Summer 2023 - Playa de Carmen Cenotes

Perfect two days behind us with my little mexicaine sister visiting the beautiful cenotes of the area: the popular 2 eyes and the Garden of Eden. Very proud of my little tribe again for their sportiveness - despite the colds even my 5 yo bambino snorkelled through the semi-caves in 24 celsius water (feels quite chilly in contrast to the +34 celsius sea water!). The stalactitis formations are fascinating and the fish abondant. Opinions were divded whether the lushness of Eden won over the handsome 2 eyes. Both days, we enjoyed local dishes in local restaurants: fresh guacamole, nachos and vegetarian fajitas with wild rice and frijoles salsa. My senses were singing. This afternoon our hunt for the nice, family beach was finally rewarded and we enjoyed the chilled afternoon snorkelling in the milk-warm Caribbean waves close to Tulum. Nevertheless, it did not beat my longwaited and pre-meditated evening listening my sisters news, travel tales and other stories while sipping ginger tea laye into the night. Life is good!Namaste

Summer 2023 - Playa del Carmen 2

So. Gathering my thoughts here. First second impressions of Playa. My last visit to this stretch of Riviera Playa dates to mindblowing 17 years back. My sister had moved to df and was proud to present her new home country. I adventured alone from df through the jungle in an economic local bus fir 18 long hours. I stopped at Palenque in the jungle, and San Cristobal de las Casas to sense this indigenous little village in Chiapas. I stayed in Playa with my sisters friends, hanged out in local restaurants and partied in the 5th avenue. The place appeared very laid-back and exotic to me at the time. Having lived with Dr. Oatkers cereal bars for several days, I recall the heavenly tasty taco I ate in a local eatiry. My taste buds get still watery just recalling it! Our first days in Playa in 2023 have been in a little different colours. Not all can be explained by age and life that may have dimmed a bit all experiences. We took our kids to the 5th avenue. The heat and humidity absorbs ones organs with an incredible force. We had searched a budget restaurant and decided to take immediately shelter. I sense the importance locals place un pleasing and offering great service to tourists and the family running our restaurant really made the effort to be fast and efficiant with a smile. As for Playa, it appeared as many other tired shopping streets in the world with H&M and other common brands. Perhaps one exception was the drug dealers, in the middle of the street, looking young, musculous and handsom, thinking they will make a sale to parents with many young kids. In conclusion, they must have had some success. My eldest's day was complete following a visit to the iconic Hard Rock Cafe. My heart melted a bit in nostalgie, as I still recall having been fun of the phenomenon myself in the 90s. Oh, and following the record-beating expensive croissant in Santo Domingo airport (5 us dollars), I beat it now also for a ball of ice cream (5 us dollar each). I feel awed and pissed off. Gladly, we also got to discover the closest beach to our hotel before the misfortunes started. The public beach had a tiny public access between the humangous luxory hotel chains, which strech tens of km along in the Riviera Maya. There was a bit sargasse seaweat, but locals were quick to clean it. Water was nice and warm and kids saw some fishes as well. A nice moment all-together. Our second trial in the afternoon to another beach 30 min.drive away ended with a disappointment, as we learned all public beaches close at 5 pm. Had to know that! I miss dearly my little mexicaine sister to give heads-up in all these details. This morning started with gloomy news, as we discovered that not only my husband's flue has gone worse, but my son had fever, strong head-ache and vomited the glass of water I gave him. Fortunately there is a pharmacy and medical centre next door and so (maternal concern overcedes language barriers and self-consciousness!) I managed to explain my sons condition and get medications for him (yes, in Spanish). Thank you non-regulated country, I got antibiotics over the counter, another challenge was to find the correct posologie..I could not believe myself listening to you tube video to find this information, but desperado situations demands desperado measures. I truly did not want to take my son to the over-crowded university hospital not far from here. Who knows what we would catch from that visit as a souvenir! Fortunately, thanks to my ever resourceful little sister and her doctor friend we received the information. With the heat I truly hope my son will feel better soon. Long day behind and it is hardly afternoon. My other highlight of the day was the explanation I received from the hotel technician (of course in Spanish) on his cleaning process of the hotel pool. Well I had to ask and be convinced given my bambinos are using it daily. I have been already getting grips of sanitizing vocabulary much needed for my vegetables and keeping a check of kids not using the tab water. Not even for brushing their teeth. I feel like being a tourist abroad. I ask myself, if I would want to return home already? No. not that bad. I've got this, girl! Let the rest of our holidays glow brighter, namaste.

Summer 2023 - Mexico - Playa del Carmen

Black Saturdays. The concept from our 2020 Roadtrip along the Atlantic coast has a Grande Return. The term refers to our typically extra-intense day of changing places including check-out/cleaning, travelling (taxi, flights, searching car-rentals, driving among irrespectable people), finding hotel/house, checking-in, grocery shopping (super tiring), preparing dinner, washing laundry, showering and calming kids to bed, intending with my husband to celebrate our heroism with a glass of Chardonnay, but rarely made it before dropping out of shere fatigue. This time the exhausting day started at 3.30 am in Juan Dolio Dominican Republic and ended here in Mexico's Playa del Carmen. I am comfortably writing this entry from the comfort of my bed. I have been waiting this moment like full moon for several months. Not only is the above items checked for today, also the most adventurous part of our journey is behind. I have been ill-anxious about so many aspects regarding this summer's trip you probably would not expect of such a seasoned traveller as I am (or maybe because of that, eh): whether to give malaria prevention to kids or not, how about the mosquito net (not given and they are now fully patched with mosquito bites), travellers illness ( we've all had it now for a week and my well-established medical cabinet is half-empty), flying a long-haul low-cost airline (landed in one piece, still not enjoying), the safety in DR (can kids go to toilet by themselves without being kidnapped- yes they did at the hotel areas, apparently more of a problem in mx as I learned). What else have I worried? Oh, the quality of wifi connection at the hotels and how to manage the time difference (no issues) . My scare list goes on (sorry for the boring listings): No-show paid taxi (happened today), night travelling in Santo Domingo (scary as hell in a taxi for 4 persons accomodating 6 with our shitcases BELTED in the open trunk!), ultra low-cost, ultra bumpy and frightening flight to Cancun, driving from Cancun to Playa (even the nice gentlemanny venezuelan flight pilot in Santo Domingo airport warned about Cancun not being safe and to keep eyes on kids at all times). Back to this moment of bliss and relief. As said I hope to beleive the most stressful part of our trip is behind. Now my energies will be canalised to welcoming my lovely mexican little sister with us in a few days!!! And by the way today is my first day of Holidays! Welcome Playa and good vibes!! Finally, Thank you my Dear Loving Guardian Angels for having brought us here safe. Namaste.