07.31.21

I spent a collective 16 months or so (actually 496 days more or less with some of those days back in the US) in Mexico, a long way from what was intended to be a two-week visit. Overall, I liked it more than I would have expected; the people were generally outstanding, very nice and accommodating, and even with no Espanol, I got by. There are things that I will miss and some things I look forward to.

> Pastry in Mexico is just not the same as any other parts of the world that I have visited. They are good, but there’s very few things that I’ve found that had justified me taking in those carbs and those calories into my body.
>I will not miss the mosquitoes! Whether I was a sea level in Puerto Morelos or 5,000 ft in Oaxaca, it seems that the mosquitoes are part of the culture. The humidity at the coast, of course, was oppressive, especially in the summer, but the air quality in Oaxaca was wonderful. With that said, I spent the last 2 weeks in Mexico City at 7,000 FT elevation and, what do you know?, no mosquitoes!
>The ocean water was never close to being cold, maybe a bit cool, but that’s about it. But some of the waves that I saw down in the Puerto Escondido area where some of the most challenging I’ve ever seen.
>Very affordable food. It’s all relative, of course, but still, a fraction of US prices. Overall, it was all good. I had one incident of food poisoning towards the end–it wasn’t even a street stand– and that can happen anywhere, even in the US.
>Even though they lack a (usable) railroad system, the bus systems seems to be pretty good. It can cover many hundreds of miles, but their Greyhound style buses are very comfortable. I took three long distance bus trips, all around 8 or 9 hours, and I was amazed how quickly the time went and how beautiful the scenery was; it’s a wonderful way to see the country.

When Kathleen and I started planning our journeys several years ago, Mexico was not on the list and Central/ South America were at the end. This part of the world never drew me in or engaged me, but that does not mean it wasn’t beautiful and rewarding in its own way.

Will I ever return to Mexico?

It’s too hard to predict anything with 100% accuracy, but probably not.

During my last weeks in Mexico, I was fortunate to stay with a friend in Mexico City. She invited me into her home as a guest and friend and we took side trips down to Pueblo and San Miguel de Allende. As a native Mexican she also educated me on many things that I did not know and it made me aware of opportunities that I let fall between my fingers while we were in the Yucatan. I guess sometimes you just can’t do it all.

While I was in Oaxaca, I wanted to visit the petrified waterfall called Hierve el Agua, one of only two in the world, but it was closed due to controversy between the indigenous people and the tourists. The Copper Canyon train ride had been on my list for long before I even got to Mexico, and I had it set for the last few days while I was there in the country. Then I found out that the train route had been flooded and they were offline for several weeks, including my short window of time while I was there! Sigh… my friend said this is the risk you take when you travel around the world, and he is correct.

Now it’s on to South America (I’m actually there now…) and continent # 5. Just Australia and Antarctica left, and they are iffy. So little time…Life goes by in an instant, but it usually takes decades to recognize that and to do anything about it. Not that there is anything specific to DO about it, but just appreciate it.

07.16.21

When last we left our intrepid explorer, he was dodging rip tides and naked bodies in the Mexico beach communities of Mazunte and Zipolite. Today we learn more about the two towns PLUS a special bonus feature on the joys of nude beaches…

Day II:

It’s amazing how two beach towns that are only 10 minutes away from each other can be so different. But while the city of Zipolite seems to cater to the laid-back hippie and older demographic, Mazunte is definitely for the kids. In this case kids means anyone under the age of say 30, since that was the most dominant age group that I saw. They seem to live with varying degrees of comfort, ie, some of them look like they don’t have two pennies to rub together, and others look like they’re very comfortable. The feeling I had was very nostalgic, like I was looking at me and my fellow baby boomers from the late 60s before we had any cares in the world and thought we had all the answers. At one time I also thought that walking barefoot in the streets was cool!

The town itself has a very cool vibe, with lots of restaurant choices. The beach is quite beautiful with many restaurants out on the sand, which is a Mexican coast staple. My room was a great improvement from what I had night one since it had a screen! and great Wi-Fi. As much as I can handle doing without, doing with can be good too!

The following morning, I got up at sunrise and walked out to what they call Punta Cometa, the “kite tip.” It was about a 20-minute hike up to the top of the cliff where you could see up one side of the coast and down the other with amazing waves crashing on the rocks. The water, of course, was a deep vibrant blue, and was gorgeous as is most of the waters that I have seen in Mexico. I had a light breakfast, took advantage of the Wi-Fi, and got some work done and returned to Zipolite in a pickup truck with a shell and seats in the back! They call them collectivos and that is how most people get around, especially within the towns. You flag down the driver, jump in the back, as long as there is room, then tap on his window when you want to get off. This particular ride was all of 15 minutes and cost $10 (pesos), which is about 50 cents USD. Again, this is not the most comfortable way to travel, and it’s not for everyone!! If you are concerned about motion sickness, or feel uncomfortable riding in the back of a truck with strangers who look nothing like you, then this is definitely outside your comfort zone…

My third night was supposed to be in Puerto Escondido, but after talking to several people down there and hearing them say the same thing, which is, “it’s just another regular town, but with a beach,” I decided to go back to Zipolite. I did not go back to the same hotel room however but was recommended to a place further down on the beach, and still got my sand view for $20 for the night. The room was an upgrade from what I had the first night, but still, no Ritz Carlton. Or even Holiday Inn!

Since I had to vacate my room by noon and my bus didn’t leave until 10:00 p.m., so I had lots of time to kill, and did what anyone would do: hung out in a hammock, had two meals there, and chilled. In between I also visited the surf, still as knarly as ever. I took the night bus so didn’t need a room that night but got little sleep. At 0800 the next morning I was back in Oaxaca and have wonderful memories and pictures to look back on.

If you do have a chance to visit Oaxaca, I encourage you to take a few extra days and hit the beach and find your inner Bohemian!

BONUS:

The ABCs of Getting Naked in Public (Bonus)

Let’s face it, getting naked in public for the first time can be an experience, and there is a process, and it is NOT for the faint of heart!

When you visit a “clothing optional beach,” oh darn it, let’s call it what it is: it’s a naked beach for crying out loud, ie, no bathing suits. You can use politically correct terms, but it is about as raw and basic as you can get since the only thing you’re wearing is what you were born with.

I was in Zipolite, which is the only naked beach in Mexico, and look how big this country is and how much coastline it has! So I decided to give you a primer, a by the step process if you ever choose to be so bold.

Step number one is all psychological: it’s all in your head. You must be comfortable removing your bathing suit knowing that other eyes may be watching, but truth is, few if any of them are. We all feel self-conscious about our bodies even in clothing, and bearing it to strangers can be even more challenging. But the good news? They ARE strangers, and you will never see them again. For the most part they are NOT judging you, and it’s best to not judge them, either. Most of the people that you see at a nude beach are not exactly Sports Illustrated model candidates nor hunks of the month for the GQ magazine.

Number two, make sure that you have something stable to hold on to because taking off your bathing suit while standing on sand, can be difficult to balance. It’s one thing getting undressed, it’s another falling over with your bathing suit wrapped around your feet. Now THAT will garner some attention!

Number three, now that you are naked in all your glory, what are you going to do? Are you going into the surf? Are you going to lay out on a blanket or lounge? The answer is, it really doesn’t matter, just do what you would do even if you had a bathing suit on. If a beach has businesses, like restaurants and hotels, like we have down here, it’s usually considered respectful to not enter the premises unclosed. Out in the sun, and on a chair, it’s a free-for-all, but if you enter an establishment, probably not a good idea.

Number four is the fun part. Now that you are naked, enjoy it; embrace it! It is not something you do every day unless you happen to live in that space. The feeling of freedom, once we get over our self-consciousness, is quite nice. Going into the water and having the waves splash your entire body, getting into every corner; it’s very primal.

And step number five, now that you have done the deed; own it. Brag about it, your friends will be envious! They may even want to join you next time you visit one. And once you have done it one time, the second time will probably be easier, but not always. As is everything, the more you do something the easier it is to do it.

So welcome to the “In the Buff Club.”

07.10.21

The Bohemian lifestyle, Part I

Whether you do it for a day, a weekend, the week, or longer, the Bohemian lifestyle may appeal to you. It is not for everyone since there are some things that you will do without. Screens, sometimes missing. Wi-Fi? Iffy at best. Clothing: optional…

Yes, Zipolite is the only clothing optional beach in Mexico, so has something for someone who is looking for a totally laid-back atmosphere. The beach itself is only a little over a mile long and except for some lodgings along the sand there’s really not much to it. It is a long bus ride from Oaxaca, took me almost 10 hours with several stops along the way. The bus was comfortable, however, fully air conditioned, and reclining seats. There was a stop along the way for lunch since I took the early morning bus, and we finally rode into our destination, Pochutla bus terminal, about 7:00. I lost count of how many mezcal fields we passed, but it must have been in the hundreds, which makes sense since this state is the world capital of the fine agave plant.

Pochutla does not seem to have much going forward except it is the transit hub for the coast cities. My “plan” was Puerto Escondido, with a side trip to Zipolite and Mazunte, but it turned out the side trips took priority over the main destination.

My little beach bungalow was not much to speak of, just a few rooms and a restaurant out on the sand. The room was on the top floor, which included some treacherous stairs, but the view from the balcony was breathtaking. My room had hardwood floors, probably a smart idea since the roof was nothing more than thatch. The mosquito netting was there not just for show and for the first time ever in my life I slept under it.

I was woken up a little after 2:00 a.m. by lightning which was starting over the ocean. I got up and sat outside for 20 minutes trying to take video which required some heavy editing. The expression “capturing lightning in a bottle” seemed to fit, but I was able to piece together half a dozen shots to get 30 seconds worth. I went back in and tried to go to sleep but was restless, and just before 4:00 a.m. my door was literally blown in from the strength of the wind. The lightning was even more prominent, so I took that as a sign to go back outside and take some more video.

They say that you can always sleep when you’re dead, and this was a night where being awake was maybe more fun than the sleep that I missed! Listening to the waves crashing just a hundred feet from my room is not something we experience every day. The humidity was so thick that, to coin a cliche, you could cut it with a knife.

And 0430 the night went a whole new direction as the storm cell finally brought thunder. The lightning increased, the thunder rolled in, and it was very biblical. The rain really never started, but the lightning and thunder put on a wonderful audio/ video show.

The next night I had a room reserved in Mazunte, so went the 10 minutes down the road to stay there, but came back to Zipolite for my last night. Puerto Escondido will have to wait. After all, I’ve seen many large size cities; I’d rather enjoy the uniqueness of the beach here.

As I mentioned at the beginning, this is the only fully nude beach in Mexico, and people take advantage of it. The beach goers feel very comfortable in their skin, regardless of their bodies, and that is freeing in its own way. I know it is for me! One thing that was treacherous there were the rip tides, probably the worse I have ever been in. From one second to the other I was getting pulled out, in, left and right, and if I lost my footing it could be bad. The evening I got there I witnessed this first hand as I saw two young men literally being pulled out to the ocean as though they were on a conveyor belt. It was a blink of the eye. Fortunately, there were two lifeguards who hauled ass, grabbed the two guys, and brought them back to shore. Initially I thought they were kids, but they were strapping teenagers, so what does that say for a less strong person in that water?

I also found out afterwards that “Zipolite” means “beach of the dead,” and have drownings year-round.

07.04.21

Today is a national holiday, Independence Day, and what better time to celebrate the new freedom we are just starting to experience—with travel.

After almost 18 months of travel confusion, the view is more clear domestically, as travel is back up to almost 2019 levels! TSA recently screened the most people on that given day than they did two years ago, so that’s a positive sign. Meanwhile, international travel is still a checkerboard of different rules and regulations. A COVID test, at least an antigen test, is a given, and the vaccine (which one?) may or may not get you into certain countries and possibly avoid a COVID test prior to arrival. Some countries are still off limits, at least to Americans, and others are only accessible to citizens or those with a legit reason to go.

And the question I asked myself many times over the last year was, “What good is having a travel blog (and guidebooks) on TRAVEL, if we are not able to travel?”

That question perplexed me for 15 months while I whiled away the time in the beautiful seaside village of Puerto Morelos, Mexico, just south of Cancun. When Kathleen and I arrived there the third week of March 2020, we had been chased by COVID from Southeast Asia, landed in Ohio for a wedding, and then quickly left the US for Mexico for a (supposed) two week stay.

I felt like a Gilligan’s Island refugee for those that know the show. They left for a three-hour tour, got stranded on an unmarked island, and were there for three years, ie, seasons. Thank God the Professor knew how to make a still so they could get drunk.

But now, the next stages are being laid out, and summer is a huge catalyst for countries to be more lenient since, if they miss THIS summer, that would be devastating to their economy. What happens when summer is over and another cold winter returns? Who knows?

As I write this in July 2021, Kathleen is back in Ohio for the summer to spend time with her new baby grandson and her new step-grandkids, and am in Oaxaca (pronounced Wahacka), south of Mexico City. I have no ocean, which is always a bummer, but the town is amazing in its own way. It has lots of charm and so far, some AMAZING food!! At 5000+ ft elevation the weather is more chilly than I have been used to, and the air is thin. Daytime temps are about 10 degrees cooler, and nighttime temps almost 20 degrees colder, BUT, it’s rainy season and that it does—every day! Sometimes torrentially, and it can stop as quickly as it starts.

While here I am taking a six-hour bus ride to the coast, a town called Puerto Escondido, to compare from Puerto Morelos, and today I am booking my first “big” trip in a while-Ecuador- on August 6. My six-week window until mid-September will be between there and Peru, the next stop. Chile is still off limits to Americans. Both countries at high altitudes, and I must be prepared for that, since altitude sickness IS a real thing, and Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is 9350 feet above sea level, which will be an all-time high (no pun…) for me. I have never had any altitude issues, but time, years, and everything DOES take their tolls, so I will be careful.

The past 18 months has been such a mixture of emotions for the entire world. Bad, good, stress, frustration, even sickness and sometimes, death, have been a part of everyone’s life. I wish I could believe that it is ALL over, but I think it will be a while yet.

Airlines are bringing planes out of storage and bringing people back from furlough. This SUMMER will be interesting as people get on the ROAD (they already are) and back on trains and planes.

I met wonderful people in Puerto Morelos, mostly expats from the US and Canada. I truly believe that as the world gets more “complicated” and frustrating in those two countries, people will continue to bail in record numbers. Between cost of living, quality of life, and government restrictions and interference, it’s no wonder.

Life is about independence- YOUR independence- to live the life you want to live. Enjoy it while you/ we can; it ain’t going to last forever! Happy holiday!

06.26.21

They say you can’t take it with you, but I think you can.

You just have to take the things that matter, and that, to me, is very little. The bells, the whistles, the doodads, the gadgets; in the end, they all mean nada. What matters is what you wear, what you need to live, and what you eat.

Since leaving the US in Feb 2019 I have purged several times. When I initially left, all my contents were strewn out on the bed, and I had to determine if they could fit in a 48L backpack; they could not. An additional suitcase was bought and filled, and after leg #1, in Valencia, Spain, those two containers were consolidated into one. The one factor that really makes a difference, is the temperatures of where you are going. Heavy jackets, sweaters, and clothing take a lot of room, whereas if your destination is more temperate, you can get by with a lot less.

Over the course of the last two years plus, old items were discarded and new ones were bought. I have purchased several pairs of shoes, not because of wear, but because of limited ROOM for them to be packed. For clothing, anything that wrinkles is a no-no, and since clothes are cheap outside the US, buying for a “season” is reasonable. In Mexico I got by with one pair of sandals (Keane’s), and have bought and eliminated half a dozen tank tops. As a minimalist, I take clothing to the extreme, and spend 80 percent of my waking hours in shorts and that’s about it. The umbrella, always nice—and important—to have, has been used a handful of times.

Now I am moving on.  After 15 months in Puerto Morelos, I am off to Oaxaca, just south of Mexico City. It is 5000 plus feet above sea level, so colder temps attire IS a must, which I have. The good news is, if I need something more, prices are reasonable. My stay there will be about three weeks, then after a short trip to Las Vegas, it’s back, this time to Mexico City, where I plan to stay for a few days because, well, I’ve never been there. Copper Canyon (look it up!), in Mexico, has been very high on my “must go” list, and I will try to fit that in before departing the country.

The ultimate plan is the South American countries of Ecuador and Peru. Chile was on my list, but since I have only a five-week window and as of right NOW, Chili is off limits without a quarantine, that has been removed. Maybe another time. That period between August 1-Sept 15 (approx.) is totally open to changes, and that is one of the nice things about being a nomad: flexibility. It also is a downside if you like security and familiarity…

I am in discussion with a vape convention that wants me to speak in a place I have never been, but I’m keeping that under wraps until it’s finalized. All I can say is that it is an exotic location with some of the world’s most spectacular architecture.

This picture here is my backpack and what goes inside. I’ll let you know if it does or I need to purge again!

By the way, in case you’ve not been paying attention, the world IS opening up and border restrictions are being reduced or eliminated. Europe is mostly open, Asia is looking good, too, so if you are thinking about travel, do it safely and without fear.

Safe travels.

12.19.20

I found out that there are almost 100 islands off the coast of Mexico, so it is highly unlikely I will get to all of them. Of that large number, most are either protected or uninhabited, so that makes the goal of hitting some of the best ones more manageable. Fortunately, many of the top destinations are where we live, in the Yucatan, and so far, Isla Mujeres is way at the top of my list. But that list IS quite small since the only other one we have even been to is Holbox, which we recently returned from. I’ll get to that one in a moment.

The biggie, Cozumel, has mixed reviews and is definitely on our radar, if for no other reason than to say we made it. It has been Mexico’s largest cruise port, but that ship is not sailing right now, so there is an ideal window of opportunity. Still, it’s a top tourist destination and yes, it is supposed to be beautiful (but pricey), and the diving and snorkeling are supposed to be magnificent. That in itself is a good reason to visit. So that’s coming.

Island number four I never heard of until a few weeks ago: Isla Contoy. It is just 15 miles north of Mujeres, and seems to be a naturalists and hikers paradise since it is mostly uninhabited and they only allow 200 visitors per day, and they can only be delivered by companies certified by the Mexican government. Kudos to whoever set that up. Like Cozumel and Mujeres, Contoy fronts the amazing Mesoamerican Reef System, running 175 miles just north of Cancun, all the way to the Honduras. I feel blessed that my current home, Puerto Morelos, gets to share that reef as well, which is considered the second best reef system in the world, after the Great Barrier in Australia.

After visiting Holbox I got a greater appreciation for Isla Mujeres, since the only way to really rate “best of” is to compare them to each other. Over the past few years, we have lived on several islands in Europe.

We loved Sicily, which was the largest island we lived on, exactly one year ago. It’s at the very southern tip of Italy,  the “toe” portion of the famous boot comparison when looking at a map of Italy. It’s only eight miles from the mainland, but there is no bridge for easy access, so transport back and forth is via ferry and plane. We were there for six weeks and enjoyed an apartment directly across from the rocks of the Ionian Sea. The island has a surplus of history, with many landmarks and temples going back 8,000 years, plus geography and hills to blow your mind.

We also lived on Menorca, a Balearic Island off the coast of Spain, and number three was our smallest port of call, the island of Naxos, one of the many Greek islands. Each of these islands had their own vibe and history and were fairly easy to access via ferry or plane.

While here in the Yucatan, Isla Mujeres has given us the closest experience to some of our European adventures. Mujeres is remarkably easy to get to, just a 20 minute high speed ferry from Cancun, and even though you can SEE Cancun from the coast, it still feels a million miles away. Their North beach remains our favorite beach so far, and the small village feel of downtown has a surplus of charm. The eastern side has an awesome walkway to explore some terrific shoreline. We have not been down to the southern tip to catch the sunrise, which they say is magnificent. And lastly, Mujeres is very affordable considering it DOES feel like a true getaway.

When we arrived at Holbox, not an easy place to GET to, by the way, we had to feel our way around to decide how it compared to our past experiences. The dirt roads were a muddy challenge due to rain a few days earlier, with flooded sections and potholes galore. What IS nice, is that there are NO gasoline driven vehicles there, except for some commercial trucks and police. All public transport is via ATV, golf cart, motorcycle, or bicycle.  The ocean was not as beautiful as I expected it to be compared to the Cancun coast side. The beach had some of the finest sand I have ever walked on and was almost mud-like in consistency, which was the same consistency as the streets themselves. That plus murky greenish water, and I had a hard time deciding if this was a place worth returning to.

Afterwards we found out we had missed out on some things, including the nighttime bioluminescent experiences in the water, but that peaks in summer. Ditto the annual whale sharks are supposed to be amazing from the island as well, but that season runs June to September, plus we found out that pink flamingoes are abundant there, but we didn’t know at the time.

The one thing we DID partake of, and something the island is famous for, is lobster pizza. Actually, we opted for seafood pizza instead, with shrimp and calamari. Even so, it was spectacular, the best pizza (and dough) that we have found in Mexico.

Will we return? As I finish this review, the answer is a strong “YES.”

BTW, I recently finished Part II of “Traveling the World Six Weeks at a Time,” and it is listed on Amazon. This story takes over after a surreal return trip to the US in fall of 2019 and shares our experiences as we finish up with the European side of the world, staying in Italy and Greece, and even a side trip to Tunisia, in Africa, our first Arab country. Then it was over to the Far East, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam., just as COVID was beginning in early 2020 and chased us from one country to the next, barely avoiding border closures, quarantine, and (most) cancelled flights.

From there it was back to the US and exiting quickly to Mexico to avoid being trapped with nowhere to go, or stay, in the US. I hope you enjoy it!

In life, everything has a season and as I write post #100 and reflect on the last 100 entries, I find its time for a new direction. The ORIGINAL direction of Travel Younger, which began Feb 19, 2019, was to travel the world and stay for six weeks at different locations. That was our path until COVID…

I published the first 51 entries as Volume I of “Traveling the World Six Weeks at a Time,” and these last 50 will be volume II and the end of that series. The new title of our journey will be Travel Younger Chronicles since it will be more focused on the living aspects of worldwide travel, as well as the lodging for six weeks at a time. And our travels are NOT over yet!

We have been in Mexico for almost six months and being stationary for that long does have its advantages, though Kathleen and I have itchy feet to move on sometimes. When we started, travel was our PASSION and it still is. I was reminded about passion a few days ago as we finally were able to take a boat ride to the small, just seven miles long, island of Isla Mujeres. It is eight miles northeast of Cancun, and a very comfortable 18-minute ferry ride away, and the island is truly magical. From our hotel room we were able to look east from the balcony and see the wide open Caribbean Sea, and in the opposite direction see Cancun and the channel in between. Here’s a great video for you!

Our ride out was courtesy of Pedro Vega, captain of Shut Up and Fish, an interesting sounding company name for a Cancun-based tour company that offers fishing along with more sedate rides to the island, plus stops to snorkel. Which we did. Twice.  That was also magical as the water was as clear as glass, and maybe 30 feet deep. Pedro’s crew member enticed fish over to us with food, and we had them rubbing against our bodies, plus viewed several barracudas, a baby octopus, and the underwater museum, with statues dropped in for dramatic effect. Along the way Pedro shared his story, forty five years in the making, and his realization when he was just a kid that he wanted to provide tour guides back and forth to the island.

He had passion. And he made it happen.

Leaving Mexico while in his teens, he traveled throughout the area, including a dozen years in America, saving money to execute his plan.  Many of us wish that we had a dream that early in our lives, and some never ever do have dreams and goals that make life worth living…

After we arrived at the island, he took us to a beach club where we had a magnificent lunch of fish (grouper) and chicken, along with the side dishes. His love and commitment to customer service was obvious and it was clear he wanted Kathleen and I to be well fed and happy.

Those of you reading this blog run across all ages and generations and live in many countries. Some of you were born in one place and later moved to another, for whatever your reasons. One of Frank Sinatra’s most popular songs, “My Way”, says:  “Regrets, I’ve had a few, but then again, too few to mention.” I wish I could say the same, but truthfully I regret not finding MY passion much earlier, though it was not from lack of seeking.

And the other regret is that I wished I traveled more, and at a much younger age.

When I started these blogs 18 months ago, my commitment to you was to share our experiences of worldwide travel, and help you maybe step outside your comfort zone and learn from our journey. To be motivated and inspired by our journey.

I hope I have succeeded.

Like most of you, we have been sequestered for the past two months, and since we were always go-go-going for the prior 14 months, this was a huge adjustment. We never stayed anywhere longer than six weeks and ventured out to different places wherever we were. BUT, there is light at the proverbial end of the tunnel as Puerto Morelos (MX) is relaxing the restrictions from a very strict Phase III, to a less restrictive, Phase II, and hopefully will move into #1 on June 1. That will open up the Cancun airport along with restaurants, most businesses, and especially the beach!

This week we experienced one of the more unique features of the Yucatan Peninsula—cenotes.

Many believe that the giant meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago generated so much heat and debris that it formed a huge underground cave and water system under the ground in this area. BTW, that meteor hit just a few hundred miles from here, so I figure we’re safe because, hey, what are the odds??

The soft limestone bed in this area is very water soluble (it used to be underwater so much of it is dead coral) so forms underground caves and sinkholes of various sizes and proximity to the surface. These are not limited to Mexico, but they say there are more than 6000 on the Peninsula, and we have dozens within 50 miles of us. Some of these underground systems go for hundreds of miles, though not all are accessible. And some are only accessible with scuba tanks, but that will have to wait. With some digging I learned that two of the longest running underground aquifers in the world are here in Mexico, one being 353 km long and the other 270 km long. These waterways were huge contributors to the growth of Mayan civilizations during the past 13,000 years.

I had never been to one, though Kathleen had, and I was taken back by the beautiful underground cavern filled with cool/ cold water that was probably 66 degrees or so, just a bit chilly. Fern and lichen grow around the perimeter of the holes down to the water, and this one here, called Cenote Oja de Agua, had four different entry points, including some that were “jump only” access! (27 feet or so they SAY…)

I wasn’t quite ready for that, so instead walked in through one of the others. The water color is hard to describe and varied between aquamarine and greenish depending upon how the light from above struck it. The actual grounds were lovely, with cabanas strewn around to hang out, chairs to lie in and changing rooms, showers, and bathrooms. The jungle was everywhere and as “modern” as it was, it was still a very rustic, wild setting.

Plus we were the only ones there, keeping our social distancing manners in mind.

This is a family owned, private cenote and not open to the public during the “off season” which will last until next fall. We met a fabulous tour guide, Martin, who is from this area, and knows all the best spots. He shared this one and we have many more journeys planned so we can catch up on our Adventure Shortage. BTW, these cenotes are magical to the Mayan culture and many believed that they were access points to their “underworld” where their Gods lived, and spirits went to after death.

We welcome any followers to check out Puerto Morelos, Mexico as soon as you are ready, willing, and able to travel. As we develop relationships down here we would LOVE to share this beauty with you!

It is easy to get to Cancun airport (opening soon) and it’s very affordable and will blow your minds with natural beauty everywhere, including the people. #cenote, #mexico, #meteor, #puertomorelos

We’ve been in Mexico for six weeks now and like many of you, kind of “stuck” and unable to go anywhere. The original plan was to be here two weeks, then back to the US for a business trip, then back ‘cross the pond to Greece or Croatia. Plan B now…

My 40 years of living in Southern California did not lure me into living in Mexico, but I knew that the border towns of Tijuana and Rosarito are truly not representative of what the country was like. A few trips to Cabo San Lucas decades ago, along with Puerta Vallarta once did not sway me either, even though I knew there was a HUGE draw for Americans to live here. Since I was not looking to “live” anywhere, I stayed on the Europe and Far East Asia side of the world and liked it just fine. As a man with Eastern European roots and Mother, that felt comfortably uncomfortable. Affordable, nice weather, great people and access to water hit all my needs.

Then COVID.

Were it not for a wedding in Ohio in March I would now probably be in Europe somewhere, but since we were coming to the States, followed by a business trip to Florida, the plan was to move along quickly. Kathleen had friends in Puerto Morelos, about 30 minutes south of Cancun, and we were due to hang out here for two weeks. Now two weeks is six and six weeks will surely turn into six MONTHS, maybe longer. I am getting to like Mexico, and maybe even more. Here’s why.

• The Water (Ocean). Aside from the beach being CLOSED, which is only temporary, it’s still just a 20-minute bike ride away or a $1.25 taxi ride. The water here is the most radiant turquoise I have ever seen in person, and I have seen many beaches over the past few years. The water temp has JUST enough cool to make it fun, but it will get warmer as we get into summer. I am told NO jellyfish and no sea urchins, so that’s a big plus! We’re pretty far south and the water temperature doesn’t fluctuate more than a few degrees all year, ditto the length of days. Sunrise happens between 6:11 and 6:39 (approx.) all year, and sunset fluctuates about an hour on both sides of 7:00 p.m. They do not “spring forward” so we are permanently on Eastern time, but NOW, it’s equal to Central time.
• The Cost of Living. We stayed in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Serbia, Poland and a few other very affordable places in the world, but this is actually better than all of them. Grocery food (and alcohol) is very affordable, along with utilities and rent. We were aware of the water issue, so we get a 20 liter bottle every 10 days or so, and that is less than $4.00 with a tip. I had to get front and rear brakes on a bike I bought for $40 and the cost was about $6.50, which would have been many times that in the states.
• The People and Language. Let’s face it, these are trying times, but I sense no bad juju from any of the locals. They are quick to smile, and many have a basic understanding of English, which helps a lot. Forty years in So Cal gives ME a rudimentary Spanish vocabulary and I waiver back and forth on taking my Duolingo lessons. Truth is, I really don’t have the passion or desire to LEARN, even though I have the desire to SPEAK. We’ll see which one wins that battle. But since we can’t go OUT to eat we have a list of delivery places and they communicate well on WhatsApp, the worldwide phone and text app of choice, so that’s a plus. Every meal we’ve had has been great including an amazing Sweet & Sour Chinese food dish that I got three meals out of. The price? Cheaper than a Starbucks coffee, which thank goodness they do not have here.

Along with that, there are lots of Canadians here and lots of Americans, too. We haven’t been able to socialize with many yet, but we will.

• The Weather. It’s hot, even warm, and humid, about 70%, so that’s an adjustment. But we dealt with the same thing in the Far East. Here we are blessed to have a decent breeze most of the days and so far just a few insect issues. They seem to find Kathleen tastier than me, so I guess they don’t want Kosher! We see monkeys playing in the trees several times a week, including from our bedroom window, which is cool, and iguanas rule here, too, though I’ve only seen a few. There is a morning chorus of birds just before sunrise and that is a great melody to wake up to.
• Getting in Shape. It’s not Mexico that is giving me time, but since we are warned to STAY HOME, we do, though I do a nice bike ride several days a week on a fairly flat road and about 0630 the temp is still good. We have a second bedroom which is now a gym, so I do daily workouts along with daily meditation, so I’m staying Zen. My blood pressure had been an issue for several years and I was on statins. I still take them but my BP is down 30 points. Sweet!
• History at our back door. This is the land of the Mayans, Aztecs and Incas, who created amazing civilizations and buildings many centuries ago. They can compare to Egypt, Rome and Greece as to the things they built without modern tools and technology. Mind blowing. Plus there are dozens of “cenotes” just a few miles from us, which are underground caves filled with water for swimming and snorkeling.

Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans, so I guess that’s what happening here. Our “plans” got sidetracked, but it now opens up Central and South America and we’re close enough to the US to have friends visit, so it’s all good, plus just eight hours from Europe and five hours from California, both great options.

Be safe and healthy, and as the Most Interesting Man in the World says of his Dos Equis cerveza, “Stay thirsty my friends.” #mexico, #puertomorelos, #mexicobeaches