Playa Del Carmen – Cancun - 70km ^15
The road from Playa Del Carmen to Cancun headed along what is
known as the Riviera Maya, and even though the route was next to
the ocean, one couldn’t see it.
World-renowned Cancun was a strange city as the town began as a
planned tourism project in 1974. Since then, the city has been
transformed from a fisherman’s island, surrounded by virgin forest
and undiscovered shores, to Mexico’s most well-known resort. Most
Cancúnenses aren’t from Mexico, and there wasn’t much Mexican
about the place (unless you consider the thousands of tacky curio
stands Mexican). That said, the city was deliberately located upon a
stunningly beautiful stretch of coast. As just about all visitors were on
vacation, Cancun had a relaxed mood, which could encourage anyone
to kick back. Therefore, it wasn’t surprising that a growing number of
people from America and Europe got stuck there.
Regrettably, I had to find a room in the city centre as the hotel zone
was out of my price range and they might not have allowed me in.
Hahaha.
The following morning, I searched for the US Consulate to inquire
about obtaining a visa. Unfortunately, they didn’t issue visas –
Merida, the capital of Yucatan state, was the place to go in that
regard. They, nevertheless, gave me the website for the application
(a whopping $160 to apply, and then, hopefully, you get an interview
with the consul). However, that all had to wait until I reached Merida,
300 kilometres west.
Staying downtown wasn’t bad as the area had a more distinct
Mexican flavour. Following sunset, the central plaza came alive with
villagers gathering to chat and eat from the many mobile food carts.