Mexico rocks ! Running to the beach.... blog later !

Ok I'm back. Actually I could have just started my blog from this point forth but my 'first' - of what I hope to be many- 'beach-beelines' over the coming weeks is... well a 'first'! And so I log it. We'll come back to the concept of 'beach-beelines' later as I have't sufficiently conveyed here its significance to the 'general travel experience'

Mexico blew my mind. It's amazing how at home I felt on the other side of the world. Firstly, the culture (if not the language) was very easy to slip into. They have a rhythm here very much like the Med and I kept harking back to my days working on the beach in Napa - Cyprus. Happy days !

Secondly, the colours everywhere create a visual feast wherever you turn, not just the natural sea blues, palm tree greens and white coral sands, but moreso the decor, the artwork in every corner and the brilliant sunlight bringing out every tone wherever life is to be seen. How could anyone be sad here? Oooooh I just love it !

The hostel was a perfect start to my trip as it had travellers from all over the world. There were no cliques, just everyone being friendly. Even the Mexicans staying there blended into the travelling culture. I was pleasantly shocked to find people I knew wherever I went as a result of the hostel community. You just walk around the beach, town or clubs and within 5 mins, you have a crowd calling you over to share in the infectuous happiness found in every inhabited nook .

Couldn't dig the food I'm afraid. Not a fresh fish or salad in sight, but this is a tourist destination so it's all Tachos, heavy meats or Western junk food. I hear Belize is much better for my diet.

I couldn't come to Mexico and not inspect Mayan culture so I spent a day treking with a small group into a rainforest, somewhere in the Yucutan province, to find a Mayan village. The tribespeople there had a ceremony for us and cooked us dinner (much yummier !). Once our families and home countries were 'blessed' and our souls 'cleansed', the curious and friendly people of this particular Mayan tribe allowed us to absail down into their sacred Jaguar Canotes. No photos were possible of these goodly folks as it was explained to us before we were all introduced, that cameras were not permitted. Fortunately, the Mayans held no such custom when it came to their caves and so I managed to make a few snaps of that. Once down, we just paddled around taking inthe cave walls and trying to imagine how few people had ever done this over the centuries.

The Tulum ruins were one of those milestone sights I'd locked into my mind before leaving home, so being there finally was a kind of moment. It didn't disappoint. I think the pictures I've loaded do do it justice. Unfortunatley I had to pass a Mosquito death run to see all the good bits and I got to the end virtually bloodless, but it was worth it. Chris from Alabama suggested I smear hornet poo / spit on my body for the journey back to prevent a repeat onslaught, which I did happily as I have now decided mosquitos are the devil incarnate on this planet ! Keystone creatures, my arse - hateful spiteful critters...

For now that's all for Mexico and I've decided that no matter what, I will return one day to retrieve the tiny little piece of myself I'm sure to leave here. Mexico - I think you're going to be my secondary team for the world cup.

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