Robert's Travel Blog

 A couple of days ago I moved from my middle-class staying to a decidedly more down-market (obvs cheaper) neighborhood.  Still very central, and parts of it are pretty nice: Playground for the kiddos: The lovely señora sells coffee, spices, and Cuban ciggies from her house: I can't smoke light cigarettes because they make me cough, but not as much as these cubanos! Here beginnith the bad: Parked just outside my building: I am just 1-1/2 blocks from Avenida Tulum, the major transport artery running N to S through Cancún: It wouldn't be Mexico without food stands! Just off the avenue are Cuban delicacies!

 Down a dark alley, where most of the businesses have gone bust, and the others are shuttered, I came across "Tide House Baby." Wha? Did I play?  Five pesos (29¢) a go, of course I fucking did! Did I win, of course I fucking didn't! But the sheer joy of discovering this random oddity was worth more than 29¢!

 No free breakfast here! I had to make do. No commentary necessary, you can follow the pics. This is actually much better than it looks!

 I had four hours to kill between leaving one hotel @ 11 a.m. and checking in to the new one at 3, so whatcha gonna do? I went to Plaza Las Américas, Cancún's biggest mall. Have I mentioned that I hate malls?  They make me dizzy.  Honestly, as soon as I get about 50 feet in, I start to feel dizzy and disoriented.  I dunno, maybe it's the size, or maybe the sheer gaudiness of unbridled capitalism on display.  Whatever. This mall (at least the parts I ventured into) is covered but not enclosed, so it's barely cooler than the ambient temperature, S (sweltering) degrees. I had a vague notion to go to Sears to buy a shirt but didn't get that far, just sat on the bench and read my book and listened to music. I had a vague fear that one of the (many) security guards might hassle me, then remembered that this is México, where no one gives a shit about what you do as long as you're not annoying anyone. I did have a delicious salted caramel creamy frozen coffee drink from...

 Pozol is a pre-Hispanic drink made from corn and either coconut or cacao.  This was my first pozol and I went for cacao. Sez Wikipedia: The Base Material: Corn is cook-treated with lime water (nixtamalization), ground into a thick dough ( masa ), rolled into balls, wrapped in banana leaves, and allowed to ferment for anywhere from a few hours to several days or weeks. Fermentation Profile: As it fermentation progresses, the dough develops a slightly sour, tangy, complex flavor. The fermentation process enhances its nutritional profile by boosting B vitamins, amino acids, and beneficial probiotics." But, you ask, how did it taste? Not great.  Like gritty (from the ground corn) slightly bitter watered-down cold cocoa.  But, refreshing in the Cancún heat.  Would I get it again? Nah.  30 pesos ($1.71) for the generous liter. A block away from my old digs is this Chinese place. Buffet-style. I got take-away. Your choice of two sides and a main for 95 pesos ($...

 Some parts of it are beautiful: But there's *this* right next door and a few houses down: They made me change rooms. First time in a year of travel that I've had to change rooms when extending a stay, but I shouldn't bitch coz the new room has a kitchenette: It's not a patch on the kitchen in the hostel/hotlel I was staying at, but at least I don't have to worry about anyone stealing my yoghurt! Right down the street from me is the "Revolutionary Federation of Workers and Country People of the State of Quintana Roo." Just between here and the market, some hotels have these signs: "Rooms from 1 hour for $11.43 / 2 hours for $13.71  / Climate [air conditioning] / Cable / 24 hours. If you smoke in México, your fruit will become strangely distorted: Just a pretty intersection: Entrance to my apartment building, a bit foreboding at night.  Have I posted a pic of the courtyard? In the front of my building is a water dispenser.  Select the amount & pay....