My sis and huz recently came back from one week in heavenly Mexico. We love Playa del Carmen, a half hour drive from Cancun, and have been there on past trips. I have been to Cabos San Lucas once and since it's on the Pacific side, the water at the beach was always too dangerous to swim in...waves strong enough to carry you off to Hawaii. So if you want to go to the best region of Mexico try the Maya Riviera, with the ruins of Tulum only a half hour drive, beautiful! Also you can snorkel in the nearby Xchela...spelling prob incorrect, the worlds second largest lagoon...the best for snorkeling. Pretty fish galore! They also have a bird paradice there to walk around after you finish snorkeling. The beaches in Playa are lovely. Soft sand and clear, warm, turqoise water. It's hard to find umbrellas and loungers as they are there for the various resort people, so if you are not with a resort you can pay for an umpbrella or find a shady palm tree if you get there early in the morning. If you love shopping, well then Playa Del Carmen is the place for you. to shop until you drop. Don't go mid day...too hot, got to the beach and shop later in the evening after or before dinner. They have an insanely long street called 5th Ave...it is full of boutiques, souvenier shops, art galleries, restaurants, bars, and jewelry shops. Some of the shops have agressive owners who have no shame about barking at you as you approach and then pass them. They say 'Hey honeymooners' or 'Mr, buy something for your pretty lady', and then eventually give up on you and zoom in on the next strolling couple. Try not to make eye contact or you will be prey for vendors tenfold. They want your business! Badly! Don't be shy about dickering prices. They like to do that. I'm not surprised by that since they likely hike their prices up and will come down to make you think you are getting a good deal. Not uncommon. An example of vendors aggessiveness. I stopped at a hat shop and tried on a few hats and then, deciding not to purchase, started moving along. Said vendor dashed toward me and said 'Hey lady, don't you want to buy'????" "Um...no, i said. "It doesn't look good on me'". He was still pestering me. "You need a hat lady. The sun will burn your face". I kept on walking. Faster. I get really annoyed with this kind of thing. Up and down 5th Ave. Not all vendors are this bad of course. Just be warned. There are shops, the really nice ones, where the shop people will leave you a lone to look and not hover too much. Another thing that bugs me about shopping. I hate hovering! Making comments about each and every item i look at or touch. Jeez!! I'm sorry but i don't need commentary about every thing i pick up in your store Senora. I usually move on to another shop hoping to be left in peace. They can say 'hola' and i'll say it back.Thanks fine. But it's nice to shop without being anxious amd annoyed. Just my 2 cents. There are so many restaurants in Playa. In one week of trying out different ones we never had a bad meal. One of the restaurants made guacamole right in front of us and brought a big plate of delicious ceviche...a variety of fish and shrimps marinated in lime juice. We finished off this late night nosh with flan. That soft sweet dulce de leche famous all over Mexico. A favorite of mine. We were sitting on the second floor of a restaurant and had a great birds eye view of 5th Avenue, people watching and listening to strolling Mariachi bands. Muy excellente!
. We are looking forward to returning to Mexico one day. Might try somewhere different like the Island of Cozumel or to Isla Muferes, a 30 min. ferry ride from Cancun is a smaller island and is very beautiul. I woulld love to go back there someday. I love the Mexican people...they are so friendly and fun. Very nice to talk to and if you try out some Spanish on them they will be impressed even if you misprononce.
So here are some photos for you to enjoy!
Our jazuzzi at the condo
Steve hiding in the tropical trees at our condo.
Our balcony
Kitchen in our condo which wasn't used much except the fridge to hold Steve's Coronas.
Condo livingroom
One of the best fish i've eve had...grilled grouper caught fresh that day. Just a few squeezes of lime. Perfecto!
Enjoying a meal on 5th Ave.
Relaxing at the pool
Steven at the pool peeking under my umbrella.
A beach bag i made for the trip.
Dun Dun Dun Dun!
Margaritas at a lunch spot near the beach
Steve couldn't get enough gucamole.
Shrimps...juicy and big!
Beautiful Candle shop. I bought a few to take home
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A fish spa!! Where teeny fish nibble on your dead feet skin. Yummy for them, and you have smoother feet. Too bad it was closed. I have rough patches on my heel.
Snacks on the beach.
Guacamole coming right up to go with my strawberry margarita.
Lots of gorgeous flowers on every street.
Lucky to find a bug that matched my dress perfectly
Purple Bug!!!
Me on the beach
Many margaritas and Mojitos were had
Steve enjoying the beach.
Getting a bit tipsy from the Mararita.
Fresh Grouper
Unable to score an umbrella with lounge chair, i was lucky to snag this shady palm tree
Steven waving from the heated pool.
My sis on the beach at sunset. They were setting up for a wedding.
One of THE best desserts we had. Molton Mexican dark chocoalte cake with rasberry vanilla and mint ice cream. Heaven!
Cool wall decorations
Breakfest of Huevos Racheros and a delicious omelet with cafe con leche and fresh squeezed OJ.
Last night walking on the beach.
So that's it for the photos. Hope you liked seeing them. How i wish i was swimming in the ocean again. Ahhh, Mexico! Adios.
