HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011
Im on Isla Mujeres Mexico this week. I came down early for a meeting in Cancun. The Island (‘Isla’) is just a couple of miles off the coast, but a few decades away from Cancun. It’s like taking a magic journey back in time and far away from the very over commercialized city of Cancun. (Mexico built Cancun back in the 60’s as a destination for tourists to visit. It was not a city till they invented it for us, and our dollars. Smart) in the hotel zone of Cancun the signs, restaurants and menu’s are all in English. You have to leave the ‘city of cancun’ to find real mexico.
DAY ONE. Travel. I left the boat at 5:30am and took a flight Houston to Dallas, changed planes and then flew to Cancun. So, I arrive at 2:15pm and stand in a massive cattle line for Immigration. 3:30pm and I clear immigration. Customs is a breeze. Now you are spit out into the airport… (yikes, how’s your Spanish?) I changed some money to have Peso’s and then bought a ticket on the shuttle van to the Ferry Terminal. ($20) stand in another line, drive around dropping off folks at their various hotels. See the entire Hotel Zone. Last at the end of the world – the Gran Puerto Ferry Dock. About $12US for a one way ticket on the 20 minute ferry. A tiny little man helped me carry my bags the four short blocks to my hotel… about 5:15pm and I’m finally here. (tired) dinner / bed.
DAY TWO. Walk west from the hotel and do a big circle of that end of town. I found 4 scuba shops and got pricing for a trip next week. I stopped and had a big breakfast. Midway around the island I visited a graveyard for a quick photo. (oh sure) two hours later I moved on. It was darn hot in there, mid day in a walled compound blocking all the breeze. Makes me want to never die. Note: I found 5 burning candles during my visit. Five graves with candles burning. I was the only person in the cemetery. (the only living person) After all this walking, I took a shower and then a nap. For dinner I went to a spot I had picked out – Mexican food. (duhh) grilled grouper filet covered in Lobster, rice, mixed veggies. $17us read my book and feel asleep.
DAY THREE. (today. Fri 12.31) I walked east. I didn’t do anything, walked the other direction and saw more island. The entire thing is only a few blocks wide in town. (a few hundred yards) I stopped at a ‘local’ spot and grabbed a taco then treated myself to a nap. Note: while out walking I saw truckloads of Sol beer being unloaded for the “Towns New Years eve party.” The town square is set up for live bands and a massive fiesta. I am told that this thing will start AFTER midnight mass. The entire town gathers (this is right across the street from my hotel) for Live bands beginning after midnight mass and parties till 6am when they all go to the south end of the island for sunrise. I am thinking the nap today was a very good idea.
Well I can hear the sound system warming up. 7pm and the THUMPING BASS can be felt in my chest. I will give a noise/decibel report tomorrow, but I expect ear splitting music all night long. Happy Noise Year!
Xo Pirate Skip
Im on Isla Mujeres Mexico this week. I came down early for a meeting in Cancun. The Island (‘Isla’) is just a couple of miles off the coast, but a few decades away from Cancun. It’s like taking a magic journey back in time and far away from the very over commercialized city of Cancun. (Mexico built Cancun back in the 60’s as a destination for tourists to visit. It was not a city till they invented it for us, and our dollars. Smart) in the hotel zone of Cancun the signs, restaurants and menu’s are all in English. You have to leave the ‘city of cancun’ to find real mexico.
DAY ONE. Travel. I left the boat at 5:30am and took a flight Houston to Dallas, changed planes and then flew to Cancun. So, I arrive at 2:15pm and stand in a massive cattle line for Immigration. 3:30pm and I clear immigration. Customs is a breeze. Now you are spit out into the airport… (yikes, how’s your Spanish?) I changed some money to have Peso’s and then bought a ticket on the shuttle van to the Ferry Terminal. ($20) stand in another line, drive around dropping off folks at their various hotels. See the entire Hotel Zone. Last at the end of the world – the Gran Puerto Ferry Dock. About $12US for a one way ticket on the 20 minute ferry. A tiny little man helped me carry my bags the four short blocks to my hotel… about 5:15pm and I’m finally here. (tired) dinner / bed.
DAY TWO. Walk west from the hotel and do a big circle of that end of town. I found 4 scuba shops and got pricing for a trip next week. I stopped and had a big breakfast. Midway around the island I visited a graveyard for a quick photo. (oh sure) two hours later I moved on. It was darn hot in there, mid day in a walled compound blocking all the breeze. Makes me want to never die. Note: I found 5 burning candles during my visit. Five graves with candles burning. I was the only person in the cemetery. (the only living person) After all this walking, I took a shower and then a nap. For dinner I went to a spot I had picked out – Mexican food. (duhh) grilled grouper filet covered in Lobster, rice, mixed veggies. $17us read my book and feel asleep.
DAY THREE. (today. Fri 12.31) I walked east. I didn’t do anything, walked the other direction and saw more island. The entire thing is only a few blocks wide in town. (a few hundred yards) I stopped at a ‘local’ spot and grabbed a taco then treated myself to a nap. Note: while out walking I saw truckloads of Sol beer being unloaded for the “Towns New Years eve party.” The town square is set up for live bands and a massive fiesta. I am told that this thing will start AFTER midnight mass. The entire town gathers (this is right across the street from my hotel) for Live bands beginning after midnight mass and parties till 6am when they all go to the south end of the island for sunrise. I am thinking the nap today was a very good idea.
Well I can hear the sound system warming up. 7pm and the THUMPING BASS can be felt in my chest. I will give a noise/decibel report tomorrow, but I expect ear splitting music all night long. Happy Noise Year!
Xo Pirate Skip
