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North America » Mexico » Quintana Roo » Playa del Carmen
February 24th 2014
Published: March 1st 2014
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Since I arrived in Playa on the 12th I have been exploring the town and walking, walking, walking, walking, walking. I have walked all over the area bordered by Juarez on the South and Constituyentes on the North and 30th Avenue on the West as well as the beaches I could get to using public access. So I have done a pretty good bit of exploring. I’ve also walked all the way out on 5thavenue till the stores and restaurants ended around Calle 40.



The main thing I discovered is that it wasn’t worth walking all the way out on 5th avenue till the stores and restaurants ended around Calle 40. It’s just more of the same. I’ve also used the beach access to check out the beaches on the way and as well it is just more of the same. May as well make it easy on myself and stick with the area between Juarez and Constituyentes. And check out the beaches in front of Playacar by going through the gap in the fence. That’s more than enough.



Before I leave I do intend to go through the gap in the fence and explore
Old ADO bus stationOld ADO bus stationOld ADO bus station

This is the station that the bus from Cancun Airport arrives at.
the beaches southward in front of Playacar. While hotels and the moneyed classes do their best to make beach access difficult, all beaches in Mexico are public….if you can manage to get to them.



It’s the same in Texas. While the rivers and lakes and beaches are all public, property owners and businesses do their best to restrict access to them even up to and including doing illegal things themselves to keep "their" beach, lake, or river to themselves.



My days here have been pretty leisurely actually. I sleep till I wake up and then use my immersion heater to fix up my cup of tea. I usually enjoy about 3 leisurely cups of tea with a banana for breakfast while I think things over.



After having breakfast I catch up on my computer work and research on the area before taking my nap from 12:30 to 2:pm.



After my nap I get dressed and head out exploring for the day. I usually have my area of explorations mapped out in my head and what restaurant I intend to check out for the day.



Since
Santander ATM, Scotiabank, and MacdonaldsSantander ATM, Scotiabank, and MacdonaldsSantander ATM, Scotiabank, and Macdonalds

Santander ATM inside the bus station and Scotiabank across the street.
I am retired I am going to start saying that I am “going on holiday” as the English do from now on. I have no job I need to “vacation” from, although I must admit that although I love my family very much; I often need some “quality…… get away from the family time”.



I stayed at a hostel my first week here because I just wanted a place to stay while I got my feet on the ground and could look around for a better place to stay.



Feb 19 - Good morning from Playa. It’s a nice cool morning with a fresh ocean breeze blowing. I'm drinking my tea and thinking things over. I'm trying out different hotels. Last night I stayed in the Hotel Colorado on Calle 4 between avenue 20 and 25, and tonight and tomorrow I will be renting a cabana room in the Hotel Casa Tucan on Calle 4 between Avienda 10 and 15.

Looks like a week of Carnival is coming up next weekend. Here is an English interpretation of Carnival events:

http://www.playa.info/playa-del-carmen-forum/71338-carnaval-2014-a.html#post2034126



Feb 20 - I decided I liked it here
Inside the ADO bus stationInside the ADO bus stationInside the ADO bus station

Banos upstairs through 5 peso gate. Hopefully you have someone you can leave the luggage with and take turns. There is no paper in the stalls but in a big roll by sinks.
at the hotel Colorado and asked for a weekly rate so I got a nicer room with kitchen and fridge. So I booked it for 2 weeks and now I'm set for the rest of my time here. I guess now that I have got my home base set up I can head over to Mega and get some groceries.



I like quiet and the Hotel Colorado is good for that, as well as most of their rooms have kitchens. Mexico is just plain noisy no matter where you stay but the Colorado Hotel is pretty quiet for Mexico. The major drawback for me is that it has a spiral stairway going to the upstairs rooms which would be a bear to take a suitcase up on. I made sure to get a bottom floor room.



Anyone coming to Mexico had better just get used to noise or stay home. There is always someone…..or a rooster….making a racket or playing music.



I think most budget conscious people other than me would be happier at the Hotel Casa Tucan on Calle 4 between Avienda 10 and 15. It has a wider variety of room options as well as a pool and restaurant. If I come back here again I might just stay there a bit. It looked like a good place to stay. And the rates were not much more than here.

Feb 24 – Monday – I’ve been here in Playa for 12 days and only have 9 more to go and I will have to go home : (



Today has been my “taking it easy and no walking day”. I needed to give my body a break. I believe I have walked an average of 5 to 8 miles a day while I have been here. My belt shows it as I have taken it up 2 notches so far and it isn’t that snug now.

I paid up for the remainder of my time at the Hotel Colorado today so that I could relax knowing that even if something happened my room was paid for and I had a place to stay.

The hotel Colorado is a perfect place for me to stay as it is quiet (for Mexico) but still close to everything. No Party animals here.

I like quiet but I think most people would be happier with the Hotel Casa Tucan down the street on Calle 4 because it has a larger variety of room types, a pool, and a restaurant and a much livelier atmosphere. And it is not much more for a room.

The hotel Colorado has a narrow winding stirs going to all the rooms except the 2 ground floor rooms which unless someone is in pretty good shape makes it a bear to get to the other rooms. I insisted on and got a ground floor room before staying here. The first night I was in Suite Viktoria which being next to the street was too noisy. The second night I moved to Suite Irma which was much nicer and separated from the street by Suite Viktoria. I liked it so much I reserved it for the remainder of my stay, and at a great price.

Tomorrow the plan is to get up early and visit Tulum Ruins. I tried to see them the other day but I told the Collectivo driver “Tulum” instead of “Tulum Ruinas” and ended up at the Pueblo of Tulum instead. I’ve heard it is a great place to go if you want to score (and use) some dope and that is the main reason most people go there, but that is not my intention.

So tomorrow morning I will use the collectivo van on Calle 2 again to try to get to “Tulum Ruinas” . It should run me about 40 pesos for the ride on the collectivo there and then 59 pesos to get into the ruins.


Additional photos below
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Founders ParkFounders Park
Founders Park

This would be a nice little park for relaxing if those stupid Indians would quit beating their stupid drums and sticks etc. Hey Sport....I don't care about your culture.....I'm here for the beaches.....guit beating those stupid drums and sticks....give it a rest once in a while.
The ferry for CozumenThe ferry for Cozumen
The ferry for Cozumen

I've heard that this boat trip to Cozumel is so rough that passengers are given barf bags.
Club Nautica TarrayaClub Nautica Tarraya
Club Nautica Tarraya

On the beach at the end of Calle 2


1st March 2014

Tulum
Look forward to hearing your views on Tulum . We had a guide who was very knowledgable about Mayan history and culture. Keep up the walking - it's so good for you and you see so much exploring on foot. Interesting what you say about beaches being public but hard to get too. Enjoy your last days in Mexico .
4th March 2014

Tulum
I took the collectivo to Tulum Ruinas for 35 pesos and had a good walkabout and exploration there. I especially enjoyed the fantastic views of the sea from the cliffs there. I think the views from cliffs is what I enjoyed the most about California, Ireland, and Greece as well.
4th March 2014

Serenity
Glad you are sleeping in on your holiday and taking it easy. No need to rush during all of this exploration. Your time is going quickly. The beaches look lovely. I've been to Cancun but not Playa. Will you take the bus to Telum. It is lovely. A nice day trip.
4th March 2014

Playa and Tulum
I haven't been to Cancun but I think for me personally Playa was a better choice. It is centrally located and makes an excellent "home base" for exploring from. Cancun is an hour bus trip away, Cozumel is a short boat trip, and Tulum Ruinas is only a 35 peso Collectivo ride away. There are also several Cenotes which could be visited from here, although a car rental might be required. For the frugal traveler such as myself it was the perfect choice.

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