Robert's Travel Blog

 One of the things I love about Cancún is the lovely tropical greenery, most of which is of course unfamiliar to me.  Just in my block there are interesting/ pretty specimens. Outside my door is this coconut palm with fruits in various stages of ripeness.  I'm afraid to sit under it to smoke, don't want to get bonked in the head! This one I recognize from my plant days. It's an Adenium, aka Desert Rose, very popular here. Google tells me this is Moringa oleifera aka the drumstick tree. You can guess where it gets its name from. And it sez this is Terminalia catappa, the tropical almond tree. Miscellaneous:

 Sort of.  I should rather say, I assumed basic human decency, and was disappointed. I've been using some wonderful audio snob Grado Labs headphones ($125), a generous replacement after my el-cheapo ($35) ones got Peppered (only Bri will know what that means). But . . . all good things must come to an end.  It was a rapid decresence (is that a word?), the left channel got noisy then died. So I ordered these uns: Therens, wireless and noise cancelling, for the low low price of 899 pesos, some $53. Two things I have explain here: 1) Rappi. Omnipresent in most cities I've visited.  Want a Big Mac in 20 minutes?  And a toothbrush too, let's add a papaya?  No problemo.  Their delivery motorcycles with the boxes on the back are everywhere, and the reason they can deliver so quickly. 2) Cancún addresses. In 1970 Cancún was a fishing village, then built up to the fantabulous touristic attraction it is today.  So it's a "planned city." Unfortunately the pl...

  Mine is easy -- it's tiny. Always Pepsi or Coke in case, milk (this one is special and pricey, 54g of protein as I try to get up to my recommended 100g per day) and a fruit juice.  I have gotten so used to always having "agua fresca," my fave flavors mango and maracuyá (passion fruit). My old standbys (refried beans and yogurt) plus a half-eaten burrito as I try to get used to these horrible denture thingies.   Everyone need a treat!  This is my first Reese's (the deliciousness of which is the best argument for God) in 13 months.

 Just another walk 'round the 'hood. Lady Barber Dasha! "Throwing Trash Prohibited," what better invitation? Hardware store:

. . . except it's not a consommé, which is clarified stock/ broth.  Iinstead, it's a dense beef broth, cooked for four hours, with the meat falling off the bone.  Intensely beefy and delicious.  The stand, about a km from where I live, is open evenings from ? p.m. to 1 a.m. I go once or twice a week, so the guy always greets me with a smile. Some people just get tacos. But here is the real thing: the finely chopped meat added into the delicious broth.  Chopped onions, lots of cilantro, and a sqidgen of hot sauce. Yum! 110 MXN ($6.50), with a bevvie, not exactly cheap, but worth every penny! 

 It's not the Hotel Zone and all-inclusive, but downtown Cancún wins hands down in terms of visual interest!  I went out before the heat arrived. You always have to keep an eye on the sidewalk -- there are obstacles everywhere! What the hell is this thing? I'm guessing a water tower from outer space.  (Later research: yup, it's a water tower, but not from outer space.) You don't see much (any) street art in the Hotel Zone, only in downtown. It's not all pretty! Sometimes even the sidewalks are interesting.