Beginnings of TR? I don't miss Playa or Mexico

[MaripositaII]

Not one bit. We got back in on Wednesday and I really don't see what all the fuss is about once you're back. How could I? Let's consider my reasoning....

I started coming down with a cold/flu (something like that) a couple days before we left and ignored the symptoms. How could I give up swimming in the gorgeous sea, eating my huraches and mixotes, tacos and tamales to nurse a stupid cold? Flying was miserable. Stuffy nose, congestion, ear problems and fever made me want to be back HOME in my amazing king sized bed with a comfy mattress!!

So...that's why I haven't missed being there. Now on antibiotics because it's turned into bronchities/sinusitis and I'm too busy feeling sick. If you find yourself too sad to leave Playa/Mexico, just get sick at the end!!


My version of some type of trip report will follow when I feel up to it. Thanks for all the tips on car rentals, travel insurance, places to stay, eat etc. We had more insurance than anyone else I travelled with but after 2005 (when my father had a heart attack/died while we were in PDC), we were not taking chances this year. Didn't need it, but felt so much more secure and confident about being away.

[MaripositaII]

One of the reasons I love the tropics: Note the smaller bananas. These are amazing and I always hunt them down when I'm in Mexico or any tropical country. I think they're called "Dominico." Guayaba and Carambola (star fruit) next to my half-eaten Papaya.




My favourite Yogurt. This flavour cannot be beaten. If you haven't tried it yet, I urge you to make the effort. Silky smooth, and better than most ice creams I had.





This is one of my favourite fruits as well (Guanábana). It might not be the most attractive, but is very yummy. You simply break open when it's ripened (soft to the touch), and pull the fleshy pieces out. There is a seed in the pulp, so try not to swallow them Same fruit in the yogurt above.

[Sukidog]

I knew you hated Playa!!!!

[MaripositaII]

Tamarindo. You all probably know about the drinks and candy made from this fruit, but have you ever tried it straight out of the shell? It's a bit tart (or can be), but we love it!




In this pic you will see the package on the left (Tronkito) which is a type of candy that is made from the Tamarindo. We bought several packages to bring back. My kids love this stuff and so do I! The candy on the right is Dulce de Cacahuate (Marzipan from peanuts).






The ever present mango!! We made quite a number of Margaritas with these babies, but also enjoyed them as is.

[MaripositaII]

What an amazing fruit! Some of the kids were eyeballing this fruit but wouldn't taste it until they had no choice. A Walmartian saw them touching, smelling and wondering for awhile so he sliced one opened. After one taste, I was being nagged to buy a bag full








The Guaya (thanks Denisea). Another must have once in a tropical zone. We bought our last bunch from this person at the very far left of the pic:

[Jimontheriver]

Thanks for the great fruit pictures and info. Looking forward to more. Hope you get to feeling better soon.

[maestranba]

All I can say is MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!

[redhairgirl1]

Love it!! Bring on more please! Glad your feeling better!

[Ginger]

We buy those little bananas up here all the time. Kelsey loves them!

[boxi]

I love fruit in Mexico, especially mangos! I always buy some as soon as I get home, to try to relive the feeling, but they just don't taste the same, not even similar! I guess it's to be expected since they are picked some months ago and shipped across the world before they make it to our shops!

[StewartG]

Awesome start to your "maybe sorta when I feel like it" trip report.

FWIW, one of my favorite things to do when in Playa is to go out for a nice meal with my family then walk over to the city park. I buy everyone fruit from one of the vendors and we all hang out, eat fruit, and Kelli and I watch the kids play in the playground.

[MartyC]

Great report, nice fruit!

[janied]

more, por favor

[MaripositaII]

The Payaso. He was my kids “first” Mexican chocolate from way back and to this day, they have to buy them as soon as we hit las tiendas there. This is a chocolate covered marshmallow face with gummy eyes and mouth.





An entire Mexican dinner for only 14 pesos!! Can’t beat that. The kids thought it was hilarious to bring these back as regalitos for their amigos.




I am not sure why my family always loved these Maria "cookies" but it's another favourite that we must buy on every visit to Mexico. Goes well with a hot "cuppa" or even some vanilla ice cream. They not overly sweet like some cookies in the States.





These are my favourites though. The Habaneras are amazing with Manchego or Chihuahua cheese. Goes well with sweet or savoury if you wish. I feel like I'm advertising for Chedrui

[MaripositaII]

This is our opinion on the places we chose to eat, and the experiences we had.
We ate at many of these places more than two or three times per week. I think after trying various items and revisiting an establishment, I got a pretty good idea of the quality of their food, how consistent, clean and friendly they were. We voted as a family on where we ate, and made our own awards.
Mexican cuisine at its finest.... many of these are family run.

And the winners are:

#1 : El Jurado & HC Monterrey. This is a tie, because they were on the top of our list, and we honestly could not give 2nd place to either. #2: El Poblano & El pastorcito (another tie).

Folks at El Poblano were very friendly, and you ALWAYS got pineapple on your pastor taco. This was not the case at Pastorcito but their tacos were very tasty as well. El Poblano is next door to El Duro 2007.

# 3: Los Tiburones & El Cejas. Pulpo cocktail is a must at Tiburones; good quality at both places and tasty seafood. Two visits at each and we still loved the food.

Our runners up:
Mamichi:

Sopes, tortas and tacos were good. Very friendly folks, good quality food and were thrilled to have us eating there.
Las Brasitas:
Their Quesadillas were very good; Tacos al Pastor were tasty, Tortas con Chorizo and con Rajas were good also. We only ate here once unfortunately. They were way better than El Fogon in quality.

Tamales:
Our best tamales came from random people: we even traveled to “the other side” of 307 and found vendors with amazing tamal. The small tienda on 5th also had some tasty ones as well as a lady outside of Chedrui.
Do not be afraid to buy from carts, vendors on the side of the road, or those small, hole-in-the-wall establishments. You will miss out on some amazing food.

Finally, we visited La Casita de Los Guisos several times and never did get to eat there. One time they were closed, the other time they ran out of gas (se acabo el gas), and the final day they were sold out by the time I got there which was around 12:30 p.m. Definitely try going earlier. I’d be curious to read other’s opinions of this place, as we plan “next time” we’re in Playa to visit very early in the day.

El Duro 2007 was not meant to be either. They were closed everytime we went by, so I am now assuming they tend to be open earlier in the day (lunch/afternoon). Will have to put them on my list ‘to try’ next time.

We lived on Mexican food except for having Italian once, and rotisserie chicken one time. We also bought Pollo Asado from random places and it was always good. Sorry that I don’t have addresses or specific information, but my focus was on the ‘moment,’ and maybe next time I’ll be more conscious about writing down info and taking more pics.