Playa Del Carmen - Day 9.

The end!  Our last day of our adults only holiday in paradise.  We decided this was to be a lazy day with some shopping for souvenirs and trinkets.

To start the day, Bill & Pam head off for a Starbucks run.  Water beckons and there is no Sargussum today.  After a good soak, Bill & Pam are still awol, and Brenda and I head off for our own Starbucks run.  The day is hot!

Upon returning to the condo, its back into the water, for everyone.  It is so much nicer in the ocean or pool.  Pamela, Cecilia and Brenda are out on the floaties.  Bill sets down on a lounger and listens to music.  The pool is full of vacationers, but it is a refreshing spot after the salt of the sea.

After 6 we think of heading out to find our last meal, but Bill seems to have an ear issue!

After a dose of contact eye cleaner, its not much better, but he toughs it out and we head off in search of a good meal.

We settle on a little Italian place called Romeo.

The restaurant is hot, beer is cold and the food is pretty good!

After dinner, we stroll along 5th Ave, shopping for souvenirs and working off dinner.  

A fine end to the trip.  Good companions, good location, food and fun!  Next time, Alicante Spain or Mendoza Argentina!

Playa Del Carmen - Day 8

Today was our designated rest day.   Which basically means no out trips.  We had a lazy morning, with  ham and cheese omelets, tea or coffee and toast.   Ceclia went for a run, after we tried to figure out her music, and that ever confusing icloud...who really understands that darn icloud anyway?

The girls and Bill went to get drinks at the nearby Starbucks, while I tried to contact AMEX to pay my bill.   There is no easy way to contact AMEX from Mexico.   No numbers, no email, even my app failed!

Decided to try our snorkel and masks in the ocean out front of the unit.   Bill and I have Santiago set us up with a couple of chairs and an umbrella.   We fight our way through the Sargusum seawead, and into the surf.  We swim around for a while, but there is nothing to see in the sea (too murky).  Pam and Brenda come out with their floaties, and Cec puts down her book for a bit to cool off in the surf.  

At around 2 we are a little peckish and head in for some snacks.   Bill is the master nacho chef and creates a three layer masterpeice with chips, ham and cheese.  

After the meal, we decide to talk a long walk toward and past the ferry terminal.   We head off toward the setting sun, walking along the shoreline checking out the surf, mega resorts, luxury homes and all manner of people.  

This stretch of the beach is nice.  

Back at the unit, Bill engages in a nice (and long) conversation with our neighbour, Ted and Z.  Pamela decides she better go out and see what she can learn.   The ladies are relieved to learn that Z is only 34 years old! (20 yrs younger than Ted).

We all get showered and changed, and head up past 5th Ave in search of an Argentinian restaurant that Cecilia had seen online.  We can't remember the name of the place or the street it is on!  Cecilia thinks she sees it, but it is tiny, and the only table is full.  We press on.   As we round the corner, we see a hotel, and next to it, an open restaurant with several people on the patio.   It is colorful and lively, so we check out the menu.  La Brocherie. The owner walks up and introduces himself....he is french, what?  He tells us his story, and explains the process of his chicken.  He marinades in pineapple then adds herbs under the skin, he then puts the skin back on and bakes.  We all order the chicken and savory rice with salads for some.   Fabien is a friendly host and his mom, who helps out is engaging and genuine.   The food was fabulous and the atmosphere fun.  

After dinner, we walk along 5the Ave.  It is hot, there is no wind along the street tonight.  We stop in stores, more for the A/C than the goods.

We head back to the unit, for the night, and rest for our last day in Playa!

Playa Del Carmen - Day 7

Today we are off on an excursion.  Our Tulum avdenture!   We have three stops planned today.   They include Tulum ruins, Sac Actun Cenote and Akumal Beach.   Our driver for the day is Carlos.  He was a dive instructor off Cozumel for 22 years.  He is friendly, talkative and offers history lessons as well as advice on where to go and what to do!   At 9 am we are off and heading to our first stop...the Tulum Ruins.  We arrive shortly after 10 am, and the place. Is hopping busy already.   Seems everyone wants to beat the heat of the day...bad news, it is already HOT,

The ruins are impressive, but the backdrop of the blue ocean is what makes them special.   There are lots of lookouts where you can stop and see the ocean, then turn and look at the sprawling Mayan ruins.  Many people are in tour groups, but they just clog up the paths.  We press onward.

We have a bit of fun with Bill, as he has left the remote for his selfie stick at the unit.  It is rather fun to watch him try to get the timer to work, while standing in the blazing sun.   There are lizards everywhere, but they know how to avoid the tourists and stay just off the pathways in the no go zones.  Almost as impressive as the ruins are the people.  Watching them pose in front of the view, or scamper around is is quite entertaining.

We spend about 90 minutes wandering around looking at the various ancient buildings, learning a bit about the Mayans who lived here, and the eco system at the time.  Then it is back to Carlos and the A/C van!   We are all hungry, so we ask Carlos to take us to an inexpensive, authentic eatery.   He tells us of a roadside place, where the food is good and cheap.   We stop at Las Gazuelas.   A family run open air eatery.  Tacos are the mainstay here, so we order a variety of fish, chicken, pork and beef.  Cole is the drink, and after biting into a taco with some substantial spice!

Next we are off to the cenote!   Carlos tells us, this is his favorite, and it involves underground caves and caverns.  We are off, and after a few miles on a dusty bumpy dirt road, we arrive at the Sac Actun Cenote!   We change into our swimming gear and meet our guide for the tour, Omar!   He tells us the tour is in Russian!  He is kidding, and his English is pretty good.   We make our way down a steep wooden staircase with half a dozen other adventurers.   A quick lesson on not touching the stalagmites, and we jump into the cool water.  It is very cool, and refreshing.   We bob about as our guide sets up and then we are off swimming as he shines a light on various formations both above and under water.  We head further in, and under ground.  The small passage open into a huge underground cavern.  The stalactites and stalagmites are amazing.  Our guide tells us these formations are thousands of years old.   We are very careful not to damage anything.  

Our guide takes us further into the cave, some ares the stalactites are so close to the water, you feel like you are going to be impaled.  The cave gets narrow and we inch our way through the formations. Into another wide open cavern.   Here there are bats!  They swoop around, as we have disturbed the few flying insects.  Others are just hanging in crevices in the cave ceiling.   

Our guide extends the tour, buy taking us though a maze of under ground corridors and tight openings. The only light is his flashlight, which he alternates above and below the water line.  The caves become a little spooky with shadows and images from our imagination.   Even more so, when you realize that you are 50 feet below the surface, in an underwater cave, with no idea of the exit!

To emphasis this, our guide gathers us in a small cavern and extinguishes the light.  There is a complete void of light.  We quickly realize that our only safety is our guide, and if he wished it, we would never find our way out of this watery tomb!  Fortunately, tourism is the business here, so we are safe!

Upon exiting the caves, our guide tells us they his boss once spent two days trapped in a newly discovered cenote!   Glad we didn't "discover" any new ones on this trip!

Carlos takes us to our next stop, Akumal Beach.  Bill and Pamela have been here before, so they offer some advice.  We rent some life jackets and wade out into the impossibly blue water in search of the Mayan turtles.  The girls are surprised as juvenile turtle breaches for air, right between them!   

There are massive turtles just a few feet below us, grazing on seaweed.   They don't seem to mind all the tourists splashing above them.   We see maybe a dozen of the creatures, even get to swim along with one as he searches for his next meal.   

We are all tired and satisfied, as Carlos bring us back to our unit.  He tells us we should walk 5th Ave, but for cheaper food and better deals on trinkets, head off 5th and go along 10th or higher. And always negotiate and pay in pesos!

A couple of hours of rest is in order, and we sit out on the deck, watching the beach goers.

Around 9, we decide to head off 5th to get a snack. We take Carlos advice, and find a little eatery off a side street.  Restaurant Brisas.   Again, we enjoy some tacos, cuba libras and cerveza.  Alil in, the cheapest meal, at about 240 pesos!   The girls get some ice cream (Bill too!).

Then back to the unit, and watch the Euro game between Germany and France.

All in all, a great day.

Playa Del Carmen - Day 7

Today we are off on an excursion.  Our Tulum avdenture!   We have three stops planned today.   They include Tulum ruins, Sac Actun Cenote and Akumal Beach.   Our driver for the day is Carlos.  He was a dive instructor off Cozumel for 22 years.  He is friendly, talkative and offers history lessons as well as advice on where to go and what to do!   At 9 am we are off and heading to our first stop...the Tulum Ruins.  We arrive shortly after 10 am, and the place. Is hopping busy already.   Seems everyone wants to beat the heat of the day...bad news, it is already HOT,

The ruins are impressive, but the backdrop of the blue ocean is what makes them special.   There are lots of lookouts where you can stop and see the ocean, then turn and look at the sprawling Mayan ruins.  Many people are in tour groups, but they just clog up the paths.  We press onward.

We have a bit of fun with Bill, as he has left the remote for his selfie stick at the unit.  It is rather fun to watch him try to get the timer to work, while standing in the blazing sun.   There are lizards everywhere, but they know how to avoid the tourists and stay just off the pathways in the no go zones.  Almost as impressive as the ruins are the people.  Watching them pose in front of the view, or scamper around is is quite entertaining.

We spend about 90 minutes wandering around looking at the various ancient buildings, learning a bit about the Mayans who lived here, and the eco system at the time.  Then it is back to Carlos and the A/C van!   We are all hungry, so we ask Carlos to take us to an inexpensive, authentic eatery.   He tells us of a roadside place, where the food is good and cheap.   We stop at Las Gazuelas.   A family run open air eatery.  Tacos are the mainstay here, so we order a variety of fish, chicken, pork and beef.  Cole is the drink, and after biting into a taco with some substantial spice!

Next we are off to the cenote!   Carlos tells us, this is his favorite, and it involves underground caves and caverns.  We are off, and after a few miles on a dusty bumpy dirt road, we arrive at the Sac Actun Cenote!   We change into our swimming gear and meet our guide for the tour, Omar!   He tells us the tour is in Russian!  He is kidding, and his English is pretty good.   We make our way down a steep wooden staircase with half a dozen other adventurers.   A quick lesson on not touching the stalagmites, and we jump into the cool water.  It is very cool, and refreshing.   We bob about as our guide sets up and then we are off swimming as he shines a light on various formations both above and under water.  We head further in, and under ground.  The small passage open into a huge underground cavern.  The stalactites and stalagmites are amazing.  Our guide tells us these formations are thousands of years old.   We are very careful not to damage anything.  

Our guide takes us further into the cave, some ares the stalactites are so close to the water, you feel like you are going to be impaled.  The cave gets narrow and we inch our way through the formations. Into another wide open cavern.   Here there are bats!  They swoop around, as we have disturbed the few flying insects.  Others are just hanging in crevices in the cave ceiling.   

Our guide extends the tour, buy taking us though a maze of under ground corridors and tight openings. The only light is his flashlight, which he alternates above and below the water line.  The caves become a little spooky with shadows and images from our imagination.   Even more so, when you realize that you are 50 feet below the surface, in an underwater cave, with no idea of the exit!

To emphasis this, our guide gathers us in a small cavern and extinguishes the light.  There is a complete void of light.  We quickly realize that our only safety is our guide, and if he wished it, we would never find our way out of this watery tomb!  Fortunately, tourism is the business here, so we are safe!

Upon exiting the caves, our guide tells us they his boss once spent two days trapped in a newly discovered cenote!   Glad we didn't "discover" any new ones on this trip!

Carlos takes us to our next stop, Akumal Beach.  Bill and Pamela have been here before, so they offer some advice.  We rent some life jackets and wade out into the impossibly blue water in search of the Mayan turtles.  The girls are surprised as juvenile turtle breaches for air, right between them!   

There are massive turtles just a few feet below us, grazing on seaweed.   They don't seem to mind all the tourists splashing above them.   We see maybe a dozen of the creatures, even get to swim along with one as he searches for his next meal.   

We are all tired and satisfied, as Carlos bring us back to our unit.  He tells us we should walk 5th Ave, but for cheaper food and better deals on trinkets, head off 5th and go along 10th or higher. And always negotiate and pay in pesos!

A couple of hours of rest is in order, and we sit out on the deck, watching the beach goers.

Around 9, we decide to head off 5th to get a snack. We take Carlos advice, and find a little eatery off a side street.  Restaurant Brisas.   Again, we enjoy some tacos, cuba libras and cerveza.  Alil in, the cheapest meal, at about 240 pesos!   The girls get some ice cream (Bill too!).

Then back to the unit, and watch the Euro game between Germany and France.

All in all, a great day.

Playa Del Carmen - Day 6

Today was a "rest day".  We started out with the girls heading out to Yoga....sorry no pictures over there!

Bill and I head out to Starbucks for a pick me up and light morning snack.  We were keen to see if the App would work down here....it does hooray.    Once back at the unit, and the girls back from their yoga, we head out for a brunch style breakfast. Bill has sussed out a place for some breakfast foods, and they usher us into a small "air conditioned" room....a bit cooler than the outside air.  It's "Restaurant Lacazota Grill".

We each order a drink, and some varieties of egg dishes.  The food is good, and the conversation lively.  We decide a trip back to Walmart is in order.  Off into the mid day sun we trek.   Interesting to note, the side streets off 5th Ave have many more shops and some better deals.

Off to Walmart....the air conditioned store was a welcome reilef. Shopping for various sundries again.

Back at the unit, it is a lazy day.  We flounder in the ocean.  Bill and Brenda try out the floaties they bought.  It is a bit if excitement just watching them try to get on the darn things! 

We watch the Euro Cup Portugal vs. Wales game, and Bills favorite player is the downfall of Wales. Not a very exciting game, but a nice reprieve from the mid day sun.   The afternoon is spent splashing in the pool, and getting to know our neighbour. They are owners of two units here and hail from Arizona.  They have been here a month and have two weeks to go!

The evening we went to Fusion, finally.  There is a three girl band and we settle into a beach front table to enjoy the night sky.   The band is good, and the food ok, but the view is spectacular.   There is even a fire show to end the night.

Tomorrow Tulum!

Playa Del Carmen - Day 5

Today was to be our first real excursion day.  We are up early and preparing to catch the ferry to Cozumel.  The girls had sussed out the costs with a few of the local vendors the day before, and knew the best kiosk to get our tickets.

At the ferry terminal we are bombarded with vendors offering tickets to any number of excursions, each claiming they have the best prices. But we have the goods and find our man Marco, who sets us up with five tickets for snorkeling and a discount on the ferry crossing.  We line up for the Catamaran with about 50 other adventure seekers.

The trip across is about 30 minutes an a little rocky.  The Catamaran is a bit wobbly in the surf.  But the breeze is nice and the view is pleasant.

Once off the ferry, we get across the terminal bridge in search of our snorkeling charter. No easy task as two boat loads of people are off and anxious to get started too.   Bill is in the lead, as he marshals us onward to meet our 11 am deadline!  Upon arrival, we learn that we have to wait for more of the passengers to arrive. So we cross the street to wait in the shade...the sun is beating down today. When we finally pile into the boat there are 20 of us, and we blast off to the first of three reef visits. 

Captain Omar is cautious at the helm, as we have a full boat and the waves a bit choppy.   The Dive instructor goes through the general welcome and advises the best way to get your snorkel and mask on.  There are a few novices to snorkeling (and judging by the angry red sunburns, they are new to the Mexican Peninsula!)  At our first drop spot, Bill is the eager beaver and launches in to the sea behind our guide. I am next, but as I hit the water, my cap and mask come shooting off.  A few tense moments as I am not sure which to save....the mask starts to sink, so both myself and the guide dive to retrieve it (I got it!). So snorkeling without my hat - not good!

Everyone in the water, we are off to see the fishes!

There are lots to see, and Pamela tries to catch a few! 

We all load back into the boat and head off to the next reef.  A shallow spot further up the coast.  

This spot is a bit better, with many colorful fish.  The dive master has a secret though...he has bits of fish food in his pockets!  The fish swarm around and everyone is clicking away.   

Onward to the last dive spot. A deeper area, with some heavy waves.   This spot doesn't have as many fish, but the ones that are there are dark and colorful.   Bill decides to have some fun on his entry!

After the dive, it is Cervezas and music on our way back to the dock.  Our Captain stops at a side of the beach to point out a restaurant and promises the best Lobster you've ever had.  They have showers there as well as a free drink if you mention his name.  We decide the offer of a rinse is too good to pass up, so we make out way to the little yellow building (Toro's Place).  It is not much to look at, and is pretty much deserted, so we are a little leery.  Everyone cleans up and we decide to stay and give it a try.   We order some share plates and get our free Margaritas!   

The food is pretty good.  We share a dozen soft tacos (the Lobster Taco's were the best!) and enjoy the open atmosphere.  Bill can't finish his Margarita, too strong for him!

After lunch we hit the streets of Cozumel.  Looking for shops and more adventure.  Unfortunately, the water activities and blazing heat has taken our adventure and we stumble from shaded areas to A/C shops trying to muster the energy to shop.  In the end, we decide to catch the 4 pm ferry back to the mainland, so we say goodbye to Cozumel.

Playa Del Carmen - Day 4

Happy 4th of July to our US friends.  We decided, through no real discussion, that today was going to be a lazy day.   Upon waking up, I discovered Bill already up, and getting ready for a run...is this the first sign of the apocalypse?  Bill up before 8 am?

I had thoughts of a run, but they were brief and fleeting!  The girls would rise and we would have a lazy morning of scrambled eggs fresh fruit and coffee or tea.  Sitting out on the deck, the beach is pretty much empty, and there is a fair amount of sea weed washing up ashore.  A quick google search indicates, this as "Sargassum Seaweed".   Apparently 2015 was a bad year, but so far 2016 has been mostly clear of the stuff.  The staff is diligently raking, but it seems to be a losing battle.  This stuff comes from the Sea of Sargasso, just beyond the Bermuda Triangle. It's a vast area of free foating seaweed, which sometimes breaks free and carries with the winds and current.

After breakfast the ladies decide to go for a walk, and I join them.  Bill stays back and searches out a Starbucks for a "real coffee".  The walk is pleasant, but begins to get warm as the clouds start to burn off.  The drying seaweed has a distinct odour, which isn't all together pleasant.  But the sea is beautiful and the company equally so.   

On the way back, I decide to jog.  Barefeet, and in the heat.   Started out fast, but about a mile in, decided to cut it back to an easy jog....it was just to hot!   People sitting in loungers looked at me like I was an escapee from a nut house!  Note to self; jog early in the day, when it is marginally cooler!

A dip in th pool was in order, as the shore was invaded by Sargassum!   The pool had been cooled down a few degrees and was a wonderful reprieve from the heat and sun.   After a couple of hours in the pool, we enjoy a loght lunch on the deck.  Relaxation was the job of today.  

Suddenly some loud booms are heard across the sea, then a loud crash overhead and the once sunny skies open up into a torrential downpour.  We scurry inside with our food and gear, to watch the wind drive the rain all over the deck and windows.  

Fortunately the rain doesn't last long, and the day dries out again,   Earlier, while in the pool, we met a couple from Colorado, and another from Dallas.  They tell us of a place called "Plank", where the food is great and the steak pretty darn good too.  You know it must be when a Texan tells you the steak is good!

We put on some dinner clothes and head up 5th Ave to check it out. 

Despite finding Plank, we decide we are not in the mood for a heavy meal tonight, and we venture on.

There are so many choices along the Avenue.   We settle on a small place called La Fisheria.   The staff is friendly and the food was tastey.   Portions were a little more manageable as well.   Brenda orders the Octopus dish, while the rest of us take the servers recommendation.  I got a fish dish, which I cannot pronounce, but our server says it's her favorite.  And it is pretty good.

Our post meal ritual of walking and exoloring 5th Ave helps us work off the calories.  There us so much to see and do.  An earlier evening tonight, we are back at the unit before 10.  The daily activities tiring us out.  

Oh, on a side note, SUNSCREEN is your friend! Bill!

 

Playa Del Carmen - Day 3

Another glorious day in paradise.  Morning rituals are; up at 8 ish, sit on the balcony ( in the blazing heat - even in the shade), sip some tea, and watch the staff ready the beach, while a few early risers walk by.  Today, the group was up around 10, and a light breakfast of hard boiled eggs, toast and fresh fruit was on the menu.   By around 11:30, we decided to go for a walk down the beach.  We headed south east into the sun, walking along the shore. A couple of hundred feet down, we start to see the bigger resorts, dozens of beach chairs, canopies and huts out on the beach are just starting to fill up with vacationing sun worshipers.  We also start to see the Mexican economy in action.  Beach vendors: calling out asking if we would like a massage or a jet ski ride, or fishing trip.   All along the shore line are boats and up the shore various huts with white linen beds where you can get a massage for $50.

Further along our walk (and yes, we were melting in the late morning sun), are the mega resorts.  Huge Sprawling  hotels with hundreds of beach chairs and beds, huge concrete structures with infinite poolsand  every amenity you could ask for.  The beaches out front spattered with people tanned, burnt or fair skinned, waiting for that first kiss of the sun!   Interesting to note, the actual beach front and water isn't as nice as out front of Luna Encantada.  We seem to be spoiled in that benefit.

Upon arrival back at base camp, a swim in the ocean is required.  Our bodies are hot and our brains a bit fuzzy from the heat, we stumble into the bath like water.  We spend a good hour just bobbing around in the water, watching the surf crash and the people pass.  

Euro is on, and it is France vs Iceland.   We decide to stay in the unit for this one.   A/C and cheap beer!   We order some lunch from Fusion beach club next door and sit down to feast while hoping for an Iceland upset.  Alas the cinderella storey was beaten back by the French onslaught, and the hopes and dreams of the entire country of Iceland were dashed!

The decision was made to walk to Walmart for some supplies.  A quick google map search (what did we ever do without google?) indicated the store to be about a 9 minute walk.   9 minutes?  That's easy we think, lets go!   Well, the walking was easy, but the blazing sun, and no wind, felt like our bodies were frying.   Just when you think this was a bad idea, the mega store appears and we get some relief from the unrelenting heat.   As we gather our suplplies and sundries (basket currently full of beer and rum!), we are approached by a local who tells us we must hurry and pay for the booze, as all alcohol sales stop at 5 pm (4 minutes away!). WTF....it is a Sunday thing.    Panicked, Bill sets off to find a short line while I start searching for the girls.   Arms full of fruits we search the long lines of casheries looking for Bill, but can't find him.  Turns out he was instructed by some other kind locals to pay for the booze at Customer Service....and he just made it. We spot some other tourists in a long line with a basked full of booze and we direct him to the right place....he dashes off in a panic.   Ten minutes later, we see him saddly returning his un-purchased booze to the shelves.

A fun note.  The grocery baggers work for tips.   Something Bill knew.   So he tipped him....5 pesos!  That is 35 cents....we had some fun with Bill on that one!

With a cart full of food, the wise decision to cab back was made.  70 pesos plus tip later, we are back in the comfort of the unit.   We think a dip in the pool is in order as we wait for Cecilia to arrive. Suddenly our phone rings and its her...she has been trying to text us, but the text weren't going through,  she is here!  We rush back out and down 5th Ave to the bus stop to gather our travel buddy. 

Back at the unit, its time for a Cuba Libra and a dip in the pool. The girls join us and we relax in the bath like  pool.

The night seems a bit cooler as we walk along 5th Ave in search of our evening meal.   We settle on a second floor restaurant, La Caprichoz.   They usher us into an air conditioned room and advise us it is Happy Hour....2 for 1 drinks.  It seems this place is all about the presentation.  The waiter brings out our drinks, with one resting on his head, and two on the top of his fingertips.  He tricks me by letting it slip out of his fingertips just as I reach for it, only to have him catch it before it crashes to the table.

Bill orders a Caesar Salad and they expertly make it from scratch beside the table.  There is s flare to what they do here.  Brenda orders the Ceviche Salad, and when it comes out, it is huge!   Fresh and piled high, a meal for two.  The food was good, flavourful and filling.   We walked the rest of the strip, stopping so Bill could get an ice cream snack on the way back to home base.  Another exciting day in Playa comes to an end.