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Old 27 Jan 20, 03:40 PM  
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mitch84
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Marella flavours of the Caribbean - day 3

I wake up just before my alarm, and we are still at sea, but clearly getting close.

I get dressed, pack my day bag, and grab my water bottle and head up a floor to get some breakfast in the main dining room.

Great decision as I have great views of us docking in Cozumel next to the Norwegian escape. I have a small full English again with some black coffee and orange juice, then the captain comes on and announces that we can disembark.

I head straight off as I’m going on a tour to Tulum ruins today. First though we have to get on a ferry to Playa Del Carmen. I sit outside in the shade and it’s a pleasant 50 minute ride to Playa. Once there we get in groups and follow our guide to the coach.

After 25 mins they stop us off at the obligatory tourist tat shop. They recommend tequila tasting which I declined. They had some nice glassware, but very expensive.

Not long later we arrived at Tulum. We parked in the coach park, and walked past a cluster of shops/cafe’s and restaurants, before heading into the complex. It was very interesting, but very hot, and the guide was excellent at standing in the sunniest place to waffle on about something completely irrelevant to where we were standing.




So not being a great fan of an organised tour I was quite happy to be told we had some free time. I had thought about a swim but there were no changing rooms/lockers etc, so I take some photos then wander back to the complex.

I’m ashamed to admit I head to Starbucks, they have free (good) WiFi, sell almond milk, have free toilets and accept USD, so it’s a winner. I text DH and send him some photos, and manage to upload my first 2 days of trippies which is a good bonus.

We have best part of an hour on the coach, then we get dropped back off at Playa Del Carmen, I’m starving so I head straight for the tour recommended ‘authentic Mexican’. Well things didn’t go so well here. I ordered a Margarita, but I had to be really strict with asking for a minute with the menu, as they seemed to want me to order without it, they didn’t bring me a drinks menu at first, just wanted me to order a ‘special margarita’. I insisted and ordered a margarita that I could see the price of.





I then ordered chicken quesedillas. Well the food came and it was tasty, but then I felt a clunk, thought it was my filling, but no, there was a metal press stud in my food. Well I told the waiter, who said that if I found another one I wouldn’t have to pay for my food... I had eaten most of it anyway so just stopped. My drink was big and came served on a waiters head, but really just tasted of lemons, no kick or buzz to it at all. I realised why when 2 lads at the next table ordered theirs and it came accompanied with a bottle of tequila to add to taste. I hadn’t been offered that, so had paid £9 for a lemon/lime juice.
I paid on card, and I was pressurised into adding on a tip, I explained that I didn’t think that was appropriate given the metal stud, I didn’t mention the drink as I didn’t just want a shot of tequila. I just didn’t feel comfortable making a fuss on my own.
I fancied trying again with a drink and headed to Senor frogs, but whilst they accepted usd they gave chance in pesos and I only had a $20 note. So I gave it up as a bad job. I tried walking down 5th Avenue but hated it 4 stores down, all the calling at you etc, and I couldn’t go for a swim as there were no changing rooms and nowhere to leave my bag. So I just sat at the pier and waited for my ferry, along with most of the other people on the tour as it turned out.

My day had been interesting, I’m glad I saw the ruins, but it highlighted that I hated organised tours, and I didn’t think that much of Playa Del Carmen. Unfortunately the tour was really strict so I couldn’t explore Cozumel on my return, as our ferry was getting in 10 mins before we were due on the ship.
The ferry back was equally pleasant, sat inside this time, and I was glad to return to the ship. I was quite disappointed as Mexico was definitely on my bucket list; but also I think that’s the benefit of a cruise, you get a days taster to save you a very expensive holiday. I had always envisaged that on a special occasion DH and I would go one day, but I can cross it off the list, he’d hate it. I think had I had pesos, it would have been easier, so I could have stopped for drinks and snacks, but it’s hard juggling currency for a day, and I went to an ATM that looked official, and they quoted $15 fees, which was more than the drink I wanted. No one seemed to want my card payment, even the restaurant weren’t keen.
As we embarked near-ish my cabin I head straight back for a much needed shower and hair wash, then get changed quite casually tonight. I’m not doing anything fancy so just pop on a skirt, t-shirt and flip flops and leave my hair down and wet.
I can’t really decide what to do with myself tonight, I just feel a bit lost. I try to watch sail away but it’s blowing a gale again, my favourite guitar man was due on but he has a chest infection, so I just find a quiet spot to have a drink in the glass house whilst deciding what to do for dinner. I notice there is a free mini make over thing so I nip to that at 7. Turns out to be a bronzer but that works out nicely as I had put a bit of mascara on.

I decide then to head to the main dining room to have dinner; I’m not really that hungry, but the bronzer lady (who was the same girl who did my nails yesterday) really recommended the show, so I felt it would be best to eat now.
I order the chicken goujons which were lovely, followed by the roast chicken which wasn’t bad with rose wine.



I had a nice couple next to me who were really interesting, but I had decided to go to the quiz and see if I could find my quiz buddies from last night, but they weren’t there. I struggled on my own but still learnt a bit. Especially as the specialist subject was history, if only my lovely hubby was there as he has done a history degree.

I do go to the show as it had been recommended. I grab a Prosecco and settle in. I do like the included drinks table I must say. It’s better than expected but there is a little too much Anton Du Beke singing and dancing on screen for my liking, I don’t watch strictly for a reason. I’m glad I stay to the end though as the finale is really impressive. The dancers are incredibly talented.

Afterwards I go back to the Squid and Anchor, to watch the game show before bed. I’m really tired on the whole, and want to be nice and refreshed for tomorrow, it’s a murder mystery game show though and quite different and funny so I do stay til the end. I head to my cabin, make a berocca and read tomorrow’s cruise news, and go to sleep.

Edited at 07:06 PM.
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Old 27 Jan 20, 04:01 PM  
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vampiress88
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Oh my. I’d have kicked off big time at finding something in my lunch. And the cheek to say if you find another one it would be free. Urgh gives me the shivers.

Good to know your enjoying the ship though and staying safe too.

Like the sounds of a murder mystery quiz. I like that kind thing.
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Old 27 Jan 20, 07:07 PM  
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mitch84
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Originally Posted by vampiress88 View Post
Oh my. I’d have kicked off big time at finding something in my lunch. And the cheek to say if you find another one it would be free. Urgh gives me the shivers.

Good to know your enjoying the ship though and staying safe too.

Like the sounds of a murder mystery quiz. I like that kind thing.
Manage to upload another couple of photos!
The murder mystery show was funny, and the ship is fab
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Old 24 Mar 20, 08:54 PM  
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Old 24 Mar 20, 09:00 PM  
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I loved Mexico but hated the ripoff the tourist culture and the constant harassment on the streets (and why the hell would I want to buy a blanket when the mercury is hitting 90 degrees anyway ? )
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