Yucatan Peninsula, MX

Isla Mujeres waterfront

As we comply with the shelter-inside and social-distancing recommendations for Covid-19, Alan has completed a long to-do list, has finished 3 new watercolor paintings, and has started making his own mats and frames.  I finally started work on a project that has been on my mind for years, but there never seemed to be enough time to tackle it.  Now it appears I will have plenty of time before we will be able (or willing) to start traveling again.  We were scheduled to be in Cuba this month using the "Support for the Cuban People" program to travel around the country.  This summer we were hoping to travel to Austria, Slovakia, and Poland, maybe Scotland.  But, that trip is surely not going to happen either. 

Converting the Traveling Manatees blog to the Apple Pages app to create a book and correcting the

Isla Mujeres fishing fleet

dozens (perhaps hundreds) of spelling and grammar errors made through the years is a fairly cumbersome job.  Though revisiting all the places included in the blog is fun, I miss the creative aspect.  So, as part of the project, I will be writing stories about some trips we took before the blog was started and even a few that were just left out.  Since we are celebrating our 36th Anniversary this month, I thought I would start with a trip we took in 2009 to commemorate our 25 years of marriage (though we were together for 7 years before we tied the knot.) 

At Cliff of the Dawn

Sculpture at the Cliff

April  2009.  Taking advantage of the Mexican timeshare we had purchased in 2005, we flew into Cancún for a 10-day getaway.  Starting with 3 days out on Isla Mujeres, we took a ferry over to the small island.  At a little more than 4 miles long and less than half a mile across, walking around the island was certainly an option, but our second day in town we rented a golf cart to explore.  Heading first out to Cliff of the Dawn, this easternmost section of Mexico allows early morning visitors the ability to be the first in the country to see the sunrise.  Numerous sculptures dot the landscape throughout the park.  

Friends had recommended a tucked-away spot to eat.  Fresh fish was split and grilled over large fire pits and served with traditional rice and beans, and it did not disappoint.  Eating on the island ranged from cheap to tourist-focused and expensive.  Usually, the best food and prices are found at the places where the locals eat, and with a few exceptions, that is what we did here.  While streets seemed to be almost deserted during our days walking around the downtown commercial area, it came to life at night.  Over 200 restaurants dot the island, many located near the main strip.  Offering 2 for 1 cocktails, visitors start filling the bars/restaurants in the late afternoon.  During the evening, many places offer music and dancing, and they were packed with revelers, including us.  Isla is known for wide, white-sand beaches and we spent many hours relaxing at Playa Norte.  Several women walked the beachfront laden down with a wide variety of woven wraps they were selling.  

Returning to the mainland, we grabbed a taxi down to pick up our rental vehicle and proceeded south of Cancún to our home for the coming week.  Having stayed at the resort before, we headed first to Playa del Carmen to load up on food, wine, and other necessities.  Now, we were set to relax.  Initially, we spent time at the resorts’ expansive pools and the beachfront.  Alan’s sister, Diane, took a bus up from her home in Belize to Playa del Carmen, to spend a few days with us. 

Xel-Ha

The following day, we headed to Xel-Ha.  Once oriented in the large park, a shuttle bus took us upriver where we grabbed a large rubber tube and then floated back down the river running through the park.  Combined with snorkeling, a variety of water activities filled our day.  Numerous little shaded areas provided a respite from the heat, as did the cool waters.  A huge, 2-story restaurant, with lunch and beverages included in the entry fee, supplied sustenance.  Lockers, towels, and showers met the remainder of our needs.  

Yal Ku Lagoon

Even though we enjoyed the water park, we were looking for something different for our next day and headed to Yal Ku Lagoon and Akumal Beach for some snorkeling.  Both were places we’d visited before but wanted to share the experience with Diane.  Yal Ku provides a protected lagoon, which is ideal for windy days or novice snorkelers with a water depth of 6-15 feet.  Lovely statues are placed throughout the well-groomed grounds, and waterfront benches provide a place to hang out when not in the water.  Showers, lockers, and rental snorkel equipment and life vest are also available.  We spent an hour or so in the water before the tour buses moved in.

Diane and Alan at Akumal

 Arriving at nearby Akumal, we paid the park entrance fee, gathered our equipment, and headed back in the water.  Several turtles made an appearance, but since we had already snorkeled a while at Yal Ku we cut the outing short, hung out on the beach, and found a nearby eatery for nachos, tacos, and beer.

Hanging out at the resort was a wonderful way to spend a day as well.  With almost 20 restaurants on the grounds, we took advantage of the offerings from time to time but typically prepared breakfast and dinner in our suite.  Celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary at the seaside Harvest Moon Restaurant, we enjoyed a tasty Cuban dinner, followed by dancing and lively Caribbean music.  Perfect!