Here is a proper Mexico update.
Mika & I went to Playa del Carmen, Mexico for five short but action packed days.
Day #1
Arrived at Hotel Hacienda Real del Caribe in Playa.
We were immediately intrigued by hour long massages that only cost $25!
This is the view from our room
We listened to everyone & didn’t drink the water!
Then we spent the evening wandering 5th ave which was really touristy.
Mexico has alarmingly delicious Italian food where we ate ourselves into a coma
& were serenaded by multiple mariachi bands.
Day #2
Started very early… 6am!
We met our soon to be trip friends Remy & Lydia then were off to our first adventure.
We began the day repelling into a cenote!
This is when we made friends with a fabulous lady named Kini & her boyfriend Nick
Lydia, Kini & I decided we were on an episode of ABC’s The Bachelor
… we were just lacking the bachelor.
We soon discovered no one looks good in a snorkel mask
We took part in a Mayan ceremony
We zip-lined three times!
One was into a water filled cave!
One would think this much adventure would be good enough…
Yet we were off to Tulum after this!
This is me going through the stone walkway into the city
Mika, myself & a ruin
Someone used to live here!
& here!
Mika had a lot of love for all the ‘dragons’ everywhere
That was all the action we could take for a day so we headed back to the hotel.
We all met up for dinner at a non-touristy place that felt like a 20 mile walk.
On the walk we saw a baby lion and a tiger just hanging out on the side of the street.
We soon learned that they were drugged & mistreated.
So sad.
This is Kini with us at dinner
After this we went back to the hotel but took a 3 peso cab home instead.
Then I tortured Mika with some more CSI.
Day #3
Another 6am wake-up call
Today we were off to a natural water park!
We began the morning hanging out in the water
then were off to swim with dolphins!
We rode bikes to the top of the lazy river then floated down to where we would swim with manatees!
This is Remy, Me, Lydia, Nick & Kini petting Little Bean
Then I needed to stray away and relax
We spent a lot of time explaining that we weren’t in a relationship.
This visual didn’t help our case
Our view from the hammock
Then we loaded into the van where there were lots of giggles
We had dinner with Kini & Nick in Playa.
Word to the wise, don’t try to get noodles in Mexico.
This is our hotel at night
Day #4
It was my birthday!
We didn’t have anything planned so we took the ferry to Cozumel!
Upon arrival I got pretty sick but was not going to let that ruin my day.
We rented scooters & drove around the whole island.
Kini & Me
doing the cool asian pose
Kini was our leader on this adventure.
We got a little lost but found a small Mayan ruin & a mule with a sombrero!
Mika wanted nothing to do with this animal.
He was just so sad
So was this dog
After that pit stop we were back on the road.
We finally made it to south beach for some lunch.
It felt good to relax by the ocean
Kini & Nick
Mika looking like shes in a Coke commercial
We all made our mark on this table
It was finally time to go back on the road.
It then became very clear to me that I may die.
The winds were SO intense blowing me into the opposite lane of traffic.
The views were breathtaking & at one point we all just veered off to explore this beach
This is the yellow backpack that may have kept me on course the whole time
I adventured off & was mesmerized by the waves
I was uninterested in getting back on the road so I watched the waves some more
It was time to move on & I realized how cool my friends are
I am not as cool
After avoiding death & seeing the whole island we took the ferry back to Playa.
Mika had been wanting some Mexican cigars so we found this awesome place
Tobacco everywhere!
We then went to the beach for a farewell dinner
D surprised & embarrassed me with a birthday cake & song
The moon was stunning
Then began the sad goodbyes to our friends.
Mika & I went back to the hotel to swim since I never have on my birthday.
She bailed out but I stripped down & jumped in!
Day #5
Daylight savings really screwed me up.
I learned that Mexico doesn’t recognize it.
We hopped in our taxi to the airport & pouted the whole way.
Goodbye Mexico & your weird policemen
