Bienvenudo a Mexico

My last day in Los Angeles awas a wonderful one,save for having to bid Tim farewell at about mid day. We did, however, make it to the beach first for some sandwiches on the pier at Hermosa beach. The water a beautiful crisp blue and the waves an absolutely intoxicating roar beneath us.

Once Rob and I had sent Tim on his way, we headed out around Hermosa to make sure I had everything I needed for the rest of my trip, most importantly a new camera. I invested in a digital that I'm quite happy with it. It took a few stops here and there than planned, but we managed to get it all...oh wait didn't get a memory card for that camera so had to pay a fortune for one in Playa del Carmen...whatever!

With the business out of the way we set out in search of a sunset at Venice Beach. We succeeded. The sunset was beautiful and though Venice by dusk is not as hopping as by day I still got a sense of the daytime experience. There was many a hippie selling jewellery and sage smudges along the boardwalk and as we had a drink on the patio I even got to see one of the speedo clad muscle men I've heard so much about in Venice Beach. Not that a muscle man in a speedo is something I particularly enjoy seeing but you know what they say...when in Rome...or Venice Beach!


rob walking through santa monica at night

After the Beach, Rob took me to a great little spot in Santa Monica. One of these promenade type streets where no cars are allowed but only pedestrians wander. I love these kinds of streets, no matter where in the world, and Rob totally guessed right in taking me there. We found a patio at a cute little Italian restaurant for a fabulous glass of Pinot Noir and some stuffed mushrooms before having to rush off in time to meet Bengane back in Hermosa for a couple more.

Once we met Bengane it seemed every place we went into for a drink was just closing but the third one was a charm and we were able to settle in for a few more and some great conversation with each other and our waitress Angela, who was in fact NOT an aspiring actor...in LA...imagine that!

With a bit of a buzz on I headed back to Jamie's toget myself all packed up for the early flight in the morning. I had to be at the airport for 8am and wasn't done packing until about 2am. Still wide awake, I headed to bed in an attempt to get some sleep before venturing off on what was easily the most exciting and nerve racking part of my journey. If you know me at all it won't surprise you that I got next to no sleep that night. I fell asleep okay but went on to wake up every 45 minutes or so worrying about something that I should do before I left or that I had somehow forgotten something! My alarm was set to beep at 7am but by about 630am I decided to get up and get ready for the trip to the airport. Rob was up about 45 minutes later and off we went. I bit my nails and stressed the whole way there, thankful that I was with my good friend, the only thing keeping me calm! Thanks again Rob!

My plane took off as planned at 930am and away I went on my adventure. It made me feel better to know that my Aussie friend, Michael, would be in Playa Del Carmen, where I planned to spend my first few days, and I would meet up with him. As the plane descended into Cancun I could see some evidence of hurricane damage. Though it was not at all ravaged farther inland, some damage was clear. Trees were leaning farther than seemed normal and a little bare but nothing too sad. Upon landing, I easily found my bus to Playa and I was on my way.

I got into Playa just as the sun was setting and so decided to take a cab to the hostel as I was unsure of exactly how safe the town was at night. During the cab ride I got the feeling there wasn't much to worry about and as I came to discover I was right. I booked my bed at Hostel Playa and spent some time in my room with my journal. I was feeling rather homesick for that first night having just left a situation in LA that was a lot like being with family for a week. I decided that I would be best off to move out in the common area in hopes of finding Michael.

Someone put on a movie and I was happy to enjoy it, but in those two hours I did not find Michael. As I went to bed (early and a little down) I decided that maybe he had already gone to Tulum and that the next morning I would be doing just that myself. I was feeling nervous about embarking through Mexico on my own but felt it was the best thing to do, hoping to meet up with Michael or at the very least some others with whom I could travel to Guatemala. After quite a sleep in, I dragged myself out of bed and upon returning from the washroom looked down over the open concept hostel and saw a familiar figure exiting the door. "Michael" I yelled! I was so relieved to see him. He was more burnt than when I'd seen him last in San Francisco, having spent sometime on the beach, but a sense or relief coursed through my vines when I hugged him hello. I ended up spending about 4 nights in Playa and am so happy that I did. It's very much a tourist town overrun with Americans looking for a week of all inclusive fun in the sun but I met some great people and enjoyed getting in on the party for one night.


emil and magnus dancing it up at the blue parrot

First I met Emil and Magnus, a couple guys from Sweden, who love to have a good time, and were are also headed to Guatemala eventually. They have met us here in Tulum and now and I do believe that we will be seeing each other in Guatemala if we are not in fact travelling through that border together! A couple days in I also met Samara (Sam) from my hometown of Toronto! Always nice to meet someone from home, especially when you're dealing with bouts of homesickness, something that was not completely washed away with the Michael sighting but greatly eased indeed. It is also nice that Sam has currently started a month of Spanish classes at the Ixchel school in Antigua, Guatemala. The same school I plan to attend and will be doing so in her final two weeks there. So, I will have a friend at the school with me. I can already tell you that Sam and I will be friends, likely good ones, after our trips have wrapped up and we find ourselves back home. That is a feeling that is rare and very nice when travelling because it's not every day that you meet someone form home on the road.


Sam and I visiting "la finca des orquideas" after meeting up again in Antigua, Guatemala


learning to salsa at The Weary Traveller hostel in Tulum

Speaking of people from home...a few nights in Playa and Michael and I were happy to head to Tulum for a bit of a more relaxed vibe. Wouldn't you know that as I was participating in the, nightly, free Salsa lesson, here at the Weary Traveller Hostel in Tulum, I heard someone say "Hey, that's Mollie. I know her". I looked up at the sound of my name and who was there but Ron, an Assistant Director I work with on occasion back home. He had heard that I was travelling down here but never expected to run into me and sure enough here we sit side by side on the Hostel's free internet computers typing away to people back home.

Ron was planning to go to a spanish school in another part of Mexico but when he found out that to do so at Ixchel in Antigua would be half the price, he got to thinking. All that thinking has given me a travel partner for my entire trek down through to Antigua, something I'm very happy about as I was not interested in crossing the Guatemalan border on my own. So if Emil and Magnus also join us we could be a happy group of four. We are planning to go thorugh Belize because we hear the border corssings there are the safest but I have drastically cut down on the amount of time I plan to spend there as it is easily the most expensive country in Central America and I would rather spend my money and time on two weeks of Spanish classes.


riding our "beach cruisers" at the white sand beaches of Tulum

My time here in Tulum has been absolutely wonderful. A very welcome change to the touristy life in Playa. Here in Tulum there are still plenty of backpackers and tourists wandering the streets but we are all here to relax on the beautiful white sand beaches and try to get more of a feel of Mexican culture, rather than just tan all day and party all night. Yesterday, Michael and I rented "beach cruiser" bikes for $5 and headed about 10kms to the far south end of the beach. Another 10kms back made for a great workout, especially in the headwinds that hit us on our way home that afternoon. A bike is easily the best way to get to the beach, which is not at all on the edge of town but a bit far out. The hostel has a free shuttle service too, but the bike allows you to work on your own schedule.

As I lay on the beach I had the section all to myself. It is the same beautiful white sand and crystal clear blue waters as Playa, but without all the bodies littered across the shoreline soaking in the sun. There are people around but not crowded in like sardines and it is far more relaxing and pleasant than Playa.

Our bikes were due back at mid day today so we got up this morning and headed to see the Tulum ruins. The ruins are placed on the only elevated area along the Mayan Riviera coastline and it is a beauiful site, both from atop them looking down and from the beach looking up. The elevation staved off the Spanish invaders at first but they would return from Cuba once again to invade and forever change the face of Mayan culture.

After returning the bikes, we headed back to the Hostel to catch the bus to the with many others. Sarah (born in Vancouver, raised in Maine) is one of the most interesting and kind people I have ever met. She is a Reikki healer, Yoga instructor, meditator and clarivoyant and we get along very well. At about noon today we all disembarked from the bus at the beach and found a nice spot to park our stuff, form a circle and follow Sarah as she led us thorugh a Yoga class. A practice that we will continue for the rest of our days here. It was windy and we were all very well covered in sand by the time the class was done but it was easily the best Yoga I have ever partcipated in. She's a wonderful teacher and the setting could not have been more perfect. It's easy to do a sun salutation as you are being drenched in the heat of it and even easier to do a closing meditation to the sound of waves crashing into the shore, knowing that moments after you are done you will be diving into those very waves, covering your body in the healing waters of the Carribean Sea.

Another fabulous, self BBQed meal tonight and here I sit writing to you all the update of my days in Mexico thus far. I'm very happy and relaxed here now and enjoying the sun that is slowly kissing my skin more and more every day, the beautiful waters of the Carribean and every conversation I attempt in Spanish. I look forward to the time when I have completed by time at Spanish school and can more actively participate in conversations with locals around me!

I had the strangest dream last night but I will get into that at a later time. I've recorded it in my journal and will pass it along shortly. Also watch for pictures as I am now digital they will be posted soon!