Barracuda
Between: the run-in with a rusty license plate in Merida, the accompanying valium, anesthetic (4), and tetanus shots plus the stitches; the long and exhausting travel to the coast; the jellyfish sting and the fish nibble on my finger* on our two trips to snorkel in Cozumel, when the dive master cried out --
"Barracuda over here! 8 barracuda, come see! Now 10 barracuda!" -- I half laughed, half choked on my snorkel as I cried out "Nooooooo -- No me gusta barracuda!"
After all the mishaps, there was no way in HELL I was swimming anywhere near barracuda, I don't care how relatively safe it should be. If it had any probability of danger to it, it would find me. They tried to call to RS & I to stay with the group and not let the current carry us off, but neither RS or I were budging until the damn bitey fish were far away.
Aiye...Mexico.
LOL.
And yet, Merida & Cozumel topped the list of places we stayed and places I'd return. Both were older, so welcoming, so organized, beautiful, and friendly. They both had places to avoid the crowds as well as run into them. We took a stunning 2 hour scooter tour around the island of Cozumel, most of the east side being uninhabited and lovely. We spent each night in Merida wandering the many parks along the historic downtown, alive with local music, outdoor vendors, and restaurants.
Valladolid had its own special charm -- a mini Merida at 40K vs. 1.7mill people -- and we ended up staying there 4 nights, using it as a base to see surrounding tourist sites like Ek Balam, Coba & Tulum. It was also the most manageable place due to its size, simplicity, location, and development, and was a tempting place to fantasize about relocating to.
By the time we left Cozumel (with a sea-sickening ferry to PDC), it was worth the splurge to taxi right to our super-resort in Cancun, where we had 48 hours to see how most of the tourists lived: by hiding from the outside world altogether. By then, 2 weeks in, we were more than happy to hide, even going for room service that first night instead of one of the many in-resort restaurants. I splurged on a spa combo that was worth every penny, and that deserves its own entry. We woke up to sunrise to stare out our balcony at the obscene view of sea and sky. Our 2 nights at the Gran Melia royal pyramid cost nearly half of our entire 2 weeks previous (not counting the spa), which is something short of ridiculous, and it was not even all-inclusive, but by then it was so worth it. I could have used a 3rd night there, easily. But it was also incredibly surreal as compared to the rest of the trip, both by the outrageous luxury and the shocking appearance of so many western tourists. Playa del Carmen & the Zona Hotelera in Cancun is where they are all hiding out, which is why even downtown Cancun or nearby Cozumel seemed devoid of tourists and peaceful.
Overall, it was relaxing, it was adventurous, and we could have done with more of the former and less of the latter, but it was still lovely. And the main objective -- getting to spend time together and reconnect after months apart and months of stress -- was accomplished. By the time we left, we were ready to be home, curled up with the dog, hiding in our own home. Which we did yesterday.**
Today is back to work, life, to-do lists, and the rest. We are both still physically and mentally recuperating though, so we're both taking it easy: aside from previous dinner plans one night, we're hiding out for the next few days or week.
Hello, 2009!
*The fish thought I was a tortilla, since the dive masters toss tortilla strips into the water to attract them. These fish were like pigeons, unafraid of people and up close looking for a handout, or a hand, if it is attached to a tortilla-like finger. Stupid tortillas.
**My worst physical issues were actually yesterday, after the previous day's lack of sleep and lengthy, complex travel homeward, which left me very ill in bed all day. It was like a 24-hour flu sort of, except I'm still adjusting. Major travel days seemed to knock one or both of us out each time.
"Barracuda over here! 8 barracuda, come see! Now 10 barracuda!" -- I half laughed, half choked on my snorkel as I cried out "Nooooooo -- No me gusta barracuda!"
After all the mishaps, there was no way in HELL I was swimming anywhere near barracuda, I don't care how relatively safe it should be. If it had any probability of danger to it, it would find me. They tried to call to RS & I to stay with the group and not let the current carry us off, but neither RS or I were budging until the damn bitey fish were far away.
Aiye...Mexico.
LOL.
And yet, Merida & Cozumel topped the list of places we stayed and places I'd return. Both were older, so welcoming, so organized, beautiful, and friendly. They both had places to avoid the crowds as well as run into them. We took a stunning 2 hour scooter tour around the island of Cozumel, most of the east side being uninhabited and lovely. We spent each night in Merida wandering the many parks along the historic downtown, alive with local music, outdoor vendors, and restaurants.
Valladolid had its own special charm -- a mini Merida at 40K vs. 1.7mill people -- and we ended up staying there 4 nights, using it as a base to see surrounding tourist sites like Ek Balam, Coba & Tulum. It was also the most manageable place due to its size, simplicity, location, and development, and was a tempting place to fantasize about relocating to.
By the time we left Cozumel (with a sea-sickening ferry to PDC), it was worth the splurge to taxi right to our super-resort in Cancun, where we had 48 hours to see how most of the tourists lived: by hiding from the outside world altogether. By then, 2 weeks in, we were more than happy to hide, even going for room service that first night instead of one of the many in-resort restaurants. I splurged on a spa combo that was worth every penny, and that deserves its own entry. We woke up to sunrise to stare out our balcony at the obscene view of sea and sky. Our 2 nights at the Gran Melia royal pyramid cost nearly half of our entire 2 weeks previous (not counting the spa), which is something short of ridiculous, and it was not even all-inclusive, but by then it was so worth it. I could have used a 3rd night there, easily. But it was also incredibly surreal as compared to the rest of the trip, both by the outrageous luxury and the shocking appearance of so many western tourists. Playa del Carmen & the Zona Hotelera in Cancun is where they are all hiding out, which is why even downtown Cancun or nearby Cozumel seemed devoid of tourists and peaceful.
Overall, it was relaxing, it was adventurous, and we could have done with more of the former and less of the latter, but it was still lovely. And the main objective -- getting to spend time together and reconnect after months apart and months of stress -- was accomplished. By the time we left, we were ready to be home, curled up with the dog, hiding in our own home. Which we did yesterday.**
Today is back to work, life, to-do lists, and the rest. We are both still physically and mentally recuperating though, so we're both taking it easy: aside from previous dinner plans one night, we're hiding out for the next few days or week.
Hello, 2009!
*The fish thought I was a tortilla, since the dive masters toss tortilla strips into the water to attract them. These fish were like pigeons, unafraid of people and up close looking for a handout, or a hand, if it is attached to a tortilla-like finger. Stupid tortillas.
**My worst physical issues were actually yesterday, after the previous day's lack of sleep and lengthy, complex travel homeward, which left me very ill in bed all day. It was like a 24-hour flu sort of, except I'm still adjusting. Major travel days seemed to knock one or both of us out each time.