PLAYA del CARMEN - a walk around

Almost everyone thinks about the Caribbean as an endless, white, sandy beach with clear waters and lots of palm trees.  A great spot to spend your vacation and relax.  And that is TRUE!!

Playa del Carmen is part of the Mexican Riviera – hotels abound – upscale resorts,  vacation rentals,  downtown hostels, homely B&Bs – there is definitely something to suit everyone.  However, it is extremely touristy and being only an hour from Cancun airport, where the majority of people arrive,  it  could be mistaken for a scaled down version of Cancun.

Also, it’s very commercial - McDonalds, TGI Fridays, Burger King, Walmart, even Starbucks –  they are all here.  The once small town of Playa is pushing out its boundaries but from the centro  everything is still within walking distance. 

On a short stop  you might never get beyond the thickly populated tourist area but on this sector of our journey we have opted to do just that and booked an apartment about 30 mins walk from the beach.

Where hotels are concentrated the beach can be very crowded in high season and is best avoided!   This is the Riviera Maya Beach Resort.   Beaches aren't the only places to hang out and there's a lot to do here from kayaking, swimming with dolphins, snorkeling, historic tours....don't let this picture give you the wrong impression, the beaches of Playa del Carmen stretch a long way and in some places become almost deserted.

 

This is the traffic-free main road - Quinta Avenida (5th Ave) - it is a wonderful place to be, narrow streets off the main road take you into the recesses of Playa de Carmen - there are tourists shops, fruit markets,  cafes, clothing and fashion outlets,  restaurants - almost anything you would want to buy can be found here. At this time of year the trees and flowers are in full bloom.  It is quite lovely.

 

The barber's shop - I left William in here getting a short back and sides!

 


WATCH YOUR STEP!*! 
It is not unusual to find manhole covers missing - even on busy streets - no warnings, no signage......and probably no-one to sue if you fall in.

  Pavements everywhere are full of holes large and small, broken bits stick up at angles or the pavement suddenly stops and starts again a few feet further on, there are so many trip hazards - enough to keep an Environmental Health department busy for years.   So be warned, if you're out for a walk don't take your eyes off the road ahead.  PS my foot is the one with the fancy shoe!

 

What a great idea - we often see trash bags suspended from trees -  a good way to reduce attack by animals.



?..holy moly!!

Every supermarket and grocery stores sells packaged mole ready to serve.  I know what you're thinking..."NO WAY, this is the last straw, I will never, not ever, eat a Mole no matter how it's packaged!'...........pronounced MOH-lay, this dark brown Mexican sauce or gravy, is made from dry chilis, spices, vegetables, chocolate, tomato + other seasonings.  It's often served over chicken but can be used for any meat dish - we are yet to try it.......

Mexicans just love music - and these strolling musicians are about as far as you can get from those terrible TV images of  droopy moustaches, big sombreros and aye-yi-yi music.  We have never yet eaten at a restaurant in any town without the pleasure of some live music.  Sometimes, just a single resident guitarist or a passing band, such as these guys.