Halloween '09 in Playa: The good, the bad and the ugly

[Linds_ATL]

Hello Playa.info crowd!

My trip report is going to come with a disclaimer. Obviously it has been a while since the trip and that is because I was on the fence about saying anything about it. I LOVED PDC. The food is insane, the bars are awesome, the water has to be the most beautiful water in the world and don't even get me started on meeting great fun people.

So why the hesitation you ask? Well something not so great happened on our trip. My engagement ring went missing from the hotel room on our last day. I got complacent, I felt safe and I was stupid and left it out of the safe while we ate breakfast. I can't say it was stolen because I could not prove that is what happened, but it was there in the morning and gone when we came back. The hotel we stayed at is not only a Playa favorite, a trip advisor favorite and most importantly a Playa.info favorite and run by very kind people who do great things for the community and I in no way fault them for what happened. They offered to pull the sink apart to look for it! I left it out and it was gone. That is what happened. For that reason I am leaving the name of the place we stayed out of the trip report. You might recognize it because it is so awesomely famous, and I am sure many of you have stayed there, are planning on staying there or have been there because it is such a neat place with a great story. So please let me say: when you go somewhere that isn't your home don't leave valuables out. This could have happened at a gym, at hotel in any country, at work, in a mall, really anywhere and I fault myself and not the hotel. I won't stay there again, because well, it feels like I am courting trouble if I do, but I wouldn't let my little piece of bad luck sway you from doing so. It could have happened ANYWHERE.

[Linds_ATL]

So we flew out of Atlanta for a 3 night stay in PDC. When we arrived in Mexico we felt like total pros thanks to all my playa.info research. I had no idea PDC was so excited about us coming because we were offered no fewer than 30 rides on our way to the ADO stop.

Newbies be warned...the cabbies want your business and they will follow you like puppies trying to convince you not to take the ADO bus. I had read that you leave the terminal and the stop is on your right. It is WAAAAAAY down on the right, like you think you are leaving the airport on foot on the right. Just keep walking...no not there yet....no Mr. Taxi man, I appriciate your offer, but I want to take the ADO, it's $8. No, I know there isn't a $5 tax for taking ADO from the airport...No sir I am ok with waiting for the ADO...

There you are ADO!!

[Linds_ATL]

The ADO was quite enjoyable. It had air conditioning, we met friends who we ended up stalking by mistake for the rest of the weekend, and it showed a movie. They were playing the horror movie "The Orphan" and I am not really into that genre, but in Spanish it didn't have the same effect so no nightmares.

Holy cow...Mexico is so bright! It's about 2pm and the sun is in full swing. Thank goodness for the shades! We arrive in PDC at the ADO station and embark on our walk to Calle 26 where the hotel is. That is a long walk in the sun and I am pretty fed up by the time we get there. Next time we will cab it!

We check in, throw on our suits and head straight to Mamitas for a late lunch and a look at the water.



We order burgers and margaritas, which were good but not great, but let me tell you how beautiful the beach club is. We have never been to one and it was awesome.

[Linds_ATL]

(WARNING: We spent a ridiculous amount of time at Mamitas. We only had 3 nights so we were either eating...or at Mamitas...so you are going to hear "spent some time at mamitas" at least 4 more times.)

After some time at Mamitas we head back to the hotel to get ready for dinner and to do some exploring. We stop by the Luna Blue bar and meet Jeorge and some peeps who are very kind and tell us to visit "The monkey place on 38th for breakfast." I find it hysterical that no one remembers what the place is called but everyone loves it. It was already on my list of course, because I am a playa.info nut but I smile and agree to go in the morning. I also notice that for the most part if you saddle up next to someone at a bar in PDC, they are already drunk and you must immediately start to catch up so you don't feel like a jerk, or you are already drunk and the random person you meet needs to catch up. Mas Tequila Jorge, these people need drunk friends and I need to oblige!

LB is one of my favorite bars in PDC and you must give it a shot. It is a wonderful place.

[Linds_ATL]

After drinks we are going to hit what I understand to be The Best Taco place in town....El Fogon here we come!!! I must tell you, I had done A LOT of research so I was so stoked about this place I almost ran the whole way there.




Greg ordered the chorizo tacos while I ordered the pork tacos. I would like to take this moment to plug my genius husband. I had order envy the entire time we were on this trip and I often ate half his food. The pork tacos were very, very, good, the chorizo tacos were the greatest taco I have ever had.




We not so intelligently sat right next to the grill so I almost passed out due to heat, and I downed 4 beers in about 20 minutes (also may have contributed to the passing out) but it was worth it. Easily one of our favorite and cheapest meals in PDC.

[sunstarved]

I am enjoying this trip report very much. I find your expression amusing.
I would like to request more pictures if you happen to be taking requests.. if not.. let the band play on!
Is your countdown for Playa again in 63 days? Did you forget something else that you need to go back for?

[Linds_ATL]

Hey Sun starved! That is another count down you see...and I think we are going to be in town at the same time this Spring. I convinced my husband we should go back even with our bad luck the previous time. I would love to post more pics, but I hit my limit! Does anyone know how to fix it?

Thanks,
Linds

[angelhouston819]

Originally Posted by Linds_ATL

Hey Sun starved! That is another count down you see...and I think we are going to be in town at the same time this Spring. I convinced my husband we should go back even with our bad luck the previous time. I would love to post more pics, but I hit my limit! Does anyone know how to fix it?

Thanks,
Linds

i created an account with photobucket. then you just copy the img link and paste the pic right in your post.


A'

[Linds_ATL]

Well it was a travel day so we ended day 1 after El Fogon and a little more exploring. PDC during the day looks like a quaint little worn beach town...PDC during the night is absolutely breath taking. The lights in the trees, all the signs, the candles in the restaurants. Just gorgeous.

--------

Day 2 - A day at Mamitas

Breakfast La Cueva Del Chango (a.k.a. The monkey place with the snake on 38th)



So - let's talk about amazing food. I have this thing for south of the boarder yogurt. The stuff they sell in the grocery stores here is gross compared to the fresh yogurt they make in latin countries, so I ordered the yogurt to start and then the Heuvos Ranchero (totally butchered the name) and Greg got the chicken crepes. Well first of all....waaaaaay too much food, second of all we spent a little more than we should have, but we did order 2 breakfasts each so that is our fault and finally the chicken crepes were the best. I ate as much of Greg's as he allowed. We will be back tomorrow and then the crepes will be all mine!!!







Post Breakfast...

I had never really heard of a beach club before mexico. When y'all mentioned them, it made me think of "Saved by the Bell" when they all worked at the country club every summer together inexplicably and never had to do any work, but that was the only frame of reference I had (also showing my age a bit I think). I had seen the pictures online and I understood it to be a place where you got a chair and palapa (a.k.a. awesomely authentic beach umbrella). I had no idea how nice it would be though. The pool was gorgeous (not that we went in it, because...did I mention the perfect water?) the outdoor showers were super cool, the bathrooms were well maintained and not at all scary and they bring you drinks! Heck yeah! So Greg and I read, played in the water (which was a little rough today and it made me (giant chicken) a little nervous) and drank all afternoon long. We have fun pointing out the Europeans in their tiny swim suits (that will never catch on in the states. If Michael Phelps can't make it happen, no one can).

[Linds_ATL]

Thanks Angel! Photos officially added!

[Linds_ATL]

So we clean up at the hotel and catch a cab to the South side of Playa (no one can say I am slow learner...just yesterday I learned that 2pm is not the time to walk down 5th if you want to be dry at the end). We head to the Playa Maya to have the famous coconut shrimp, we also have some amazing guacamole and Greg orders shrimp tacos.



The guac was amazing, the coconut shrimp were good, but yet again, Greg's shrimp tacos were to die for. The order envy monster rears his ugly head again! Good thing my husband is so sweet and shares!

[Linds_ATL]

So we walked down the beach back to mamitas and back to the hotel. I have to say at this point I lost part of the day. I am sure we shopped, or drank at the Luna Blue, or napped, or all of the above, but it completely disappeared! Here's to Mexico!! I mean the drinkumentary didn't even have a gap this big!!

So after we loose a few hours we clean up again to head to Alux (a.k.a. Cave Bar). I read a lot about Cave Bar on trip advisor and from what I understand the food isn't very good, but the bar was beautiful. So this is where you all learn that we not high rollers by any stretch of the imagination. I had read that if you get the bottle of "champagne" they will invite you to VIP. Well unforutunately, if we had been thinking we would have noticed that there were about 12 people in the whole club and, well, every table is basically VIP when there are only 12 of you. No matter, the champagne was cool, which was good, because shockingly enough there is very little central air in cenote caves, and it was like 95 degrees with 100% humditity. They took us on a tour of the caves which went on forever. It was beautiful. It was a mix of nature, sultry and lights. The pictures do not do it justice:

[CosmoJo]

Looks great!! I like your attitude. Looks like we will be there at the same time. Have you signed up for Trish&Chad and Ducks peep meet on June 2 @ PG's? If not, check the thread out and sign up - it promises to be a good time!

[MChance]

Enjoying your report. Sorry about the ring. Glad to see it's not keeping you from returning.

We're heading back to Playa in a little less than 3 weeks.

Don't you love Atlanta weather?......75 degrees on Saturday, and snowflakes today....back to the 70's on Wednesday.

Can't wait to see that beautiful Caribbean Sea again. The color is just fantastic.

Mike

[thejillybean]

Enjoying your report!!! Fun times in Playa...