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Trip Reviews, Ratings and Comments - Trip Review - Playa Media Luna 1
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Monday, June 11, 2001
We took the 6:00 a.m. hotel shuttle to the new HHH terminal in Minneapolis. They are in the process of tearing down the old terminal. The rubble reminded me of Jamaica. At 6:35 we were at Gate 14 waiting to board our 8:00 flight to Cancun. The flight was fine. Our seat mate was an MLT rep. She was going down to check out several properties.
We cleared immigration pretty quickly, but had to wait for our checked bag. Seemed like it was the last one to come off the belt. Customs was a green light. At the ground transportation booth (to the right - in the charter terminal anyway), the shuttle through the hotel zone was $11 p/p. A private taxi direct to P.J. was $41. Mike was very anxious to get to Isla, so we took the taxi. There was a brief wait for the ferry. We had saved some pesos from our last trip, so paying the 35 pesos p/p was easy.
The bank is 1/2 block from the ferry dock on Isla, so we stopped there to exchange some money before engaging a taxi to Media Luna. Soon we were in room 18 enjoying the view from the balcony. It’s not as expansive as the view from room 16, but it’s a lot cheaper. Room 16 is on the outer corner and has a king bed, so it is $15 more por dia. The waves and pink sunrises were still a delight from 18.
We unpacked quickly. The room is nice: two double beds, lamp for reading, balcony with hammock and chair, and a window with a screen to enjoy the breezes sans bugs. Actually we saw very few bugs. The A/C worked well, and the fridge kept things cool. The bathroom had a large sink with tile surround and a great walk-in shower with a spigot below for washing feet. Built in shelves were handy for stashing shampoo and other sundries.
We strolled down to Playa Norte. Our old shortcut behind Casa Maya has been fenced off, so we took the path to the lagoon. The sand in front of Tarzan’s and ChiChi Chitas has shifted a lot from our visit last June. The old pier posts which I snorkeled around are now fully exposed. After the long stroll down and back around, Mike took refreshment at NaBalam, so I joined him. Dos Dos XX for 25 p since it was happy hour. Those sweetly sour limes hit the spot. Finally we paddled around in the gentle waves.
Hunger beckoned, so we strolled down Hidalgo looking at menus. We even stopped at the new supermarket on the zocalo. I have a quirky interest in foreign grocery stores. I could spend hours browsing and examining the merchandise in minute detail - much to Mike’s annoyance. The avocados and mangoes were huge and just ready for eating.
We ate at Poc Chuc on Juarez. This was in the same location as the old Poc Chuc, but it’s the El Nuevo Poc Chuc. The previous Poc Chuc with the wooden chef-shaped sign has moved to the corner of Abasolo and Juarez. The food at the new Poc Chuc was okay, but Mike was hoping for larger servings. He had three small Swiss enchiladas with a little slice of cheese for 32 p. I lucked out with the comida del dia: delicious black beans, rice, pollo frajitas, tortillas, and a cooling horchata for 30 p. I shared my side dishes with Mike. I’ve learned the hard way that a hungry Mike is a dangerous Mike.
Sunset was approaching, so we walked to Playa Sol and just made the 4-7 feliz hora. Dos Dos XX for 20 p. The sunset was pretty but not spectacular. We headed home for our third shower of the day and a good night’s sleep.
Tuesday, June 12, 2001
A beautiful sunrise started the day...just enough clouds to spread the yellow and pink tones. We ate breakfast at M & J. The Mexican cazuela was very good. Today was a major beach day. We were parked in our rented loungers from 9:30-1:30. Then siesta/shower and back to the beach from 2:30-4:30. Mike got a little toasted even with the SPF 30. I got a few burn patches where the lotion rubbed off - wrists, knees, and under the straps of my swimsuit and sandals.
Our next dilemma was whether to go to Garrafon on Wednesday. Aren’t vacations tough? Did we have enough pesos, etc.? Our bank card didn’t work in the ATM, so we went to the grocery store and bought a few picnic items in case we did get the money for Garrafon. Then we trudged back to the hotel to get the MasterCard. Mike was getting hot and hungry. Danger, danger! Luckily the MC worked. We wanted to eat at El Balcon de Arribes but managed to walk past it twice. How did we miss those blue stairs? Too busy gawking, I guess.
Fortunately we found those blue steps leading up from Hidalgo and had an excellent meal: red snapper in snappy red sauce and chicken flautas with avocado sauce. Both came with huge sides of cole slaw and chunks of potatoes. Mucho gusto! Mike especially liked the chips and salsa washed down with cold Negra Modelos. Whole meal for 100 p.
The view from above was unique. We saw a guy hanging up his laundry and got a kick out of the big cigar over the tobacco shop. Plus we were serenaded by a musician with a classical guitar. He really got into the songs. So nice to see someone get such pleasure from their work.
We strolled around the square and watched a man make super flat “pancakes” inside a big iron griddle. He sprinkled it with sugar, I think, and rolled it into a tube. I was too full to try them. Does anyone know what they are called? A churro stand was also open, so I asked the price - 10 p - think I’ll have to pass. On a later evening I found out that price was for six churros.
We watched the stars from the balcony while sipping some rum and coke. Buenes noches.
Submitted by: Diane -- acorn@netins.net
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