With nearly two weeks on the road in Mexico, today was the first “sleep-in” day for the trip, in that we had a 10AM departure. With my gastric issues of the past few days, my body decided this was also the opportune time to let me sleep in until just after 7 o’clock – so I must be pretty crook for that to occur.
The plan for the day was to take a couple of hours and cruise into Playa del Carmen and then have the afternoon to ourselves before heading out in the evening for an included tour dinner.
All up it took us just over 3½ hours to get into our accommodations at the Portea Hotel, about three blocks from the Caribbean Sea.
I spent the afternoon exploring the so-called highlights of 5th Avenue including the beach and if you turned down the volume, you’d swear you’re in any over-commercialised, touristy area in the world – not my go at all.
I simply turned onto 5th avenue and walked barely 100 feet and was offered drugs, women, “special shows”, food, drink, tours and a facial – a facial FFS??? What tha??? I suppose it makes a change from the God Botherers who were looking to convert me earlier in the trip.
G Adventures has an in-house social project which encourages and supports locals in both improving themselves and their community and generally sometime during the trip, a visit is scheduled that is usually in the form of an information session/demonstration and a meal.
Tonight’s Planeterra Foundation visit took place in a local suburb at the El Hongo site which is bringing the arts to the local youths, which hopefully inspires them to take part in programs to develop their skills and give them confidence for a brighter future.
