Playa del Carmen

Everything started in January with a comment from my friend Karen on my Facebook wall. The comment was something like 'move your butt down to Playa in May'. At that time I was still thinking about where to go in May and the more I thought about the idea the more I liked it. Checked airfare and asked my mom if it was okay for her if I was away on birthday and .... YEAH, I was booked.

So finally May 6 came. Had to get up early to take the train to Frankfurt. Check-In in Cologne was easy, in Frankfurt no problem either. Finally I was on my way. One of my fears was that I wouldn't catch my connection in Houston as foreigners have to go through immigration even though I didn't want to stay in the US (won't do that again!!!!). We arrived early in Houston but they had only 3 counters for Non-US-citizens open. I had about 15 persons in the line in front of me but it took me about 50 minutes to go through. When I finally was done I got my suitcase, checked it in again, went through security to the gate and could board immediately. Continental flight was uneventful as well.

When we landed in Cancun I could sort of fly through immigrations, my suitcase was there fast as well, got green light at customs and outside my van that I had booked through Playa.Info was already waiting.

YAY, after 4.5 years I was finally back in Mexico....

I arrived at Hotel Cielo without any delays, checked in and took a shower. Then I went downstairs to the really good restaurant 'Carboncito's' where I was waiting for Kathy and Karen. It was a nice surprise when instead of 2 wimmin 4 showed up. Trish and Barbara were with them. So after a looooooong trip to Playa I ended the day in great company and a good meal.

May 7
That was one of the first days of checking Facebook first thing in the morning to find out what was going on. This turned out to be a pattern that was really helpful as it didn't cost anything and you didn't have to worry about mobile-phone numbers. Just post something on someone's wall and everyone else would see it. Really helpful! I saw that Trish, Karen and Kathy were online as well so my thought was 'we could easily have made an earlier appointment for breakfast since we are all up already anyway'. When it was time to leave I took my stuff and went to 'La vagabunda' where we had agreed on having breakfast. The other 4 were already there and I was a little bit puzzled when I realized that they had already eaten. What I didn't know was.... I had put my alarm clock one hour wrong and I was one hour late.... Sorry girls, I guess that can happen after you have been up for 26 hours. So I just had a bagel and then we were off to Mamita's.

Saw this guy all day:

The colour of the water hasn't changed in the past 4.5 years:

We spent a relaxed day on the beach and then in the evening there was the big peepmeet at Bad Boys. Before going down to the beach I went upstairs on the roof of the hotel Cielo and took a few pictures:

And then there was the big 'Hello-again'-party. I honestly don't know how many peeps showed up that night. I knew some of them already but not all and made really nice aquaintances there.

Barry and Kathy

Karen, Barbara and Dar

The ribs are REALLY good at Bad Boys...

When it got dark the neon-stuff was a big favourite with the staff....

May 8
After one day of relax I had my first dive day with Stefan from Cenote Adventures. I knew Stefan from my last visit to Playa when he still worked for another operator. I always felt secure with him which is really important when you go into the cenotes so of course I wanted to go with him (even if he didn't have all those excellent reviews on the german divers-site I would have gone back to him). He works from home but the meeting point in the mornings is Hotel Luna Sol. That came in handy for me as I just had to walk down 2 blocks.

For that day the cenotes Tajma-Ha and Eden were the plan. So we got in the car (Stefan, 3 other divers and me) and we drove to Tajma-Ha (why do I always think of India when I hear that name ). Here are a few impressions from Tajma-Ha. I think my camera was a little bit overstrained with the contrasts of dark and the very bright sunlight. But the pics are not too bad.

Yes, it IS dangerous in there (if you don't know what you are doing).

I think pics of stalagmites are not too exciting... But the cathedrals in the caves were sometimes really impressing to dive into.

During our surface time we drove over to cenote Eden. I had been there before with Mitch from Yucatreks but that was while being on a tour and I didn't dive there. Stefan had wanted to get the 'laser rays' and he timed it perfectly so towards the end of our dive we suddenly saw the first ray and then more followed. It was amazing!!!!

Since I was back from diving towards 2:30 PM I relaxed some and then went over to Walmart to get some water supplies.

As Europeans don't eat cupcakes that much this was a funny view:

When I got back I got ready to head to dinner with the 'Fusion-gang' (lots of peeps stayed at the Fusion and I guess somehow we were the southend-gang). We went to El Fogon which was a first for me and I can only say it was GREAT!!!

Aren't they sweet?

*yum*

May 9
This is a day that several of us had been looking forward to for months. The plan was to go to Ek Balam and Ik Kil. Since didn't find the maximum number of 6 persons for the tour with Yucatreks we had finally decided to just rent a van with driver and go on our own. Turned out to be a good decision.

WE: that were Heather (from Playa.Info), Caroline, Dar, Karen and myself. So that day we met at 8 AM, went to get Heather and Dar and then we were on our way to Ek Balam. Once arrived there we decided to hire a guide and Casimiro was a real good guide. He is mayan and told us some of the stories that his grandfather had passed on to him. Very interesting.

This was the first glimpse on the ruins.

Casimiro told us about the sacbe-tree that can't be put down without permission of the authorities.

Caroline and Heather listening...

A smaller building (if I remember it correctly this was the entrance)

Group picture

The main building took my breath away. It is really beautiful.

We had to climb up to that area as there are still a lot of the original frescos.

Casimiro explained the meanings of all the symbols to us but I forgot them.

This is where the 'king' sat.

You see the fish?

The panorama with the djungle reminded me a little bit of Coba.

Heather, Dar and Casimiro on the way down

Karen checking the air condition...

The ball court

There are still a lot of hidden buildings in Ek Balam that need to be excavated. We decided to come back in 10 years together to check what else they have found there...

When we were finished with our tour we asked the guides if they knew a local restaurant where we could eat since we didn't want to go to Valladolid. Valladolid is nice but we all had been there before so we were looking for something different. They told us about a restaurant in Temozon, a village close to Ek Balam. We finally found it.

The empanadas were good but the nachos were the best that we ever had...

A church along the way

Finally we arrived at Ik Kil. The busses in the parking lot were already a first sign that I would not be happy there... the cenote Ik Kil is one of the most beautiful that I have seen...

But not with so many people...

Dar and I jumped in but we had to get in line to get out so this was the only short dip we took.

On the way home the driver stopped at the cemetery for me as I wanted to take a few pictures.

If I didn't know what this sign stands for I would probably wonder....

Finally we were back in Playa around 7. It was one oftnhe best days I'd ever had in Playa.

That evening we went to Util pasta factory. I was not hungry at all but since it seemed that I was part of the reservation I went along. Must be honest about it: the food was good but there was a mix-up so orders got lost. Can happen but I was tired to the bone after the day in Ek Balam and wanted to go back to my hotel but they continued to discuss amongst them (maybe about the lost ticket) so it took us forever to pay.

The only time I met LucyE

Bruschetta coming in...

Huuuungry....

And this is one portion of the famous lasagna. I was glad I didn't order it since I wasn't hungry at all but my cannelloni were lots to eat as well.

May 10
Another dive day for me. Stefan had organized to go to Dos Ojos which is one of the most known dive-cenotes (it is know too because snorkellers can swim into the Bat Cave). So here are my pics from the two dives there... it is pretty amazing. I had been in there before but that was nearly 5 years ago and I didn't remember everything.

Those are the moments I like most in the cenotes....

I remembered the Barbie from my last trip to Playa... she didn't age at all!

Since it was early when I got back to the hotel I had agreed with Barbara to meet her at the Fusion. Once I was there I had a nice drink...

That night the 'Southend gang' went to eat at Babe's. Of course I had to have one of the frozen margarita's there...

And although I didn't really spend time with her at least I was able to get a pic of Jamie.

May 11
My last cenote dive day. Stefan's plan had been to go to cenotes that I had already been to so when I told him Stefan organized to have some peeps sticking to the original plan while he went with me and 3 others to cenotes that I hadn't been to yet. He is pretty awesome and I can't recommend him enough. So our first dive was at Aktun Ha/Car wash (one of the cenotes along the road Tulum-Coba). It is like a little lake and at one end you can go into the cave. Which is what we did. At the end we had our photo-session in the lake. There is a layer of bacteria on the surface that makes the layer look milky. That is what you'll recognize in part of the pictures.

This is the entry to the cave seen from inside

Here you can see a little bit how big the entry is...

Looking up to the surface..

And swimming around in the lake...

After the dive we got off our dive gear and I went to the restroom. It was an experience to remember... The first and only time that the toilet paper came running to me. (there were big black bugs in it). Once we were all ready we got in the car and drove over to Gran Cenote. I had been there before too but it was no problem. It is nice to dive as there is a lot of light but unfortunately Gran Cenote is popular with snorkellers too. So it was not always easy to take pics because snorkellers seem to think they need to check out divers when they see them... Here are a few impressions from there.

And a look from above to the entry of Gran Cenote.

That evening my friend Rita was to arrive and we had set appointment at 'Il Pescatore'. Great food!!! And great company.

May 12

The next morning I had to get up early again as it was my last dive day and I went over ot Cozumel. I went with 4 austrians. Took the ferry over, then a taxi to a small port where the boat was waiting for us and off we were. I have to admit that I was a little bit disappointed with the dives. When I went diving in Cozumel on my last trip I remember that I was impressed by the deep blue colour of the sea. This time it wasn't like that and we didn't see that many fish. Since the current was a little bit on the strong side it was not easy to take pics. Here are a few impressions...

The austrian guys found this nurse shark. Saw one on each dive...

Went back on the ferry and we were late. But I did have time to jump into the Hardrock Cafe in Cozumel and buy stuff for peeps who collect HRC-stuff. Back in Playa I went directly to Bad Boys but just to say that I first had to take a shower and then come back. That night I met the famous JimmyMN for the first time.

The next morning I had plans again as Trish, Kathy and I were going to Paamul to visit Susie. First we had breakfast at Carboncito's and then Trish, Kathy and I took a Collectivo to Paamul. Taking a collectivo is an easy and cheap way to travel in Mexico. Once we arrived we called Susie and she came to pick us up as it was a walk down from the Highway to the actual village. We could have walked but it was HOOOOOT.... We had a great time there just hanging out on the beach with Susies famous ... what was it called again? Tea?

View from Susie's palapa, upstairs.

Need something like that for my rooftop deck!!!!!

I always have a duck with me when I am travelling...

And our lovely hostess for the day....

Went to another El Fogon with Rita and Slim that night. Great food again! On the way back to the hotel we stopped at Walmart to get some more supplies...

May 14
That day was departure day for some of the old and new friends. So we met for breakfast (yeah, dear waiter, you tried to rip us off by just telling us a total amount for our table but we asked for a detailled bill and paid only what was due... sorry, but NO TIP!).

After breakfast it was time to say our good-byes. *sigh* Trish and I walked shortly on 5th to take some pics... this is the 10 buck-margarita-establishment...

Repairs...

Spent the day at the Lido beachclub. I liked it there...

First time I saw the 'gold digger'. ;-)

I wanna go there..... NOW!!!!!

Happy hour....

The bus had arrived...

Can you tell I liked playing with my drinks?

And that evening it was Bad Boys again

I met Tyra in 2004 when I went to Playa for the first time. I think this was the 5th time we met.

Shirley is just sooooo much fun. I like that girl.

May 15
My mom's birthday... we celebrated it: she in Germany with the family and I in Mexico with friends.

Spent the day at Lido's again.

Can't get enough of the colour of the water...

Steve made those guys sing for us.

Donna and Vikky listening...

And Rita dancing...

That evening Rita, Slim and I went to HC de Monterrey. When taking this pic I wanted to get the altar on the balcony but then realized that in the house next door a doc is still having his rooms. I ended up there after my first dive day ever in 2005 when I had contact lenses in my eyes and one of them was glued to my eye and I couldn't get it out any more. Last time ever that I wore lenses.

That was sooooooooooooooo good (getting hungry by just seeing the pic )).

Being stupid...

1st Avenue is busy...

May 16/font>
Rita had arranged to go to Xpu Ha with Susan and Brent and they took Trish and me along... when everyone else has alrady left the few 'left-overs' need to stick together. Needed to buy supplies...

Going down to the beach...

This head DID look strange to me....

Just hanging out...

A view I LOVE....

*yumm*

And my 'Baerbelchen'...

Pelicans

Went for a stroll along the beach and found this resort that - from what I heard - had been destroyed by a hurricane. Don't know whether this is true. Fact is that it was abandoned.

Fishermen

Then I was stung by a firefly and went back because that hurt. Fortunately Susan had a liquid that helped immediately. Wind came up and a kite surfer started to play around.

Nice place for a nap, right?

That night I went with Rita and Slim to an italian restaurant where they had eaten a couple of days earlier. I was not too happy that they didn't sell alcohol that night as the owner told us his license to sell alcohol had expired. I am not that much into drinking but while being on vacation I like my glass of wine with my dinner. So I was sort of pissed off... when we had finished we went over to the Rana and I had a glass of wine there. Of course it that was not the same as having it with my dinner but since we met Jez at the Rana I wasn't too unhappy to go there. We walked around some more and then went back to our hotels....

The new Frida bar