03-28-2010
|
#1 (permalink) |
|
life=playa
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 776
|
A newbie's first (but NOT last) trip to Playa, 2/27 - 3/13
Okay, I said I'd at least try a TR, so here goes
 Sat, Feb 27, 2010 I'll abbreviate most of the first day as it's like most other people's. Up @ 3am, on the plane @ 6:30am, land in Cancun @ 11:30am, through customs and baggage with no problem, thank goodness, and off to find the bus. Of course missed the bus by about 5 min. No desire to wait almost an hour for the next bus and end up getting a shared van for $25 us (everyone else on the van paid $50 us). Advantage of the van is they dropped me off right at the hotel (Condohotel El Patio on 5th and 26th). Check in was quick and easy. Got in the room and thought it was great. Definitely not a 5 star hotel, but I had no intention of spending alot of time at the hotel. Loved the mexican sink and towel art in the room. Okay shall "TRY" to insert my first pic now.... It worked, YEAH!!!!! Had no problems or issues with the hotel the entire stay... Well, except maybe for the room switch about 15 mins after I arrived, but that wasn't really a problem, just funny, eh d33rhunt3r?  Settled into the hotel and then headed to the beach and Bad Boys for a drink. Ended up having a bite to eat @ Bad Boys and then wandered back to the hotel early. Just couldn't stay awake any longer. 
Last edited by wolfpf; 08-18-2010 at 03:32 PM.. |
|
|
| register to remove these adverts | |
|
03-28-2010
|
#2 (permalink) |
|
life=playa
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 776
|
Sun, Feb 28
Woke up @ 6am, "what the!!!", guess that's what I get for being asleep @9:00. Not much actually planned for today. Grab a quick breakfast in the room with the groceries grab @Mega the night before. Didn't eat breakfast out very often during the trip. Some days was gone too early, and the other days, well, just not that much of a morning person Finally left the room around 9am and took a wander down 5th to the ferry dock. Couldn't believe how empty the streets and beach were, expected it to be busier. Looking North from the ferry dock  Pic of the hotel  Wandered back up 5th toward the hotel and stopped @ La Divina Comida for lunch, not too bad and convient since it's across from the hotel  Went back to the hotel and spent part of the afternoon unpacking and part of it on the balcony enjoying the warm weather ( & beer). View from the bacony  Wandered down to the Luna Blue for the PPS Auction & Sale. Stayed for a few drinks, enjoyed the swings and got to met quite a few great peeps.    Had to make it an early night to be ready for my Ek Balam tour in morning! Last edited by wolfpf; 08-18-2010 at 03:40 PM.. |
|
|
|
|
03-28-2010
|
#3 (permalink) |
|
life=playa
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 776
|
Mon, Mar 1, 2010
Ek Balam tour day!!! First off let me say that, yes, I booked one of the big bus tours!!  It was actually and awesome tour with a great guide.So had the joy of getting up @5:30am on vaction. Met the bus at the Gan Porto lobby and got to spend some time picking up other tour goers. Let me say that the bus was awesome. Much better then expected, and it even had seat belts (which most of our buses in Canada don't). Our first stop was in Valladolid. (Still can't pronounce it). Had a tour of the church, town square and the town hall.    Next stop is the Samaal Cenote. Having seen pics of this I expected it to be nice, but it was breathtaking. No pics can do them justice.   We stop at a hacienda for lunch before heading to the ruins.   Now off to the ruins. I really enjoyed how these ruins were pesented. I know it's only because they aren't as popular as CI, but it was really nice to basically have the site to ourselves without all the venders. Loved the ruins and got to climb both the oval palace and the acopolis. For someone who has problems with heights and had no intention to climbing any ruins, the views and climbs were awesome!!! View of the Acropolis from the top of the Oval Palace  The Twin Towers  The Oval Palace  View from on the Acropolis  Some of the Acropolis carvings    Finally ended up back at the hotel around 7:30. Was a long day, but worth it. Grab a quick bite to eat in the room and headed to Luna Blue for drinks with Philip and Shannon. Got to met a few more peeps, then headed off for some much need sleep.
__________________
Pam "I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts." - John Steinbeck September 6, 2013 - 29 days in CHINA!!!  March 4-18, 2014  February 20 - March 6, 2013 February 25 - March 10, 2012 February 6 - 20, 2011 - Condo @Casa del Sol March 2010 - Condohotel El Patio Last edited by wolfpf; 08-18-2010 at 03:52 PM.. |
|
|
|
|
03-28-2010
|
#4 (permalink) |
|
life=playa
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 776
|
Tues, Mar 2, 2010
Off to XPlore today. Philip and Shannon were nice enough to offer me a ride so we got there nice and early. As mentioned before, have a bit of a problem with heights, so wasn't to sure about the zip lines. TOTALLY AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Food was included in the day, and could not believe it was so good, lots of choices and lots of flavors. Misc   Zip Lines     ATV Ride      Raft Ride   River Swim     Got back to hotel and decided to go to Aco Los Tacos for supper and people watching. Walked down to 12 Ave to check out the Carminarte and then headed off to Luna Blue for a drink. Met even more Peeps , listened to some good music and drank waaaayyyyy to much tequila.   Thank goodness there's nothing on the scedule for tomorrow
Last edited by wolfpf; 08-18-2010 at 04:01 PM.. |
|
|
|
|
03-28-2010
|
#9 (permalink) |
|
life=playa
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 776
|
Wed, Mar 3
Lazy day today. Actually managed to sleep til 8am this morning, probably thanks to all the tequila the night before Lazed around the hotel most of the morning then headed to the beach. Caught some glorious sun and had my first excursion into the ocean.Went back to the hotel and got ready for Ribs & Suds @ Mannes. Had a great time @ supper. Huge thanks to Don & Deb, and Manne and Susie. Especially for the awesome tequilla  Still feeling the effects of the night before so wandered back towards the hotel and stopped @ Luna Blue for a nightcap (seeing a pattern develop here  )Thurs, Mar 4 Bummed another ride with Philip & Shannon to Xel Ha today. Walked around a bit and figured out where everything was before heading to one of the restaurants for breakfast. Went up to the top of the lazy river to take a tube ride down the river through the mango grove. Spent some time snorkeling before lunch and then back to snorkeling some more. Again was surprised at the quality of the food (and the alcoholic drinks )Misc        River Float   Snorkeling     After getting back to the hotel and showering, headed off to Bad Boys to listen to some good music and talk with some great peeps. Bad Boys  Drinks  Flag hanging in @Bad Boys  Headed back towards the hotel and, you guessed it, stopped @ Luna Blue for a drink. Gotta love those swings Headed back to hotel @11:30 to get a good night's sleep before my tour to Chichen Itza in the morning.
Last edited by wolfpf; 08-18-2010 at 04:12 PM.. |
|
|
|
|
03-28-2010
|
#10 (permalink) |
|
life=playa
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 776
|
Okay, one more day then I'll have to quit until tomorrow.
Fri, Mar 5 Chichen Itza day!!! Day got off to a great start  Was down and waiting for the bus @ 7:00, and no bus, 7:10 still no bus. Look at ticket and realize I could have sleep for another 1/2 hr as the bus doesn't pick me up until 7:30. Oh well, off to Starbucks for coffee. Ends up being a van not a bus, while the van was better, all in all the tour itself sucked. That'll teach me for booking the cheapest tour I could find  Oh well, life lesson.  That said, I would have paid the tour price just to go to Chichen Itza. It was amazing and our tour guide at the ruins was great. The only down side was all the venders. Although I did leave quite a bit of money there, just wish they would have been all in a certain area, rather then every where in the site.     Headed off for a mediocre buffet lunch before heading to the cenote. Was a nice Cenote but didn't think it as nice as the one on Monday.   Headed into Vallodolid for our last stop. No guided tour of the town this time, just dropped off and told to meet back @ the van @ 5:00. Van started back to Playa and got back to the hotel @ 7:30. Took a quick shower and headed out for some supper (don't remember where ) Went to Luna Blue for some music and drinks. Got to see Philip's new Tatoo. I have every intention of getting a tat to remember my first trip to Playa, but I just can not go to someone I don't know. I'll get one up here. Finally, after seeing him 3 times, remembered to get a pic of Lenny! After an early start headed back to hotel after closing down Luna Blue. PPS Dog Wash tomorrow!!! Last edited by wolfpf; 08-18-2010 at 09:23 PM.. |
|
|
|
|
03-29-2010
|
#11 (permalink) |
|
beachaholic
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
Posts: 345
|
Hi Pam! Really glad to see your trip report. It's terrific and we are especially enjoying your photos
! We also found the bar at LB to be a magnet.... a great place to finish up the evening. We're looking forward to your next installment for sure!
|
|
|
|
 |
| Thread Tools | |
|
|
