Mexico Day 1 & 2: Cancun

For the first two days, we had the more or less quintessential Cancun spring break experience....well, we tried but we were too old. We watched other people have it. But we did spend $50 on tacos. And here you see us drinking $10 margaritas. When a margarita in Mexico costs $10 you gotta drink it like you mean it. Wearing a paper shark hat.

We stayed at a modest (ghetto?) hotel right across the street from the place where the ferries take off for Isla Mujeres. There was a pool that we didn't swim in. We bought a bottle of Bacardi and a pair of sunglasses from the store downstairs, and had a couple of very lovely breakfasts. There was a public beach within walking distance, where Chris ate mango and I ate coconut and we took turns sitting in the shallow water...

Mexico Day 3 & 4: Isla Mujeres

On Isla Mujeres we accidentally caught a sunset from the beach while drinking free margaritas and being serenaded with boleros. Sometimes you're just in the right place at the right time. I'm not sure which parts of the island I want to chronicle, and which would better be forgotten. For example, part of me doesn't want to mention the bedbug situation at the Caracol hotel, but then part of me is pretty sure I won't ever ever ever forget it.



Oh, it felt sooooo goooood to get out of Cancun! Would I like to live on an island, I wonder? I sure do like the feeling of being on an island, though I've never done it for longer than a week. We didn't find a boat to sail on, so Chris had to be content with the ferry ride. Sorry, darlin.


Crazy bridge is way funner when you're on an island. Live music was playing right there next to the hotel, with all the cute bars and so we had to go down and have some drinks and play some cards both nights we stayed there. Here you see my poker face, which aspired to be a cross between seductive and cunning. Unfortunately, I was drunk, so it just looks like I'm drunk. Above that picture is the one where I captured Chris's reaction to my poker face. I'd hoped it would be a cross between intimidation and intrigue, but I think he was just laughing at me.
There's that beautiful water/sand combo that keeps me hanging on. It turns out that on the beach, the color of a white person's skin after a long winter is THE PERFECT camouflage. When I stepped into the water, my feet completely disappeared.

Mexico Day 5 & 6: Tulum

Sometimes you have to learn a lesson more than once. The first time I ever went to Tulum, a million years ago, I decided that it was my favorite place on earth and I wished that I had gotten there earlier. Well, we arrived at Tulum this time with two days left of our trip, and I remembered that it was my favorite place on earth, and wished that I had gotten there earlier. Live and learn and live and learn.

Tulum is built up way far down the beach from the ruins, with everything from little campgrounds to enormous, expensive-looking resorts. There are lots of eco-chic resorts (we stayed in one), although it's not clear what that really means. There were also some places that taught stunt-kite lessons, and there were yoga resorts. The vibe was kind of hippie-alternative but definitely was also geared for people with some money. I wouldn't say that any of the development has spoiled the beauty of the place, though. Maybe that's what they mean by eco-chic.


We took a long walk way up the beach to this little town with this restaurant that had so many all-different-colored chairs. It was extra pretty because it was on the beach. So we had a drink before walking back. I think the reason that there are so many ads that show people drinking on beaches is because there is no better combination anywhere in the universe than drinks and beaches. I wonder why I still don't live on a beach. I wonder how much longer I'll have to wait.

We stayed at the loveliest place on the beach. The cabin had a king-size bed suspended from ropes, amazing view, a hammock on the porch, and lots and lots of really hot water. The restaurant was overpriced but beautiful. I love eating outside. And I love falling asleep and waking up to the sound of waves crashing.



We walked through the ruins at Tulum, which has this crazy awesome beach that you can only get to by going through the ruins, and we didn't have our swimsuits on so we couldn't swim. We wouldn't have had time really anyway, because we had to get the rental car back that afternoon, and it was a good 2 or 3 hour drive back to Cancun.

As it was, we got the car back late, and then found a hostel for the night that was really close to the bus station. We had to catch a shuttle to the airport at 4 a.m., so it was all about staying close so that the early morning part would be as painless and streamlined as possible. It worked.

The last night in Mexico we ate in a little park that had food booths and vendors and tables and playground equipment and people -- lots of people! It felt really warm and vibrant and friendly, and about the closest thing to authentic, normal Mexico as we had gotten on the entire trip. There is such a difference between tourist Mexico and normal Mexico. I like both, in different ways. But that night we got to eat real food that was good and cheap and satisfying. I love Mexico!

I had the strange sensation on this trip that I was visiting home after a long time away. My heart feels good there. We had a layover in the Mexico City airport, and even that was sort of nostalgic for me. I thought I hated that airport, but I guess it's better when you know where to go to get free shots of tequila. I love Mexico!

Mangroves

Dos Playas Solo Una Mano

Beach in a Girl