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Toes in the Water, Ass in the Sand
Sunday, October 9th, 2011 11:55 amI had an angry rant brewing, but a good workout kind of let the air out of it. Tis just as well. It's not a problem that I can fix, and I'm sure that rant will come along later.
I spent the last 9 days in Cancun. I wasn't sure exactly what to expect in Cancun. I knew it was touristy, but also, another country. My only significant experience with traveling to another country has been a few short trips to Canada (BC on a cruise ship and Ontario as a kid) and a summer in Bolivia when I was in high school. I was expecting something like Bolivia. I know Mexico is poor and the culture is primarily Hispanic.
Cancun is surprisingly like Florida. I heard more Spanish spoken in Miami than I did in Cancun. We stayed in a resort that seemed determined to ensure that there was as few reminders as possible that we were in a foreign country. Everyone spoke English, and if I stumbled through trying to speak Spanish to them, they responded to me in English. Granted, it was nice to be understood every where I went, just unexpected.
That said, it was a very nice time. The ocean in Cancun is beautiful. The blues are absolutely amazing. We swam almost every day and encountered all sorts of gorgeous sea-life. We went horseback riding in the jungle, and I enjoyed both riding again and the jungle. The trail lead past ruined haciendas and all sorts of birds. My horse was very calm. We trotted around some on the training grounds near a polo field, but she really wasn't interested in doing much and by then I'd been on horseback an hour and wasn't interested in making her go terribly fast. Horseback riding is always more work than I remember. The ranch cook made us an amazing lunch after our ride and then we headed back to the resort.
On Thursday, my husband and I took a cooking class. It was very cool. The chef opens up her home a couple of days a week to small group classes in her own kitchen. In addition to cooking, we learned a little about the culture of the Yucatan Peninsula and the traditions that go with the food. Our main souvenirs from the trip resulted from this class. We bought spices, chocolate, and, later, a Day of the Dead piece inspired by the chef's altar.
My least favorite part of the trip was a stop at the local tourist market. I don't like haggling for prices, and I don't like high pressure sales pitches. This market was full of both. There was a time when I would have had a hard time saying no to the junk that was sold there, but I had a much easier time of it this time around. I probably still paid too much for the two items I bought, but I had a price in mind, and I didn't exceed it, so I'm satisfied. I even walked away from one item I really wanted to get as a gift when the seller wouldn't lower the price as far as I wanted.
Customs was easier than I expected. Well, not easier- I didn't expect it be hard, just time consuming, but it was very fast both directions.
Mostly though, I'm just really glad to be home. I got up and walked in a local park this morning and then grocery shopped. I'm off work tomorrow, but starting this week, I spend 9 of the next 10 weeks traveling for work.
I spent the last 9 days in Cancun. I wasn't sure exactly what to expect in Cancun. I knew it was touristy, but also, another country. My only significant experience with traveling to another country has been a few short trips to Canada (BC on a cruise ship and Ontario as a kid) and a summer in Bolivia when I was in high school. I was expecting something like Bolivia. I know Mexico is poor and the culture is primarily Hispanic.
Cancun is surprisingly like Florida. I heard more Spanish spoken in Miami than I did in Cancun. We stayed in a resort that seemed determined to ensure that there was as few reminders as possible that we were in a foreign country. Everyone spoke English, and if I stumbled through trying to speak Spanish to them, they responded to me in English. Granted, it was nice to be understood every where I went, just unexpected.
That said, it was a very nice time. The ocean in Cancun is beautiful. The blues are absolutely amazing. We swam almost every day and encountered all sorts of gorgeous sea-life. We went horseback riding in the jungle, and I enjoyed both riding again and the jungle. The trail lead past ruined haciendas and all sorts of birds. My horse was very calm. We trotted around some on the training grounds near a polo field, but she really wasn't interested in doing much and by then I'd been on horseback an hour and wasn't interested in making her go terribly fast. Horseback riding is always more work than I remember. The ranch cook made us an amazing lunch after our ride and then we headed back to the resort.
On Thursday, my husband and I took a cooking class. It was very cool. The chef opens up her home a couple of days a week to small group classes in her own kitchen. In addition to cooking, we learned a little about the culture of the Yucatan Peninsula and the traditions that go with the food. Our main souvenirs from the trip resulted from this class. We bought spices, chocolate, and, later, a Day of the Dead piece inspired by the chef's altar.
My least favorite part of the trip was a stop at the local tourist market. I don't like haggling for prices, and I don't like high pressure sales pitches. This market was full of both. There was a time when I would have had a hard time saying no to the junk that was sold there, but I had a much easier time of it this time around. I probably still paid too much for the two items I bought, but I had a price in mind, and I didn't exceed it, so I'm satisfied. I even walked away from one item I really wanted to get as a gift when the seller wouldn't lower the price as far as I wanted.
Customs was easier than I expected. Well, not easier- I didn't expect it be hard, just time consuming, but it was very fast both directions.
Mostly though, I'm just really glad to be home. I got up and walked in a local park this morning and then grocery shopped. I'm off work tomorrow, but starting this week, I spend 9 of the next 10 weeks traveling for work.
