Did I mention I was traveling to Cozumel? Well, I haven’t been here since last July, and Randy became so critically ill right after we got home (glad he didn’t go critical in Cozumel, he wouldn’t be here), and many things have just been put to the side because of Randy’s recovery. The need to find new management prompted the visit, but a lot needs to be done. So, now painting is scheduled, I’m oiling some furniture (yes, OILING it, it is wood), I bought new appliances, and new outdoor furniture, and new kitchen stuff, and lamps…etc. A lot of other things are in the works. I’m spending tomorrow making sure we all have our duckies in a row.
What struck me when I arrived was the quiet. The Cozumel government decided (finally!) to enforce the one way only coastal road between the ocean and our home. Now the traffic is southbound only, and no taxis allowed. The other lane is for walkers, bikers, runners, scooters, segway tours, and things like that. It is so quiet! I hear my chimes in the breeze, the birds, the wind through the palms, and even the ocean once in a while! (we are on the leeward side of Cozumel where the water is very calm). I’ve just been mesmerized by it! Today is Sunday, so the locals are on the beach, but they will leave southbound instead of northbound! Awesome. This is just fantastico!
So, the first day I arrived I jumped in the water to snorkel right away. It was very peaceful….and I’m staying shallow because I am alone. But shallow is fine. I met with our new managers the next morning, and it went very well, even though I was so distracted by the quiet and the blue of the water. Then I had things to do, like go over to the mainland and buy stuff. I hate taking any time away from the water, but I forced myself on the ferry. Of course, as I pulled out of our palapa to leave, I accidentally hit the rear view mirror driver side and busted it. Ever tried driving without it? I do NOT recommend it. I ended up taping it on! So off to Playa del Carmen. I found a cab, told him I wanted to go to Liverpool *(department store) spend 30 minutes shopping and rush back to catch the next ferry back. So that is what we did. It took a little more than 30 minutes…even though I had all the model numbers ready, it takes them a while to figure out the sale. Whatever, just hurry it up! After 45 minutes or so I was finished, so back to Playa. I needed water so I stopped into an Oxxo, and left my Liverpool bag in the store. Don’t worry, I got it back. I also realized on the ferry over that I had forgotten to bring my cell phone. Oh, and I also forgot to lock the door to my house. It is so true: I would leave my head behind if it was not attached. Idiot!
I had a couple of nice, easy going dive days, then scheduled a day of the cursed shopping. I went to the lighting store, Boxito, which is a big retailer here for home decor. The light I want is hanging on display. But I was informed it does not exist. It’s in the 2014 catalog. Oh. Well, it is no longer available. Anywhere in Mexico. Sorry. OH! There are two in Playa del Carmen. I said great, I’ll take those two and the light on display at the store, and that will make the 3 lights I need. THAT was an issue. Special permission would be needed. The next thing I know, the lights are not in Playa, they are nowhere to be found in Mexico. Period. My head was spinning. Then it was off to Sam’s with Laurel, our next door neighbor and former manager. Now, when I shop, I walk in, tell them what I want, then I get OUT. I hate shopping, especially here. It took over an hour for me to buy the things I needed. The salesperson had to check with his superiors a million times. Anyone not familiar with the 3rd world would have an attack if they went shopping down here for anything other than souvenirs.
Now, there may be people who bristle at my calling Mexico a third world country, the now PC term “developing nation”. But it is. And here is why, I have one criteria for whether or not a place is 3rd world. If the country still uses carbon paper to make copies, it is 3rd world. End of story. And yes, they still use carbon paper down here. It has come a long way, but they still use carbon paper. It is also the truth that in every 3rd world country I have visited I have noticed the lack of problem solving skills. There must be a study on this, I will have to look. But from Mexico to Zimbabwe to Mozambique to Nairobi…no one seems to be able to solve a problem. And when YOU come up with the solution, they look at you as though you just grew 3 heads. And of course, they don’t do it. They just pass you on to the next person who will not be able to help you.
Ah. As I sit in my dining room, looking at the bluest of Caribbean seas, I have to admit it is worth the aggravation to be here. I snorkeled once today, but I need to go back out at sunset and hunt for octopus. Today I looked for seahorses. No, I did not find any, but I know they are there! Well, back to oiling my table, then heading out to see what is going on in MY ocean. I’ll let you know.
Again, thank you for the vivid visual! As I read your entry today I can see it all so clearly in my head! Having just recently been there, I can literally visualize you doing all of those things you mention. Good luck with the oiling…it is surely a job for the patient! As for pulling out of the palapa and damaging the mirror on the car, I can’t tell you how close I came to doing the very same thing when we were there in February! Luckily, I had others in the car who shouted “STOP” before we got to that point!! LOL. Your home there is wonderful and the pictures you posted of the sunset are incredible. I hope things continue to progress and go well with you and your new managers. Please give my regards to Laurel, as she is a very sweet lady. YAY for the enforcement of the one way road! That is great news for everyone! Enjoy your stay and take care.
It was being enforced while you were here as well, wasn’t it?
No, not consistently. There were several days where there were cruise ship “jeep tours” with photographs being taken right out front of your villa. Most were going the correct way, but every now and then you’d see cars, jeeps, bikes, taxis going the wrong way. Occasionally there would be a police officer who would chase down the wrongdoers, but they could not catch them all. He would sit at the Money Bar. Laurel did a nice job in reminding us what the expectations were for driving on the coastal road as we pulled out of the villa, but apparently not everyone knew the rules or chose to adhere to them. 🙂 We were VERY careful to follow the arrows!!
love you… wish I was there with you!
I wish you were too….I would bribe you with La Cocay Napa Salads to do the shopping for me!
The have a Sam’s in Cozumel as in Sam’s Club? Consumerism is ruining developing nations- I love being PC- one big box store, fast food outpost and coffee shop at a time.
Oh yes. With a MacDonalds right next to it. At least it’s far back in town, not where tourists go. And it is more convenient to run to Sams here than get on a ferry and take hours to go to one on the mainland!
It always is more difficult to live in a foreign country and get “stuff done.”
Yes, that is true. And who wants to get anything done? There is an ocean here!
What a glorious sunset! You are seriously tempting me to make my first visit to Mexico…
What! You haven’t been here!? Plan your trip to Cozumel! http://www.vrbo.com/368692. It is seriously wonderful.
Beautiful photo of the sunset. We’ve visited Baja – near El Cardonal – on the Sea of Cortez and the sunsets are always stunning!
Coastal Mexico is fabulous!
That sunset is worth the aggravation 🙂
When I go into a store here in Korea I get followed around. Then, I ask a question in English or my bad Korean. They look at me in terror! I’ve learned to laugh and walk out. However, it can be hard to get any shopping done!
Ha ha! So true.
Ha ha! Love your criteria for Third World country! That sunset is amazing — I can’t believe we live in San Diego and still haven’t visited Mexico …
What! You live in San Diego? There are so many places on your coastline headed south!
My sister and I are avid snorkelers. We’ve heard mixed reports about the condition of the reefs for snorkelers in Cozumel. Any scoop? I love your definition of 3rd World Country. I was just in Bhutan and no matter what its PC designation is it’s definitely 3rd Wold and I didn’t even see carbon paper. Maybe they aren’t up to that yet!
A lot of people come here and snorkel “well known” snorkel spots. Those are the spots that you should try to avoid. There is great snorkeling here, lots of it, but you have to know where!
I live in Southern California and SO many people I know have been to Cozumel! I know who to call when we decide to go! BTW I just read on your FB page you went to UCLA! So did I! I knew I really liked you!
Cozumel is worth a trip! I went to UCLA Extension, not to the university itself. I earned a post grad certificate from UCLA in College Counseling. I like you !
As someone who recently spent half a day looking for lightbulbs in Puerto Escondido I feel your pain about shopping for lighting. It’s almost as bad as shopping for hardware! Fortunately the opportunity to swim in the ocean and look for sea horses makes up for the daily challenges of life in Mexico!
You are absolutely correct!
I’ve always wanted to scuba dive. I’m not certified, but since I do travel to Cancun and Cozumel pretty frequently, I really should learn. I would love to learn underwater photography as well after seeing your photos 🙂
It is easier to learn scuba diving than underwater photography! Shooting underwater is totally different than on land! But yes, get certified! It is glorious!
That’s a gorgeous sunset photo. It’s amusing that so few sunrise photos are taken, especially since I’m not a morning person. The first time I went snorkeling, I reluctantly entered the water as the last person. Then I loved it so much, that I was the last to get out. You make a great reason to get a scuba diver’s certification.
Thanks! If you loved snorkeling, you’d go mad for diving!