ISLA COZUMEL - Vroom! Vroom!...... is it a Maserati...???

We had hired bicycles several times during our stay but the intense heat of the day was not conducive to long cycle rides once the sun was at its peak which meant we hadn't seen much of the island outside of the main town so, on our last day, we decided to hire a car

A company in the next street had the best price deal and over the telephone we were told they only had a few cars including a Maserati.... WOW and only $US34 for the day - something didn't quite add up!

We completed the paperwork and walked to the adjoining parking lot with our helpful booking clerk, Jesus - well named, we thought, as we eyed the available cars, which looked as if we'd need all the help we could get!  .  None were new, not a problem, but all lacked TLC and debatable roadworthiness........

.......and there was our Maserati - actually, we never knew what it was as all the manufacturer markings were missing, so if you can name it from this picture do let us know.

They say the camera doesn't lie but it isn't true!  Our little car was covered in small dents and scratches everywhere.  The tank was nearly empty, there was no spare wheel, it had one working seatbelt and an engine that sounded like Concorde on take off.  'Have fun' said Jesus ' and don't forget to drive on the right'.  The roll top cover for the roof and back seats had long UV'd away but with no sign of rain we set off for a great day out.

We followed the coastal road south which took us past the international cruise ship docks - all full, then into the mega hotel zone, all full with lines of coaches parked outside the many resort parks.  We stopped briefly to refuel.

From there on the coastline was nearly always in view  but apart from a few stretches of pristine sand most of the beach looked rocky & pretty inhospitable.  However, there were several extended beach bars that looked attractive and we stopped for lunch and a couple of photographs..

For most of the journey the rocky beach was edged with brown Sargasso weed which smells less than pleasant on the breeze but it has its uses and here in Cozumel they collect it by the truckload and use it as a natural fertilizer because of its high nutrient content.

Our coconut cocktails arrived in hand cut 'glassware' and were delicious - slightly more alcoholic than we had expected but we weren't rushing off.  The beach restaurant sits at the entrance to the Punta Sur Ecological Park some 247 acres of nature preserve - mangroves, coastal dunes, lagoons, reefs - its rugged terrain can only be accessed by official park transportation and a guide.  We relaxed in comfortable chairs and watched the comings and goings of visitors.

Let this be a warning to us all!!



Join the queue.................

Having crossed the island west to east at the southern end we take the left curva peligrosa (dangerous curve) and head north for El Cedral the oldest Mayan ruin on the island.  Sadly, during WWII the US army Corps of Engineers destroyed a lot of it to make way for the island's first airport.  There's not much remaining of the ruins but it was worth a detour and we did meet the last living Mayan.

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San Gervasio Mayan ruins were next on the list,  accessed by a long 6km road leading off at a right angle from the upper road which crossed the island east to west.   When we got there the site was due to close within 45 minutes and we declined against going inside as there was not enough time to make it a worthwhile visit.

However, excitement on the way back when William slammed on the brakes to avoid a wild pig which ran across the road in front of us - too late for a photograph - we learned later that these pigs breed in the extensive areas of jungle on the island and hunted only in the weeks leading up to special events like Christmas or Easter.