Cozumel- last stop in Mexico

May 6-9, 2016

My last stop in Mexico was the island of Cozumel, a 45 minute ferry ride from he mainland, with the skyscrapers and resorts of Playa del Carmen still visible from across the water. There, I had 3 days of diving.

Unfortunately no underwater photos, but I can tell you it was lovely. There were towering coral formations against extremely blue water, straight out of National Geographic. There were walls that sank straight down into deep blue water too far to see. And one dive had wide rolling sand hills with giant conch shells leaving trails in the sand as they wandered around.

I saw my first shark. It was sitting head-first in a cave doing nothing, and was BORING! The next day there was one swimming out on the wall, more like I thought a shark should be.

The views from the boat going out in the morning and coming back were fantastic, and my first two days I had an excellent dive buddy.

I did a little wandering around the island, though it was über-touristy which appeals less to me.

One day wandering I discovered a fountain show in the plaza.

The next night it turned into a lighted water show, and either because it was Mother's Day, or because it was Sunday, or because I just happened to be there on the right night, there was a live salsa band playing as well.

Not only was it good music, the whole patio in front of the band turned into a dance, and it was fun to watch everyone. They ranged from young couples who obviously had danced before, to old couples with not much technique but lots of spirit, to the young parents dancing with their 2 year old, to the gringos who decided that hip hop was the way to go.

I went diving every morning, and my last night I tried to have a fancy dinner. It wasn't the greatest, the waiter obviously didn't know the difference between a natural juice and a soda, but I tried. And I got a great sunset at the end.

Cozumel, the island of swallows

It was a delightful way to end my grand adventure. One afternoon and night in Cancun, and then I was flying home.

I already have one post out about Bolivia, stay tuned for the rest coming soon!

Tulum and swimming with turtles

May 5, 2016

Tulum is known as one of the better tourist beaches if you want less resort-goers than Cancun or Playa del Carmen. I stayed a night there, and while it was cute, I was less than blown away.

I did have fun going to the nearby beach of Akumal, known for its sea turtles. They come to graze on the sea grass that grows in a couple patches right off shore.

The beach was lovely.

A couple companies have a good racket going, with a roped off section right at the entrance and a 'information' spiel that makes it sound like you have to go in the roped area, and to do so you are required a lifejacket which you rent from them and why not pay a guide while you're at it. We brought our own snorkels, and thus walked 50 feet down the beach to outside the roped area and snorkeled for free.

The water was calm, and the bottom was boring, but there was some sea life around. I saw a big ol' barracuda, a stingray, some small schools of silvery fish, and about 6 sea turtles, who were HUGE! They were nomming on the grass (imagine sitting next to someone eating low-pitched potato chips and a couple rocks with their mouth closed and that's what chewing sea turtle sounds like) and came up for air every so often. The shells must have been at least two feet across.

This is what they looked like coming up for air. And were about that far away from me too.

First ever beach in Mexico!

It was a fantastic time swimming with and watching the turtles, and a great little day trip. I celebrated Cinco de Mayo all alone with a margarita that night (the whole US parties way harder than anyone in Mexico) and headed out to Cozumel the next day for my last diving hurrah before heading home.

Authentic Mexican flautas