An adventure on my own

My solo adventure started at 3AM heading towards Cancún - where I spent two nights. Although it had pretty beaches, impressive hotels, grand bars and an extraordinary variety in entertainment offered, it did not quite feel like Mexico to me.

Perhaps this was because I was constantly mistaken as a “Gringo” (American), “Would you like to pay for that in dollars miss?”. Approached by people who assumed I would only want to speak English, or got menus with Tex-Mex or American dishes, again in English, wherever I went. When asking the locals about where I could go to get a taste of the “real (more Mexican part of) Cancún” I was either asked, “Oh, so you want to leave Cancún?”, or told to go to the hotel district or shopping malls. They even had a Mayan artifact shopping mall.... After refusing to give up on finding a bit of Mexico in Cancún - after all I did not travel all this way to stay in shopping malls and hotels, I was finally advised to head to the markets, and so I did - I was not disappointed.

At marked 28

When the time came to move on from Cancún, I was overly ready to explore a new culture. I first headed for Isla Mujeres, meaning the Island of Women (- girl power and all that!) for my birthday. In my post a little while ago I told you about the most memorable birthday of my life. Looking back now I wish I could have had a lot more time there, it was a magnificent place and I saw one of the most breath-taking sunsets I’ve witnessed in my life,  also met some friendly fellow travelers who ensured I didn’t spend my birthday evening alone.

Birthday sunset

Valladolid, a city I chose to visit because I liked the way its name looked on a map ended up being the place I spent the most time in. Somewhat unexpectedly as I had about a million other places I also wanted to visit. It worked out great though because of its proximity to Archaeological sites, its fair prices in accommodation and food, its colourful streets and many, many astounding Cenotes that made it impossible to leave before I really had to!

Rainy streets of Valladolid

 

Musician waiting out the storm

Leaping into Cenote Zaci

Cenote X'Keken / Dzitnup. Bats squeaking and flying above, fish swarming bellow.

Valladolid turned out to be a culinary heaven, I tried Mayan dishes which almost made me sentimental - they were THAT good! I overheard people speaking in Mayan on the streets, and in the markets observed elderly ladies sitting outside their shops actually embroidering the dresses and other goods that were for sale on their stall! I got to practice my Spanish with the locals and was even serenaded by a group of local musicians when I was sitting on my own in a packed restaurant. Although mortifying at the time, I can’t help but feeling flattered in retrospect!

Cochinita Pilbil - Lovingly marinated in citrus, slowly cooked in banana leaves, served with pickled onions.

Sopa de Lima / lime soup, I could not get enough of this!

Cathedral in Valladolid, next to a park perfect of people-watching and reading

Colourful street in Valladolid, next to the Mayan chocolate museum

My final solo destination was Playa del Carmen, where I also went for an evening with Emma when we met up in Akumal. I spent my final night digesting all the experiences whilst wandering down the beach in yet another sunset on my own. On a side-note if you are considering coming to the Yucatán Peninsula, I would highly recommend you go to Playa del Carmen as opposed to Cancún. Unless you are looking for the ultimate stag doo destination or want a tropical piece of America. Playa del Carmen has a slightly more relaxed/hippy feel to it, and it offers most of what you can get in Cancún with a side order of Mexican culture.

Playa del Carmen beach entrance

The proud artist of this magnificent sand turtle

Mariachis looking for their next venue in Playa del Carmen

Besides all of these wonderful experiences, when I stayed in Valladolid, I also got to experience a wonder of the modern world, but that was so immense it will have to be a story for another time…

I'll leave you with this, how can you not have a good time in a place where there are bars on wheels?!