I had ordered a taxi for 5:45 am – because I needed to be in time since I did not know how long time it would take to the airport, time to baggage drop, security check and all. Turns out I was way out, that is way early, but then again, better to be early than to miss my flight which would be a bother. I did get stopped in the security check for my bag but I don’t actually know why – they never said, only looked through my bag. It could have been the fruit I’d brought for the flight. I did make it inside and the terminal is very small and easily navigated so I had time for a breakfast sandwich before boarding.
The boarding procedure was, interesting, to say the least. First off the pilots were delayed from one or two different domestic flights, so the boarding was already delayed according to plan. For the actual boarding the priority and families with kids went first of course. Then came the rest, at least they tried to organise it by having the aisle seats entering last (which I was one of) which was logical. The to me not so understandably was that there was one of the staff checking passports and boarding cards, at least until there were perhaps a third of the passengers left to board. After that another of the staff started helping out getting the passengers onboard. This I believe was one of the reason we were later than planned (independent on the pilots of course), and when you are late enough to start taxiing out, you’ve probably missed your slot and we had. We had to wait for some time on the runway, not hours, but a while. Luckily I was not in a hurry, this is my vacation and I’ll make do with a delay.
The flight itself was rather slow, I had some time to read, watch a movie (Into the Wild), eat my brought fruits and nuts as well as a couple of whiskeys. At the later part of the flight I got to talking with the couple next to me. They were heading to Cancun for the first time and to a resort in the hotel zone. They had somehow won the trip and it was also their first time on a resort. The fellow worked in construction and the girlie in the fishing industry – even though they lived inland, approx. 600 km north of Vancouver.
The Mexican migration was even easier than the Canadian and it feels as if the US could learn a thing or two from these two countries. A quick pick-up of my bag and through customs and I’m in Mexico. Viva Mexico!
I bought an ADO ticket to Cancun downtown for 75 pesos and went outside into the warmth – AWESOME! It was as I remembered it outside of the terminal, full of taxi drivers trying to pick up a ride. Knowledgeable and experienced as I am, being here a second time – 🙂 – I went straight for the ADO buses. I had to wait about half an hour but chatted up a girl visiting friends in town – from a previous time when she had been studying in Cancun. Found out this way that not everyone coming to Cancun is trying to use the local (small) buses – since they are a little confusing.
After a few minutes waiting on the bus another lady (maybe that sounds a bit weird, she was most likely younger than me) came up asking for help – she needed a mobile with data traffic since she had forgotten hers at home. Since I’d just payed for 500MB of data I let her use my phone.
The bus came when it was still light outside, but it soon became dark and the drive did take some time due to the Cancun traffic – I wonder if there are times when there are no traffic jams in this area. From ADO downtown central I directly went for a taxi, and yes, I should probably not have paid the 100 pesos but I just wanted to get to the ferry. In the end, perhaps, it was good that I didn’t haggle since after buying the ferry tickets (150 pesos one way – but you always buy return), the ferry was unloading and 5 minutes later I was on the ferry to Isla Mujeres.
I quickly found the hotel (the island is very small and I had not forgotten everything) and checked in with Carlos. I got up to my room which was without balcony and extremely hot. I quickly checked the room, unpacked what I needed to and stashed my valuables into the safe – which could not be locked. So, you all remember how a hotel room safe looks like. Small, a door, a keypad – that’s it, right! No – not everywhere, here it’s more old school and does not have a keypad, so before managing to lock it I had to run down to Carlos. I even had to run down to Carlos a third time before heading out – since I could not for my life understand how to lock the door. It was real simple. Press the lock button on the inside and then close the door.
I knew exactly where I was heading, Tres Mentiras, for some Isla brewery beer and a bit of a food. I had a special (three tacos and a cheap beer), tequila and La Mordida (IPA). I was tired and warm and just hung out. Later on a family of three sat down by the table beside me and I just had to talk to them since they were trying (unsuccessfully I would say) to play UNO with two players – and with incorrect rules. Thus before heading back to the hotel I joined one hand of UNO and helped them along the way with at least some of the rules.