Finally got going around midday and checked out the beach actually walking on the sand. The beach is free but there are a large number of beach clubs which are usually restaurants where you can rent a chaise lounge towel and oils for $US8 a day. The pictures don't do this VERY long beach (kilometres) justice. The water is a lovely green/blue and is very inviting indeed.
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I then headed to La Quinta Avenida (5th Ave). This is a very long (maybe 3+km) street with shops and restaurants of all types and varieties. The shops include some of the global brands and in some cases one at each end but they don't dominate the landscape but blend in with the numerous silver jewellery shops which seems to be the must buy take home from Playa del Carmen.
My walk took me around 3 hours so deserved the plunge into the rooftop pool when I got back.
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My walk took me around 3 hours so deserved the plunge into the rooftop pool (private just to this apartment) when I got back - very refreshing.
That night I head out to explore the OTHER half of "the Avenue". I discover the Pewter shop which has wonderful bowls etc at very reasonable prices - I am sure I will be back there to finalise a small order.
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Most pieces around $A25-$A45 Except Large Serving Platter
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Apparently you can buy your smallgoods together with your Viagra!!
I look at about 30 restaurant menus being very fussy about the lobster I am hoping to enjoy. There are some amazing looking restaurants some ultra modern chic others middle of the road and others simple cantinas.
Apparently I wasn't fussy enough as I settle for the Lobster Grill. Lobster Bisque, Caesar salad made freshly table side and two lobster tails weighing 500 grams with a cost of $A0.09 per gram - $A45 not too bad I figured. Well they arrived looked beautiful but were so overcooked that after one mouthful I pushed the plate away. I called for the bill and they generously only charged me 50% for the INEDIBLE lobster - I really wasn't in the mood for an argument for $A23 - and then whinged when my tip was only 6.7% - why I left a tip I don't really know. WTF!!!!
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[L] Cigar maker
[R] waiter before whinging about his tip.
Back to the apartment to the start of the thunderous nearby nightclubs which, rather than annoying is quite invigorating.
I am extremely happy with my choice of location (thanks Danielle) in Mexico. The place is lovely. I isn't dominated by any one nationality but a good mix of many Mexicans (a good sign) Americans Europeans and even some Aussies. It hasn't been globalised but still has Mexican charm, the beach is AMAZING and the apartment works so well.
I finally get to sleep around midnight, wake for an hour at 02:30 getting up at 08:00 and as I sit at my computer updating my blog no electricity for two hours so I extend my sleep till it comes back on. I don't feel the urge to get up and out which to me, is the sign of a good holiday destination.
Midday and a shower finally sees me out the door.
Tuesday is easy to report on - I did F all of nothing. I walked, mooched, rested, relaxed, swam and generally did nothing.
Wednesday I drive to Cancun and I can report that I would have hated to stay at Cancun. It is just megaresort after megaresort after megaresort. On the way I learned a few new words in Spanish.
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By now my cough has returned after subsiding for 2 weeks and I can't stop coughing, sneezing and feeling like crap. So on Thursday I head to the beach for breakfast in the sun, a 1km walk along the beach, a plunge in the pool and then I end up in bed from 15:00 on and off till the next morning where I wake u feeling a "little" better.
During one of my lunches I end up chatting with the Manager of an Italian Restaurant. He is from Rome, was an F&B manager on cruise ships and now works in Playa helping restaurant start-ups. Apparently almost all of the seafood is flown in frozen as the locals cannot supply the market for same in Playa. On the main street alone there are 30 Italian Restaurants not to mention all the other cuisines. He says that when the Mexicans have money they open a restaurant often having no idea what they are doing. Food wastage is a big factor apparently. Anyway it was an interesting conversation while I ate my prawn pizza.
Anyway enough for now - I am thinking Cozumel today and will probably go twice thinking ATV beach, jungle and Mayan Ruins tour one time and SNUBA (a connected air hose) another time,
Enough for now
XD
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I then headed to La Quinta Avenida (5th Ave). This is a very long (maybe 3+km) street with shops and restaurants of all types and varieties. The shops include some of the global brands and in some cases one at each end but they don't dominate the landscape but blend in with the numerous silver jewellery shops which seems to be the must buy take home from Playa del Carmen.
My walk took me around 3 hours so deserved the plunge into the rooftop pool when I got back.
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
My walk took me around 3 hours so deserved the plunge into the rooftop pool (private just to this apartment) when I got back - very refreshing.
That night I head out to explore the OTHER half of "the Avenue". I discover the Pewter shop which has wonderful bowls etc at very reasonable prices - I am sure I will be back there to finalise a small order.
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
Most pieces around $A25-$A45 Except Large Serving Platter
.JPG)
Apparently you can buy your smallgoods together with your Viagra!!
I look at about 30 restaurant menus being very fussy about the lobster I am hoping to enjoy. There are some amazing looking restaurants some ultra modern chic others middle of the road and others simple cantinas.
Apparently I wasn't fussy enough as I settle for the Lobster Grill. Lobster Bisque, Caesar salad made freshly table side and two lobster tails weighing 500 grams with a cost of $A0.09 per gram - $A45 not too bad I figured. Well they arrived looked beautiful but were so overcooked that after one mouthful I pushed the plate away. I called for the bill and they generously only charged me 50% for the INEDIBLE lobster - I really wasn't in the mood for an argument for $A23 - and then whinged when my tip was only 6.7% - why I left a tip I don't really know. WTF!!!!
.JPG)
.JPG)
[L] Cigar maker
[R] waiter before whinging about his tip.
Back to the apartment to the start of the thunderous nearby nightclubs which, rather than annoying is quite invigorating.
I am extremely happy with my choice of location (thanks Danielle) in Mexico. The place is lovely. I isn't dominated by any one nationality but a good mix of many Mexicans (a good sign) Americans Europeans and even some Aussies. It hasn't been globalised but still has Mexican charm, the beach is AMAZING and the apartment works so well.
I finally get to sleep around midnight, wake for an hour at 02:30 getting up at 08:00 and as I sit at my computer updating my blog no electricity for two hours so I extend my sleep till it comes back on. I don't feel the urge to get up and out which to me, is the sign of a good holiday destination.
Midday and a shower finally sees me out the door.
Tuesday is easy to report on - I did F all of nothing. I walked, mooched, rested, relaxed, swam and generally did nothing.
Wednesday I drive to Cancun and I can report that I would have hated to stay at Cancun. It is just megaresort after megaresort after megaresort. On the way I learned a few new words in Spanish.
.JPG)
During one of my lunches I end up chatting with the Manager of an Italian Restaurant. He is from Rome, was an F&B manager on cruise ships and now works in Playa helping restaurant start-ups. Apparently almost all of the seafood is flown in frozen as the locals cannot supply the market for same in Playa. On the main street alone there are 30 Italian Restaurants not to mention all the other cuisines. He says that when the Mexicans have money they open a restaurant often having no idea what they are doing. Food wastage is a big factor apparently. Anyway it was an interesting conversation while I ate my prawn pizza.
Anyway enough for now - I am thinking Cozumel today and will probably go twice thinking ATV beach, jungle and Mayan Ruins tour one time and SNUBA (a connected air hose) another time,
Enough for now
XD
