Back to Civilisation in Style!

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I arrived in Cancun glad to have seen Cuba but also especially glad to be back!

I went and dropped my stuff off in a hostel and grabbed a sandwich, before heading into the Zona Hotelera (the "American" bit of Cancun where all the bars/hotels etc are...it looks like something out of a film/your worst nightmares). I had arranged to meet up with Louise (a friend from Nottingham who I used to work with in Stealth who was there with her family on an all-inclusive trip).

I arrived at the bar a bit early and sat having a beer at the bar. Now this was not a normal bar like you would expect anywhere else, but one where audience participation was seemingly part of "the experience" and encouraged at every opportunity...congas around the restaurant/bar, bar staff climbing onto the bar etc etc...every cliche that you have ever heard about Americans abroad is 100% true! A table of 18yr olds from Iowa had 4 casulties by 10pm...ridiculous wooping sounds every time any soft rock classic came on, the whole load were on display.

Anyway, we were very English and sat at a table with her Dad and brother having a few civilised beers, although there was a great moment when a woman came round with vodka jelly shots, and after virtually coercing us into having them (I was being polite!) she shook your head as you ate it and then tweaked your nipple! All part of the show...

Lousie's dad and brother went back to the hotel and we went to find another bar/club. All the bars here are open bars that you have to pay between $20-$40 to get a wristband for. As it was so late already we didn't really want to pay $40 to get into a fairly terrible American school disco...we finally found this guy who took us to this roof terrace that was playing house and techno music (so hence no Americans) and had a backdoor into one of the big clubs anyway, and would also let us both in for the price of one wristband. Bargain. Or just tight English people depending on your perspective. We got in there and immediately started abusing the free bar, although after about 2 hours of this a security guard came over and pointed out that you weren't really allowed to get 2 drinks every time on one wristband...but then they closed the free bar anyway (at only 3 30 - weak!) We went next door and experienced the joys of 1500 American teenagers trying to dance on a revolving dancefloor before heading back up to the roof terrace.

At about 6 (I think!) Louise headed back to her hotel. Some guy then said there was an afterparty going on in town if I wanted to come alone and seeming as I was going to have to get a taxi back on my own otherwise it seemed like a good idea (nothing to do with not wanting to leave the party?!). We jumped in a cab and ended up at this tiny little bar on a normal street in downtown Cancun. The music was making all the shop windows vibrate and by this time it was now fully light. I went in and it turned out to be pretty fun, as I was the only tourist in there and all these Mexicans took me under their wing saying how this was the real Cancun that you would never normally see. The owner of the bar and the DJ kept on plying me with free drinks and asking me about going out in London and after drunkenly proffering my email about with promises of taking them out in London I finally stumbled home at about 12pm I think!!

Obviously the next day was a complete write-off (finding it harder and harder to claim that I don't suffer from hangovers!) although I met a couple of guys from Texas (!!) who were driving their Chevy down to Costa Rica and wanted someone to help them share petrol costs down to Belize, so I arranged with them that we'd leave the next day.

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Comments

[Dad M]

No comment needed....!
It sounds quite an experience. It also sounds as if they think they are in "Coyote Ugly" - did they hose you down if you asked for water! The Mexican party sounds great and I admire your stamina. I also hope your flat is going to be big enough to accommodate all your new friends!! Did you walk into any strange people's gardens? (In-joke that Henry A might understand)

[Louise]

Aww just read your blog and all the memories came flooding back...hmm! You forgot to write about the mullet man however. I also have photos of us pointing at/laughing at/dancing at some guy in the techno place - any ideas?!