Isla Mujeres & Isla Contoy

Ok, so I´m going to continue to tell you just how fabulous these places are and how well things are going. I hope you don´t get bored with the monotony. I´m still in Isla Mujeres getting in a quick internet session before I catch the ferry back to Cancun and the bus back to Playa del Carmen for the night. I´ve been here the past 3 nights and it´s been excellent! My first impression probably wasn´t so great but it could´ve have been the heat and fatigue I was feeling when I arrived. But slowly but surely the place has been growing on me. And the more time I give it the more I love it. (It´s got a super casual, laidback feel to it. A place to kick off even your flip flops. There doesn´t seem to be anything flashy about it. Just good old fashion fun and relaxation.) The wait to get on the Ferry from Cancun to here was a long one! I had no clear idea on how the line was working and finally approached the Stone family to inquire. Soon enough I learned and luckily was "adopted" by them and thankfully was able to "cut" midway in the outrageous line along with them. They were great people to hang with while waiting the hour and half under the blazing sun to finally get our turn on the ferry. A couple hours later on I.Mujeres I bumped into them on the street in front of a waterfront restaurant and joined them for a couple beers while they had their lunch. If it wasn´t for Laurie & Brad, I´d still be waiting for that god darn ferry! I´ve included pictures of them (with their permission) on the blog. Thanks guys!! My first day I did my usual stroll around checking things out, etc and made my way to North Beach which was fine enough but have to say I still prefer Playa del Carmen´s. It´s mucher bigger and more spectacular I think. How spoiled am I?? I know!! Had a simple and filling lunch from a small locally owned placed where I returned 3 more times for the yummy shrimp tacos. Then I retreated for the night to my very perfect and comfortable room with an awesome view and lots of privacy. It was exactly as the doctored ordered. If I had the time and money I´d stick around much longer. On my second day I was to take a day trip to Isla Contoy, an uninhabited island that is a bird and wildlife sanctuary, but it was too windy and had to wait until the following day. That was fine as there were other things to see and do like visiting the very cool turtle farm where they are breed and after some time released. The beaches where they normally lay their eggs are becoming less and less due to us tourists and so fortunately some good souls are trying to make up for it so they can sustain themselves. I don´t know why but I think they are facinating creatures. I then continued on further south by taxi to the most southern point of the island, Punta Sur, where I found this spot to be more spectacular then popular North Beach. I´ve posted pictures of this area as well and its where I had a Corona in the most scenic and beautiful spot ever. Whoa! Amazing! I would´ve had a 2nd, maybe a 3rd, but somehow I didn´t bring enough money with me. It was either a taxi back or the beer. I chose the taxi (and yes it was only 6 or 7 km and I could´ve walked) but I would´ve never made it back after 3. I probably would´ve fallen into the Carribean instead. And even though I technically didn´t have enough even for the taxi, the driver accepted my last pesos and took me back to Centro anyway. Woohoo! And despite having cut my foot (kinda badly) at Punta Sur and later discovering I locked myself out of my place it didn´t matter as it was still truly a fantastic day! Yesterday, I went on the Isla Contoy trip and that too was incredible. A lovely island mostly in its native state not being over run with a single beach chair, restaurant, you name it. Just loveliness all around from the perfect white sand beach, the palm tress, to the rocky, rougher east side to the mangroves and lagoon. It reminded me somewhat of Whitsunday Island in Australia. Beautiful and incredibly peaceful. And last night another easy evening of dinner (pizza & beer) reading and listening to some awesome music from all around the neighborhood. It was like an added ammenity to my place and I didn´t have to get up and go to it. It came to me! I just laid in bed listening thinking over and over again how lucky I am to be here enjoying all this. And now its Ferry time again. I hope the heck the wait is not so long going back. I´m in Playa del Carmen tonight and tomorrow I´m off to Tulum for the next week. Will continue to keep you posted with pictures and commentary between siestas.