Viva Mexico

I already mentioned the hardships I had in leaving Cuba. I eventually flew back into Cancun, and then took the bus to Playa Del Carmen - arriving several hours later than I intended. Luckily the hostel was right opposite the bus station, so it took no effort to find. Playa is like a mini-Cancun. One of Doro's friends told her that Playa is amazing - saying that Cancun is like Miami and Playa is like Venice. Well I haven't been to Venice, but that info must be 10 years old because Playa is tourist central. I mean, you can pay for everything in dollars - i.e. prices aren't displayed in pesos, you have to ask them to convert the prices. And all the shops around are selling touristy stuff, from handicrafts to overpriced tequila to generic drugs (e.g. Viagra). I used Playa as a base to check out some of ruins. I've wanted to see the Yucatan ruins ever since my last trip to Mexico. So the town served its purpose - good transport links, it's still a town so you can walk a couple of blocks and be in (a more) authentic Mexico, and as it's smaller, there are fewer places where people can go out => more fun. This is different to Cancun where the action takes place in and around the monster hotel strip. So it was OK. The hostel was cool though, on the rooftop you would overlook the beach, so many a night was spent up there downing Mexican beers whilst watching the sunset with various random tourists. After a few days of going out in Playa, I seemed to know lots of people. Actually it was really quiet then apparently (it was busy enough) - because peak season had just finished. Apparently it was absolutely insane two weeks earlier. I rearranged my trip so that I would be there in off-peak times, because I'd planned to be hoteling it up. Had I known I'd be in hostels, I probably would have gone during the more 'fun' times (as people described it)

Bienvenido a Playa (Golden Arches and Beer)

Hostel rooftop - early morn

I checked out some cool things. The first day I hit Cozumel, which is an island off the coast with the world's second largest barrier reef (we all know who gets first place). I went on a snorkelling tour there which was awesome. The guides took us around in a glass bottom boat, and we'd go in, check out some awesome marine life, get back out, have beers, and move on. There weren't THAT many fish, I mean I've seen more back home, and in Thailand. But apparently after the devastation of hurricanes the reef is only now starting to attract life again. It was still awesome, especially when you see the pier that was destroyed in the storm. An amusing story, the pier withstood a hurricane, so it was awarded a prize for being so awesome and strong. Then it was completely destroyed by the next hurricane. The water was soooooo blue.

I went on a tour to the amazing Chichen Itza, if you could still climb up/go inside it, it might have pipped my favourite ruins ever - Teotihuacán. But apparently some lady died up there, and people were defacing the structure so they closed it only six months prior. Although a large complex, the main feature was the pyramid as below. It was all setup so it would amplify noise by reflecting sound off the other structures (you can clap and hear it ricochet). Apparently on the solstice, the light hits the pyramid in such a way to illuminate it such that a snake's body appears on the side. I've seen some photos of it, looks really cool. Mayan culture is interesting, and the guide went for some time, explaining all the stories and rituals. Probably you've heard about the ball game, well there is debate as to whether it was the captain of the winning team, the losing team, or some political prisoners (fighters from warring groups) that were sacrificed at the end of the match. Chichen was well worth it. The tour also involved a trip to a cenote, which are basically underground water-holes which were developed by water trickling through the limestone ground above. So it's like a natural underground reservoir, with lots of stalactites stalagmites etc. Pretty amazing. You can swim in them etc - and if you scuba, you can actually dive in them, between them etc. I so need a dive ticket!

Breathtaking Chichen Itza

Cenote - roots of a tree into the water

I also went to the place I'd wanted to see for so long - Tulum. This is a set of Mayan ruins on a cliff overlooking this amazing tropical beach. Simply breathtaking - my photos don't do it justice. I really wanted a tour, but the price was per group, so I tagged along with some dorky old Americans. Towards the end of the tour they mentioned they were Mormon. Unbelievably, the guide (who's Dad was the first guide of Tulum, and now she runs the family business) was Mormon too, so they went on talking about how the Mayan culture fits perfectly with the book of Mormon. Haha I didn't get converted (they've already tried once and failed - thanks Smudgieeeeeeeeeee), but their ideas were interesting. But that took up so much time that I think we missed out on some of the actual tour. Also the Americans were too fat and wanted to stop early cause they couldn't walk much? I don't care - Tulum is amazing, standing on the beach and looking up at the ruins, very cool.

Ruins on the beach - Tulum

Playa del Carmen was really fun. I met up with a mate of Kelly's Arturo. Kelly did a English teaching course in Playa, and met Arturo whilst over there. He is a journalist for the local paper there, and an awesome guy. He's such a ladies man, muy suave - and in typical latino style telling me how he loves women, but how in Playa they always leave. Oye amor! ? Also, kinda randomly, many people said that we look like brothers. It doesn't really look like it in photos, but in real-life I could see it, maybe even dress wise etc. As he lives there, he knows tons of people. I met quite a few of his mates, many of them working on the strip. He also knows ppl at clubs so we managed to get into a few places for free, or at least some discounts. So we checked out a few places. The first night we were both already smashed before we met up, but I think he was worse cos he got escorted out of the club by security (much to the shame of his mate working there who got us in for free:). He doesn't remember it but it was funny, like a glass smashed and everyone was freaking out. Other nights we had a blast. One night we downed some beers and then went to a salsa club - though I can't salsa, especially not like these guys. Actually some German guy was sad cos his sort-of girlfriend & travel partner was getting wooed by some Mexican guys, AND it was his birthday and all! So he gave me a wad of cash and goes - "ahhh go buy some beer!". Yes sir :) Good times. Most nights, I ended up at the main 'popular' club there, the Blue Parrot, which is a club right on the beach, complete with sand and rope swings. It's pretty cheesy - but fun. Well, fun enough. It seemed everyone went there - like I'd bump into people I knew from the hostel, and even caught up with some awesome Sicilians who I met on tour.

Crew @ the Blue Parrot

Arturo y yo

The beaches are pretty amazing. Warm water and tropical. I dunno - Perth beaches are probably a bit nicer, but the water is warmer here. I spent lots of time this trip chilling out on a coast - something I miss so much in landlocked Cam.... Oh and Mexican food tastes SOOOOOO good after a couple of weeks of bland Cuban cuisine. I had pozole like 3 times that week. Sooo good. Damn Playa was a sweet way to end the trip.

Photos Aqui