From Playa del Carmen to Tulum (21.02.2022)

Yesterday we had a lively evening in the bustling Playa del Carmen. A bit tired but happy, Kathi and Georg joined us for dinner around 9:00. Together, we will explore the peninsula for the next 10 days.

Unfortunately, the waiter at the restaurant was a bit pushy and sales-driven, and he got quite upset when he received only 10% instead of the expected 15% tip. A fascinating learning experience for us... Since our companions had a very long day (internal clock at 6:00 in the morning), we postponed the tequila session to the next few days. There will certainly be plenty of options in this part of the country.

In the morning, we headed south towards Tulum on the coastal highway with Paul Uwe in a group of four. It is striking to see numerous large resorts along the road, with entertainment offerings such as water parks, golf courses, and flying fox facilities in between. It is positive to note that the road infrastructure is in good condition. On our way south on the peninsula, we stopped halfway in a small town called Akumal for a coffee and drink. Our goal was to see some of the beach, but instead of a beach (in fact, everything is built up with hotels or private villas along the coast), we ended up having a fascinating conversation with a Texan woman who owns the (spacious) beachfront property where we were previously wandering to access the beach. The lady is well-traveled and has even been to Vienna (of course, she finds Vienna beautiful ;-)). It was amusing to hear her view that her fellow countrymen are cultural barbarians and that she envies Europeans for their culture and multilingualism. Nothing to add ;-).

In the afternoon, after checking in at a chic boutique hotel (Biwa Tolum - https://www.biwatulum.com/) located a bit more centrally in Tulum along the main street, we explored the town. There are souvenir stands, tequila shops (or better said, strongholds), and many types of restaurants. There is a lot going on here, even though many of the restaurants are still closed for siesta in the early afternoon. In between, you can see a lot of police and even military presence, which also reinforces the subjective sense of security.

After a thorough sunbathing session on the hotel rooftop (one of countless rooftop terraces here in the city), we were surprised by torrential rainfalls. It lasted about 30 minutes before the evening life really started. On our way to find the best food, we saw a different side of the city in the evening. Street food carts like in Bangkok on every side street, music from the rooftops of rooftop bars, and a lot of liveliness in the restaurants. One must be somewhat careful in choosing a restaurant as prices vary significantly, but at the restaurant "Las Margaritas," we found Margaritas for €5 and Tacos for €8. Yes, that's how Mexico is fun. Nevertheless, we kept it moderate today, as we have two dives planned for tomorrow, and they will be in cenotes, which will be a first for all four of us.

The daily (two-day) highlights:

Insight:

What are cenotes?

They are karst sinkholes filled with freshwater. The term cenote originally comes from the Mayans, who inhabited the Yucatan Peninsula (where we are now) and means "sacred well." There are said to be around 6,000 such cenotes on the Yucatan Peninsula alone. They come in various forms and can comprise connected systems that stretch for kilometers and reach depths of up to 100 meters. Many of them are used for tourism, including diving. We have cenotes on the agenda for tomorrow, on Tuesday. For more information about cenotes in Tulum, Mexico, visit https://www.universal-traveller.com/de/cenoten-in-tulum-mexiko-cenote-guide/.

Highlight: A small package with our favorite sweets from Austria (including Linzer Schnitten and Ferrero Rocher) delivered by our dear parents-in-law (via Kathi & Georg). We received it on Sunday evening, and we indulged in it again after dinner yesterday. The Linzer Schnitte evoked some feelings of home. Thank you again to Uschi and Karli (since you are also faithful readers ;-))!!