Mexico

Cancun

We arrived mid-afternoon to Cancun and managed to get a bus downtown. After spending some time trying to find our hostel we had booked online (usually I’m in charge of directions, but Luke’s now taking the reigns as he’s fluent in Spanish) we managed to come across it down a side street shortly after being told by someone else that it had closed down…sure! It was basic, but we felt like we were back to what we were used to, instead of the luxury of people’s homes over the last couple months.



Sombrero - how to fit in one's backpack...

After walking around the city, we came across a Walmart. I had forgotten how cheap things were! I had been to Mexico before 5 years ago…starting in Cancun (short lived due to the Icelandic volcano ash cloud stopping flights), then onto Merida and then Puerto Vallarta for a few weeks of volunteering. I had also forgotten how much I liked Mexico, with the laid back lifestyle, yummy food and friendly people.

For the 4 nights we were there, we ate at this square which had taco stall after taco stall, ice cream, churros, crepes, and some lively music and dancing. It was a great feel, and the food was delicious…tostadas piled high with salsa, chillies and flaking tender meat. Obviously it was beans and mushrooms for Luke (I feel like he’s punishing himself).

We hit the beach everyday for 3 days. The beaches on the hotel zone were beautiful, with clear waters and a blazing hot sun beating down on you. On the first day, we went for a quick snorkel and the first thing I spotted was a stingray right near my feet. Wouldn’t want a Steve Irwin moment there! There were beautifully coloured fish everywhere and it was quite a surprise nobody else was around.

On one of our days there, I was determined to go to Isla Mujeres. I didn’t last time, and knew that it was stunning and a must. So we found a little minibus to take us to the port. It stopped after 5 minutes and everyone got off. We were expecting to find ourselves near the boat, but as Luke handed the driver the money before he drove off down the street and pulled up alongside all the other minibuses, we were piled into another…and he asked for the fare. Nobody else had paid the other guy, so Luke went off to find him and get our money back. Luke popped back from up the street not having found him, and all the other drivers were gathered around having a smoke. They asked him what he wanted and Luke explained. Some of them marched down the street with Luke…and they eventually found this guy hiding between two walls and they all started shouting at him ‘give him his money back!’ So cheeky, but so funny… apparently he was looking pretty coy trying to hide away.

The ass and the donkey



We finally got to the port and boarded our boat. And we were off, across bright blue waters to the Island of Women!

It was stunning, with clear waters surrounding us, and the finest sand under our feet…under our hot feet, under our SCORCHING feet. Yep, it was that kind of hot…flip flops back on.

We struggled to find some shade but a Canadian woman let us stick our stuff under her umbrella whilst we went for a snorkel. Unfortunately the snorkelling was a little disappointing but we managed to find some little fish around and another stingray.



Isla de Mujeres (web thief)



 

On the last day we headed further down the hotel zone to Delphine beach where the waves hit us full force. After a mature seaweed fight and burying Luke in the sand up to his head for the first time (tell me about…deprived at childhood), we had some Modelo beers further along the beach and watched the sun go down.

And that was Mexico! I have to say, I much preferred Cancun this time rather than when I came over 5 years ago…I think it was staying in the city centre rather than the hotel strip- it gave me more of a sense of what I knew Mexico as from the other places I had been before.

The next morning we headed to the airport to catch our flight. After a bit of a blonde moment (no offence Caroline) of messing up my Cuba tourist card and having to purchase another one, we were off again!  
A note about the photos...as everyone knows, when you're on beaches all day, the cameras usually get left at the hotels. So the beach pictures are unfortunately from the internet (but yes the waters are that blue). And yes, unfortunately the donkey picture did happen at the airport- much to people's amusement.
 


Cancun hotel beaches