people from different walks of life that enjoyed each other so much. We each brought unique and dare I say quirky qualities to our time in Los Cabos and the whole experience was so very gratifying. There was Allie, Shimanti, Stefanie, Phil, Amit, David, Kevin, Julie, Tamara, David, Bridget, Sheila and of course Beth Preddy who organized the trip through her agency KWE Group, a marketing communications and public relations firm that specializes in luxury travel and lifestyle trends.

During our time together we engaged in serious and sometimes heated conversations about Obama vs. Clinton vs. McCain as the next president of the United States, we debated and laughed about the differences between the US and Canada (David and Tamara are from Toronto), we consumed delicious meals prepared by one of the famed Marquis Los Cabos chefs, enjoyed spectacular views of the ocean during evening cocktail hour in the presidential suite and spent time at the amazing resort spa, delighting in some of the best body treatments money can buy.

Thank you Marian and my new travel friends for such a wonderful time. I look forward to our next adventure! And to all my old friends and LeslieWrites readers, I highly recommend visiting Marquis Los Cabos and settling in for a wonderful experience. I arrived in Cabo with lots of excitement but also with the weight of the world on my shoulders and left feeling calm, reenergized and SO happy. The entire experience in Los Cabos felt like a dream and brought me back to a place of—you guessed it—serenity.