10-01-2010
|
#1 (permalink) |
|
reposado
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Jackson, MI USA
Posts: 1,264
|
Fishing, fundraisers & pregnant in Paradise
Fishing, fundraisers & pregnant in Paradise Alas...another much anticipated, infamous “Beth and Scott” Playa del Carmen, MX trip report. Reports will also be accessible via blog (as soon as I figure out how to navigate my blog).  Most of you know that I've been writing trip reports for Playa del Carmen, Mexico websites for years. I've been flattered (as I scratch my head in confusion) to know we have followers!! Last June, while strolling 5th Avenue in Playa I heard a voice yell “Beth and Scott!” I turned, expecting to match the voice to a familiar face only to view an unknown couple walking up to us smiling, reporting they were readers of my reports and recognized us from the report photos (how we met Jack and Susan H.). Even more flattering (with more head scratching) is for the past months (since July) I have received several emails,forum in-box and facebook messages from readers patiently tapping their feets awaiting my June 2010 report. I responded blaming the delay on computer problems, housing renovations, family obligations & symptomatic pregnancy issues.As I write this today, I am 9 months along (39 ½ weeks) & due to have a baby girl this Wednesday, but no excuses anymore... HERE It IS... Okay, Enough of patting myself on the back, too much confidence is not good for the soul... You gotta love Playa |
|
|
| register to remove these adverts | |
|
10-01-2010
|
#3 (permalink) |
|
reposado
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Jackson, MI USA
Posts: 1,264
|
JUNE 2010 TRIP REPORT
MULING FOR COCOS CAT RESCUE We flew Delta, non-stop from DTW to CUN. The flight was pricey, around $360pp (high for us cheapos)- especially given low season. I searched high and low for months for a better deal- never found anything cheaper. The flight/trip to CUN was uneventful, EXCEPT for the fact that we gladly MULED supplies (as we've done on past trips) to Cocos Cat Rescue. It is cheaper for some supplies to be bought in the US and apparently cat traps (we brought 2) and veterinary medical supplies are cheaper in the US so off we went w/ our baggage and loads of stuff for Cocos Cat Rescue. I also welcomed other Coco's supporters to mail us donations to mule and was surprised at all the goodies that were mailed to us. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO MULE TO MX FOR CHARITY. Muling this stuff is so easy and we've done it on past trips. Laura, Coco's founder arranges the packages to be mailed to your home and emails a declaration letter in Spanish for customs. This time thru customs, they were a little baffled by all the stuff we brought- so I have a feeling that is why we got the “red light”. They opened the boxes, thumbed thru it, read our letter, put everything back....all with no problems, let us threw. No problemo!   CUN to PLAYA via ADO BUS The ONLY way to go from the Cancun airport to Playa while on a budget is the ADO bus that runs almost hourly. It's a first class bargain-priced (I want to say no more than $110 pesos), plush, air conditioned & spacious ride. The highlight of the ride is watching the American movies they play voiced-over in Spanish! The bus comes equipped with a bathroom- so go ahead and grab that pricy beer/drink at Coconuts, Cancuns outdoor airport bar. I am always soooo mad when Scott overpays for that first beer in Mexico, I feel like he ruins the whole point of a budget trip all in one big beer gulp  . I've written about the benefits of riding ADO in past reports and utilizing it cannot be emphasized enough if you're on a budget. Actually I've taken more uncomfortable (& pricey) cab rides to and from the airport.  MOM's HOTEL Ranked one of the best budget hotels in Playa via the Playa websites, I had to try Mom's Hotel. The price was of course cheap at $35 (USD) a night (our normal price range). Some of our friends we have met in Playa who frequently vacation there (Brenda & Joe and Nancy & Gary) stay at Mom's long term (a month or more) and are pleased with their good long-term deals and out-of-the-way friendly service. We have been to Mom's before visiting Brenda and Joe, but had never booked a room. Mom's has an old-school Mexican charm, a “Playa-esque” court yard, a rooftop for socializing and a reputable restaurant known for it's home-cooked German-American food (popular among the ex-pats). We booked a room with air conditioning, a walk-in shower, television and king sized bed. It was average, nothing to rave uncontrollably about, but all-in-all a good deal.       PROS & CONS OF MOM'S The pro's of my stay at Mom's was the friendly service, walking distance to a good bakery, a cheap babershop and Walmart. A big pro was the cute pool and on-site restaurant. (During this pregnancy, I weirdly don't have cravings, but do have food aversions and Mexican food was on my list of aversions that month (go figure), thus Mom's American-German food was just what I needed. The con's of my stay, was not getting the best air conditioned room (it was 87 degrees with the air on), the not so convenient vicinity from 5th and beach and the shower seemed a bit unclean. (Usually the budget hotels we stay at are 'spic and span', so I was just a little taken back, but nothing I couldn’t live with given the price). I am sure I could have easily asked for another room, yet I didn't realize the room was warm until after my first nights sleep, of which by that time, I was settled in (especially given a short 4 day stay). I awoke looking shocked at my travel alarm clock / thermostat combo that read 87 degrees after running all night ! On a good note, I found it amusing when I asked the staff to call a cab, they jumped to their feet with no hesitation, only to please (thinking they would make a phone call)....and WALKED to the corner flagging down a cab---it was too comical  !        Enjoying a break from the heat in Mom's pool    a pool reflection of Mom's Hotel... 
|
|
|
|
|
10-01-2010
|
#4 (permalink) | |
|
reposado
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Jackson, MI USA
Posts: 1,264
|
Quote:
but yeah, I pulled a JG with my procrastination this time (hey it's only 3 months late)....you kept blaming tax season....blah, blah, blah...I think I had better excuses. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
10-01-2010
|
#7 (permalink) |
|
reposado
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Jackson, MI USA
Posts: 1,264
|
DAMN PREGNANCY FOOD AVERSIONS RUINED MY APPETITE FOR MEXICAN FOOD!!
First stop, money exchange...  A glimpse of a Mexican tourist shop  "Greg's" name was not plastered everywhere this trip...his bad rep. caught up with him. Filiberto seemed to steal the limelight.  Our first day, I was tired, hot, moody with no appetite  . Scott wanted to eat and despite my lack of hunger, I agreed to try out El Cejas that John from intheroo recommended on his restaurant reviews.  El Cejas is located on Calle 26 between 25th and 30th Avenues. To quote Johns review it “ is a large open air restaurant specializing in seafood and shrimp. They have been around for many years, so they must be doing something right. They are a ways off the tourist path, so their main clientèle is locals.” John went on to give it good reviews in the seafood department. I was excited to try it...perhaps a little overexcited which could have ruined my experience. It was mid afternoon, HOT with outdoor seating. The industrial fans did not help..it was too late, I was officially in a sour mood. We ordered fish tacos & empanadas for appetitzers. Scott agreed that the empanadas were not good & especially greasy but he enjoyed his fish tacos. I, on the other hand just picked at my food and was not impressed by the taste. I did talk to John about my experience when I ran into him a couple days later, but don't blame him- I blame my bad attitude that day, the heat, my pregnancy food aversion, the possibility we had a different cook than John and jet-lag. I think I would be willing to give it another try under different circumstances (and pass on their empanadas)  . Greasy empanadas  Later that night, we dined at Carboncitos. This is where I learned my pregnant picky body was just not going to eat Mexican food this trip. We have been here before and RAVED about it! Scott loved his food, was very satisfied and full! I ordered a burrito and picked and looked at it as if it was dead carcus . The smell even got to me. The waiter could not believe I didnt eat one bite! My bad mood officially carried over into the night. I was so upset that I came to Mexico and could not even eat authentic Mexican food! After dinner, we strolled along 5th, window shopped and on the way back to the hotel, I (believe it or not), went across the street from Mom's Hotel to OXO and bought a white Bimbo breaded turkey sandwich in a plastic box. I ate every last bite and deemed it one of the BEST sandwiches I had had . I was also bummed thinking my pregnancy food aversions was resorting me to eating OXO white Bimbo bread sandwiches during a trip to Mexico.I am sorry, yet due to my food aversions, I did not take many photos of food this trip. The photos I did take consisted of non-Mexican dishes. Yes...that is Scott in his infamous vacation shirt!  
|
|
|
|
|
10-01-2010
|
#8 (permalink) | ||
|
reposado
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Jackson, MI USA
Posts: 1,264
|
Quote:
 I'm off to dreaming of Playa days before giving birth. If no progress by Oct. 6 - 5 days away, I am getting induced. I hope to finish it at least before then. If you don't see a post for a couple days, you guys will know I'm in labor...then I'll have to pick it up after she is born. My goal is to work hard getting this done quick!  Quote:
|
||
|
|
|
|
10-01-2010
|
#10 (permalink) |
|
reposado
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Jackson, MI USA
Posts: 1,264
|
DAY 2:
MORNING AT COCO'S CAT RESCUE, AN AFTERNOON AT THE BEACH IN PAAMUL Day 2, Scott volunteered to help paint at the new Coco's Clinic. It was hard to pass up the free food as an incentive, since pizza sounded actually good to me! Vanessa kindly donated pizzas for lunch. The new clinic (as of June) is the brand new building where the dog and cat sterilization surgeries take place. In addition, some of the rescued kittens (many are fostered) are treated/housed/ segregated until adopted. I opted to stay away from the fumes and stayed with the kitties giving some love and attention! I love me some kitties! We brought our traps and all the goodies we muled. Laura (Coco's founder) was so appreciative. We also brought a cat jungle gym (pirate ship) that the kitties loved! I fell in love with Maribella, an orange tabby and shortly after we arrived home, we agreed to sponsor her after Laura said she took a special liking to our pirate ship. Maribella enjoying the pirate ship we donated & muled  Laura checking out all the goodies we brought  Scott, putting together the pirate ship  ...while Carlos lays some paper (& may have got distracted by some images... ) Time to paint!...    My time with the kitties!          A break for pizza... Thanks Vanessa!      Scott's time with the kitties!  This may look like kitty is trying to get away but actually kitty is stretching and relaxing...  It seems whenever we go to Laura's one of the kittens is always craving beer (No worries, she did not drink it)  (some of theses photos were emailed to me via Laura to include in the report- Thanks Laura!) Check out Coco's website for info on adoptions (including cross border adoptions), sponsorships and donations! |
|
|
|
|
10-01-2010
|
#11 (permalink) | |
|
reposado
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Jackson, MI USA
Posts: 1,264
|
Quote:
Aweeee, thanks bigdogmom! I was very critical of my image this trip, for at 6 months pregnant, I was in that (is she fat or pregnant?) weird stage. This report has very few photos of me, some very selected few. I actually lost weight upon return of my Playa trip from the onset of the major food aversions, anemia, ongoing nausea and fatigue. It has been a hard pregnancy (even though I have nothing to compare it to  ). I have been lucky to have NO water retention/swelling.
|
|
|
|
|
|
10-02-2010
|
#12 (permalink) |
|
reposado
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Jackson, MI USA
Posts: 1,264
|
PAAMUL
I've developed a HUGE liking to Paamul, its so close to Playa- approximately 10-15 minutes south. We hitch a colectivo there that costs next to nothing. Scott loves it because he has some secret spots where he fly-fishes from shore and I love it due to the privacy and the awesome public pool (& attached restaurant) that looks out into the water. We have some ex-pat friends that we met a few trips ago (Kathleen & Jamie) that reside in Paamul with their children. We like to stop and chat with them during our visits as they give us the low-down on any changes within Paamul. They are an awesome couple. I admire and commend them to chose to live in a cabana type home raising three children in such a close-to-nature (jungle along the beach) atmosphere- what a cool up-bringing these children have! This trip was no exception for visiting with them. We actually (small world) ran into Jamie while he was dropping off one of their children to volunteer that morning at Coco's. Paamul's beautiful public pool    with attached restaurant   Paamul is known to be a glorified RV park with porches and decks built around the RV's, almost disquishing some of these RV's into thinking they are homes. It is a strange concept, you have to see it for yourself, but also a welcoming atmosphere with friendly people and a picutresque, quiet beach. There is a path that seperates the beach from the jungle, thus making it a fun hike to view the real Paamul! I am always careful of crocks...I hear there has been spottings! There are some secret cenotes along the way too. An ideal cabana RV home in Paamul  See where the RV would pull in?  The preferred mode of transportation in Paamul  The path that divides the beach from the jungle  we always spot hermit crabs on the path  Paamul's beach    Scott fly-fishing   ...and having luck (as always in Paamul)   ...more luck   after some fishing and sun, we head back to the pool to cool off and grab a bite to eat. (American club sandwhich for me of course!)      ...and I beg Scott to get his haircut upon our return to Playa!  Side-note: If you visit Paamul's beach, it has rocky areas. We have snorkeled here & recommend it for more advanced snorkeling. Scott is more brave than me snorkeling here- due to rocks, it kind of freaks me out. Regardless, even walking the beach, be sure to wear footwear. Paamul does have accomodations, one hotel and a few cabanans for rent. I've seen on sites, they do offer tent and RV camping, but I have never seen the camp-site. |
|
|
|
|
10-02-2010
|
#13 (permalink) |
|
reposado
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Jackson, MI USA
Posts: 1,264
|
Forgot to add
 ......Catching a colectivo on 2nd street in Playa before heading to Paamul  Just look for this sign and take a taxi (or walk like us) to the path leading to Paamul off the hwy.  CRAPPY photos  , I know- everything looks washed out!!! It was sunny and beautiful there and the photos make it appear cloudy, plus they are blurred. Next trip will have better photos since we have the new camera!...Attempting to catch a colectivo back to Playa after a day in Paamul 
|
|
|
|
 |
| Thread Tools | |
|
|
Hold on...a vacation is not too far away.
