Swimmer1
30th December 2008, 10:29 AM
This is only the Tulum part of our 12-day trip.
We arrived at the Cancun airport at 3:45 PM. After getting our luggage, we found Lomas Travel. There was about a 45 minute delay before we got going, which we were not too happy about. Our driver couldn’t speak much English. We thought we negotiated for the rest of the way to the Tulum hotel, Posada Luna del Sur, for $20. But instead he wanted $40, so we got “ripped” $20, but not sure whether it was because of translation problems or “rip off”! We thought it should have been about $25. Janet, one of the owners, greeted us and gave us a map of Tulum and some eating recommendations. We ate at Hotel Maya (about a 3 block walk-recommended by Janet). It was not too good pricewise. Bob got 8 mini quesadillas (2” triangles with a small amount of chicken in them). It left Bob still hungry. Les got 3 chicken tostadas – OK but not great. Bob thought they were a better buy than his quesadillas! Cost was about $15 US (200 pesos) for both meals.- too expensive! Two margaritas were about $4.50 US (60 pesos) each. We chatted with a young Canadian couple who ate next door at an outside café for less than $3 US total! They stayed at “The Weary Traveler” hostel a block away – about $25-30 US – had bed bugs! It pays to get money exchanged for 13.24 pesos for $1.00 (was around 10 pesos for $1.00 last year). We will go to bank tomorrow. WE went back to the room at 11:00 PM.
12/2 Tuesday – We had our continental breakfast (which was included in the $70 US per night hotel cost), fruit, coffee, juice, and sweet pastries (except we slept late this morning, and they were all gone!), and then went to the downtown Tulum bank at 10:30 AM (they are an hour slower than our time) to get money exchanged. We walked – it was about 5 blocks. There was only a small line, but it took 45 minutes to get $400 changed to 5,294 pesos – we are rich! They are very slow! We had taken our beach stuff with us. From here we took a taxi to Ocho Tulum beach club for about $6 US (80 pesos), which Janet had recommended – ¾ of the way down the south beach road (Boca Paila Road). It is a nice beach club. Janet had told us if we ate or drank their, we could use their beach beds for no charge, which was true. The restaurant/bar had a decked pavilion with a beautiful elevated view. We found out that if you had a meal, you got to use the free sun mattress beds (as Janet said). Otherwise, the cost for a bed was $10 US for all day, the same as El Paraiso was last year. It was too early for lunch, so we had Nuevos Mexicana (soft eggs on hard chips) – fairly good because we were hungry. It was about $4.50 US (60 pesos each), so with 2 margaritas at about $5 US (65 pesos each), the total cost was about $26 US (343 pesos) with tip. Beer is about $2.30 US (30 pesos) here. The beach was great – our favorite of the whole trip! It was great swimming with small waves, clear turquoise water, good service, not crowded. The beach is long and broad with sugar fine white sand. Bob took several pictures both ways. They have a windmill for power. Even though we ate, we did not use the beds because it would have been hard to bury our waterproof container with money, and room and safe keys without someone seeing. So we walked about ½ block south and lay on the wonderful sand, with Bob under a palm tree. Here we were able to bury our stash with no-one seeing so we could both go in the ocean at once. Later Bob walked down the south beach past Xi-Xho, (3 places to the south towards Sian Ka’an Biosphere entrance. There are only about 7 more hotels/beach bars/restaurants after this to get to the entrance of it). One of the places he walked past was Dos Ceibas, which has a 2 for 1 Happy Hour from 4-6 PM. Bob took a lot of pictures of different places. He walked down about 2/3 of a mile. We took a taxi back to Don Cafetos restaurant in downtown Tulum for about $6 US (80 pesos). We had 2 mango margaritas with a bowl full of hot spicy vegetables, chips and salsa included. This had carrots, onion kernels and other hot stuff in it – very good – almost like a small free meal! Then we shopped and bought a beach towel for about $7 US (90 pesos) so we’d have 2 towels for lying in the sand. We went to the room and conked out! The room is great – has a wall air conditioner which has a nice fan (Les didn’t need her sound machine) which gets really cold, a ceiling fan, nice bathroom and shower. It also has lots of shelves for clothes, a mini refrigerator, kitchen sink, bathroom sink, and 5 gallon jug of purified water. In the town of Tulum, you can flush the stools, but not toilet paper, so it had to go in the waste basket. We thought that would be gross, but it really was no problem at all! On the way back, Bob had a Subway (which was only 2 blocks from our hotel), but Les was not even hungry because of chips, salsa, and guacamole. She just had a light Pepsi.
12/3, Wednesday – We decided to go to the Tulum Ruins today because it’s been over 20 years since we were there. This morning we had our continental breakfast and got everything – large sweet rolls, pineapple chunks, melon chunks, bananas, coffee, fresh squeezed orange juice – good- all we need! We took a taxi to the Ruins entrance from downtown (the main drag – ½ block from our hotel) for 40 pesos. To enter it was 46 pesos each. The tram ride to the Ruins is about $1.50 US (20 pesos) each. You can walk, but it is 3-4 city blocks and was already hot. It is recommended by everyone you get there early (8 AM or so) to avoid the large tour crowds and hot sun. We didn’t quite make it – it was about 9:30 AM by the time we got there! When we went in the Ruins actual entrance, they took 2 beers out of Bob’s cooler, and said we could have them back when we came back. But we left a different place so we couldn’t get them back! Bob said he hoped he choked on the beers! Bob took lots of pictures. We were there 2 – 2 ½ hours. It was really hot. Les swam at the beach there for about ½ hours after we walked down steep stairs to it. She always regretted not swimming at the beach 20 years ago. That beach is not blocked off and is a turtle refuge, but the one used now is even larger – really nice, with gentle waves. She, of course, as usual, swam out farther than anyone else. It was so refreshing! Bob hid under the rock cliff overhangs for shade! One guy changed right in front of everyone (totally nude)! When we were done looking at ruins, Les wanted to shop there – lots of shops and vendors now. So we took a break and ate at the Don Cafeto Express – out front, where other cafes and the shopping was. Margaritas were only about $3 US (40 pesos) each and beer was about $1.50 US (20 pesos). We ordered black bean and cheese nachos – about $4.50 US (60 pesos) – delicious! There are decent prices here. We bought nothing, though, even though Les shopped for about ½ hour. She loved an abalone necklace and bracelet, but the price was way too much - $150 US for necklace and $61 US for bracelet, and he would only come down to $120 for necklace-way too much! Bob saw a canvas hat he wanted, but she would only come down to $15. Later he wished he’d gotten it, even though too high! We had trouble finding a taxi here – we thought there would be plenty right at this area, but we had to walk clear out to highway (a different way then when we took the tram in) in order to get one. Taxi from here to Dos Ceibas was about $7 US (90 pesos near taxi stand – too high), but it ended up costing about $8.50 US (110 pesos via town and down strip) – even more-should have taken the other! We ended up having him stop at Tita Tulums to look it over. The cabanas were nice, but the beach is not as nice as Ocho Tulum – not quite as broad. We went on to Dos Ceibas and had margaritas – about $5.50 US (70 pesos) each. We lay on a nice beach, swam, and at 4 PM went to Happy Hour, 2-1. There was no one there but us. We left at 5:15 PM – getting dark. We had to walk clear to Ocho Tulum to get a taxi (.4 mile) back to town for a little over $6 US (80 pesos) Road has lots of trucks at night- you had to get clear off the road when they came by – scary! It is very dangerous to walk this road at dusk or evening. There are very few taxis south of Ocho Tulum. We had a wild taxi driver-passing large trucks on blind curves – a way too aggressive driver – we could have had an accident and ruined the trip! We went back to hotel and cleaned up. The shower is large. You have to turn on hot water about 10-15 minutes before using-no big deal. Water came slowly but decent. Then they asked us to turn if off after using it. We took a small walk and ate at the local Subway about 2 blocks away. They have better bread than US Subways. The meal there was about $5.50 US (70 pesos) for a 12 inch (Bob) and about $4.50 US (60 pesos) for a 6” combo deal for Les – love that Pepsi Light! Then we hit the hay!
12/4, Thursday – Janet called for us for price of taxi to Catalonia tomorrow – about $21.50 US (280 pesos). She said she will try to get it cheaper. After another wonderful breakfast, we took a taxi to Ocho Tulum for about $6.00 US (80 pesos) again. This is our favorite beach. We lay in the sun and swam. It was large waves and rough today – as I’ve often read on the forums that it is on the south beaches. There was a black flag at Ocho, which meant dangerous. It you body surfed; it sent you wildly down to the sandy bottom. It twisted Bob’s back once, and that was enough for him! It pulled Les’s swimsuit out of place, and she had to stay underwater to get it positioned again, and then got hit by another huge wave as she came up! Bob’s back is Ok, thank goodness. Our suits were full of sand! Les quit the body surfing, but loved swimming in the large swells way out! She’s glad we had 1 of each ways for the 2 days here – great swimming 1 day and wild waves the other! The surf mat she brought would have been good here, but since this is our last full day, we didn’t blow it up. We had a great lunch here! Bob had a hamburger and delicious French fries – Les helped eat fries – about $7 US (90 pesos). Les had 3 large soft chicken tacos with melted cheese, fajita vegetables, guacamole, jalapenos and salsa– about $7 US (90 pesos) also – well worth this on both meals. This was our best Mexican meal so far! We also had margaritas – about $5 US (65 pesos) each. This was a good meal and drinks for about $26 US (340 pesos) with tip. We recommend this place for view, beach and food – good to visit even if you don’t stay here. The rooms are $280 US from Nov. 15 on in 2009 for oceanfront – way too expensive for just 24 hr. electricity and no air! We lay on the beach after lunch, and Les swam way too far out for as rough as it was – black flag – out about .1 mile or 2 city blocks! She was fine though! We then walked north to Tita Tulum’s beach. It was supposed to be .5 mile walk from Ocho Tulum to Tita Tulum, but Bob thought it was shorter than the walk he had taken south from Ocho to Xi-Xho, which said .4. He must have walked .6-.7 mile each way then. We took pictures of several places we passed that had signs on the beach telling what they were – in order from Ocho Tulum north – Casa Violeta, La Zebra and Tita Tulum. From Tita’s we took a taxi to Mezzanine, on the north beach road a couple places south of El Paraiso. The taxi driver charged us about $3 US (40 pesos) to go from Tita Tulum to Mezzanine – too much! He said all Mexi can government police were corrupt! We had Happy Hour here 2 – 1 drinks. We had 2 fair-sized margaritas (8-10 oz.) for about $5 US (65 pesos). We each had 2. Yum! You can see we really went wild on margaritas while we were in Tulum! One of Les’s margaritas was the green Iguana – it had Midori liquor in it melon liquor – delicious! At Mezzanine Bob took a picture south from the balcony of where the beach is nothing but a rocky beach while the next shot north from the same balcony is of a broad sandy beach looking towards where we stayed on the beach at El Paraiso last year (2 places north). I guess it is still open, but the Don Cafeto restaurant on the beach where we had eaten last year a couple places north of El Paraiso has been closed by the Mexican Government, along with several hotels on the north beach road and Dreams Tulum, where we stayed 4 nights last year. All are in the Ruins archeological zone, and Les had been reading on the forums about them being closed by the government – why??? (Supposedly because they were violating restrictions being in the Ruins zone??? – corrupt government?) We then took a taxi from Mezzanine to Charlie’s in town for about $3 US (40 pesos). Bob gave him about $3.80 US (50 pesos) because he was nice and spoke English. Les had a margarita and Bob a beer, and then Bob had a 2nd beer and Les a 2nd margarita. This makes 4 for her in not too long a time! Her 2nd margarita was extra strong and hit her hard big-time! Possibly Charlie’s made it extra strong on purpose?? The margaritas were about $3.80 US (50 pesos) each, and beer was a little under $2 US (25 pesos). We also ordered guacamole and chips for about $3.80 US (50 pesos). Total was about $18.50 US (240 pesos) with tip. Les shopped in the little handicraft store she’d read about next to Charlie’s – didn’t find anything though. Then we walked to El Tacqueta, a few blocks from our hotel, where you picked what you wanted by pointing to pots in the kitchen (since they didn’t speak English). They had choices of chicken and potatoes, meatballs and potatoes, beef and potatoes. Les got chicken and potatoes – but the chicken was not done enough for Les, even though she was drunk! Bob got half and half – chicken & meatballs. Both got rice and runny bean gravy, which was about all Les ate, along with tortillas. It was a decent, simple meal. Les had a coke. Total cost was a little over $6 US (80 pesos).
12/5, Friday – We had breakfast and shopped on the way to the bank, to get more money changed. Les bought a sarong for $8 US, and a silver .925 shell pendant for about $29 US. Bob got $200 more changed into pesos (2700). It is a better conversion today. Janet got us a taxi to Catalonia for 200 pesos – great price – about $15 US. Great job, Janet! Bob cracked his cheap sunglasses frame, and Jack super-glued them. Jack does it all! Jack and Janet are super hosts and run a great clean hotel! You are in good hands here!
We had a totally fantastic time in Tulum and plan on returning both to Tulum, Posada Luna del Sur, and the fantastic south Tulum beaches!
We arrived at the Cancun airport at 3:45 PM. After getting our luggage, we found Lomas Travel. There was about a 45 minute delay before we got going, which we were not too happy about. Our driver couldn’t speak much English. We thought we negotiated for the rest of the way to the Tulum hotel, Posada Luna del Sur, for $20. But instead he wanted $40, so we got “ripped” $20, but not sure whether it was because of translation problems or “rip off”! We thought it should have been about $25. Janet, one of the owners, greeted us and gave us a map of Tulum and some eating recommendations. We ate at Hotel Maya (about a 3 block walk-recommended by Janet). It was not too good pricewise. Bob got 8 mini quesadillas (2” triangles with a small amount of chicken in them). It left Bob still hungry. Les got 3 chicken tostadas – OK but not great. Bob thought they were a better buy than his quesadillas! Cost was about $15 US (200 pesos) for both meals.- too expensive! Two margaritas were about $4.50 US (60 pesos) each. We chatted with a young Canadian couple who ate next door at an outside café for less than $3 US total! They stayed at “The Weary Traveler” hostel a block away – about $25-30 US – had bed bugs! It pays to get money exchanged for 13.24 pesos for $1.00 (was around 10 pesos for $1.00 last year). We will go to bank tomorrow. WE went back to the room at 11:00 PM.
12/2 Tuesday – We had our continental breakfast (which was included in the $70 US per night hotel cost), fruit, coffee, juice, and sweet pastries (except we slept late this morning, and they were all gone!), and then went to the downtown Tulum bank at 10:30 AM (they are an hour slower than our time) to get money exchanged. We walked – it was about 5 blocks. There was only a small line, but it took 45 minutes to get $400 changed to 5,294 pesos – we are rich! They are very slow! We had taken our beach stuff with us. From here we took a taxi to Ocho Tulum beach club for about $6 US (80 pesos), which Janet had recommended – ¾ of the way down the south beach road (Boca Paila Road). It is a nice beach club. Janet had told us if we ate or drank their, we could use their beach beds for no charge, which was true. The restaurant/bar had a decked pavilion with a beautiful elevated view. We found out that if you had a meal, you got to use the free sun mattress beds (as Janet said). Otherwise, the cost for a bed was $10 US for all day, the same as El Paraiso was last year. It was too early for lunch, so we had Nuevos Mexicana (soft eggs on hard chips) – fairly good because we were hungry. It was about $4.50 US (60 pesos each), so with 2 margaritas at about $5 US (65 pesos each), the total cost was about $26 US (343 pesos) with tip. Beer is about $2.30 US (30 pesos) here. The beach was great – our favorite of the whole trip! It was great swimming with small waves, clear turquoise water, good service, not crowded. The beach is long and broad with sugar fine white sand. Bob took several pictures both ways. They have a windmill for power. Even though we ate, we did not use the beds because it would have been hard to bury our waterproof container with money, and room and safe keys without someone seeing. So we walked about ½ block south and lay on the wonderful sand, with Bob under a palm tree. Here we were able to bury our stash with no-one seeing so we could both go in the ocean at once. Later Bob walked down the south beach past Xi-Xho, (3 places to the south towards Sian Ka’an Biosphere entrance. There are only about 7 more hotels/beach bars/restaurants after this to get to the entrance of it). One of the places he walked past was Dos Ceibas, which has a 2 for 1 Happy Hour from 4-6 PM. Bob took a lot of pictures of different places. He walked down about 2/3 of a mile. We took a taxi back to Don Cafetos restaurant in downtown Tulum for about $6 US (80 pesos). We had 2 mango margaritas with a bowl full of hot spicy vegetables, chips and salsa included. This had carrots, onion kernels and other hot stuff in it – very good – almost like a small free meal! Then we shopped and bought a beach towel for about $7 US (90 pesos) so we’d have 2 towels for lying in the sand. We went to the room and conked out! The room is great – has a wall air conditioner which has a nice fan (Les didn’t need her sound machine) which gets really cold, a ceiling fan, nice bathroom and shower. It also has lots of shelves for clothes, a mini refrigerator, kitchen sink, bathroom sink, and 5 gallon jug of purified water. In the town of Tulum, you can flush the stools, but not toilet paper, so it had to go in the waste basket. We thought that would be gross, but it really was no problem at all! On the way back, Bob had a Subway (which was only 2 blocks from our hotel), but Les was not even hungry because of chips, salsa, and guacamole. She just had a light Pepsi.
12/3, Wednesday – We decided to go to the Tulum Ruins today because it’s been over 20 years since we were there. This morning we had our continental breakfast and got everything – large sweet rolls, pineapple chunks, melon chunks, bananas, coffee, fresh squeezed orange juice – good- all we need! We took a taxi to the Ruins entrance from downtown (the main drag – ½ block from our hotel) for 40 pesos. To enter it was 46 pesos each. The tram ride to the Ruins is about $1.50 US (20 pesos) each. You can walk, but it is 3-4 city blocks and was already hot. It is recommended by everyone you get there early (8 AM or so) to avoid the large tour crowds and hot sun. We didn’t quite make it – it was about 9:30 AM by the time we got there! When we went in the Ruins actual entrance, they took 2 beers out of Bob’s cooler, and said we could have them back when we came back. But we left a different place so we couldn’t get them back! Bob said he hoped he choked on the beers! Bob took lots of pictures. We were there 2 – 2 ½ hours. It was really hot. Les swam at the beach there for about ½ hours after we walked down steep stairs to it. She always regretted not swimming at the beach 20 years ago. That beach is not blocked off and is a turtle refuge, but the one used now is even larger – really nice, with gentle waves. She, of course, as usual, swam out farther than anyone else. It was so refreshing! Bob hid under the rock cliff overhangs for shade! One guy changed right in front of everyone (totally nude)! When we were done looking at ruins, Les wanted to shop there – lots of shops and vendors now. So we took a break and ate at the Don Cafeto Express – out front, where other cafes and the shopping was. Margaritas were only about $3 US (40 pesos) each and beer was about $1.50 US (20 pesos). We ordered black bean and cheese nachos – about $4.50 US (60 pesos) – delicious! There are decent prices here. We bought nothing, though, even though Les shopped for about ½ hour. She loved an abalone necklace and bracelet, but the price was way too much - $150 US for necklace and $61 US for bracelet, and he would only come down to $120 for necklace-way too much! Bob saw a canvas hat he wanted, but she would only come down to $15. Later he wished he’d gotten it, even though too high! We had trouble finding a taxi here – we thought there would be plenty right at this area, but we had to walk clear out to highway (a different way then when we took the tram in) in order to get one. Taxi from here to Dos Ceibas was about $7 US (90 pesos near taxi stand – too high), but it ended up costing about $8.50 US (110 pesos via town and down strip) – even more-should have taken the other! We ended up having him stop at Tita Tulums to look it over. The cabanas were nice, but the beach is not as nice as Ocho Tulum – not quite as broad. We went on to Dos Ceibas and had margaritas – about $5.50 US (70 pesos) each. We lay on a nice beach, swam, and at 4 PM went to Happy Hour, 2-1. There was no one there but us. We left at 5:15 PM – getting dark. We had to walk clear to Ocho Tulum to get a taxi (.4 mile) back to town for a little over $6 US (80 pesos) Road has lots of trucks at night- you had to get clear off the road when they came by – scary! It is very dangerous to walk this road at dusk or evening. There are very few taxis south of Ocho Tulum. We had a wild taxi driver-passing large trucks on blind curves – a way too aggressive driver – we could have had an accident and ruined the trip! We went back to hotel and cleaned up. The shower is large. You have to turn on hot water about 10-15 minutes before using-no big deal. Water came slowly but decent. Then they asked us to turn if off after using it. We took a small walk and ate at the local Subway about 2 blocks away. They have better bread than US Subways. The meal there was about $5.50 US (70 pesos) for a 12 inch (Bob) and about $4.50 US (60 pesos) for a 6” combo deal for Les – love that Pepsi Light! Then we hit the hay!
12/4, Thursday – Janet called for us for price of taxi to Catalonia tomorrow – about $21.50 US (280 pesos). She said she will try to get it cheaper. After another wonderful breakfast, we took a taxi to Ocho Tulum for about $6.00 US (80 pesos) again. This is our favorite beach. We lay in the sun and swam. It was large waves and rough today – as I’ve often read on the forums that it is on the south beaches. There was a black flag at Ocho, which meant dangerous. It you body surfed; it sent you wildly down to the sandy bottom. It twisted Bob’s back once, and that was enough for him! It pulled Les’s swimsuit out of place, and she had to stay underwater to get it positioned again, and then got hit by another huge wave as she came up! Bob’s back is Ok, thank goodness. Our suits were full of sand! Les quit the body surfing, but loved swimming in the large swells way out! She’s glad we had 1 of each ways for the 2 days here – great swimming 1 day and wild waves the other! The surf mat she brought would have been good here, but since this is our last full day, we didn’t blow it up. We had a great lunch here! Bob had a hamburger and delicious French fries – Les helped eat fries – about $7 US (90 pesos). Les had 3 large soft chicken tacos with melted cheese, fajita vegetables, guacamole, jalapenos and salsa– about $7 US (90 pesos) also – well worth this on both meals. This was our best Mexican meal so far! We also had margaritas – about $5 US (65 pesos) each. This was a good meal and drinks for about $26 US (340 pesos) with tip. We recommend this place for view, beach and food – good to visit even if you don’t stay here. The rooms are $280 US from Nov. 15 on in 2009 for oceanfront – way too expensive for just 24 hr. electricity and no air! We lay on the beach after lunch, and Les swam way too far out for as rough as it was – black flag – out about .1 mile or 2 city blocks! She was fine though! We then walked north to Tita Tulum’s beach. It was supposed to be .5 mile walk from Ocho Tulum to Tita Tulum, but Bob thought it was shorter than the walk he had taken south from Ocho to Xi-Xho, which said .4. He must have walked .6-.7 mile each way then. We took pictures of several places we passed that had signs on the beach telling what they were – in order from Ocho Tulum north – Casa Violeta, La Zebra and Tita Tulum. From Tita’s we took a taxi to Mezzanine, on the north beach road a couple places south of El Paraiso. The taxi driver charged us about $3 US (40 pesos) to go from Tita Tulum to Mezzanine – too much! He said all Mexi can government police were corrupt! We had Happy Hour here 2 – 1 drinks. We had 2 fair-sized margaritas (8-10 oz.) for about $5 US (65 pesos). We each had 2. Yum! You can see we really went wild on margaritas while we were in Tulum! One of Les’s margaritas was the green Iguana – it had Midori liquor in it melon liquor – delicious! At Mezzanine Bob took a picture south from the balcony of where the beach is nothing but a rocky beach while the next shot north from the same balcony is of a broad sandy beach looking towards where we stayed on the beach at El Paraiso last year (2 places north). I guess it is still open, but the Don Cafeto restaurant on the beach where we had eaten last year a couple places north of El Paraiso has been closed by the Mexican Government, along with several hotels on the north beach road and Dreams Tulum, where we stayed 4 nights last year. All are in the Ruins archeological zone, and Les had been reading on the forums about them being closed by the government – why??? (Supposedly because they were violating restrictions being in the Ruins zone??? – corrupt government?) We then took a taxi from Mezzanine to Charlie’s in town for about $3 US (40 pesos). Bob gave him about $3.80 US (50 pesos) because he was nice and spoke English. Les had a margarita and Bob a beer, and then Bob had a 2nd beer and Les a 2nd margarita. This makes 4 for her in not too long a time! Her 2nd margarita was extra strong and hit her hard big-time! Possibly Charlie’s made it extra strong on purpose?? The margaritas were about $3.80 US (50 pesos) each, and beer was a little under $2 US (25 pesos). We also ordered guacamole and chips for about $3.80 US (50 pesos). Total was about $18.50 US (240 pesos) with tip. Les shopped in the little handicraft store she’d read about next to Charlie’s – didn’t find anything though. Then we walked to El Tacqueta, a few blocks from our hotel, where you picked what you wanted by pointing to pots in the kitchen (since they didn’t speak English). They had choices of chicken and potatoes, meatballs and potatoes, beef and potatoes. Les got chicken and potatoes – but the chicken was not done enough for Les, even though she was drunk! Bob got half and half – chicken & meatballs. Both got rice and runny bean gravy, which was about all Les ate, along with tortillas. It was a decent, simple meal. Les had a coke. Total cost was a little over $6 US (80 pesos).
12/5, Friday – We had breakfast and shopped on the way to the bank, to get more money changed. Les bought a sarong for $8 US, and a silver .925 shell pendant for about $29 US. Bob got $200 more changed into pesos (2700). It is a better conversion today. Janet got us a taxi to Catalonia for 200 pesos – great price – about $15 US. Great job, Janet! Bob cracked his cheap sunglasses frame, and Jack super-glued them. Jack does it all! Jack and Janet are super hosts and run a great clean hotel! You are in good hands here!
We had a totally fantastic time in Tulum and plan on returning both to Tulum, Posada Luna del Sur, and the fantastic south Tulum beaches!