We flew out of Buffalo and were happy to leave the cold and rainy weather behind. As we came upon the last leg of the flight and my motion sickness had finally subsided, I glanced out my window and was pleasantly surprised to witness the breathtaking view of the Gulf for the first time. The overwhelming hues of teal and cobalt fused together, forming this miraculous canvas that surged below us. It was as if we were frozen in time and discovered a portal where the ocean meets the sky, proving again that God has the best paintbrush.

Once we landed and made our way through customs, we were all anxious to disrobe our winter apparel and rush outside. As soon as we exited the airport we were greeted with the blinding sun and an overwhelming heat that instantly drew sweat down our brow. Our arrival was welcomed with a complimentary bottle of cold “agua” or a tempting can of “cerveza.” “Bienvenido a Mexico!”

The next few days consisted of crucial decisions like deciding whether to lay by the pool or swim in the ocean as the invigorating sun beat down on my freckled face. I had never seen water so blue and yet so clear. I was able to enjoy the next morning to myself, walking along the shore collecting seashells as the soothing sounds of the waves played like a soundtrack to rising of the sun.

I know many couples go to Cancun for a romantic getaway, but I was there with my family and didn’t think anything of it, until our first day off the resort. My sister walked hand-in-hand with my brother-in-law and I walked alongside my nephew. We were asked by a vendor if we were celebrating a double honeymoon. As we walked away, the realization of what was asked finally registered. Do they think I’m on a honeymoon with my nephew; my 17-YEAR-OLD NEPHEW? I know they didn’t actually know or think he was my teenage nephew, but the whole thing creeped me out. And that was just the beginning.

I didn’t think it was strange for us to share a room as we had separate beds. But the next few days had me wondering if word got out that I was a cougar on vacation with my high school boyfriend. Every day we would come back to our room with a new romantic display. If it wasn’t towels in the shape of kissing swans, it was our bedspreads in the shape of hearts or extra bubble bath for the patio tub. My sister was even in shock as her and her husband didn’t get a single towel sculpture or trace of bath decor when we each left the same tip each time. We laughed it off and headed down to the endless taco bar before we made our way back to the pool.

Fun fact: margaritas from Mexico are a girl’s best friend. Of course it helps when they’re being served endlessly to you poolside by a cute cabana boy. That; and they surprisingly help distract from the glares of people assuming you’re a cougar hiding your love affair with your teenage boyfriend you clearly must have smuggled in from the states. But enough about my misrepresentation in a foreign land. In my next column I will dive into the real Mexican adventures I experienced; like how I explored the Mayan Ruins and trekked barefoot down 90 jagged steps of slippery limestone to swim in a sinkhole in the Yucatan.

I encourage everyone to step outside of their comfort zone and emerge themselves in a new culture at least once a year. Mexico was unforgettable and a great bonding experience with my nephew, which has given us plenty of inside jokes to enjoy at future family gatherings. I’m not sure where the next adventure will be, but if anyone is in need of a last minute plus-one, I know a gal.