On the island of women
Trip Start
Jan 16, 2005
1
2
24
Trip End
Ongoing
Isla Mujeres, Mexico
Saturday, January 22, 2005
Five days into the trip and I think Iīve got the hang of this travelling business. I donīt know who said it was hard work but hanging out on the beach, playing volleyball, snorkeling and snoozing by day and sipping cocktails by night isnīt so tough.
I guess Iīm easing into it gently, before I plunge into the long bus journeys, hot and sweaty volcano trails and cockroach-infested hovels.
After arriving in Cancun on Sunday night I stayed one night before fleeing the spring break set to take a bus and ferry to Isla Mujeres (island of women), just a short boat ride away but worlds apart from Cancun.
I only meant to stay a couple of days but every day you think, well, maybe one more day. Tomorrow I really am moving on. Definitely. Unless I have too many 2-for-1 cocktails at the beach party at the hostel tonight.
My trepidation about how long it would take to meet any other fellow gringos soon faded after I rolled up to the Pocna hostel on the island. I think itīs all downhill from here in terms of lodgings.
The place is great. Itīs right next to the beach and has plenty of hammocks to doze in when the going gets a bit too tough. Itīs cheap, clean with comfy beds and hot showers and is a great place to meet people.
Itīs been a bit strange getting out of the London mentality of ignoring everyone you donīt know, and actually striking up a conversation with strangers, but already Iīve met lots of interesting people from all over, including some Norwegian girls who took pity on me and let me hang out with them for a few days. Actually, I think half of Norwayīs here. I donīt know whoīs running the country.
The islandīs fantastic, very laid back and no big fancy hotels and high-rise buildings. The people are friendly, you can walk everywhere, the sunīs shining and the beerīs cold. Have had a few late nights staying out til dawn sipping cocktails and enjoying the laid-back nightlife. No wet T-shirt competitions and foam parties here.
Today I hired a bike with some of my new friends and cycled down the island to go snorkeling and soaking up a few rays.
Easy though it would be to stay for longer, the long winding road to Rio beckons and I think if Iīm ever going to make it that far in time to get my flight home (do I really want to?) then tomorrow I might start heading south, though probably only as far as Cozumel a couple of hours down the coast to squeeze in some diving.
Hope allīs well in Blighty or wherever you are. If you have a couple of weeks spare then you could do a lot worse than come here.
Hasta luego Dan
