Riviera Maya

I recently spent two weeks in Mexico. The first week my family (wife and two boys age 12 & 9) and I rented a car, saw the ruins in CI for a couple of days (my wife likes that kind of stuff) and then headed south to Tulum. What a great time we had exploring the area with the information I grabbed from the internet. We stayed at a small beach hotel called Paraiso. Large room with just the basics comforts and a little extra like a pool and AC. I can do without the extra comforts (I prefer living like a native when I travel) but the wife and kids need it. This hotel had a fantastic beach and I mean FANTASTIC. The beach hotels had a little better food but was more expensive than town and not as much fun.

I broke away from the beach a couple of times to explore Tulum by myself. I prefer drinking and eating in dives and getting a little colorful. Mothers too proper and the boys are too young to accompany me. Don’t get me wrong, I can have fun anywhere but prefer letting my hair down and mixing it up with the locals when I travel. Sitting at the bar with other tourist and talking about what I do for a living is boring to me. I guess I’m just a red neck stuck in a white color world. I can’t wait for my boys to get a little older so I can take them with me. Mother won’t be too happy.

After 4 days in Tulum we were told to evacuate the premises. The manager told us that Hurricane Dean was coming. They said it was a level 5. Visions of New Orleans rushed through my mind. I loaded the car and headed into the jungle to find a strong hotel to sit this one out. Found a great city called Valladolid where we bought supplies and settled in for the big one. Well Dean came and went with just mild winds and light rain. Dean came ashore in the southern Yucatan. Our efforts were not necessary but better to be safe than sorry. While there we explored Valladolid (an old colonial city) which had an old convent built in 18something. Lots of cool old churches and great people who made our visit to this charming city one of the highlights of our trip. After a long day sightseeing and a good swim in one of the local cenotes we ate dinner and I tucked my wife and kids into bed and went down to the hotel bar. Over a few cocktails I met the police chief and the deputy mayor or least they told me they were. Their English was not too good and my Spanish is horrible. They took me to a cousins watering hole and then to an uncles restrauent. The drinks I bought for them earlier that night paied big dividends that evening. I ate and drank myself silly and my new friends would not let me pay for anything. Good times had by all. By the way, my wife is OK with my crazy vacation antics. I may on occasion embarrass her but I will never dishonor her and she knows that. She is always invited but most of the time would rather sit and enjoy a good book.

The last week we all checked into one of those big mega resorts on the Rivera Maya. Porto Morales I’m told. You know the ones with 7 pools and 12 bars. Well this place was BIG. All you could eat and drink. Tourist from Spain, England, France, Belgium, USA and others. Shows and other live enterment all night long. Don’t get me wrong, it didn’t suck but it was not as much fun as doing it on your own. After three days I had enough of that stuff. The wife and kids loved it so I put on my happy face and made the best of it. The food was good but not as authentic as some of the places we ate at. Sometimes I ate so much that I had to skip the next meal. No self control I guess. I lost the feeling of being in a strange and exotic land. Was I in Mexico or in some sort of a family camp? This place could be in Florida or California and I would not know the difference. To each his own I guess. I don’t think I will soon visit the mega’s anytime soon. They must be popular; I see lots of them around. Maybe I’m the strange one. My last statement probably is true and makes sense. I hope everyone enjoys their vacation no matter what tickles your fancy. Maybe our paths will cross, if you like the local dives?