Flu, huricanes and Paradise = Isla Mujeres
Trip Start
Oct 18, 2006
1
77
93
Trip End
Oct 19, 2007
Where I stayed
Isla Mujeres,
Mexico
Thursday, September 6, 2007
The pastel and bright colored wooden houses, great snorkeling, the beautiful North beach and couples dining on the beach literally watching a pink sun set over the blue water and then surrounded by the moonlight dancing upon the rippling water.....it is all just perfect and so romantic here!
I have spent my days here snorkeling amongst beautiful and colorful coral and reefs out by the islands lighthouse, swinging in the beach side hammocks at my great hostel Poc Na, sun baking in the shade of the hot sun under one of the numerous palm trees, eating burritos and getting free Pina Coladas at the near deserted restaurants where Michelle and l dined with a whole Reggae band playing and dedicating songs to us alone
Amazing water on ferry ride
! It has and could have felt even more like paradise had l not had my plans to get my PADI diving license interrupted by not only my catching a bad flu but the approach of yet another Hurricane which hit Belize today as lam writing. I feel so for these countries and their people who have so little and are hit by a hurricane twice in one month! I know they must be used to it but it is clear with their shack houses made of driftwood and tin that they can never be prepared for them and afford to rebuild their lives after it! Unknowing of where exactly the hurricane was going to hit l canceled all my up and coming accommodation and remained on the island where the flu hit me more than any hurricane could have! So paradise has been a mix of hurricanes and flu for me- but l cant complain- lam safe and on the most beautiful island l have ever been seen! Today l hanged out on the beach with some lovely German girls l have become friends with and a Swiss slash Chilean (yes Mum l did finally meet a Swiss banker!) guy and talking about Switzerland l began to realize how much l miss that beautiful land! The rest of people l have met here have either been all the Argentina guys working at the hostel or all the Israelis staying there- l have never met so many Israeli people in my life....l must admit they are so all so lovely and fun! They hostel would have to be one of the funnest and best located hostels you could ever wish for- l just wish they had air con and not the horrible rotating fan which hardly works and makes me resort to wetting my sarong and draping it over me every night in order to get to sleep
View across Cancun on ferry
! Ben (the Swiss guy) thinks l look hilarious and calls me his sleeping beauty! I know that l definitely would love to return to this island in the future, and l had a feeling l would be back soon so l didn't feel the need to say goodbye! I still long to do Cuba which l couldn't afford time and price wise this trip, so hopefully in the future when l do go to Cuba l will have to fly into Cancun and spend a couple of days on Isla Mujeres getting my PADI (300 USD = 3000 Pesos) and enjoying paradise all over again! Preferably not in the middle of summer when it is soooo hot and in hurricane season- both of which l would prefer never to experience again!
But for now its off to watch the pink sun set for the third night in a row- l cant get enough of the sunsets here and then its out for a Mexican dinner with my new friends before another fun night spent dancing in the sand to Latino, Reggae and Western R&B music at the beach front bar. Little did l know that it was going to be a fun and interesting night dancing to Gasolina (great Spanish song), talking to all hours of the night with my friends in the sand my the beach and then having my fairly new and loved Havianas stolen by a guy and having to wear one of the Argentina guys flip flops (Thanks Miguel!
View to Cancun
! So ashamed that they fitted me!) until l got to Rio (and could buy cheap ones!) as l had no other shoes on the island! Still wouldnt trade the memories for a million years!My BIGGEST TIP- If you ever fly into Cancun my biggest tip is to stay on Isla Mujures at Poc Na hostel.....you wont regret it!!! And get your PADI out there as its alot cheaper than Canucn or Playa (and of course the US or Australia) and an amazing reef to learn to dive on! Then travel to Playa and stay at the hostel on 5th Ave and then a Cabana in Tulum before making your way down to Belize. Also if you are wanting to go to Cuba- save the hassle and book once you get to Cancun as there are a million agencies dealing with flights and deals etc- none of which l could find on the internet or through travel agents back home in Australia. Hope that helps!!
