The Mexican Wave
It's been great to spend four nights in the one location after 6 weeks on the go. And while the hotel room is far from swish, (no hot water for the first 2 days, construction sites on both sides of the hotel, breakfast not included, phone doesn't work, TV reception is crappy on all except the telenovela channel, overzealous maids that walk in on you before 9am without knocking - then take away your extra towel and shampoo...) the bed is firm and the toilet flushes - I've worked out my priorities, you see! Plus, they have a fantastic swimming pool in the central courtyard - if you like swimming in the rain!
Yes, it still hasn't stopped raining! The first morning on my own was blue sky - I thought maybe my luck had changed? The beach and town is very touristy (the benchmark is finding a stall that will write your name on a grain of rice!) and I vary between whether I understand Spanish or not with the multitude of hawkers for silver stores, souvenirs, massages, restaurants, etc. as you try to just walk and look at the surrounds. But the beach is quite lovely (and has less hawkers!).
And it was nice to see some blue sky for a little while.
The main pedestrian mall is called Fifth Avenue - and is quite long. My hotel is on 20th avenue (they go by increments of five - so only three blocks away).
I have been twice to the same little restaurant on the mall, not just because they are close and I only seem to return to town for dinner after 9pm, but mainly because they make a mean margarita. Although I have been working my way through the fajitas, tacos, chimichangas, and anything else that sounds Mexican on the menu. I quite like the complementary home made corn chips that they bring with a selection of dips. Being a tourist town, there is a fusion of foods, though. Last night I ate at a little Italian cafe. Tonight I will try one recommended for specialising in Yucatan food.
But my best culinary adventure was a breakfast on the way to collect my hire car. In the less touristy section of downtown, I stopped at a little Mexican bar with only locals in it, and a slightly harassed looking older Mexican gent doing everything from ordering to stocktaking to cooking. I ordered quesadillas (thinking this was really just cheese on toast the Mexican way!) and was surprised to find myself with a table full of food. I was warned that one of the sauces was "picante" so opted for the other (can't see its contents in the photo in the blog gallery, but it was a tasty tomato-based one - the spicy sauce bowl looked like vegetable soup).
The only disappointment was the coffee - a mug of hot water and a jar of instant Nescafe! (Fear not intrepid, coffee-discerning readers - I have found an Italian bar that does the real thing around the corner from the hotel). But it actually tasted alright in context (I gave the sweating carton of long-life milk a miss!). This culinary feast (and yes I did not touch the refried beans as they most definitely don't agree with me) set me back around $3.80.
I will write more about the car, my driving adventures and the trips to Tulum and Chichen Itza in the next post. All this talk of food has made me hungry - it's 10:30am and I haven't left the hotel yet. It seems I eat these days twice at 12 hour intervals! But it is good to get a break from ham and eggs - which seems to be the fare at hotel breakfasts. I actually have a little cooktop and bar fridge in my room, but prefer to go out, or I wouldn't get to talk to anyone!
Until next time, Aveline. xxx
