El Meco ruins

I went to the El Meco ruins just North of Cancun today. What a beautiful place and the caretaker Jesus was a riot. He decided I needed a Spanish name, so he renamed me Chavela (which means Isabelle in English). He also taught me how to say good morning in Maya - Ma'lob Ja'atskab K'iin. Try saying that 3 times really fast lol ;)

Coatis are so cute!

Can you spot the bird?

Can you see the iguana?

I suddenly felt really tall. ;)

Isla Blanca

Shhh don't tell anyone but there's a beach in Cancun where you won't find any tourists. Isla Blanca is beautiful and the beach was virtually empty. You have to drive down a bumpy dirt road for 20 minutes to get there but it's well worth the bumpy ride. What an awesome beach. :)

Tucker making friends with the local beach dogs.

A Chihuahua in paradise. :)

Arrived in Cancun

Well I made it here but as per usual I had problems travelling with my dog. What's up with that? This time I was able to board my Aeromexico flight fine in Manazanillo. The problems started when I landed in Mexico City for my connecting flight to Cancun. When I was given my ticket in Manzanillo I questioned why they were giving me a boarding pass that didn't include 'pet in cabin' on it. (I learned my lesson with that one that last time I flew home from Mexico.) The ticket agent reassured me that there wouldn't be a problem as he handed me a 'boarding pass' for Tucker. Turns out it wasn't a boarding pass it was just a receipt that I paid for him to fly with me. Needless to say, they wouldn't let me into the Mexico City airport when I got off the plane. I was pulled to the side and I had to wait 20 minutes for them to clear up the issue. Thankfully another passenger waited with me and translated for me. Thank you nice Mexican man.

So finally I was allowed to go through security but I was quickly pulled aside again. The security guy slapped on some rubber gloves and by this time my translator was long gone, so me being me, I panicked and thought 'Holy crap he's going to examine me with those gloves on.' When I pointed at myself and said "Me??" the guy laughed and said "No perro." Thank God the gloves were for Tucker and not me!

'Why me?

Poor Tucker got frisked and off we went. Last passenger on the plane - of course. But I'm here. :)

Adios Melaque - Hola Cancun

I'm off to Cancun today. Thanks to my friends in Melaque for a great send-off last night. I love Melaque but Cancun is calling my name... and the adventure continues. :)

Love my friends - even if they make me do nasty tequila shots ;)

Mariachi madness

It was tons of fun at Lucy's Paradise Bar in Barra de Navidad last night. :)

Mexican taxi ;)

Crocodiles in La Manzanilla

It was a great day in La Manzanilla. I had a yummy lunch on the beach and I didn't get eaten by any crocodiles. Great day indeed. :)

Safty first!

Don't worry I won't.

No swimming? Oh darn.

Peek a boo crocodile

This one hissed at me!

ATM problems!

On my last night in Playa del Carmen I figured I'd better go to an ATM and grab some money for travelling the next day. I tried several times to take money of out an HSBC machine but each time it wouldn't work. I figured the ATM probably didn't have any money left in it. Which is often the case in Mexico. So I walked over to the Scotiabank on 5th Avenue and tried the ATM there. I tried twice to take money out. First I asked for 3000 pesos and then 1000 pesos. Both times a slip came out saying my card was declined. I knew I had money in the account so it wasn't being declined because of insufficient funds. I bank with Scotia in Canada so I figured if it was a card problem it would work in a Scotia ATM. Nope it didn't. 

When I got back to the house I went online to check my balance. I was shocked (and pissed off) to see I was missing $341.59 from my account. I could see all the HSBC transactions. They took the money out and then when the transaction didn't go through they put the money right back in. It shows a bunch of withdrawls and then credits on my account. But the two Scotia withdrawls came out and never went back in. I have a withdrawl for $247.33 (3000 pesos) and a $5.00 service fee, as well as $84.26 (1000 pesos) and a $5.00 fee. 

Yesterday I was busy flying back to Manzanillo, so I called my bank today. They gave me a lame apology and said they would contact the bank in Mexico. They said it would take between 4-7 days to receive a response. It's Mexico they're dealing with, so I'm sure the response won't be quick. I've had friends tell me it could take up to 6 months to get my money back. I also may never see it again. 

This sucks. Grrrr. :(

Update January 14th - This is part of an email I just received from Scotiabank. It says it could take up to 47 days after the Mexican bank refunds the money.

I checked the status and got the feedback that your case is under review at the present date. 

Scotiabank has initiated an investigation and has sent the request to the bank that you used when you made the ABM withdrawal. There is no definite turnaround time for the refund to be issued back to your account by the other financial institution. 

Our policy states, if a transaction is charged back to the other financial institution, please allow up to 47 days for a refund to be issued to the customer's account.

(You would think they could move things along faster since the 'other' institution is also a Scotiabank. But no. This is definitely going to take a while...patience is not one of my best virtues.)

Cozumel

I went to Cozumel today. Loved it. But hated the boat ride to and from the island. I think the next time I go I'd better be drugged-up on Gravol because it was hellish. The ride there wasn't too bad, but the ride home...umm not fun.

The island was beautiful. Amazing beaches. Gorgeous water. Cozumel has incredible reefs for diving. I so wish I could swim! Maybe one day. :)

Leaving Playa del Carmen

The boat from hell.

Happy New Year!

I just spent a week on Isla Mujeres. What an amazing place to start off the new year! I absolutely love Isla Mujeres.