Mexico, Playa del Carmen

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Thursday 30th March. We caught the 7.30am Water Taxi from Caye Caulker, and made our way back to Belize City marina.

From the City, it was a 3/4 hour bus journey to the Belize/Mexican border. We crossed and were meeted with a huge sign across the road 'Welcome to Mexico, North America'. My Central American journey had now come to an end. We jumped back on the bus, which took us on to the town of Chetumel, and the bus station. A wait for 45 minutes, and then our next bus, and this time a 6.5 hour journey to our next destination, Playa del Carmen. Although the bus journey was long, it was comfortable, a fully air conditioned bus, with movies on the inboard tv screens all the way.

Playa del Carmen is located 1 hour south of Cancun, and is a holidaymakers paradise on the coast. The area of Cancun was hit by hurricane Wilma last year, so it was interesting to see if Playa had at all been affected. We arrived at our hotel, La Paz, which is located close to the busy 5th Avenune. We had a meal, and then I headed back to the hotel to get showered and changed. More wildlife, this time a huge Scorpion crawled out of my Sandal and darted across the floor, incredible!!! Back in to town, and the main street ( 5th Ave ) was very busy with holidaymakers. As it was Spring Break for the USA, many Americans had headed here for their holidays, many of whom were students being shaperoned by their parents, and many glamorous incredible looking people, who have a lot of wealth.

It was big culture change to be here too, after travelling for a few months, Playa was completely Westernised, high street chain stores, and glamourous bars and restuarants, dominating 5th Avenue, and the prices aimed at the tourists. The bars were very busy, as was the town, and we stayed out late in to the night to take in the atmosphere, in the Blue Parrot nightclub, which is on the beach and the floor completely sand. It was ladies night, who all drank for free, whilst us blokes paid 100 pesos entry, and it was very busy.

The next day I did what all people on holiday do, headed to the beach!! It was very hot, and the sand golden, Indigo sea, and again the town was busy. It was nice just to relax and watch the world go by.

I basically repeated this pattern on Saturday too, Beach then out at night. Sunday ( and now 2nd of April already, time is flying fast ) me and a friend went to an attractions park named Xcaret, 6km south of Playa. The park has wildlife, including Dolphins, Giant Turtles, Wild Cats, Panther, Leopard and Cheeta, and many other Species. Its on the coast, and they have projects such as protecting Coral Reef, and preserving Mayan Ruins. They also had shows throughout the day, with people dressed in traditional Mayan clothing, and performing ceremonies, such as the Mayan ballgame, a sacred game where the losers in Mayan times would experience death! I enjoyed the park and thought it was a fantastic day out. That night and back out in town. The place was now much quieter, many of the Americans that dominated the resort had gone home, perhaps change over day was taking place. Monday and again it was back to the beach to work some more on my tan, and out that night for the final night in the resort.

We didn't actually see much evidence of storm damage here, apparently there had been some, but the authorities cleared it rapidly. Playa is a resort that has clearly expanded rapidly over the last decade, and looks to be increasing, and maybe the new place to head other than Cancun. Its a place where couples come on holiday, or families. Just a typical holiday resort really, but American orientated. It was nice to be here, and I enjoyed it, but after 5 nights, it was time for me, and my resort hit wallet to move on......

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Photos

Playa del Carmen beach
On the beach, golden sands, nice to absolutely nothing!

Mariachi Band
The Mariachi players are everywhere, on the beach, the streets, and in the restuarants at night

5th Ave, Playa del Carmen
The busy main street

Mayan Ball Game
The starting ceremony of the Ball Game, in Xcaret park

Dolphins!
Xcaret park has plaenty of wildlife, including dolphins..!

Who's the Mexican bloke
Me getting ready for a night out...!