From cold Cologne to hot Mexico

A beautiful day to the ones reading these lines..( well also to the ones who are busy doing other things). I promised a lot of people back home to tell them about my journey to the other side of the earth and since I am already getting tired of repeating myself for everyone all the time - although I am not even here since more than 48 hours- I've came to the conclusion to write this blog and make you feel like I took you with me. And by now most of you are probably asking themselves 'Why the **** did she write in English instead of German?' That is probably because I have friends living abroad who also want to know where I am and what I am doing. But now enough of the babbling...

Here I am sitting in a small Mexican apartment in Playa del Carmen on the bed, telling you about my plan of the next 12 months...at least. It still feels so unreal although I always knew that it was going to happen, but I had to admit that saying goodbye to my beloved ones was harder than I have ever imagined. -I just took my time to realize that and still am-

Somewhere over the rainbow.

For the next week I plan on staying here in Playa del Carmen which is for sure a progress to the place I stayed the first night in Cancun. So here comes my first little story for you (finally, I know). As I arrived in a Motel in Cancun after my 11 hour flight, I didn't realize that the taxi drivers question 'Are you sure it's here?'with a confused voice was a hint. But as I saw the hour prices for rooms the next morning I realized that this was not a usual Motel ...it was different and famous for couples who needed some private time, if you know what I mean. So me (the backpacker) did not really fit in but at least that's how I found out why people gave me weird looks as I went to my room ( that did not have a key but a garage door, which was another hint). Oh well....afterwards you're always smarter and I have something to tell about of my first day in Mexico. This was an actual nice start in the day if I compare it to the next following hours...

Afterwards I went to the next 7-11 because my phone told me that it was the place to find an ATM and I sure did find one. BUT my card didn't want to work and of my Visa card I... forgot my PIN. So first rule for anyone who ever wants to go to Mexico or anywhere out of the EU: Check online if your credit card works, change money at the airport, even if you're tired & just don't be as stupid as me. After a lot of texting back and forth with my brother and my mom, I finally got a new Visa pin and I was relieved. But I have to admit that I was clearly stressed because I had walked to the ATM twice (through the heat) and leaving a motel room without having a key, with all my goods in the room, is not the best feeling in a country like Mexico.

So around noon I took the Bus for by the way 64 Pesos (3,15€) to Playa del Carmen. I'm mentioning the price so you get an idea of how cheap this is since I was on the bus for 1 and a half hours and it was even on time. *cough* Deutsche Bahn*cough*

On my way to Playa del Carmen I learned that literally no one (also not at the airport) speaks English so that's probably my second rule: Carry around a translator/dictionary or speak Spanish. In my case it is actually positive that people refuse talking English because I did not came to talk English anyway. The only exception was the owner of this small room I'm staying in right now. I got warmly welcomed from her and her Wifi+air condition work perfectly. So there is no need to complain. Especially because I went to the beautiful beach that is just 500m away from me so I can smell the salt water whenever I leave the house.

So this is probably it for now...I can say that I've only met friendly and open people so far and I cannot wait what's going to happen next and I also cannot wait to share it with you.

Best wishes to everyone