---->o Cancun o<----

We arrived in Cancun much the same way we did to Playa del Carmen. There was a poorly dubbed movie playing and then we all got off…well…a few people got off including us. When we got off, we looked around and didn’t exactly see any beach, nor did we know where we were going but figured we could just head in the direction of the beach and go from there. So we asked for the general “is the beach over thatta way?” and started walking.

And we walked for a while…through what seemed kind of like a small neighborhood and then along a street where we thought we had a general idea of where the beach was. So then we dropped into a hotel and the guy said he would only charge us 800 pesos a piece…which we said we’d pass and kept on walking. Then we began to realize where we figured the beach was there was a building standing over there. And then it wasn’t really looking like we had any idea at all where the beach was. So we stopped into an OXXO (the Extra was a few more blocks down the street and not worth the walk so that we could just say we went to the Extra again). In the OXXO a guy told us to catch a bus (the R-1) and that the futbol stadium was in that direction.

So we went and waited for the bus, and just when we were about convinced that we had misunderstood where the bus passed, one came by and scooped us up. And we rode the R-1. And rode the R-1. And then we got down into what’s known as the Hoteles area of Cancun. Everything is humongous, and everything is similarly *EXPENSIVE* well…admittedly we didn’t check at the Hilton or Mayan Palace or (…you get the point?) We just looked out our window of the bus rather helplessly and wondered where we were going to sleep tonight. I was kind of at that “this is too funny” point where I wasn’t exactly worried so much as just thinking creatively (we could totally just…sleep on the beach…wait til we get kicked off and move on down the beach…). So then the bus driver told us “everybody off, I’m turning around, this is the end of the route” and we asked him generally where the stadium was and he said it was waaaaaay back there. Back in the city. So we just stayed on and were on that bus for about 2 hours. The bus driver gave us the heads up on when to bajar, and we talked to some guys in the tourism industry and got a map for the area and where the stadium was. Then we went hotel shopping…again.

The whole hotel shopping didn’t take very long. There was a hole in the wall hotel right there across the street with rooms for 395 pesos a piece (no AC). So we got a room for two nights and settled in for the next little while. By this time, it was late afternoon and we both took showers. Chelsea was a little homesick and didn’t feel like doing too much but we went out and got dinner not far from the hotel. We had tortas al pastor with virgin piña coladas that were fantastic. We, because we spoke Spanish and the manager was really nice, were given the menu with the lower prices which we found to be pretty amusing. I also rather inadvertently ended up buying this soccer jersey, and then going back and changing it for a different one which was a rather stressful hour or so.

I think we went to bed pretty early that day.

The next morning, we went over to the Cheddraui (sp?) and got granola bars and yogurt drinks which we took to the beach and ate. The beach was beautiful. We set up camp under this thatch umbrella and stayed for most of the afternoon. The water was red flagged where we were, but there was a yellow area not too far from us (so for a little bit I went down there and played in the waves). Laurie met up with us later in the afternoon. Somehow she managed to find us (we couldn’t really give her good directions since we weren’t entirely sure ourselves).

We packed up shop and went to Chilis for lunch which was delicious. Love Chilis. And then we went back to the room, showered. Laurie and I went out briefly shopping again though I don’t think I got anything besides this sweet bread thing. Then we went and got our piña coladas again (since they were so good and they were so nice). And then we headed out for the GAME!

We had only a small amount of trouble getting there. Just the normal asking, then asking again, then asking again. And then we were kind of on the wrong side of the stadium so we had to walk around.

We got in and, as it turns out, I can’t read (still) and it was general admission seating but because we got VIP tickets the seats were still really good. So we settled in and commenced routing for the red white and blue team since the first jersey I had bought was for the Chivas and it was red white and blue. And they scored! So we cheered. And then we looked at the scoreboard and it was a point for the other team. So we were a little confused. And then they scored again and we were even more confused though we finally put it together that the other team was in fact the Chivas. The Cancun team also had red white and blue jerseys and that’s why we were having trouble distinguishing from those fans. Then we had it though and we learned some cheering techniques.

The guy behind us was so stereotypical it was hilarious. I think he knew all of about 3 words, none of which am I going to repeat here. He also kept ordering beer…though it was for other people too I think. Interesting tidbit is that they also sold vodka at the game and the guy in the seat next to me had a “barra libre” wrist band (open bar). Crazy stuff.

The Chivas weren’t going to be showed up 2-0 however. They scored the next two goals and we were able to cheer for the right team with the confidence that we were in fact doing so. You see, we were cheering for the Chivas basically because Gustavo likes them.

The game ended with a tie 2-2. We basically had a blast though and it ended with enough time for Laurie to get to the bus station and go back to Playa del Carmen so she didn’t loose her money for the night.

Chelsea and I then went to sleep, and the next day got our stuff together and went to the bus stop that was within walking distance. We bought our tickets back to Merida and sat down to have breakfast that we bought at the Cheddraui and ate. We had half an hour.

When it was time as shown on the ticket, we went and asked someone (the lady taking tickets) if they had called our bus and she told us that it wasn’t here and that we were to wait in waiting room one and kind of gestured to the side. So we went and sat down and waited. And waited. Then Chelsea realized there was a separate room. So we went in and the guy who looked at our ticket didn’t say anything so we sat down. Then, being 15 past the time on the ticket, I asked someone. Apparently that bus had left fifteen minutes ago (imagine that). He told us to go and try and get the tickets switched for the next bus.

We went back to the ticket counter and explained what had happened, being sure to say that we had in fact asked for information but weren’t given the right instructions. In the end we still had to pay again (and these tickets were really expensive) but only half the price.

Finally on the bus we were offered a free soda and headphones. The first movie was Freaky Friday which I declined to watch (not a fan of Lindsey Lohan) and then the second was Cars which I hadn’t seen so that was cool.

We arrived in Merida and my host parents were there to pick us up. They brought a card for me and a package that Chelsea had been expecting (given to them by Diana). And effectively that is what we did on our vacation! =D

Cheers!
<3>