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Cozumel Trip Report
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Posted by l in g on 06/06/03

click for Condumel

Arrived on Sunday, flight was fine (3 ½ hrs.), customs was cruising along until we were behind a local whose passport did not meet with approval by the agent.  So we watched everyone else go get their luggage while our line stood still.  No problem, we're almost to the beach, we can wait a bit more.  
Finally get our luggage and hit the green light and see Greg waiting for us.  I want to open the suitcase with his glass right there at the airport as I am worried about breakage but he and Marty are unconcerned so we go on to Condumel.   How wonderful to have someone meet you, carry a bag, go straight to a car and deliver you to the condo.  So I had to ride on half a seat, it was quick and easy, I'll be first in line to bring stuff to people when they offer to pick me up!  
Jim was waiting at Condumel.  (I refuse to say anytime about Condumel any more.  It's the only place I will ever stay and I want to be able to get a room!)  It was so nice to meet him after reading his helpful posts.  
We unpacked the glass, all o.k., thank goodness.  We stopped by Greg's shop later in the week to see the finished products, my goodness they are beautiful!  
Jim gave us a ride into town so we could look for the Seasafe.  Couldn't find it, but found something similar.  Just used it the first time in the water as after that, we just waited for the masses of thimble jellies to pass by, floating on the current.  We saw them the first three mornings.  
The water was perfect!  Felt so good after all my swim lessons in the cold pool at Golden Community Center.  AND, I didn't have my preschoolers there to observe me as I did at home, their swim lessons were at the same time as my private ones!
Well, it paid off; I never needed my life vest.  In fact, I couldn't understand why I ever needed one before!  I felt like a fish, I never got tired, it was GREAT!  Chas showed up one day and went in for a swim with us.  He explained he couldn't float much 'cept on his back because he hasn't any fat.  Oh… that explains my buoyancy…
Oh well.  I had a great time in the water, felt safe 100% of the time, and can't wait to get back, of course.  
That night we walked into town.  On the way, a guy on a bicycle cart passed us and a bag of Nancy (sp) fruit fell off.  He looked but didn't come back, so we took it with us to munch on.   Marty was hoping for a band in the square so he could give me a dancing lesson.  I have pictures of him at his bar mitzvah in Boston dancing with ALL the girls.  While I, in a parallel universe (the Bible Belt), had to sit out even the square dancing in gym class.
There was dancing, but it was by groups on a stage, most entertaining.  Then there was some sort of coronation with crowns and bouquets.    We ran into Jim in the square, was fun to see someone we knew.  
Then we headed over to minigolf to find Sally to drop off the stuff for Chrysalis.  (I did finally walk around the course and it is as lovely as touted.  I couldn't find the jaguar, though.)  Sadly, Scott said Sally was out playing somewhere, so I asked him for directions to Tony's so I could collect my free marguerita.  Scott started to say, and then his friend Alvin jumped in.  They could take that comedy routine on the road, sort of a Lewis & Martin show. Too funny!   So we headed off with a vague idea, got to the corner by the dive shop with the tall glass on the corner and asked a taxi driver where Tony Rome's restaurant might be.  He said he thought it was at Punta Lagosta (sp).  I said No, that's not right and started down the street.  There is was, not half a block from the taxi.  I guess Tony hasn't brought his taxi union payments up to date.
Tony's margueritas, hmmm, what to say.  Very tasty.  Very strong.  I was slurring my words after ONE!  Then I had one more, what a fool I am!  Greg was there with his beautiful wife having dinner.  Marty had whatever Italian dish that Tony was eating, he really liked it, and I had two margueritas.   I had a lovely conversation with Paula from Iowa, of which I remember nothing except the picture of her son was so cute.  She lurks all the time, she says.  Hi Paula, did you have a hangover, too???   Met Tony's wife and children (They are SO beautiful!).  Tony agreed to save bottle caps for me to put in stepping stones.  We then walked out, hung a left and saw Christy across the street at the French Quarter.  I am amazed at all the people I have seen tonight that I know.  (By the way, now that I read the dive review of her company, I'm honored that she speaks to me, a lowly worm of a snorkeler!)  Marty walked, I staggered, back home.  (I love calling Condumel "home"!)   The next day, I was not so happy.  I'll never drink again passed my lips more than once.  But, thanks to mucho migraine drugs, I was o.k. by sunset.  We had two perfect sunsets, several nights with no sunset and the last night was a beautiful colored sky without actually seeing the sun sink into the water.  Walking into town we would see men throwing fishing line out from the shallow water, no pole, just a handful of line rolled up.  Some children playing in the water and many children dressed nicely playing on the sidewalk with their families.  Walking past the public beach, we would see many couples smooching in the shadows of the trees along the way.   (It reminds me of my last year of high school when I had to move to Tyler, TX.  I had never encountered cruising up and down Main Street before, but there really wasn't much else to do.)  It's no doubt much cooler, hanging out by the ocean breezes instead of back in town.   We passed the soccer fields with kids playing at 9 p.m.  I wonder if they take naps or sleep late.  I know the Mexican children down the street from me in Broomfield would have dinner at 9 p.m. and had to go to school at 8 a.m.  They looked pretty tired, sometimes.  

The next days were a pattern of Marty walking in to town to the bakery every morning to get pastries for breakfast.  Lunch was leftovers or tuna and egg salad sandwiches.  (I brought tuna in the flat packages while eggs, bread, mayo, chips, beer, soda, etc. all came provided in the condo.)  We did pick up some Mexican potato chips at the market, yuck.  I asked Chas to taste them to see if they were stale.  He said nope, not stale, they just taste bad.  I'll stick to corn chips down there.  We would snorkel when we got hot, then read in the lounge chairs.  I read probably eight books.  We would watch the sunset then walk into town for dinner.  Had Tony's ribs once, very tender and tasty.  Marty had some sort of fish he liked.  Adrian's dinner was delicious, as usual.  I could have had the crab and cream cheese things every night.   Had dinner with Chas at Johnny Bravo's Arracherras, and without him at the place next door, both were wonderful.
Had lunch at Loncheria Chavelas N.E. of Salas & 20th.  Good food and great smoothies.  Finally located the corner to get my popsicles, 20th and Juarez, won't forget that one again.  
A nice Indian couple and their baby arrived the next day, very frustrated as they had been grabbed from the airport by a time share person but didn't figure it out for awhile.  Wasted their day, poor novices.  Their baby was sick that night and the night watchman brought the doctor at 5 a.m.  She was better the next day.  The mother was too afraid of the water to get in there (12 ft. deep) so we told them about Playa Azul.  The last day, I talked the father into trying my snorkel mask.  He didn't want to get out of the water then, of course!  The mom and I talked about my swim lessons and she plans on doing them when she gets home.
Another of our neighbors got quite ill (projectile vomiting for 3 hours).  Sarah, the manager, said it was because she mixed pork and fish.  She said that was poison.  Have any of you ever heard of that?
Used the calling station once.  95 cents a minute, worked great.  We have always use the bank machines to get pesos, we were just much more careful about pocketing the money before stepping outside with it as we heard about pick pocketing occurring.  We brought down 60 one dollar bills, worked out exactly right for occasional taxis and tips for the daily maid.  The other staff we tip at the end of the trip.    We also took the advice of folks here and did not use our credit card in town.  Although, I have to say, we don't buy much to bring back.  We bought a pair of pants for Marty and meant to buy a hammock but didn't get back for it so I'll get it next month when I go down.  
Re: Chas - that boy is BUFF!  All muscle and brown as one can get without being black.  There I am putting on fake tan and sunscreen thanks to skin cancer and he looks like a cover boy.   (Now if he'd get that cig out of his mouth, he wouldn't sound like he was tubercular.)  

Altogether a perfect trip.  Lots of sun, some rain, didn't have to be sad at leaving 'cause I'll be back for 5 nights July 6th. We're going through Cancun for the first time in years, so I guess I better start looking at the bus and ferry stuff.  Any advice always appreciated.

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