Island living

We arrived at Isla Mujeres from Cancun a little apprehensive as the entire walk to the Hostel with our packs we were hoarded by people selling us crap! But when we did find the Poc-Na we were quite impressed..... the oldest in Mexico, it has a very communal feel, cheap food and drinks, activities and it`s own beach bar, volleyball court and stretch of Ocean - it was as close as we could feel to an Island Paradise.

As it got dark we ventured out to find some eats and wandered through the streets of the tiny town, again being pestered to coming into the shops, but all part of the experience really. We found ourselves a cheap bar, $1 drinks and $1.50 seafood taco, and relaxed. We strolled back to Poc-Na and enjoyed some reading and more cheap beer and waited for the beach bar to open so that we could cash in our free welcome drinks.... when it did, it was like being in a movie, sitting on the sand, drinking a Pina-Colada, surrounded by palm trees, the ocean and a grass roofed bar. All to be taken in under a beautifully bright moon.... who could ask for anything more?!

We were a little dazed the following morning and we headed to the South tip of the Island to the Turtle sanctuary. We hopped on the bus and rode it to our stop, just a short walk from the stop. Short, it may have been, but it felt like an eternity in the heat! We found the sanctuary and wandered around.... the turtles were very cool, everything from little babies to big ol´ giant ones, it was a lot of fun. Jen found a dead baby though. Sad! From here, we walked back to where the bus stop was to see a park that Jen had read about. A Pirate had fell in love with a girl, so to win her heart, he built her a beautiful park. However, she ran off with a local and the pirate went crazy. Well the park definitely showed the crazy side! It was a dump! It had a "zoo", which consisted of some warthogs, 2 crocs heald in only by chicken wire and some sad, sad , sad looking spider monkeys. It was terrible! So we hopped in a cab to head back to Playa Norte.

Playa Norte is the beach at the North end of the island, right by the hostel, that was supposed to be great. So after a little lunch we thought we´d head down and see what all the fuss was about. At lunch however, jen thought that she recognized a guy she went to college with.... we´d find out later! The beach was beautiful, the ocean was so warm and clear, we could walk out forever before it even reached our waists. We had fun and I also saw some one I was 97% sure that I went to Uni with, but she left and I didnt get a chance to find out!

That evening we were sitting down to update our journals, which hadn´t been done in days (mine still hasn´t!) and a couple came to sit with us as they thought we were so into our writing, they would be able to read quietly..... well it didn´t really work out like that! Wanda and Nico were awesome,they had been living in Canada, Wanda originally from Romania, Nico from Germany and the had met in France! Quite the travellers already! They had just come from where we were heading to and had some great stories, warnings and advice. All 4 of us hit it off straight away and the alcohol kept flowing and as Jen went to the bar she came back with an old friend.... she and Bill had worked together in Chico and he happened to be passing through on his way to Guatemala with his girlfriend Ali, to go and volunteer with a company called Maya Peddle. Well, now there were 6 of us, even more drinks came out as the band started to play, and before we knew it we were chatting with a guy and a girl from Scotland who had sat next to us.... Kev and Kirsty were at the start of their 1 year trip also, so 6 became 8 and the band kept playing. The lead singer of whom worked at Poc-Na and was soooooo drunk that we couldnt fathom him playing the guitar and before we knew it, everyone present had a free shot of tequila in their hands and things were getting crazy! Particularly when the 2nd free tequila came out (this was Sunday night..... gotta love the vagabond life!) and the band kept playing! Needless to say, we had a great night, and even though it was raining, our spirits couldn´t be dampened.

We woke up, a little hazy, and headed to reception for the snorkel tour we were going to sign up for with Wanda and Nico..... fortunately for Nico, as he was incapacitated from the night before still, it was cancelled as the rain continued to hammer down on us spiradically. We grabbed lunch, and the rain calmed down, the 4 of us decided to head down to the beach and read...... but we got side tracked. Before we knew it we were playing volleyball, fairly well too, and withing a short period our 4 became 8 once again, and we all battled in the sand for supremecy!!

When the Sun went down, it was time for dinner and we went with Wanda, Nico, Bill and Ali, for more good food, cheap beer, good times and great new (and old) friends. We retreated back to the hostel and spent the evening playing cards, BS-ing and having fun.

The following day, we were on for snorkelling and the 4 of us signed up and wandered down to the docks with our tour guide. After a little prep we were on the ocean, heading to the coral, for the 1st of our 2 45min dives before we had some lunch and visited the turtle sanctuary, which we had already done. The water was great and I was very excited to try the waterpoof camera in more than just a hot tub or pool! Well, one photo in and it stopped working! The shutter was jammed, so after 20 mins of messing with it and mising the sights, I put it in my pocket and enjoyed the snorkelling! It was great, lots of fish and life all over teh place. We had been told that hurricane Wilma had destroyed so much, and it was still so beautiful, I found it hard to imagine what it was like before. We floated with the current and admired the fish, ranging from tiny schools to big loners! It was great, and despite the float belt they made us wear, it was easy enough to dive down and swim amongst the fishes closer to the bottom.

As we neared the end of the 1st dive, I caught up with Jen.... she didn´t look so good. Turns out that the ocean was a little choppy for her and she was feeling the effects of motion sickness, to the extent that she had just given the fishes a hearty meal and she had to swim away before it caught up with her!! Nice! Fortunately we were just a few yards from the boat at this time, whereupon we clambered in and went to the next stop for our 2nd dive. Nico and I hopped right in and I had a feeling Jen was going to stay behind. The 1st thing I saw in the water was a squid, it was so cool seeing it swim along but after a short while I lost as it was so camoflauged but just a second later I came across an Octopus... also extremely camoflauged, I was very happy!

Jen joined me finally, apparently after hurling all over the side of the boat, but feeling much better for it! We continued to enjoy the fish and explore the artificial reef that had been put in, it was a fun trip! After a great lunch we headed back to the docks and departed to head back to Poc-Na for more antics!

More to come, but our bus leaves for Chetumal. The heavens just opened here but we love this tropical rain, so refreshing from the oppresive heat!

We should be in Belize by tomorrow, country no. 2!