CANCUN 2002

Our annual trip to Cancun marks the end of winter for us. This year Old Man Winter decided to go to Cancun with us. It was cool most of the days. Also Sam and Charlotte Packenham-Walsh joined us for a week.

Marion started every morning with tennis. The rest of us weren't even up when she headed out to join the ladies at 7 AM. The buffet Breakfast at the club is a real treat, but way too much food, and a bit expensive if you eat light. Instead we found preparing our own breakfast of fresh fruit, toast and jam, juice, and occasionally some Huevos Rancheros got us off to a great start. The market has wonderful cantaloupes, grapefruit, avocados, mangos, bananas and pineapples.

Playa Del Carmen has become our favorite side trip destination. We take a city bus to Cancun then catch a first class bus to Playa del Carmen. The round trip fare is about $8 US.

There are several Cantinas on the beach where you can enjoy a plate of Nachos and a Cerveza.

The Playa is a favorite with the European Tourists and in typical Mediterranean style, the ladies pop their tops off..

Getting a Seamless Tan	Skiff and Blue Water.
Great surf	The surf was up due to strong winds from the north. I enjoy body surfing and found a great spot that would give about a 30 yard ride and dump you right into the shallows. Unfortunately there was a sunken skiff right at shore line and I managed to scrape my chest on the stern of the wreck. Not enough damage to stop me from taking three more rides.

Our next side trip was further down Costa Maya to the ruins at Tulum.

Charlotte Marion and Sam on the trail

The Grand Castle Overlooks the Sea

Sam and Charlotte went back to Houston and we moved down to Playa del Carmen for another few days.

We took a Taxi to town with all of our luggage. Took the bus to Playa del Carmen and hired a luggage porter to carry our stuff to the Hotel.

The hotel is clean, Air Conditioned, has a lovely pool and each moning serves complimentary breakfast. The hotel is centrally located between the Bus Station and the Ferry docks. Our room had a view of the Beach. Price was $68 a night.

The Pool at Hotel Molcas.

We took the ferry to Cozumel in quite rough seas and driving rain. Along the way we met Brian and Elaine Jahnke from Fergus Falls Minnesota. They, like us, were headed to the Chankanab National Park for a day of snorkeling. We shared a taxi with them and went to the park.

The beach was deserted and we four were the only visitors to the park.

There is a marvelous Archeological Garden with the finest collection of Pre Columbian Sculpture I have seen except in the National Museum at Mexico City. The piece above is a Giant Stone Head from the vicinity of Vera Cruz.

The rain never really stopped so we went back into Cozumel for lunch at Blubeards Bar.

Brian and Elaine went on to Cancun for the rest of their vacation.. We enplored the PlayaCar Resort community on foot the next day. There is a bus from Playa del Carmen to the Cancun Airport.
We will undoubtably include a stay in Playa Del Carmen on our next trip to Cancun.