Things not done

[DougSR]

I'm making a list of things I still have not done in or around Tulum. I've yet to:

1) Eat or party at Mezzanine
2) Dive or snorkel in a cenote
3) Make it into the Sian Ka'an Biosphere
4) Eat at Cetli
5) Visit Valladolid or any other inland city

What kinds of things have you yet to do? Perhaps some of yours will find their way onto my list. Feel free to offer up suggestions on which I need to get done in October.

[austxdan]

In 3 trips we have still never snorkeled a cenote either. That was one of the main goals this trip, but we just didn't seem to make it off the beach.

I know its not much, but I still want to see the ruins at Muyil, just south of town. We've already done Coba and Tulum ruins, so I'd like to see a less popular set of ruins.

Perhaps a day trip down to Mahaual some time?



Dan

[kimba]

Oh, Doug you have to go to Valladolid!

I have not yet:

1. Gone to Muyil
2. Gone into Sian Ka'an
3. Eaten at Mezzanine or even just hung out at a beach side restaurant
4. Eaten at Hechizo
5. Stayed further down the beach (like at Cabanas Tulum or Hemingway's)
6. Explored the Pueblo of Tulum to my satisfaction

Although I really like Tulum and the beach, I like inland better. So my goal for next trip is to explore between Valladolid and Palenque and hit a lot of the smaller archaeological sites along the way.

[AdGuy]

I have not yet (nor ever will):

1. Gone to the 7-11.
2. Tanned on the beach for more than 30 minutes.
3. Stayed at the same place twice.
4. Avoided playing with a beach dog.
5. Eaten a hamburger or pizza.
6. Drank an American beer.
7. Danced on a pole.
8. Complained about the heat.
9. Regretted my decision to have a rental car.
10. Brought a cell phone or laptop.

That said, I've covered everything on everyone's list (above) with the exception of Doug's #4 (eating at Cetli) and kimba's# (eaten at Hechizo) but hope to remedy those two ommissions quickly. My Top 5 To Do list includes:

1. Drive to (and stay in) Punta Allen.
2. Do a private scuba dive (just Jen and me) off the Tulum coast.
3. Actually see a turtle in Akumal Bay/Half Moon Bay when snorkeling. :rolleyes:
4. Visit Xamach Dos.
5. Skydive over Playa del Carmen.

[DougSR]

6. Explored the Pueblo of Tulum to my satisfaction


With Margo's help I nailed this one on May 10th. It only took a few minutes for me to see the dentist office, the place where the hotels get their laundry done, the cemetary, farmacias, the new Subway (grrr!), etc. After about 15 minutes all I could think about was the surf and the sand.

[PhyllisB]

Okay, at first I was thinking subway=public transit, and I thought - Huh???? - then I remembered. I think I was trying to block it out.

I haven't snorkeled a cenote yet either, so that's on my list. Posada Margherita is still on my list!!! I'd like to visit more of the hole-in-the-wall restaurants in the pueblo, and I'd *really* like to buy one of those fancy sinks. I'd like to do one of CeSiak's kayak tours in the Sian Ka'an, too.

[kimba]

Yep, I wondered at the subway thing too!

I'd also like to meet more locals. I enjoyed my conversations with the waiters at Zahra when I was there last.

I think I can agree with AdGuy's have not yet (nor ever will) numbers 1 through 8.

And I think I want to explore more of the pueblo for the same reason as PhyllisB - to find more hole in the walls. I love hole in the walls.

[NWCreoleLady]

Wow....this list could get really long! For those of you who are planning a trip to Valladolid, you have to also go to ruins at Ek Balam. It is amazing and from the top you can see the road that goes to Coba. Most incredible is the shape that the carvings are in. We've also been to Chichen Itza, Tulum and Coba and loved them all, but Ek Balam was the most impressive.

Now that we have our own little casa there, we should be able to start marking these off the list!

1) The cenotes around Tulum - I've only been to one near Chichen Itza
2) The Lol-Ha (this will be remedied in 1 month!)
3) Horseback riding on the beach
4) Oscar y Lalo's (this will be remedied in 1 month!)
5) Loncheria El Parque in Chemuyil (this will be remedied in 1 month!)
6) Lucy's fish tacos in Akumal (this will be remedied in 1 month!)
7) Punta Allen and Xamach Dos
8) Mahajual
9) Xcalak
10) Lago Bacalar
11) Going over the border to Belize!

Oh, and for those of you who haven't see Merida - do it! We spend 2 days there and it was great fun....what a colorful and lively city it is. Great experience!

[lynnwatx]

Valladolid is an excellent place to visit- great little restaurant up above the sacred cenote right in town. Also the coolest cenote I've ever snorkled in just SW outside of town- both Ik'kil on the right side of the road and Dzitnup just past it on the left- both big underground cave cenotes with light holes- Ik-kil has a huge tree growing up out of the middle. So cool when the sun shines down thru the water and you can see DEEP down...
Then just keep driving to Izamal-( go ahead and Google it, I still haven't figured out how to add pictures!) a little north and east of Merida above Valladolid- one of the best kept secrets in the Yucatan. The whole town is painted bright yellow with this awesome cathedral built on top of an ancient pyramid with a cool magical Virgin Mary statue that is on a big turntable up in a tower room and only comes out for Mass. Really special, uniquely Yucatan town.
The road past Coba up to Valladolid is so great now that you can take day trips away from the beach without too much "withdrawal". And then you are SO glad to get back...:beachball:

[AdGuy]

4) Oscar y Lalo's (this will be remedied in 1 month!)



Kathy...you know the old Oscar y Lalo's in no longer, right? It's new location is on the highway and not 1/1000 as magical. :(

[beachreader]

Next trip, for sure:

1) eat at Cetli
2) go to Muyil
3) go to Punta Allen, spend more time in the biosphere in general
4) see a turtle in Akumal
5) hit some of the more local-ish places in town


Trying to keep it simple for the moment.

[DougSR]

Trying to keep it simple for the moment.

I don't want to get stuck doing the same things over and over on my trips down. But I have to keep it simple as well. And I have a hard time straying too far from the beach.

[beachreader]

Me, too. I am seriously beach-bound when I'm there, which is why I have to make lists like this to get myself to move!

If you don't feel like hitting the big techno party at Mezzanine, try them for lunch. They have a great happy hour from like 1-4, good strong margaritas. Little glasses, but they worked for me in the middle of the day!

[DougSR]

Me, too. I am seriously beach-bound when I'm there, which is why I have to make lists like this to get myself to move!

If you don't feel like hitting the big techno party at Mezzanine, try them for lunch. They have a great happy hour from like 1-4, good strong margaritas. Little glasses, but they worked for me in the middle of the day!

October for sure.

I may be telling a fib. To be honest, I don't know what I'm going to do in October. I may say heck with all of it and go to Holbox. I forgot to put that on my list.

A couple of other observations on this thread. I'm really bummed to hear Lee say he will never "7. Danced on a pole." Come on man! You only live once and pole dancing can be for fun or profit. Give it a try. :)

Next A few of you experienced a desire to swim with the turtles. I'll give you a few impressions. One, when I first encountered one I was a bit scared even though I had told myself before hand that they are just big sea cows who graze on grass. It's just shocking to see something almost your size in the water. Next, the fact that unless they are in the shallows, they could care less whether you hung out with them or not was really cool. I didn't get closer than 10 feet. But they were all about the sea grass. Did not even give me a look. Now that I've done it I'll always have that mental picture. And the fact that I didn't bother with a tour is even more special. I got a one on one.

[AdGuy]

A couple of other observations on this thread. I'm really bummed to hear Lee say he will never "7. Danced on a pole." Come on man! You only live once and pole dancing can be for fun or profit. Give it a try. :)

Way too "PDC" for me...besides, it's lunchtime and we don't want folks to get nauseous. http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/13/13_4_2v.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxmk762YYUS)



Next A few of you experienced a desire to swim with the turtles. I'll give you a few impressions. One, when I first encountered one I was a bit scared even though I had told myself before hand that they are just big sea cows who graze on grass. It's just shocking to see something almost your size in the water. Next, the fact that unless they are in the shallows, they could care less whether you hung out with them or not was really cool. I didn't get closer than 10 feet. But they were all about the sea grass. Did not even give me a look. Now that I've done it I'll always have that mental picture. And the fact that I didn't bother with a tour is even more special. I got a one on one.

If you're looking to really be intimidated, try scuba diving around alligators, sea snakes, or sharks. Nothing will get you to pee your wetsuit faster than one of those nasties! A really cool thing to do when y'all head down here to my neck of the woods is to snorkel with the manatees. They're much bigger than a turtle (as you can see in this local paper's photo of Jennifer swimming with a young manatee) and can be curious/interactive. The springs are a constant 73 degrees (very similar to Mexico's cenotes) and extremelly clear. Prime "manatee-viewing/swimming time" is December through February.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i317/FloridaAdGuy/JenManatee.jpg

[sctx]

What kinds of things have you yet to do? Perhaps some of yours will find their way onto my list.

salsa instructor at La Zebra;)

[Gale in KY]

1. Spend some real time in Merida. I just can't seem to draw myself away from the water.
2. Holbox Island, snorkeling with the Whalesharks.
3. Snorkel Punta Allen, I hear it is fantastic, a suprize!
4. Do a "real" Archeological' tour, Ek Balam, Uxmal, and the lesser known sites to the south, Rio Bec, Xpuhil, Kohunlich and Dzibanche are tops on the list.
5. Get Dive Certification and dive the Banco Chinchorro atoll.
6. Visit Rio Largartos Bioreserve.
7. Visit Bacalar
8. Choc Mool...this is a MUST DO..next visit perhaps!

Things I wish NOT to do again
Stay overnight in Playa
Visit Cozumel during High Season when the cruise ships are in port.
Argue with the Pemex guys! (Way to go Alice, you go girl!)

[minniemex]

Wow, what a good thread Doug!!

1) Punta Allen & possible snorkel tour
2) More time on the beach
3) Back streets of Tulum
4) More beach time
5) Umm, more time on the beach??
6) Oh, and someday, snorkel with the whale sharks

Oh, and I would be happy to take anyone out snorkeling in Akumal Bay - I always see turtles!!

http://s86.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http://w86.photobucket.com/albums/k83/Minniemex/Oct%2008%202007/d74fda4b.pbw (http://s86.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http://w86.photobucket.com/albums/k83/Minniemex/Oct%2008%202007/d74fda4b.pbw)

[AdGuy]

Wow, what a good thread Doug!!

1) Punta Allen & possible snorkel tour
2) More time on the beach
3) Back streets of Tulum
4) More beach time
5) Umm, more time on the beach??
6) Oh, and someday, snorkel with the whale sharks

Oh, and I would be happy to take anyone out snorkeling in Akumal Bay - I always see turtles!!

http://s86.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http://w86.photobucket.com/albums/k83/Minniemex/Oct%2008%202007/d74fda4b.pbw (http://www.tulum.info/redirector.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fs86.photobucket.co m%2Fpbwidget.swf%3Fpbwurl%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fw86.photo bucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk83%2FMinniemex%2FOct%252008 %25202007%2Fd74fda4b.pbw)


Kayt...I'll make you a deal...you show me turtles and I'll take you (and Gale) scuba diving! http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/7/7_3_207.gif (http://www.tulum.info/redirector.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.smileycentral. com%2F%3Fpartner%3DZSzeb001_ZNxmk762YYUS)

[minniemex]

Kayt...I'll make you a deal...you show me turtles and I'll take you (and Gale) scuba diving! http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/7/7_3_207.gif (http://www.tulum.info/redirector.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.smileycentral. com%2F%3Fpartner%3DZSzeb001_ZNxmk762YYUS)

Sounds like a plan to me Lee!! Except I can't scuba...... asthma. But you can take Fred!! I still will take you to see the turtles!!

[AdGuy]

Sounds like a plan to me Lee!! Except I can't scuba...... asthma. But you can take Fred!! I still will take you to see the turtles!!


Okay...I admit I'm a complete idiot when it comes to understanding asthma. What about it makes you not able to do scuba? If you can breathe on land (with perhaps a shot or two of inhaler) why can't you breath the same oxygen/nitrogen mix underwater? As I said, I'm completely ignorant here, so please inform. :)

[Gale in KY]

That's a deal Lee! Take me diving...I am calling the local dive center here tomorrow to set up the classwork..I want to do my checkout dive in Mexico...where better to do that than the Mesoamerican Reef!!!!

[AdGuy]

That's a deal Lee! Take me diving...I am calling the local dive center here tomorrow to set up the classwork..I want to do my checkout dive in Mexico...where better to do that than the Mesoamerican Reef!!!!


Gale...LOL...I thought the same thing 15 years ago when Jennifer and I decided to do our certification dives in Cancun. What could be better? Well, the reality is our first dive was in the laguna surrounded by a few crocodiles. The murky water had us "seeing shadows" while we demonstrated our buddy-breathing techniques. The whole time I couldn't help but think "I friggin look like a 180 pound seal in this $#%*@ wetsuit!". The second dive took place near Isla Mujeres in "black flag" seas. Visions of the movie "Open Water" flash through my mind as I remember surfacing with a mask full of blood (I'd ruptured my eardrum by not equalizing properly) and couldn't find the boat ANYWHERE. After 10 minutes they finally spotted us...it wasn't pretty. So, with that pretty picture painted...are you ready to flip backwards into the water? :rolleyes:

[minniemex]

Okay...I admit I'm a complete idiot when it comes to understanding asthma. What about it makes you not able to do scuba? If you can breathe on land (with perhaps a shot or two of inhaler) why can't you breath the same oxygen/nitrogen mix underwater? As I said, I'm completely ignorant here, so please inform. :)

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/faq/faq.asp?faqid=124

http://www.scuba-doc.com/asthma.htm

And since I am on daily meds for it, I don't think I would like to suffer an embolism.

[AdGuy]

And since I am on daily meds for it, I don't think I would like to suffer an embolism.

Oh, don't be such a princess!!! http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_22_31.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxmk762YYUS)

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

[minniemex]

But Lee, I am a

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll149/glittergn/princess/princess002.gif

[Gale in KY]

Lee...I think I will stick with the dive shop in Akumal...hopefully they won't take me where the 'gators dwell..lol. It has to be better than diving the murky bacteria ridden Ohio River..lol. That brings me to a question...where do they do checkout dives when there's no ocean to be had? Around here, there are no really deep lakes, we have the river..ewww..no freakin' way..lol..and a couple of strip mine lakes, and that's it.

Everytime I see the rescue divers hit the river here looking for a body, I gotta wonder what else they will bring up with them..lol. YUCK.

Wow, Minnie, I never knew that you couldn't dive with Asthma. That's really too bad, cause I know you would love it as much as I will love it..when I get to do it!

[PhyllisB]

Oh my gosh, you guys are too funny. Princess Minnie!!!!!! :D

[DougSR]

Asthma is such an mystery to me. When I ran my first/only full marathon back in '92 my female training partner was just like me. Early 30s, in good shape, new runner, etc. We trained and ran the thing in under 4 hours and she never had an episode. How can that be? Was she a princess too? :p

[minniemex]

Asthma is such an mystery to me. When I ran my first/only full marathon back in '92 my female training partner was just like me. Early 30s, in good shape, new runner, etc. We trained and ran the thing in under 4 hours and she never had an episode. How can that be? Was she a princess too? :p

Doug ~ episodes can happen at any time ~ a person in good shape should have no problems. The only thing is if you have an episode on "land" your choices of treatment are many. Have an episode at 100ft underwater you have "no" recourse. Returning to the top expands the air in your airways, your airways have become constricted and the expanding air explodes them. Your lungs fill with blood and nothing can be done to stop it. Not a pretty picture. My asthma is sometimes brought on by fear or stress ~ thinking about what could happen would probably do me in for sure!!

[AdGuy]

Lee...I think I will stick with the dive shop in Akumal...hopefully they won't take me where the 'gators dwell..lol. It has to be better than diving the murky bacteria ridden Ohio River..lol. That brings me to a question...where do they do checkout dives when there's no ocean to be had? Around here, there are no really deep lakes, we have the river..ewww..no freakin' way..lol..and a couple of strip mine lakes, and that's it.


Quite often, they do "field trips" down to the springs down here in Florida. I certified when I was in North Carolina and the options were to head to Florida, certify outside the country (Mexico, Jamaica, Caymens) or you could qualify at one of the local abandoned quarries that have been flooded.