Chapter 3
Gavin
I rollover and lift my arms over my head to stretch.
This trip has taken an unexpected, yet welcome, turn. I planned my Tulum trip to be jam-packed with activities that I could absorb while here, only to add bedroom aerobics to my schedule. I’m all for it. It’s been a while. I was busy with work before leaving my job for the new company, that I didn’t have any time outside of work for social get-togethers.
My friends are all pissed at me.
But I promised them a round of drinks when I got my first paycheck with my flashy new title. Instead of marketing lead, I am not the new marketing manager for a huge telecommunications company downtown. After finishing up a major project, where I picked up the work from most of my team, I decided that I had had enough and went to set my sights on bigger machines. And that’s what led me to PulseTech Communications.
I had planned for my annual trip to reset to take place in between jobs. So, here I am, waking up in paradise. My sheets are bright white, the walls are a honey color, and just beyond the window is a forest of natural greenery. On the other side of the hotel is the ocean. I thought my room was a nice room when I walked in yesterday. However, the moment that I saw Emily’s room, I was shocked by how amazing her setup was. She had a suite and not just any suite. She had one of the high-priced rooms I saw on the website that likely cost her a pretty penny.
Points. She had explained. I don’t buy that in the slightest. We agreed to no major details, so it’s not like I can ask her what she does. She gave me a brief insight into how she manages people and projects, and I have a feeling that is all she will provide.
We’re having, as she put it, a good time, and well, that’s that. We’re having fun in paradise. And when the week is up, we return home and go back to our everyday lives. With one helluva vacation, to remember.
We made no arrangements to meet up today before I left her room that night, and she declined my invitation to come to Chichen Itza this afternoon, so I’m living on vacation time.
And I look at the time on the nightstand and realize that I should start my day officially.
I order room service and jump in the shower. Once my food arrives, I chow down quickly and ensure that I have all the essentials before heading out. In front of the hotel, in the roundabout, sat a few cab cars. I jump into the closest one and give the driver my meet-up destination with my guide to take me to the location.
In the two-hour drive to the location, my guide and I are waiting in line to show our tickets.
“Okay, sir. Are you ready for a bit of knowledge?” my guide, Jorge asks.
“You know I am.”
“Bueno, mi amigo. Okay, so we are here at one of the new wonders of the world.”
“Wait, the new wonders of the world? I didn’t know there were more added.”
“Well, my amigo. In the early 2000s, there was a campaign that highlighted more wonders out of existing, how you say, monumento - ah, monuments. So, it was like an online poll or something similar where fine folks like yourself could cast votes and choose what would be known as the new 7 wonders of the world. And so, now we have the new 7 wonders of the world. And here we are, at one of them.”
“Oh, that’s pretty cool.”
“So, Chichen Itza was built between the eighth and twelfth centuries. This area, in its time, was a center for commerce. Also, it was a big spiritual and religious center for this area back then.”
“How many people lived around here?” I ask.
“There’s never been an official count. But it’s said that the number was somewhere in the tens of thousands. This was a hot spot, muy fuego! What we will see today isn’t everything that once was. These are the remaining structures. And mi amigo, I need to express that the El Castillo cannot be climbed. We may look, but you no climb. There is no perimeter fence, but don’t get any sneaky ideas. This is how this location stays as one of the best-preserved sites known.”
And with that, we ventured along the massive grounds to explore the old city and relish in the place”s history.
From area to area, walking through the columns in the temple of warriors, I look closely at the carvings in the stones and feel the culture of the Mayans. Feeling very insignificant in my place in this world as men like me built these large structures with their bare hands.
Jorge and I get back into his vehicle once the tour was over, and we drove down the road.
“I forgot to ask, and honestly, am ashamed to admit, but what does Chichen Itza mean?”
“Ah yes. Chichen Itza means At the Mouth of the Well of Itza. One way to think of the word Itza is the enchanter of water.”
“Thank you, Jorge. Thank you for today. That was a gorgeous day today.”
“Agreed. It’s always a beautiful day at Chichen Itza, I say. Mucho beautiful landscape.”
“Indeed.”
We made small talk the rest of the way to downtown Tulum, and after tipping him and giving our farewells, I wandered around until I found a restaurant that sounded perfect, serving Thai food. I take a seat at one of the long tables and place my phone face down on the tabletop.
“My name is Azeal. I will serve you today. Here is your menu. I shall return in a few moments to take your order. Will anyone be joining you here today?” he asks robotically.
“No sir, thank you. Just me.” I browse the menu and decide on the satay chicken, dumplings, and fresh spring rolls. I wanted to eat more, but I wanted to make sure I saved room for dinner at the resort.
I ordered a Michelado and looked around the small restaurant. The bar area had swings for seats and the tables were low and long and better than that. Most of the day is gone and I reflect on what I saw and learned today. Traveling is one of my favorite things. It always helps me feel refreshed, as if I’m purging a year’s worth of frustrations, then upon returning home, I can start fresh.
I’ve always traveled solo. I wasn’t one to depend on someone’s timelines aside from my own, and I preferred it that way. Except a part of me wants to enjoy exploring the sights with someone else, that someone, namely Emily.
There’s just something about her that’s intoxicating. I want to spend as much time with her as possible, especially since as she so eloquently put it over dinner last night, she’s just looking for a good time and that appears would be me. I’m okay with a fling. I will most likely not have enough time for anything resembling a relationship once I get back to San Diego, since I will be starting a new job. Hell, an even better position than I held before. But it would be nice to come home to someone who knows what they want in life, and not some chick who likely has daddy issues.
That’s assuming that Emily isn’t crazy.
A note is tapedto my room door upon returning from my day. I never shared which room I was in, especially after seeing Emily’s massive room and feeling a little inadequate in my travel arrangements, but she found me.
Dinner tonight? Meet me at La Cucina at seven.
-E
I’m only here a week,might as well fill my time as much as possible with this enchanting woman, who knows what she wants.
And apparently, that’s me.
I’m still trying to get my breaths back as I push myself up on the couch and smile at him. I like this guy. He’s fun.