Memories of Mexico while watching the snow here (not yet) melt

The colourful birds were wonderful. 

Once upon a time late in the last century, two women traveled to Mexico. They booked a beachfront apartment, rented a VW Bug, and set off for adventure. In those pre-internet days with rudimentary email communication, it was tricky, but doable, the assumption being that two and two would, indeed, make four. All would work out.

And it did. We enjoyed a wonderful late-winter holiday on the Mayan Riviera. The weather was good. The apartment perfect. The car exactly as expected. Even the language barrier didn’t pose a significant problem, thanks to a small phrase book and my willingness to just give it a go.

Our apartment was at the very top

Back then, 24 years ago, ‘giving it a go’ got us far: From the Cancun airport, along a small track to the apartment and then off to find a place for dinner — all in the dark. It was exciting not daunting. We had adventures every day: in the supermarket buying food, at local cafes figuring our way around a menu, and setting off to visit sites. We were on the Mayan Riviera, so we explored ancient ruins, climbing up for the view; and we also stepped down into the ground to find the wonders of a subterranean swimming hole, a cenote — amazing. We ventured south down the coast to Tulum, where the beach was endless and the waves a natural playground.

It was all good. All fun. No issues anywhere along the way.

As spring very slowly springs here on the prairies, I remember that holiday in February 1999 with happiness. And I channel it as I wait for winter to exit, because, as my friend Edna commented after my cheery post on February 28th, “I never trust the month of March.” It’s still cold here, but my wander down this Mexican memory lane has warmed my mind with remembrances of sun and sand and beach. And I shall linger in those thoughts, as spring springs ever so slowly here in Winnipeg.

Matching Tilley hats

Oh, those beaches!  

Yes, trust me, the young guy said: Hold the rope and descend...

...this is what you'll find: a cenote — an amazing underground swimming hole;
the very definition of a holiday adventure. 

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Land acknowledgement: I respectfully recognize that I live on the original lands of Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation.