Tulum to Mexico City

Today we got up early and packed our things. We checked out of our resort and started the 2-hour drive back to the airport. The speed limits are all posted at the side of the highway and they frequently change. Anytime you pass by the entrance of a big hotel, it slows down to 40km/hr and then is right back to 80 or 100 a few seconds later. Needless to say, most drivers ignore the slow-down-zone. And I was getting comfortable enough to start ignoring it myself. Except well, I forgot about the fact that there are Mexican police parked by the side of the road every 5 minutes or so - there are a lot of them around.

Anyways, so I go zooming past one of them, and sure enough, he pulls out and gets on the highway after me. I am sweating bullets now because I can't speak Spanish and I have heard that the police are uber-corrupt down here, and I pretty much want to do anything I can to avoid them. To my surprise though, he goes more slowly than I was expecting, and as it turns out, pulls over a van that was travelling behind me. Needless to say, I drove the speed limit thereafter pretty fastidiously.

After we get to the airport, we check-in, go through security, and settle down to eat some lunch. I hate to admit it, but it was fast food. We didn't really have time to sit down at a restaurant, and convenience food IS rather convenient. I don't think I need mention that I regretted this decision later - kinda goes without saying. :P

The flight back to Mexico City was uneventful. They served us "cracker peanuts" for a snack. The Spanish translation on the package means... "Japanese peanuts"? I don't know. But they were peanuts coated in this cracker-like substance and there was some kind of spice (wasabi, maybe?) in it that gave it a slight kick.

We got to the airport and took the shuttle to Terminal 1 where my hotel was supposedly located. After a few glitches (one information agent insisted that there was no Hilton hotel at the airport), we found it, checked into my room - there was a strange smell but otherwise it looked pretty nice - and headed downstairs to check Ted into his flight back to Europe. While waiting in the incredibly long line for the KLM check-in, I had many close encounters with the woman behind me who seemed to think that "personal space" was just an expression. Ah well, I was too tired and too Canadian to do anything about it.

Ted & I grabbed a snack before he left, and then I was by myself in Mexico City again. This time however, I was feeling much less nervous. I went upstairs, talked to the concierge at my hotel (named "Jesus") and he arranged a tour of Mexico City for the next day. It was exactly what I wanted: they picked me up at my hotel, toured me around a few sites for the day, and returned me back to my hotel. Nice! All this for $55 USD. I'm in.

Another thing I love about the hotel is that it has free Wi-Fi and free 24hr Business Center access, which means I can get on the internet as much as I want in the next 36 hours. Yay! Right now though, I badly need a shower (the salt-water shower I took at the cabana in Tulum just doesn't cut it), and sleep. Last full day in Mexico tomorrow!

Day of Whatever-we-want

Slept late this morning. Ahhhh, it was decadent. Well, pretty decadent anyways. The cold night and the birds chirping at 5am were not ideal, but hey, it's just a different form of paradise to adapt to. ;)

Speaking of those chirping birds. The one right by the cabana had me awake long enough to determine that it was changing its chirp over and over. It would always do the same chirp twice, and then change it up. Double-chirp, just to make sure you heard him correctly, and then onto the next. Made for interesting listening, actually - just not at 5am. Anyways, I haven't seen him yet, so I don't know what kind of bird he is.

We headed down to the beach bar, which served breakfast overlooking the ocean. Crystal blue waters and gorgeous sand beach. Warm air, tropical breeze. NICE. Oh, but if you sit facing the wrong way you can get more than you bargained for - the beach is clothing-optional. It was a little jolt in my morning paradise to see naked-man doing handstands and yoga poses as I was trying to just chill out and enjoy my meal. Ted says it's all in where you sit and what way you face.

We decided to take the 10 minute journey to the Tulum ruins, which are just down the street from where we are staying. Apparently they are unusual because they are situated on the coast, while other ruins in Mexico are inland.

We were there for a couple of hours and it was pretty awesome. I am always amazed by being able to experience something that was built so long ago. I am walking in those same footsteps, seeing the same rocks, wondering at the same carvings. Fantastic!

When we were done we stopped at the little market/shopping area located on the way back to our car. There were a few cultural performances happening around us, too. It seems like many of these people depend on tourist dollars or tips to make a living.

I had lunch at Subway. Despite all the bonafide Mexican food I have been eating, I really have been craving a good veggie sandwich. And so that's what I had! So far, no problems with my stomach - hope it lasts. The sandwich is just like what I'd have at home... except for the pickles. I don't know exactly how to describe the pickles, but they are not the same. More sour, more salty maybe?

We got back to our cabana and had a bit of a rest. The heat really saps your energy, and we just spent 2 hours walking, walking, walking. A nap was in order! Upon waking we went to the restaurant and had a snack and a drink. While we were sitting there we saw 2 guys from the wedding arrive. We visited with them for a while, and waited a bit longer for the rest of the group - 20 more were on their way. We are going to take over this place, haha!

As the rest of the group arrived we hung out with them down by the beach and then we eventually all moved up to the restaurant when it became too windy. We are planning to go to Chichen Itza tomorrow but none of them will come with us since they have another week her and just want to relax. We can hardly blame them. But, as we are leaving in 2 days, we want to take the chance while we have it!

Off to shower & bed. I think the shower water is salt water, and it does not do a great job of washing my hair. I don't really feel clean afterwards. I suppose I'd get used to it if I had to, but for now it just leaves a little grimy feeling. Ah well, better than the sweaty, sticky-suncreen feeling. Tomorrow, Chichen Itza!!

Travelling to Tulum

Today was a travel day. We got up early, which was difficult since we got home so late from the wedding last night. We arranged a taxi to the airport through our hotel, and checked into our flight.

Then we had breakfast at a restaurant at the airport. It had a buffet, but I think that best be avoided when travelling. I ordered some familiar-looking stuff, and Ted had bread - he was feeling rather sick.

A friend of mine recommended that I get some Grapefruit Seed Extract and put some in whatever I drink down here in Mexico. It's from the health food store and apparently neutralizes any (bad) bacteria that is in your system. Anyways, I must admit that I am a bit of a skeptic, but after getting sick on my last trip I am willing to try something new. More than a few drops makes your drinks taste bitter though, so I just put it in my juice.

One thing that I am impressed about at the airports here in Mexico is that there are many individuals in wheelchairs working as information agents. I don't see that much at home, and it seems like a good job to have.

The flight to Cancun was pretty uneventful - only 2 hours. When we arrived we talked to some information agents about how to get to Tulum, which is almost 2 hours drive away. We were convinced to rent a car, as it would be cheaper in the end and allow us a bit more freedom.

They gave us a standard, so I started us off with the driving, much to a few people's surprise. Ted hasn't driven a manual in a while, so he didn't want to take the first shift. Anyways, the drive was long and in some places harrowing - not surprisingly, there are fewer rules here than there are at home. Cars squeezing themselves into any spot that they can find, passing within inches of each other, Mexican police parked by the side of the road every 5 minutes or so. There were also these speed bumps every once in a while which forced everyone to come to a virtual stop on the highway. Lucky for us it was one road from the airport to Tulum, but I have to admit, I was wishing we had taken a taxi by the time we actually got there.

When we arrived at our resort, Copal, I was initially charmed. Cabanas right by the beach, water views, the sound of the ocean with clear blue water and the finest sand I have seen. Magical! The reality of the eco-friendly resort was, however, not terribly luxurious. I describe it as similar to camping. No electricity, no lights, sleeping with the sounds of the outdoors (ocean = good, squawking birds at 5am = bad), sand everywhere on your floor, running water but fickle plumbing, etc. All in all, it was good - but luxury, it was not. There were however fresh tropical flowers waiting for us in the cabana when we got there, courtesy of Ted. They were beautiful and made the cabana smell lovely!

We were pretty hungry by the time we checked in and so we had dinner at the resort restaurant. We were accompanied by a very friendly feline friend who sat next to us and talked to us and wanted to be petted and waited patiently for handouts while we ate. We had yummy Mexican food - fajitas and guacamole and chips and salsa... it was heaven. It was right at dusk though and there was another feast going on - and the dish was me. That's right, mosquitoes came out in force and I got about fifteen bites in 10 minutes. By the end of dinner I was squirming. Why didn't I bring my insect repellent??

Off to the local grocery store we go. We pick up some Off, After Bite, sunscreen, snacks and drinks. The sunscreen was about $17. I think that store made a killing from unprepared tourists! Ah well. The After Bite was soooooo nice, and made me much more tolerable to be around, I'm sure.

Sleeping in the cabana was fine, although it takes some getting used to. I didn't know it was going to be so cold! In the middle of the night I had to get 2 more blankets. The sound of the ocean is nice to fall asleep to though, and even though I had nightmares that night, I still woke up to a little bit of paradise. :)