Category: Travel

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I Miss This, But….

For me, there’s nothing better than a beach. That includes a beach bar.

There’s just something really special about lounging on a sandy beach, freshening myself in the waters. I love it. I feel rejuvenated. Rejuvenated! How about juvenated??

I got curious…’juvenated’. So, I looked it up. There’s no definition!!! You (at least I) would think that for something to be ‘re’ that there should be an original state that needs to be ‘re’ for whatever reason. That doesn’t seem to be the case with the word ‘rejuvenated’.

Back to the beach.

Give me a hut on a Caribbean island beach with an endless supply of ice cold beer, tequila, and rum and I would be totally contented. You may never hear from me again. Blog? What blog? Internet…not necessary. I’d love to have a guitar too.

This is a different world for me, one that I prefer over all else.

There’s a small coastal village not far from here, Paamul. Basically, it’s nothing but tiny beach homes… No gated community. No grocery. Only a restaurant, a small pool and the beach adorned with lovely palm trees and a breeze.

Unfortunately, I’ve been a bit ill which has put a damper on my beach time. The illness, for the most part is behind me. And though I’ve been a bit on the ill side, I have not allowed it to totally put a damper on my pleasures. It was an illness of inconvenience for the most part. A bit scary but that’s for another time.

I find the beach such a pleasure. Most people I speak with about the beach is their complaining about the ‘sand’. Yes, there’s sand there. Will it stick to you, yes it will. Can it be an inconvenience…yes, I guess it can. For me, it’s just a part of life. I love some of the sand art that people leave behind. Sometime I just walk the beach exploring, looking for castles in the sand or whatever else the artist presents.

Sometime, it’s a place of solitude for a soul to seek out…

Or maybe a place of resolution…

I’m optimistic…the beach is a place of discovery….a place of magic. For me there’s nothing negative. Not even during a storm. Don’t get me wrong, there’s lightening, water dangers etc. but, there’s also the super charged ‘negative ions’ (negative ions are a positive for humans) that are at work. That’s the thing that’s so attractive to me about the beach, the negative ions. They are my reason for being there…and it’s not necessarily a cognitive thought. I know that’s the greatest source of positive influence on my being.

Times have changed though. I no longer can stay out in the sun like I did in days gone by. But, to occasion the beach…aaaahh!

Have a ‘beach’ of a FAB day!

Peace, love, and beaches,

John

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It’s Just A Little Rain

You’d be surprised at the lovely people that care for my safety down here in Mexico. Especially with a Tropical Depression right off the coast of Playa del Carmen (where I’m at)!

Tropical Depression Idalia is about 80 miles off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, and there’s not much happening with it here. We’ve gotten some rain showers off and on, no wind and right now, the sun is shinning.

Even when we lived down here most of the tropical depressions turned away from the coast and moved into the Gulf of Mexico leaving us a little wet and that’s about it. It seems that the Hurricane Alley turns north a bit off the coast here. I’m cool with that.

I am truly appreciative of everyone’s concern.

Right now, writing this I’m sitting out on the balcony enjoying the sunshine with a timid Caribbean breeze and thinking I’d might just take a walk down to the beach. It’s only a bit less than a football field in length from here.

It’s a bit strange. I’ve the patio door open, so the left side of my face is chilled by the a/c in the condo and the right side of my face is warmed by the sun.

I just love this life.

I’ve not discovered how to get local weather reports. I look at it like this, just wait a little while longer the weather will change. Just like now, the sun slipped behind the clouds and a nice little rain shower arrived. I love the sound of the rain patter on the leaves.

Anyway, I’m not gonna keep you long here, you’ve got as much of a life to tend to as I.

Peace, love, and beaches,

John

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I Made A Trip!

The Caribbean coast of Mexico, I love it here!

This trip was by plane, the previous trip was by car for a 2 year period. This trip is only for 4 weeks. It’s a trial for a much longer stay…something like 3 to 6 months. I consider it like being a part-time resident.

Anyway, not car this time.

So, this past week I decided to rent a car for a day. My intention was to use Hertz or Avis. But, during a walk I inquired with a small local company and they were so helpful with some general information that I decided to use them.

That was a GREAT decision too.

The condo I’m staying at doesn’t provide any overnight parking so that sort of put a hitch in the plans. Which is quickly solved by bringing the car back the same day!

Here’s where we ran off to…all were familiar places just as the one next week will be.

First was Chemuyil.

Chemuyil is a pueblo south of Playa del Carmen and a tad south of Akumal and a bit north of Tulum (that’s next week). There’s a specialty about Chemuyil which is simple, it’s right next to Chan Chemuyil which is the 1st place we lived in Mexico. This is where Mexican locals live. It’s very inexpensive and somewhat native in its appearance. Some of the houses do not have running water, most don’t have beds as we American’s know them. They have hammocks! Indoors of course.

Look around, and you’ll see the daily life of Mexican’s. There are some small business that are multipurpose with food, drinks, and clothing. There’s even a couple restaurants and bars. On this particular visit I found a small coffee shop run by a young couple. I had to buy a coffee and croissant. Both were truly good.

You have to know that Chemuyil is where it’s at to find it. Sounds simple, but you never knew that it existed until this writing and you wouldn’t be able to find it without some help, even with a road sign! You’d turn around before getting there.

Next is Chan Chemuyil. I’m driving this back road from Chemuyil.

On the way, just up the road on the left from the above picture is a cenote inside a cave!!! And inside that cave are ‘bats’. We took Max and Keira there when we lived in Puerto Aventuras for a swim. That cenote is very cold water…which didn’t stop Max.

Here’s a picture of the 1st house we lived in in Chan Chemuyil.

We didn’t use that as a carport. Look above it and you’ll see a ceiling fan. There was a table and chairs. The problem was too many people wanted to stop and talk so I quit sitting out front.

The portion above the car is where a small swimming pool is located!!! Rather cool, with a patio area leading into a bedroom. I slept there a lot.

So, we just took a quick drive thru.

Next is Akumal. Akumal is a tourist Mecca. You can swim with turtles here. The turtles are in abundance. For some reason this is one of those types of places. The problem (at least for me) is that the government has regulations and laws protecting these sea creatures, but the locals have their own regulations that come with a financial price. These regulations aren’t written down. You just have to have a lot of pesos with you or sign-up with one of the tour groups. By the way, no “Ooooops! I didn’t know I couldn’t do that!” You ain’t getting out of anything. Bring extra pesos.

I like Akumal. There’s a number of restaurants that I like to visit there. One is La Buena Vida, away from the tourist area. I love to eat and have a few cervezas there. But, it too has changed post pandemic. I really didn’t enjoy myself as much as I used to.

Now, onto Puerto Aventuras.

This is where we lived the longest period of time, a year. We were walking distance to everything we could possibly want groceries, laundry, restaurants, beverages and of course the Caribbean.

But, this visit was to visit some friends. Unfortunately one was ill, another was gonna show up too late for us. So that left us with seeing only one friend, Issac.

The place is called Latitude 20. It’s a neat little place to visit for food and beverage and also for local expats to gather.

Issac is also a pastor at a local church next to his home in the pueblo way back in the jungle. We’ve had the privilege of visiting his humble home meeting his wife and 3 children a number of years back. That was an experience you couldn’t pay me not to do. A much different life than you and I are accustomed.

There are 2 sites to everything I show you. There is the central government portion which is usually located where the tourism section is which is the east side of the highway that connects Cancun to Belize City and there is the west side of the highway which is the pueblo (village) where the locals live.

This is a totally different world than in the U.S. For me, it’s a cultural lesson and an appreciation of the Mexican way of life.

Time to drive back to Playa del Carmen.

Peace, love, and beaches,

John

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To Mole or Not To Mole

2 years of living in Mexico and numerous visits before, I’d never tasted Mole sauce! Not even in the States! And it seems to have a rather popular place on the grocer’s shelf.

According to the Allrecipes website; This authentic mole sauce is made with hot chiles, rich chocolate, spices, and tomatillos for a delicious topping on enchiladas and stewed meats.

While just on a walk around Playa del Carmen, away from the tourist area where the locals live and I realized, it’s almost noon. Time for lunch.

(As you can see, I’m wearing my hair somewhat shorter than I usually do (ala David Gilmore). Makes me look older. But the remedy is it is growing back. Just not enough for this trip.)

And as luck would have it we stumbled across a stretch of about 6 mom & pop cocinas (eateries). The hard part was deciding…Which one?

Browsing thru their menu boards the decision is made…Enchiladas with Mole sauce, 70 pesos $3.75 and includes rice (not that yellow colored stuff), there was 6 enchiladas under the mole sauce topped with onions, cheese and creme.

Looked like this!

Also of note is that the tortillas are made locally and fresh. Add a bottle of water and I spent less than $5 American and waddled off to the condo for a siesta. Ugh… It was a rather long walk. On the walk back to the condo I discovered another place to eat, that the burritos were 2/3 the price of places on 5th Avenue (tourist trap)…around the corner from that was a bar at a small hotel that was selling Modelo Draft Beer for 40 pesos!! ($2.15!!!) But, it was too early for that and I was preoccupied with meeting up with my designated siesta at the condo.

But back to the Mole sauce.

To put it simple, it was different. A little bit more to say would be that it had the most unusual taste I’d ever encountered! I kept asking myself, “Who eats chocolate sauce with enchiladas?”

The only way I can explain this episode with this challenging and engaging flavor was that I did it with wreckless abandon! I was determined that no matter how it taste, I was gonna make a ‘happy plate’. ‘Happy Plate’ is finishing it all!!! And I did. It never once tasted like something I’d give up on, but I definitely wasn’t accustomed to the chocolate flavor on a Mexican dish. I could have done without the thickness perhaps. But, it is what it is and it was what it was.

I’m gonna do this again. I’m gonna try it over a different entree, perhaps something a tad smaller in portion size.

There you have it! Something different. Without any judgement, I just did it. By the way, the enchilada plate comes with the choice of 4 different toppings. I found this curious and humorous, one of the choices was ‘Divorciadas’. It took me a while to think this thru. It simply means with no sauce.

Give it a try…not the divorce, the mole!!!

Peace, love, and beaches,

John

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Beach Morning, Solitude.

Yesterday morning was my 1st beach morning since 2017. It didn’t take long for me to realize what I had been missing.

It was more than just me there, but it seemed that everyone was there for the same reason; the beginning of a beautiful peaceful day.

I sat on the steps of the downtown area about 35 meters from waters edge with my cup of coffee taking in the negative ions (a positive of life). The morning lacking the sun. As a matter of fact as I was gazing across to Cozumel rain began to engulf my island view but that was alright with me as it just added to the tranquillity.

I’m spending the month here in Playa del Carmen on 5th Avenue, the center of tourism in Playa. The avenue is lined with shops and restaurants. It’s not a quiet laid back place…there are hawkers from each business lining the avenue vying for the tourists pesos. It gets old. I just usually smile and wave. I feel like I’m the king in a Mardi Gras Parade waving to my subjects.

5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen, Mexico is world famous and worth the price of admission and the experience. I wouldn’t trade it for anything I’ve experienced or will experience.

Back to my morning beach solitude.

I’m looking forward to more of this…beach time with and without the sunrise.

Here’s one thing I recall from when I lived a bit down the coast in Puerto Aventuras…that is that you can get caught in a quick rain shower. It’s quite enjoyable. It would be sudden, without warning, there you would be just walking in the rain. Refreshing. I could get out of the rain by standing in the jungle, but the rain would find me any how. So, I just decided back then to enjoy. I remember the same walking in the rain forest of Costa Rica.

Today, though, I working on my next book and some music.

Time to get this day going!!!

Peace, love, and beaches,

John

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Settling In

Settling in, well sort of. I’m here for a month and haven’t hit the 1st week yet.

Things have changed here in my absence. Guy Fieri no longer has a restaurant on 5th Avenue (it really wasn’t that good anyway), the ferry to Cozumel used to cost $13 round trip…now it costs about $35!!! The Tequila Barrel is no longer here. Walmart is the same, Mega is now Soriana’s and Aki Super Mercado is about the same.

Finding a mom & pop Panaderia is tough. So far only Walmart, Soriana and Aki. I’ll continue my search. I was annoyed at Soriana’s my last visit, I asked the Panderia clerk where the Tres Leche was and he just looked dumbfounded ….and responded ‘Huh’?

Both Walmart and Soriana stores have parking garages so the store is elevated above it. You can use steps or the escalator. The escalator doesn’t have steps as we do in the U.S., it’s just a belt. This allows you to bring a cart up and down. Once the cart is rolled onto the belt it locks magnetically. Cool.

I’ve the patio door opened while writing this morn and next door at the cantina “Black Magic Woman” by Carlos Santana is blaring….I love it, think it’s cool!

As I’m checking out the changes I’ll start looking for some other extended stay units (like for 3 to 6 months at a time) because this one is topping out my budget and I want a little less on the housing without sacrificing the location much.

I’ve almost got my kitchen stocked like I want, I’ll finish that next week early. Gotta make another beer run…

I experimented with this one yesterday. It came highly recommended to me by a local that worked for “Mexico Loco Bar and Grill”. He is one of the people that are ‘Street Hawkers’ beckoning you to their business. He was really a neat character. We chatted for a while on the street (I’ve eaten and drank at ‘Mexico Loco’ before, cool experience) but they didn’t have like a 2 for 1 special that others had so he pointed me down the avenue. Moments later I noticed he had walked right past me with his ‘Mexico Loco’ menu in hand and entered the 7-11. I had made my way to the cooler before he did where we met up again and he was pulling a Barrilito Beer from the shelf, smiled at me and told me it was a good beer that was brewed by the Corona Brewing Company. It sold for $11 pesos…that’s about 60 cents U.S. I passed for the moment. But later on at Walmart (2nd trip for the day) I bought a 6 pack for about $3.65 the Corona was $4.50. It had the heavy full initial taste of the Corona but the back taste was a little less desirable. I’ve still got some and will give it another try today.

I got a 5 liter of water for $1.50.

Coca Cola Light is $1.49 for a 1 liter bottle.

These chips are 69 cents U.S. as opposed to $2.49 in the states and the bags have little to ‘no’ air in them!!!

Well, I’ve thrown enough stuff at you for the day…I’m going chase down some more stuff.

Stay happy everyone!

Peace, love, and beaches,

John

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On The Way To Here (Playa del Carmen)

Things went rather smooth. The flight was a little late leaving but no one seemed bothered. There wasn’t a YouTube moment being filmed. It was so peaceful I almost nodded off and that’s unusual for me. I can’t sleep in any type of moving transportation.

But, things were about to get interesting in a very peculiar way.

Arrival was smooth but about to get bumpy. It seemed like forever for the luggage to show up and I had memories of Warsaw, Poland on my mind. They lost my luggage!!! Long story for another time.

I’m strolling along with my luggage as everyone else and I get picked out by security to have my luggage inspected. So, I oblige and open up one of my suitcases (I’m here for a month) and there’s my battery operated blender for my protein shakes that the security grabs. He holds it up, looks at me strangely and I said it’s for my cafe’. I think he had some sort of kinky thought.

Next, my ground transportation (Sun Transfer which I usually use in my travels). There’s no one here with a sign with my name on it! I ask around, to no avail. Everyone was helpful and all I could think of was I spent $60 for this one-way trip and I’m gonna have to hire a taxi!

Come to find out the taxi is $120!!! No way, Jose’!!!

Every taxi driver was after me! I felt like shark meat!!!

I knew there was a better and cheaper way, ADO Bus. I went to the ADO counter and it cost me $28. Plus I got my $60 refund from Sun Transfer. I’m winning.

From the ADO bus terminal down 5th Avenue to my condo was a little shy of a half mile. Not too shabby.

By the time I’m to the condo, it’s almost 6pm, I’m tired, hungry and thirsty! I couldn’t find the 7-11 or Oxxo stores so I made the mistake of going into one of the large pharmacy tourist traps. $$$$ Never again!

Arrangements were also made to stay one more night in the condo at no charge, canceled hotel for that one night in Cancun (to be closer to the airport) saving $180 and I’m gonna ride the ADO Bus back to the airport on the cheap.

All in all! FAB Day!!!

More to come!

Peace, love, and beaches,

John