Mayan magic and Spice

After we ate super cheap sushi the night before (we waited in line for 20 minutes to get a table and were surprised to hear it was two for one day. We only paid €16 with drinks 😱), the next day we had tamales from a small restaurant where an older lady from Vera Cruz cooked - she reminded me a lot of my late grandma. The tamales were big and delicious, and also very cheap. You can easily have breakfast for two here for €6 and be really full 😁 After that, we went to the beach to let the sun rays shine on us through the clouds, while gusts of wind blew a lot of sand into our faces. We met a few people and drank a bit while enjoying the sunset. During this time (it was already past four), I turned lobster red. One should never forget to use sunscreen, even if it seems cool rather than warm. 🤦‍♂️

The next day, we went to Chichén-Itzá, one of the most famous Maya ruins. On the way, we stopped at a small restaurant for breakfast, typical Maya cuisine, but I can't remember the names. It was also very cheap and delicious. And then the miracle happened: we found hats!! 🎉

Even though it took me a long time to choose one, I finally had to decide because of the strong sun. At least with the straw hat, my face was in the shade, which I really needed after getting sunburned. 😛

The entrance to the ruins is very expensive, €25 for foreigners. Luckily, Eduardo could get in for free with his student ID. The site is really big and you can admire different Maya architectural styles. Chichén Itzá is one of the new wonders of the world and is definitely worth a visit. The only annoying thing is the many souvenir stands where you constantly get approached. It feels like being in a huge market.

On the way back, we stopped in Valladolid to have lunch. Although it was a very touristy restaurant, it was still somewhat affordable and the food was very tasty. I was convinced to try a Habanero - even roasted, they are so hot that you want to die. The only cure is Horchata, a rice drink with cinnamon, which I will definitely cook at home as well. 🤤

We were so smart and chose the fastest route according to Google, so we drove through small villages and unlit streets at night. At least we saved 200 Pesos (€10) by doing so, as the highways cost money.

Back in Playa del Carmen, I had a Jägermeister, which was at least somewhat as "cheap" as in Germany. Otherwise, a shot here costs €5-6 💪