Gelina and Dave's Adventures

Cancun is the rhinestone of Mexico's jeweled Caribbean coast - it's a big, loud, ugly touist trap with lots of high-rise lodgings, discos, and air-conditioned malls. The gorgeous beaches almost make up for that.

Our friends Mary and Trent had never been to Mexico before, so we showed them some of the sights. Based on their constant smiles, I think they had a good time.

We took a day trip from Cancun to Cozumel to do a little sightseeing and snorkeling. We rented a Tracker convertible (rag tops are a MUST in the Caribbean).

Some notes on driving in Mexico:

Don't drive at night.
Unless you're positive your credit card covers collision damage, take the rental insurance - it's a vacation and you don't need the hassle.
There is no such thing as a 4x4 rental car. Even if it says so on the side, be assured that they've disconnected the 4x4 to save on gas.
Road construction is often marked with flaming cans of oil.
Stop signs, speed limits, no-passing zones, lights, and turn signals are all optional.
Drivers honk at you, not because you're doing anything dangerous/stupid/illegal, but because they are about to do something dangerous/stupid/illegal.
The width of the road is infinitely variable, depending on how many cabs/trucks/buses/bicycles/scooters or pedestrians want to get around you.
Don't drive at night .

Off the plane and into the beach bar. Gelina, Trent, and Mary have their first drink in Cancun.	Our hotel and the beach bar viewed from the ocean.
G playing in the surf. Sometimes the waves were pretty rough, but there was only one day that they kept us out of the water due to the undertow.	Gelina and Mary at the swim-up bar with their special pink drinks that Juan Carlos made for them.
The limestone cliffs along the south side of the hotel's beach. Cancun has had a lot of beach erosion recently.	Trent and Mary on a boat ride across the Nichupte lagoon.
The four amigos in front of the hotel's idea of a Christmas tree.	We took the the ferry to Cozumel to do some sightseeing. Just getting up the gang plank was a real amusement park ride.
Playa del Carmen from the ferry. Due to some rough seas the boat became a bit of a barf barge.	Gelina snorkeling at El Parque de Chankanaab, a nation marine park on the southwestern side of Cozumel.
Trent tried to catch enough fish to make ceviche.	Gelina and her pet fish. Chankanaab is a small, protected lagoon with lots of habitat, so it's perfect for snorkeling. The park also has a cave system and a cenote
One of the coral heads in the park. This one is home to a little, blue fish.	Mary and Trent were having a ball snorkeling.

Our Adventures in Cancún