tilly’s moments

After two days in Cancun, early in the morning, I took a bus to Puerto Morelos (about 45min south of Cancun). I just knew that I have to get off the bus at a specific intersection to Puerto Morelos. A quick chat with the driver was helpful. The bus stopped at a gas station close to the intersection. Then by taxi about 3km to the village. James and me arranged a location to meet each other in advance. After a while he picked me up from there.

James is Canadian who has decided to leave his country/home to enjoy the life in Mexico. He also traveled as a backpacker in the past thus we are tuned to the same wavelength. Currently, he lives with a nice/congenial Canadian woman (Julie) in Puerto Morelos. Anybody who wants to read his story, click here. In fact, in the few days I met  a number of people from U.S. and Canada who have decided to live in Mexico (cheaper, better taxes, less bureaucracy/red tape, etc.).

Regarding the low season, everything was pretty quiet and stood idle. But it wasn’t really a problem, I passed the time with walks on the beach, swimming and many visits of various bars because there always you can find contacts and specific informations ;). In particular, I will keep the little cocktail bar (bar tenders Jordana and Ernesto) in my mind, where you got decent mojitos and also the location of the best steak in town at “Chimichurri”. James already traveled my planned route in the past, so I got very helpful informations before I left…thanks buddy!

     

So far, easy going and relax mood…

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All right, let’s start the next round…to explore the globe and capture the moments 😉

As a region to start I decided to go to Central America. In particular the little country “Belize” was planned for a first longer stay. Not sure why exactly, but I watched a very interesting documentary about Belize a few time ago and I liked it pretty much. The diversity of opportunities (a mix of rain forest, mountains / trekking, Mayan culture, Caribbean Coast / Diving, etc.) as well as the missing awareness regarding the country generally grabbed me to be there soon.

While a few conversations before I left, I got a hint that there is an old “tennis buddy” (Olli G.) living in Belize with his own family and business for about 10 years. I haven’t seen him since more than 20 years, I guess. I couldn’t believe the story. I got in touch with him immediately after I received the information. The answer came promptly (and surprised too!) and of course we agreed to meet each other. It couldn’t run better…

All right, on 22th of September 2012 via flights Berlin – Miami – Cancun a first short stop in the east of Mexico. From there you just go further and further south along the Riviera Maya by bus and / or boat to Belize. In relation with my planned itinerary Olli also sent me a contact from Puerto Morelos (small town south of Cancun) in order to make a stopover. I contacted the buddy (James) told him the funny background story and I received an invitation to Puerto Morelos promptly.

But the first small taste of traveling I already got before I left at the airport check-in counter in Berlin – the annoying stories regarding necessary return-/or onward tickets. Of course, for Mexico I didn’t book anything, because the onward journey should go in a (still) undefined way via bus and boat to Belize. For some countries (e.g. USA, Canada, Australia, China, etc.) I noticed this specific fact but about Mexico…I didn’t so far. Anyway, now I’m a little bit smarter and know that the paranoid U.S. administration protect their borders in alliance with Canada and Mexico and the other two states have to follow the regulations of U.S.

After a few discussions at the airport I had no choice. I had to buy a “temporary flexible ticket” as evidence of “Return-/bzw. Onward journey” with an option to cancel it at any time. The cancellation (including reimbursement of expenses) would  only work with an evidence of departure from Mexico. The opportunities of a (flexible) onward journey by car, bus, boat, etc. doesn’t appear/consider in those kind of regulations/rules. Finally, we made an agreement. I should submit all received bus and boat tickets as well as passport stamps to the customer service center after I left Mexico. Great feeling if you don’t know whether you will get comprehensible tickets which are matching the exact requirements of German regulations at all…at least my experience in a bunch of countries. Well we will see…

But then, the lady at the airport check-in counter of American Airlines in Miami was definitely more sympathetic, as you can see … 😉

Cancun was just planned as a short stopover, because it is known as a common “touristy-place”. I didn’t have a detailed look in the short term, of course, but it wasn’t no more an interesting town for me, at least what I had seen and heard, without special charm. Nevertheless I stayed there the first two nights to acclimatize and thinking about next destinations etc.. I have found a decent hostel with a lovely roof terrace (including small Jacuzzi) where you were able to get an easy and relaxed start…perfect 😉

Hostel (Dachterrasse)

Alles easy und relaxt zu Beginn…perfekt 😉

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