Well, not exactly
Trip Start
Unknown
1
13
18
Trip End
Ongoing
Where I stayed
Isla Mujeres, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Friday, February 18, 2011
A couple of days ago we met a lovely couple from England. Well, not exactly...The father is Scottish, the mother is Italian and the daughter is British. ( three accents in one household...so adorable!) Anyway, Julia got along with the daughter so well we decided for the next couple of days to become travel partners. The first place we travelled to was the major eco park in Isla Mujeres called Garaffon. Well, not exactly... Garraffon charges a lot to get into and we read from Lonely Planet that their was another way to get in-through the hotel next door. We saved a lot and even saw more. This park has a large reef wrapped around it that you snorkel in. We saw the most wonderful parrot fish and at one point when I was swimming back to the hotel I was circled by electric blue fish and angel fish. It was breathtaking to say the least. As our journey continued we decided to eat out on the beach nearby at a place called Playa Lonchiria . When we walk into their restaurant on the beach there was a mexican band playing Sublime like songs and a playground that the kids darted to. After lunch we drove up to the turtle farm. A must see for kids as well as adults. Admission is 2 dollars and it all goes to perserving turtles. You see rare white turtles, sea turtles, seahorses..etc.. It couldn't be a more perfect ending.
The next day we decided with the couple that we would travel together to Isla Contoy. Now I have to say If you do one thing in Isla Mujeres you should do this. Now having said that....Listen closely, take sea sick medicine even if you don't have a weak stomach, be prepared for an extremely bumpy ride and I recommend staying positive until you get to the sight. So here we were with three kids ...several adults (maybe like 8) all had a look of shock and some sort of sickness to their face as we travelled out to this island. During the boat ride (after about a half hour travel) they ask if you want to snorkel. HAHAHA true. You are in the middle of nowhere, there are waves, you can't see the bottom or the reef. As they say in NY. Fuddgettaaboutit! Only Shane, the man we travelled with and a french woman went in. I thought they lost their minds. Why not wear a sign that says eat me! Well we continued with the boat ride to Isla Contoy while people whimpered and whispered in fear but then it happened...we saw a couple of flamingos fly above us and thousands of birds chirping on this beautiful, unsettled land. I've never seen anything like it. A piece of island where no one lives just these wild creatures. This island is roped off to the public...so you can hang out on the beach and snorkel a bit. We saw a ray entertain a group of people and scare Tommy Tantrum right out the water. No other way to describe but breathtaking. we had a gourmet fish lunch under a palapa as giant hermit crabs tickled our feet. As you receive the last call to go on the boat home...you are little hesitant...but you say goodbye and go on your way. magic.
Today we are back in Akumal and I'm suffering still a little bit from the boat trip. (everyone else is fine except me) Im staying out of the sun today. Happy travels everyone!
