Meghan Markle and her time in Mexico
The Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle has been fond of Mexico since her childhood, so much so that she considered choosing one of its beaches for her honeymoon with Harry.
Before becoming Duchess of Sussex, then-actress Meghan Markle even wrote in her blog The Tig that her favorite country in the world was Mexico, thanks to its colorful celebrations and beaches. "I am often asked about my favorite places in the world, and no conversation occurs that does not mention my beloved Mexico," wrote Markle, who even contemplated the beaches of the Riviera Maya as a possible destination for her honeymoon after her wedding to Prince Harry.
The first time she visited the country was during her childhood, but later, thanks to the proximity to Los Angeles, California - where she lived for many years - she and her mother often crossed the border to enjoy the landscape and the different festivities that are celebrated throughout the year. One of her favorites is the Day of the Dead in Oaxaca, which takes place between the end of October and the first two days of November.
With her friends, she also often visited two of her favorite beaches: Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco and Tulum in Quintana Roo, a destination that was among the possible candidates for her honeymoon. The last record of Markle's visit to Mexico was in 2016 when she visited Tulum and stayed at the Coqui Coqui hotel, which she referred to in a commentary.
"Bleached in bedding and natural fibers, this stunning boutique hotel, and small beachfront retreat is surrounded by palm trees and bougainvillea, a perfect nesting site for your Tulum vacation. Stay in room six or seven for an oceanfront view and order cocktails in your private courtyard. Try the mixed ceviche and agua refrescante (mixed with cucumber, mint, and chlorophyll), and enjoy it while relaxing in a hammock and watching the Caribbean Sea lap at your feet. I was quite happy here," she published in her now-defunct Instagram account.
In her blog, the duchess published many images she took with friends during trips to Mexico, such as swimming at the beach and eating the local cuisine. As an enthusiastic self-taught person, she offered her readers the best places to eat, stay and visit in a series of photos that are no longer available as she closed her blog and all her social networks before the wedding.
However, some media, such as People magazine and the British Sunday Express, rescued some of the duchess' passages through Mexico, where she liked to swim in the sea, sunbathe on the beach and eat local dishes. According to People, she also considers it a good place for beauty treatments.
"Always a fan of skincare, Meghan loved the Mayan clay treatments available in Tulum, yoga on the beach, and touring the local ruins of Chichen Itza," she said in 2018.
Her father, Thomas, lives in Rosarito, Baja California, but there is no record of her ever visiting him. However, the Sunday Express believes that thanks to her affection for the country, she could influence Prince Harry to make an official visit soon or at least choose the country as a holiday destination.
The Mexican town that Meghan Markle's dad made famous around the world
Meghan Markle's life changed drastically when she married Prince Harry of England in 2018, and the routine of the locals in Mexico where her father lives also shook ever since. The American Thomas Markle lives his retirement in the exclusive San Antonio del Mar subdivision in Rosarito, Baja California, north of the Mexican Republic.
With the scandal of the bad relationship between father and daughter, several English media followed the father-in-law of the prince to capture him in his daily life in Mexico. According to the British newspaper Daily Mail, he planned some photos where he saw his daughter in a computer of a local cybercafe. The 'staging' that Thomas Markle prepared with the paparazzi involved local merchants from the city with the least population in the state of Baja California.
When Markle measured suits at a tailor shop, he chose a 17-year-old employee to take action, even though the young man did not know how to do it. "As I could, I measured it, while the other person went away and took the pictures, I feel they came more for the photos than for anything else, because he never came back," David Florez told AFP. "I do not know if it attracts more tourism, but at least Rosarito is better known," said the young man who was involuntarily photographed.
Where in Mexico is Rosarito?
The presence of Mr. Markle put Rosarito on the map and the inhabitants celebrated that the small city was on the news, and not because of insecurity. "I think that shows that Rosarito is not dangerous as they say, also here comes to rest famous people and I think that can bring us more tourism," said a young receptionist to AFP.
Rosarito at the head of the municipality of Playas de Rosarito, located on the Pacific coast of the Baja California peninsula. With a Mediterranean climate, it is famous for its tourist developments, beaches where you can surf, nightlife in the downtown area, and attractions such as the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ.
Rosarito was chosen in 1997 by Fox Studios when the studio bought a lot by the sea where they filmed "Titanic" by James Cameron. Dozens of Mexicans worked as extras in the legendary film, but the place was abandoned years later.
