I arrived at the Manzanillo airport thinking I was really smart for packing light for my trip to Playa del Carmen. For a change I managed to get everything I needed into a carry-on bag. Since I only had half an hour in Mexico City to catch my connecting flight in Cancun, I didn't want to take the chance that my checked luggage wouldn't make it onto the plane. I'm always planning ahead, but in the end it didn't really matter. It seems I always have a few glitches to deal with when I travel. This time it was my own fault.
Just before boarding I decided shove my camera bag into my carry-on. This was the result...
Oops major rip. Guess that was a bad idea! Then as I was about to board the plane, a guy ran over and said the plane's overhead compartments were full. I'd have to check my bag after all. Grrrr. I tried to explain that I'd just ripped my bag and if they throw it into cargo all my stuff would fall out. He didn't care. He took the bag and said he'd staple it closed. Staples? Hmm okay airport man. And off he went with my bag. Thankfully I remembered to grab my camera out of it first!
Once my bag was apprehended and stapled, we were ready to take off. As always I was the last one on the plane.
I flew from Manzanillo to Mexico City and then to Cancun. My flights were great and I even got a cool video of a rainbow that followed us in as we landed. What a nice welcome to Cancun.
From the Cancun airport I took a bus to Playa del Carmen. It took about an hour. I'd never taken a coach bus before. I actually enjoyed the ride. The seats were really comfortable, they had a movie playing and I liked the idea of having a washroom on board. Not a bad way to travel at all. I think I'll be doing more of it. :)
Tucked away in a little cove 4 km West of Melaque is a beautiful beach called Playa Cuastecomates. I'm not sure why no one showed me this beach years ago. It's become one of my favorite places to go. I take a 10 minute cab ride over to Cuastecomates a few times a week. It's a great place. Tucker loves it too. He lounges around in the sunniest spot he can find, while I eat my usual lunch of freshly caught Red Snapper. So yummy! :)
Here's a video with the photos I took of the Mexican Revolution Day parade in Melaque. Everyone looked so beautiful and the kids were so cute in their costumes!
In Mexico a washroom is called a bano. I found this little gem at a restaurant in Cuastecomates. At first glance I thought I was going to have to use a bucket...
But nope, this was actually the washroom....
Unfortunately this is typically what a public bano in small town Mexico looks like. It's not often you'll find a toilet seat and the tank rarely has a lid. I've seen countless toilets without handles and without running water. Due to poor plumbing you can't flush any toilet paper. So in busy restaurants or at the beach, garbage cans are always overflowing with used toilet paper. Yes you're right, it's disgusting. I can't say I'll ever get use to it, but when you've gotta go, you've gotta go. Hey dónde está el baño? ;)
I woke up bright and early at 6 am this morning to catch the 5K run in Barra de Navidad. Kids were running, seniors were running, Americans, Canadians and Mexicans. People with all different skill levels and ages were there with one goal in mind, to do their best. The oldest participant was 78. I was impressed. I'm really glad I got my butt out of bed and went. :)
