Politicians are a little like fire, if you choose to play with them, you’ll most likely get burned.  Myself, being ever the wise to the ways of Latin American “politicos” worlds, have always decided to steer clear of these types, apart from friendships and of course professional relationships.

Who knows what was going through my mind on this trip to Cancun and the months leading up to it, but I decided to take a slight plunge, not jumping in over my head or anything, but more of a dangling of my toes into the waters of an up and coming politico here in town.

In so many ways, I thought this one was different.  We started out as friends a while back, but more of professional friends, with mutual respect of each other’s careers, etc…but never having really opened up to one another on a personal level.

Then, little by little, in the upcoming months of planning this trip, we shared thoughts and interests, learned more about one another and found some nice commonalities, that were for me at least, enough to determine that there was actual interest there and not only interest in a hook up.  Therefore making the decision to cross that forbidden line and allow myself to see if there was some real potential there beyond friendship, and make some plans to better get to know this friend over my two weeks in the state of Quintana Roo.

Of course I entered with precaution, having been less than a month off of a failed rendezvous with one Balkan superstar, I didn’t want to repeat history in such a short time.   So, as I arrived into Cancun and attended the Secrets The Vine grand opening cocktail party one evening, I brushed off the excessive compliments of industry colleagues at the event, knowing that I was a bit more dressed than my typical poolside cocktail party attire, but ready for my friend who would be picking me up later.

We had the loveliest dinner at Cennacolo, lingering over wine, sharing plates of pasta and offering those impactful yet entertaining stories of our formative years, in a way to better get to know one another.  Eventually, closing down the restaurant, so deciding that it wasn’t too late to continue on over some more wine and breathtaking views of Cancun and the lagoon from my balcony at Secrets.

So, where exactly did things go wrong?  Well, I’m not fully certain they have, but just have that instinctual feeling that had grown in the days following.  We shared a wonderful time together, playfully kissing, establishing a decent sense of compatibility long before real trust could set in and acting upon the undeniable chemistry.  However, with each additional meet up, our interactions began to feel more like being out with a group of friends.  Whether grabbing drinks beachside at the Hard Rock Café outdoor lounge or dancing until nearly dawn at Coco Bongo, a distance was noted.

Original plans made for a road trip to one of the area’s more rustic and exotic destinations, Tulum, have been shouldered due to “scheduling”, which in my mind meant make my own plans with other friends.

Making a little “Travel Lemonade” out of my situation, I decided to enjoy a few extra days of basking in luxury at Le Blanc Spa Resort.  Life could definitely be worse, and a little pampering, along with the beautiful sun and beach was the perfect dosage for any ailment of the heart.

Not being the type to wait around on anyone, especially at the cost of missing out on somewhere I’ve wanted to explore for a years, I set my plans for Tulum, with or without my politico friend, well…actually without, as it’s now become a much needed “Girls Trip”.  If he chooses to show up and crash the ladies party, or arrange some other plans in the remainder of my days in Cancun, he’d be more than welcome, and perhaps that would lead to a Chapter II for Cancun, but for now, I’m thinking I have my answer and it’s not necessarily the one I was hoping for.

Regardless, this burn isn’t deep, it’s more like a minor sunburn, that has already started turning to tan, but the tan will remain beyond my stay in Mexico as my little reminder for future reference not to play with fire.  So, now, as I’m watching the evening entertainment of fire dancers at Le Blanc, with a “Perfect Mexican Martini” created by their Chief Mixologist, Nestor, I can say clearly that the only playing with fire that I’ll be doing in my future will be via the entertainment of these native dancers.

Stay tuned…

The Fall has officially kicked off, daylight savings coming to an end, Halloween right around the corner and before you know it Thanksgiving will be here.  With the chilly fall winds rolling in the the summer sun packing it’s bags for the south for the next 8 months, I’m sharing with you a little secret of mine to keep things warm and spicy during this festive season.

No, I’m not talking about wearing a reindeer sweater and Christmas light earrings, nor eating myself into a massive food induced coma on Thanksgiving.

This festive little treat is spicy enough to keep you warm during a snowstorm and strong enough to infuse a little unexpected action into any holiday party.

Having first tried The Perfect Mexican Martini, my last day in Los Cabos, back in March, I knew I had to recreate this “too good to be legal” libation for my friends and family in The States.  So, recently, spending time in Cancun, I was on a mission to perfect the recipe, having succeeded thanks to the help of Mixologist and Bar Manager at Le Blanc Spa Resort, Nestor Can Jones.

Now, in traditional Holiday spirit, I’m on another mission to spread the joy of the season by sharing the fun and spicing things up a little.

Go ahead and try to make The Perfect Mexican Martini for the signature drink at your holiday soiree.  Before the end of the evening, it will soon become the most popular guest at the party, even if you do choose to re-name it with some kooky theme drink title…on that note…here’s one that I think would fit perfectly “Santa’s Little Senorita”.

Once you’ve sampled a few, and gotten a little “roasty toasty” yourself, feel free share with me the name you’d give to The Perfect Mexican Martini’s that you’ll be serving to your guests.

Cheers!

For nearly as long as I can remember, I’ve always viewed my life’s activities in increments of outfits, accessories and looks to go with each occasion, no matter how grand or small.

Any shopping sprees over the course of my adult years have been followed up with returning home to try on each new purchase, paired with the perfect shoes and accessories while dancing around in front of the full length mirror to a catchy play list and downing a bottle of wine.

So, when my frequency of travel began to pick up a few years back, I realized that I would no longer have the luxury of a custom designed walk-in closet where I could play weekly “dress ups”, and rather had to adapt my slave to fashion lifestyle into the contents of a 50 pound bag…well, that is a bit of a stretch, as honestly, I do receive my fair share of Excessive Baggage fees.

Regardless, there was a major sacrifice being made on my part, instantly leaving my most fabulous platform wedges and stilettos at home due to sheer space restrictions and focusing more on the art of mix and match.  This alone however was not enough.

Being one who can often look into a bursting at the seams closet and feel like I have nothing to wear, I knew I had to create many options to express my sense of style, in order to merely maintain my sanity on the road.

Accessorizing has always been that key!  With a quick change from watch to bracelets, posts to dangle earrings, the mood of your outfit can instantly change.

Having encountered Braccialetti Cruciani back in April, I was able to take my color coordinated / mix and match travel wardrobe up a notch, by adding a couple or often many of these colorful lace bracelets.

They’re tiny enough to fit multiples in your suitcase and not sacrifice any space, yet when paired together, they can make quite the impactful statement piece on your wrist.  Falling into that “worry free” category of fashion, you don’t need to remove them for swimming, showering, etc….and the breakage factor is almost non-existent….something I welcome after having to replace many a statement piece of jewelry due to travel related damage.

If you’ve seen me since I left Umbria, Italy in late April, you’ll know that in addition to my 2 other daily staple wrist accessories that I literally never remove, my watch and my tiny diamond encrusted evil eye bracelet, I’ve been rocking two Cruciani Bracelets ever since.   The absolute best thing about these bracelets is that I don’t even need to take them off when passing through the airport security sensors.

Inspired by the many places that I’ve visited (the colors, the emotions the experiences), I’ve created a Cruciani Bracelet look that will keep your wrists looking chic and add a kick to any ensemble with ease.

Beginning December 1st, within each destination feature story, you’ll come across that destination’s inspired Gypsy Loves Cruciani look.   I’ve included a few snap shots of some of the looks that you’ll be finding throughout my site.  Can you guess which locations these are from? 

Try these ensembles out for your next trip or send me your own unique creations!  Just remember to stay in touch while I’m accessorizing my way around the world, one Cruciani Bracelet at a time.

It’s not everyday that I come accross two of my greatest loves, Fashion and Travel, in one place.

I’ve just spotted the Pack for Paradise contest launched by “luxury travel trendsetters” One&Only Resorts and the “chic online shopping experience” of My-Wardrobe.com.

Basically this is your chance to win a very Jetsetter Gypsy style experience!  From the exotic getaway for two to the One&Only paradise of your choice, to your own curated wardrobe from my-wardrobe.com worth £1,500 GBP

In an effort to share a slice of paradise with my friends, I’ve included a link via the Pack for Paradise image that will take you right to the contest entry page.

Having recently visited the One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos just a few months back, click through for a peek into what was packed in my bags.

Best of luck with your entry and remember to invite me along for the fun if you win!

Loves,

Gypsy

These days, I’m pretty certain that I know what I’m talking about when it comes to food, and Italian is one of my most frequented cuisines.  However, the greatest reassurance in knowing that I’m dining in the right place is when I’m with local friends or friends of that specific culture, and that’s exactly how I came across Restaurante La Locanda.

My first time dining here, I was invited by a local Italian friend, who has resided in Barcelona for half of his life, but still desires a taste of his home country.  Since developing this friendship, I’ve returned many times to La Locanda, with my Italian friends and without, always trying new things on their ample menu and often returning to many tried and true favorites.

Address:  Carrer Doctor Joaquin Pou, 4

Phone:  933 174 609

www.restaurantelalocanda.com