January 26th, 2011
Flight from Seattle via Dallas Fort Worth to Cancun. All the flights to New York from Cancun had been cancelled due to the snowstorm in NY and the passengers were on their own to pass the night…not much help given to them because it was not due to the airlines, etc. Getting to the Marriott Courtyard was a long ordeal because of the lines of people. Once there, because we already had a reservation, we were quickly given a room.
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January 27th, 2010
When you rent a car in Mexico, you need to be careful. It’s possible that the auto rental company could try to charge you for damage to the car that had occurred to it before you, or for missing objects, like floor rugs, or car jack, etc. We had assembled a list for Jim to go through carefully while I was to take pictures of all the dings, etc. The representative Fernando picked us up at 9:00 AM and took us to their office near the airport- (Easy Way RentACar.)
Once there, I felt rather silly taking pictures of the outside of the car. It was bought by the company only the day before and has absolutely no dings or problems. Jim had his list to check, windshield wipers, AC working, extra tire, etc. and soon stopped as everything was new. We were given extra papers for going into Belize if we wanted to, emergency numbers to call, etc. and soon we were driving away in a new Nissan Tsuru GSII. Very nice and easy.
Then off to find Costco. The tourist map we were given at the hotel had Sam’s, Costco, Walmart, Home Deport, etc. so we found everywhere very easily. It took some time for the Home Depot man to take apart the “carretina”, (the wheel barrow) so it would fit in the back seat…with all the groceries and tools (rake, hoe, and long handled pruners.)
We stopped at Tulum to change our American money to Mexican at Bancomer next to the San Francisco de Asis Market. After waiting in a line, we were told we had to have a copy of our passport to hand to them. Well, could they make a copy there?…Nope…no copier…so we went into town to an internet place, got the copy and then stood in line again. It was after 4:00 PM when we finished exchanging money.
The road 307 South from Cancun is just great, very little traffic and straight….4 lanes before Tulum and wide 2 lanes after Tulum. Jim sped along at 110 KM per hour sometimes. We arrived to the turn of from the Mahahual road to the north El Placer road just as it was getting very dark. We had driven the road several times before so we anticipated no problem. What we weren’t told is that that the access road to Rio Indio is the one to take now because the beach road has been newly graded. The later access road to El Placer is down to one lane due to jungle growth. AND.for some unfathomable reason, “they” have installed THREE El PLACER signs along the road. We’d see a sign and think…ok, turn-off near. We’d look, then think we missed it and turn around and search again….just signs…no roads, until the final one that now is one lane.We had hoped to get our rental house key and instructions before dark, unload, and leisurely go to Mayan Beach Gardens for drinks and camaraderie before dinner at about 6:00 PM. We were still trying to find the el Placer road in the total darkness after 7:00 PM. We finally arrived near 7:30 PM; got our keys quickly, and went to dinner without unloading. They hadn’t even started yet, so we enjoyed fabulous butones, jicama, pineapple salad, chicken , cilantro potatoes, AND a small bowl of delicious apple crisp.
Then off to unload the car, lock up and flop into bed…dark, dark, but I could hear those wonderful waves during the night….
January 28th, 2011
Awoke to the beautiful, sunny Caribbean. Ah…a bit of wind, breakfast, and a walk to our new property close by. Quite a bit of new jungle growth in one year, but we found it easily. Surprise though, we did encounter 4 people walking on the long beach stretch…rather unusual. Most often we are the only ones…ah solitude. This first day we had to get adjusted…Yes…walking the beach, eating, reading, napping. We were walking the dirt automobile road, and our friend Marcia drove by. We were looking at a large 55 meter lot that was newly bulldozed, had a new palapa entrance and a new fence. She said it just sprang up this past weekend, and was hoping it wasn’t going to be a Beach Club. We walked down to Casa Maria and met the caretaker, Carlos and we admired the house.
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January 29, 2011
Off to Mayan Beach Gardens. Talked with Marcia and Kim, then used their Internet hook-up. The tower for el Placer Internet hasn’t been replaced so they are using Hughes Satellite. In the afternoon we hiked the back road to our lot. Jim put together the wheelbarrow and I started looking for live coconuts to plant (have to hear the liquid inside). Dave, the caretaker for Taj Majahual came along with the three dogs, then Gabe and we met Cindy for the first time. We gained lots of news, ideas, regulations, etc.
People here are very helpful.
