Go Go Mexico

Mexico has stolen out hearts even in the short time that we were lucky enough to be in its presence.

Emma and I were wide awake at 4am and with no hopes of going back to sleep, I did my 20 lengths and we grabbed iced americanos and freshly squeezed orange juice and took them to the nearly deserted beach.  When our stomachs told us it was breakfast time we stumbled a bit further up the road for omelettes and fruit sprinkled with desiccated coconut. Dreamy. 

First stop -Tulum, 45 minute drive. Mayan ruins smack bang on the edge of the Caribbean Sea and bright turquoise water. 

Next, the highlight of the day for me -swimming with turtles. I've only ever seen baby turtles, so swimming an inch away from fully grown ones is something that definitely will stick firmly in my memory. They are so graceful and beautiful, popping their little heads up to the surface intermittently between delicate strokes.

Lunch stop -mixed seafood ceviche, guacamole and coconut water straight from the coconut. I could eat like that everyday I reckon. 

On to underwater cave snorkelling. But not before jumping off the precarious looking cliff face into the '6 metre' deep (more like 3, close call) freezing cold water. It certainly got the circulation going if nothing else. 

Back to the hotel, a plank competition poolside and out for dinner. You know a place is good when it looks quintessentially local (and let's face it, a bit of a dive) yet every table is full and streams of people are quite happy to queue and wait for the chance to eat there. Margherita on the rocks and tortillas con pollo y queso. Basically a delicious concoction of onions, garlic, peppers, chicken, cheese and of course a mighty hit of chilli served with warm corn tortillas. 

Questionable alcohol (I think I used the term 'defective' to describe it's effects more than once), dancing and general tomfoolery in town before dragging ourselves back to the hotel to wake everyone up with late night pool antics. 

Safe to say the 10 hour bus drive to Belize is presenting us with some issues this morning. 

Move over Mexico, yes please Belize.

Viva La Mexico

It's 5.04pm and although my body tells me I should sleep (11.04pm back home),  I've whacked some Piz Buin allergy suncream on (yes, I am one of those fortunate people who is plauged with attractive heat rash) and am sitting on the rooftop in the 30 degree heat, fiercely ignoring the steady increase of red dots on my chest. 

Flight was long but made bearable by about a thousand episodes of The Big Bang Theory, a friendly Swiss fella sat next to me and this killer view as we came into land.

Eagerly awaiting the arrival of big sis but in the meantime we have the obligatory group meet up; a time where you awkwardly introduce yourself and secretly suss everyone out. 

I'll leave you with a few highlights of my afternoon:

1) When I understood the taxi driver's rapid (and complementary) Spanish -"yes, I have collected Madeleine...the one with the beautiful eyes".

2) "How long is it to Chichin Itza?" Me. "How long to Chicken pizza!?" (Driver could barely get his words out he was laughing so hard at his joke). 

3) Devouring an ice-cold frappe after 30 hour journey.

4) Looking up at the pretty pot plants above me.

5) A rather large lady happily lying in the tiniest black thong and nothing else...with not a care in the world.

6) The sound of bottle tops coming off beers and falling to the floor. 

Until tomorrow...