Cancun - last few days - March 24 - 27th

Sunday morning produced a beautiful sunrise.

Today is a beach day. It's quite hot and humid. We've been eating breakfast in the conference center as it's not so busy. It doesnt have as many option ... but I don't eat the Mexican stuff anyways. Here they do have an egg and omlette station. Can you spot Ray? lol

I also managed to get reservations at the Mexican Restaurant tonight. Not really my thing, but Ray enjoyed most of it. Their plating is fabulous, I just wish the food tasted as good. Most meats are way overcooked.

Looks beautiful, but the chicken inside was all dried out.

Monday morning we got locked out of our room for an hour. Our key cards did not work. We went down the elevator to the front desk 3 times for them to reset our card .... didn't work. Finally they got someone from security to try and get it working. After 20 minutes he ended up calling his supervisor. They had to access our room by going into the room next door and climbing over the balcony onto ours to open the door. Turned out the batteries are dead in the locking mechanism!

We'd planned to go back towards La Isla Mall for a late lunch for better food, but it's another hot one, so again we headed down to "our spot" and spent the day. Lots of relaxing and reading happening. At least down here the music is muffled somewhat. Ray wears his headphones with his music most of the time to drown the music and the pool exercise whistle out. 

Ray did managed to get into the ocean for a bit 2 days ago when it was calm.

I managed a reservation finally at the Steakhouse, again nothing to write home about. Ray ordered the ribs which were ok. I ordered chicken wings, which were over fried and dry, so left most. I don't like the taste of the grease they use here and most foods are fried. Most people gain wait at all inclusives, I'm losing as I don't like the food and as well as being sick these 2 weeks.

Tuesday, our last day here. I'm looking forward to going home. We thought about taking the bus to IHop for different food but I looked at their menu and it was mostly all Mexican type foods too. Back to the buffet we go.

For dinner we were back at the Fisherman's Restaurant. Ray ate a great meal of well perfectly done salmon. Me, just salad and ice cream. I'm way too hot to eat.

Check out is 12 noon. We ordered up private transportation to the airport for 1 pm instead of 3 pm for our flight out at 6:15 pm. Just want to get out of here. I would rather wait at the airport and maybe get some better food for lunch.

At the airport, check in was easy with no waits and security was easy too. By 1:30 we were sitting in Wolfgang Puck's Kitchen Restaurant having a fabulous lunch. I ate a great Turkey Clubhouse and Ray one of the best burgers he's ever had. Delicious.

Now we waited for 4 hours before boarding our plane. The airport certainly got really busy around 4 pm so we were glad we came early. At 6 pm were loaded on the plane and managed to take off on time. Dinner was terrible, dry chicken and mole with rice ..... I didn't eat it. Glad I ate a big lunch. 

The flight was uneventful until we started going by Tacoma and Seattle where we saw a huge display of lightening on the horizen for several hundred miles (and we were heading straight towards it). Never seen anything like it. Unfortunately, this storm cell is massive, causing torrential rain at the Victoria Airport and our plane was unable to land. Apparently the Victoria airport's runway is on the short side, and with a larger plane the possiblity of hydroplaning off the runway we were diverted to Comox, up island. Being so late in the evening we waited 20 minutes for ground crew so we could be refuelled. As Comox does not have customs we couldn't get off the plane. The crew were informed the heavy rain had ended in Victoria so after refuelling we took off again and landed safely in Victoria. With everyone waiting for us in Victoria and wanting to get home themselves, baggage was fast and customs even faster. Stepped into a taxi outside to get to the hotel. Heads on pillows by 2 am (4 am Cancun time). 

After 4 hours sleep, we were anxious to just get home. I've been still coughing a bunch and not feeling 100% still after a month. We stopped at the Walk-in Clinic in Duncan, but there was already 20 people in line waiting. Well that won't work.

We decided to go to the Doghouse Restaurant for breakfast before heading home. While eating breakfast, I called our doctor's office in Nanaimo and got an appointment for 11:15 today with one of the other doctor's in the clinic. They know us as "Kristi's parents" lol Nice to have a doctor in the family.

Dr. Finlay said that she thinks it is a viral infection that is hanging on with my bronchial tubess wheezing causing the mucous build up, so prescribed a heavy duty puffer. She also sent me for a chest xray across the street which I did. I will be checked again in 10 days

Finally home at 1 pm. A very long 24 hours.

 

Cancun - El Meco - March 21 - 23

Friday, off by taxi to El Meco, a Mayan Ruin 40 minutes north of us. It's not really big, but something we've not seen. The front desk told us it would be 600 pesos, but the taxi driver said 700.

El Meco - Mayan Ruins just across the Bay

The original name of El Meco remains shrouded in mystery, but the nickname traces back to a local resident known for his bowlegged stride. This site, once a flourishing fishing village around 300 AD, witnessed a rebirth in the late 10th century. Structures erected between the 13th and 16th centuries stood testament to the villagers’ reverence for the Mayan rain god Chaac. The central pyramid temple, known as El Castillo, served not only as a religious hub but also a navigational beacon for mariners. El Meco was a bustling port and a religious nucleus, much like Puerto Juárez today, until the Spanish arrival in the 16th century cast a shadow of abandonment over it.

It's not a very big site, but so interesting. The visitor/ticket center is all new construction. They're still planting everywhere. The grounds of the site are completely redone. We're fortunate to be the only ones there touring for the 40 minutes. Just as we were leaving a two bus loads of school kids were descending onto the site.

All the pillars you see were the supports for the second floor level.

Blue staining from the pictographs that used to be on the walls with the original plaster.

It's very peaceful here.

After touring we went back to the ticket counter and asked him to call a taxi. The guy told us just to take the bus right outside. We had to take the R28 to the junction and then get the R6 to the Mercado 28 flea market downtown. Quite an adventure. The buses are really bigger vans with a large door and a circle of benchs. $1 USD each and we are on our way. Fortunately, another passenger who spoke English told us where to get off and catch the next one. He also transferred onto the next bus with us and told us where to get off for the market. The taxi cost $40 USD and the bus $6 for both of us lol The bus took us through what seemed to be back streets of houses and businesses. We noticed that there was no garbage everywhere like in PV.

We took a bus that looked like this.

Hotel Zone Bus

Everything looked pretty similar to the markets in PV

We wandered through but didn't buy anything. The usual people hassling you to buy, yelling "real cheap, how many you want, what you look for" ..... after half an hour we had enough, so went to the tourist stand to find out what bus and where to get back to the hotel zone and La Isla Mall. Ended up walking 4 blocks to catch the bus, but it was fine. 

Got dropped off at the mall and waited 20 minutes for the Ryoshi Restaurant to open. Another fabulous meal. 

Back to the resort by bus about 2 pm. We relaxed on our deck for a bit. Later, Ray went down to the Buffet for a bite and I stayed in the room and ate some yogurt. Still full from lunch.

Saturday is a stay at the resort day in our spot above the beach. Both of us are still coughing up stuff. This cold just won't seem to let go. We don't feel sick though, just sound like it. lol Dinner's at the French Restaurant again. Ray ordered the Coq Co Vin that was delicious and I only had 2 different soups. 

Cancun - Isla Mejueres - Mar 18 - 20

 Another sunset.

Tuesday, it's a cooler day with a high of 26C predicted and humidity only 54%. We decided to take the ferry over to Isla Mujeres. 

Time of the Maya

Isla Mujeres’ tale begins over a thousand years ago, as part of the Mayan province, Ekab. was celebrated as a sacred sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Ixchel, revered for her blessings of fertility, medicine, and happiness. Mayan girls would journey here to pay homage, seeking her guidance to gracefully transition into a new phase of both physical and spiritual maturity, a rite of passage marking their journey from childhood to adulthood. The southern tip of the island housed a temple dedicated to her, doubling as a lighthouse. Torches, glowing through apertures in the temple walls, a beacon guiding mariners through the Caribbean waters.

Recent excavations by the National Institute of History and Anthropology unveiled hidden Mayan ruins and relics at the Mundaca Hacienda. Among the finds were five potential temple structures, one possibly being the true abode of goddess Ixchel, with the southern point ruin serving as the lighthouse. Over 100 artifacts, including obsidian, jade, and skeletal remains, take us a step closer to unearthing Isla’s ancient secrets.

Isla continued to be a tranquil sanctuary until 1517 when Francisco Fernández de Córdoba stumbled upon it. Legend paints a picture of an island inhabited solely by the priestess of Ixchel and her entourage of women. Scattered around were statues of Ixchel, crafted in gold, silver, and clay, leading to the christening of the island as Isla Mujeres – the Island of Women

We left at 8 am and caught the bus to ferry terminal. The bus driver let us off at the wrong terminal so back on the bus again and paid another $1 each. Finally at the right place and made the 9am sailing to the island.

Security..... we saw lots of police, National Guard etc everywhere toting machine guns.

The Xcaret Ferry

We had the whole inside upstairs to ourselves ... not coughing on anyone. lol

Leaving the harbour.

The next few pictures are looking back at the Hotel Zone

First up we rented a golf cart. By 10:30 we were on our way. I let Ray drive as the traffic is crazy there with cars, motorcycles and tons of golf carts going every which way. 

I think I would have rather stayed on this island than where we are. It's more like a busy "small town" versus a big city catering to Americans on holiday. First up is Playa Norte Beach, the north end of the island. Beautiful white sand beach with lots of bars. Very calm waters here with very little surf to worry about.

Time to find some food as we didn't have breakfast. We stopped at Soggy Pesos Bar, which I had seen a video of, but they didn't serve food until noon. 

Fortunately a "stone's throw away" is another restaurant with an even higher rating 4.9 on google, Bahia Tolok. We sat a table right on the water. The owner is wonderful and we ate a fabulous meal. Yay another plus for Debbie! 

Back on the golf cart and headed to the south end to Garrafon Reef Natural Park and Punta Sur for some Mayan Ruins. Good thing for google maps to navigate through the streets to get there lol

Along the road to Garrafon Reef:

This shows the steady stream of traffic, mostly golf carts, along the road.

Vendors selling shells, coconut, etc. roadside.

Luxury homes along this end of Isla Mejueres.

This one is for sale.

Our last stop, the Mirador Punta Sur and the Mayan Ruins of Isla Mujeres which represents the goddess Ixchel's temple. It's $100 pesos $(5 USD) each to enter. There are lots of statues depicting the Mayan peoples. There is a concrete walkway that takes you to the very tip of the island, the farthest eastern piece of land in Mexico.

The Goddess Ixchell

Lots of iguana's basking in the sun.

Mayan announcer with sound snail

Mayan Fertility Goddess Ruin

Mayan Notary

Mayan Offerers

Mayan Watcher

The furthest tip of Mexico

x

We dropped off the golf cart shortly after 1 pm and walked across the street to catch the 2 pm ferry back to Cancun. After catching the bus, we arrived back at the hotel at 3 pm. A lovely day out. Tonight we ate at the Fisherman's Restaurant at the resort. Ray loves their grouper and homemade potato chips. I ordered a salad and the prawns, which I found too spicey and gave to Ray. Desert is ice cream and their little butter cookies was great.

Wednesday, beach day. Ray put our towels down at the level between the beach and the pool, so we were away from everyone with our coughing. I'm still not well ... coughing up junk and Ray's not much better. Much nicer with sun and clouds today at 28C but with the stiff breeze at 25 mph and lower humity at 54% it's very comfortable. We will have a couple of quiet days before adventuring off again to recoup. 

Tonight we ate at the French Restaurant again. Their Frenh Onion Soup is delicious. Ray ordered the fillet again and I me the chicken cordon blue. I'm feeling worn out again so didn't eat much. I will be so glad when this cold is over. 

Thursday, another pool day. By noon I'm feeling much better. Ray still has a "tight" chest. I managed to make reservations finally at the Mexican a la carte. The food is pretty good. Ray enjoyed his Mahi Mahi. First dinner I've enjoyed. Loved their Mexican coffee. Both of us in bed early.