(SPOILER ALERT! Late and messy today. We are traveling with a tablet computer and point-and-shoot camera, and should have practiced before we left to see if they are compatible working together. NOT. These pictures are all that's left of some good ones that can't be retrieved from digital heaven. And they are pictures OF pictures. We took them off the screen with a phone, then transferred them back. So my apologies for the worst images ever posted in this blog. I'm sorrier than anyone--- these are our souvenirs...)
Last Monday we put the car away in Toronto in climate-changed unseasonably warm weather that is continuing through New Year's. No snow means no snow shoveling but no snow sports either. Next day we lost our modesty when U.S. customs ransacked our luggage, and we lost some cheese snacks when Mexican customs did the same. But eventually we arrived in the Yucatan, greeted from the air by the beloved Isla Mujeres. An hour-long bus ride and we're met by record heat and our hosts Howard and Fanny. A very friendly Belgian couple, they get us oriented and return to their apartment upstairs from us.
Casa Esquina (The "Corner House") was a
fixer-upper redone well in new appliances, bedding, and lights. It's minutes
from the beach, tourist zones, groceries --- and across the street from the
only green space park around. The apartment is about 430 sq. ft. with private
patio. One month over the holidays is US$2100. The number is the lowest I could
find, but our record-low Canadian dollar means we have to add 37% in our
currency! Think about that --- 37% more. Americans should be swarming Canada
for huge savings on everything...Pat is the Queen of the Casa but I have to
improvise to make coffee. "Dec's" the veggie store is nearby: can you
pick out Pat in the lineup?
Playa del Carmen has exploded in size over the years I have
been here. It was a fishing village with 2 avenues. Then a modest gateway to
offshore scuba spots in Cozumel with 10 avenues. Then a favourite beach with
Europeans, growing to 40 avenues. Today it's a mega holiday spot and the
avenues stretch to at least 120. Still some Euro charm but anchored by all the
high-end international fashion and food brands. Sadly, this has happened to
every beauty spot on Earth... Still, locals live here and school here and surf
here and walk the aisle here.
The heat breaks once in a while with dark clouds announcing
downpours. We took cover in a cloudburst but luckily I got to check out a 1968
VW bug and an unknown '60's British sports car sadly abandoned to the elements.
Car crime!
There's daily hikes and swims and the waves are as much fun
as they look. But we will be missing our family and friends on Christmas and
we'll be with you in spirit. Our vision of a Merry Christmas will be much more
in focus than this one!
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