Mexico, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Chichen itza, Isla mujeres

Aaaaai que calor! As soon as I got off the plane, I was overwhelmed by the heat. The humidity was so high that 30° Celsius felt like 45°...

At the Cancun airport, I waited for Joy for nearly two hours. Joy was my seatmate in Santa Monica during my language stay, and we had always gotten along well. She also decided to travel after school and agreed to share an apartment with me in Playa del Carmen for 17 days.

The apartment was in a perfect location! Just two side streets away from the main street (avenida quinta) and one street away from the shopping center - the beach was only a five-minute walk away. We had a great apartment with all amenities and air conditioning.

The first few days, we had bad luck with the weather and could only explore the nearby area and get acquainted with Playa (laundry, ATM, etc.). Due to the rain, we often spent time at home watching movies, and sometimes I spent the morning at the gym. I recently spoke to my brother on WhatsApp and decided to start playing soccer again, so I need to get in shape. I also used this time to update my CV and already sent out the first job applications because I will need a job or money when I return.

Once the weather improved, we took our first trip to the small Isla Cozumel, which is about an hour away from Playa by ferry. We rented a scooter for the whole day. Since I had never ridden a scooter before, the first turns were anything but safe, and having another person on it increased the challenge. Nevertheless, we survived the hour-long tour of the island and enjoyed the view :) We stopped at Playa Rio to eat and relaxed there in the sun. Before taking the ferry back, we explored the old town on foot and treated ourselves to a fresh coconut.

Another trip took us to Tulum. This time, we took the so-called 'Colectivos' - small shared taxis. We paid around CHF 2 per person and were driven to the ruins of Tulum (about 1 hour drive). Our Colectivo made several stops to pick up and drop off passengers - some of them even had to stand. To see the ruins, an entrance fee had to be paid, and of course, there were "guides" who tried to sell us a guided tour. We went in on our own and explored the ruins. After about an hour and many photos, we left the ruins and went to Playa paraíso, which is located directly behind the ruins. This beach deserves its name and is a must-visit for anyone nearby. We spent the rest of the day on the beach, treated ourselves to a refreshing watermelon salad, and cooled off in the water. We naturally took a Colectivo back and once again experienced the feeling of being a local.

The third trip took us to the distant Chichen Itza, which is three hours away from Playa. Our day started at 6:00 am, which was a challenge for me, but especially for Joy (she's not a morning person :-*) Our car first took us to the Cenote of Chichen Itza. We were able to enter this naturally formed cave and swim in the water. After the included traditional lunch, we went to the archaeological site of the Mayans. We had a guided tour for about an hour with questionable connections between the Mayans and the number seven or 365, and then we were free to explore and take photos. Lastly, we visited the historic center of Valladolid and saw the impressive church and traditional dances in the park.

Here's a funny story about the trip to Chichen Itza. Among the tour members was a couple from Naples. Of course, we started speaking Italian (he tried not to speak in his dialect since I wouldn't understand anything) and he was amazed at my collected experiences from this trip. We talked for about an hour and then the conversation turned to football. When I told him that I'm a Juventus fan, he completely changed and was disappointed in me. From that moment on, the conversation was over - it's amazing how far this hatred for Juventus can go...

For the last trip, we visited Isla mujeres. Here, we enjoyed a few relaxed hours at Playa norte. It rightfully belongs to the most beautiful beaches in the world! The combination of white sandy beach, crystal clear water, yachts and boats, palm trees, a cocktail bar, and great music was heavenly. We found a shady spot under the palm trees and were served by a yacht playing summer music. Just before leaving the beach, two men approached me, offering massages. They wanted to make sure if I was the professional soccer player Carlos Vela from Mexico - apparently, there is a certain resemblance.

Between the trips, we enjoyed our time on the beach in Playa del Carmen, and in the evenings, we indulged in various restaurants. There are numerous restaurants and a variety of different cuisine styles. My two favorites are the Italian restaurant 'La Famiglia' with the best pizza in town and the organic restaurant 'BIO-Natural'. We also visited the cinema twice, which is similar to those in Switzerland but with an entrance fee of only CHF 3 per person. We didn't experience much of the nightlife... After dinner, we occasionally went to a bar and had a drink. One very nice two-story bar with a courtyard and local music was 'La embajada'. Clubbing was never necessary, also because my budget didn't allow for it.

In this post, I also want to say a few words about my roommate, Joy. It was clear that such chemistry as between Micha and me would not occur again. Joy and I had our little differences and both of us could be stubborn at times. We practically sat on each other for more than two weeks, which can sometimes lead to "disagreements." Nevertheless, I would spend my Mexico stay with her again! I got to know Joy as a loving, intelligent (I already knew this as her seatmate), and honest woman. Of course, also as one of the biggest morning grouches and number one muesli lover! We had many great conversations (yes, Joy, I listened ;D) and I learned a lot from her. Thank you :-*

Now it's time to say goodbye to the beach and the sea and head to the final destination of my unforgettable journey - Vancouver, Canada.