I Hurt Myself Today

[CaptEsteban]

The bus trip to Itza is a fun ride. Last time I rode it, a young American woman walked to the front of the bus & spoke to the driver. He pulled over in a few minutes at a stretch of jungle, & she got out & went into the woods. Once everyone saw what was happening, about 20 other people ran off the bus & joined her ! It will be HOT up there !!
Glad to hear that you are healing & enjoying the trip. Maybe the Whale Sharks will get to meet you next year. Enjoy the remainder of your trip !!
I may go back to Isla Mujeres next year . Or here ;

http://www.bigcornisland.com

 

[K_girl]

Re: travel insurance. I've used Access America when I travel abroad and I have to say - they are great. They replaced my $500 camera after it flooded instantly with no questions asked. The insurance was for loss or damage by the "carrier" like an airline, etc. The "carrier" was a liveaboard dive boat, and the accident was because one of the crew placed the camera into the fresh water bin before I had a chance to close it. All it took was a faxed signature to the statement of what happened from the liveaboard carrier - all done on-line and I received a $500 check within days. I thought for sure they were going to come back and say that a liveaboard dive boat was not a "carrier" like an airline, but they didn't. I compare every time I travel and
Access America prices and coverage have always been better than DAN's travel insurance.

Mary - I want to hear all about the whale shark adventure (that is, if you still plan to go). Like what is the best way to get there and how well that worked out for you.

 

[alohagal]

Aloha everyone,

Yesterday, I took the ADO bus to Chitzen Itza. The bus terminal is on Avenue 5 right up the street from the ferry. The bus is very luxurious and the air conditiioning worked way too well. First time I wanted a sweater, really badly. It cost 230 peso round trip. Took almost 4 hours each way...but felt so much shorter. The seats are very comfortable and recline. Plenty of room to spread out, so sleeping was accomplished. There is a bathroom on the bus...but never had to use it. We stopped at 3 or 4 bus stops along the way. Quick enough to load people on and off. No waiting.

Chitzen Itza was fascinating to me. Really enjoyed my self guided tour. The tour guides wanted 600 pesos for a guided tour. I was not interested and the price kept falling to 300 pesos. Still wanted to do it on my own. I spent the money on books in the book store...to add to the library at home. The books were very good and explained everything in detail. They had at least 6 differfent books in English for Chitzen Itza alone.

Spent about 3 hours or more touring on my own. I wore a tank top and shorts and loved getting tan at the same time. Yes, it was hot...but I don't mind it. There were many, many spanish speaking tourists. I think most of them are coming from the Interior of Mexico. Hardly any gringos about right now. Which is kind of refreshing really. Makes me feel I am truly in the country I am visiting. Everyone is in a happy mood. I am treated so respectfully by the hotels, waitstaff and other persons in the tourist industry. It has been a real treat to be here during the "swine flu scare."

I know Cozumel is picking up on the scuba trade more and more each week. So, that is a good thing.

Mary

 

[alohagal]

BTW: Removed my own stitches Friday night. It was a little more difficult than it should have been. The tiny scissors I bought at MEGA were not the best tool to use. They were not good at cutting what was essentially fishing line.

I ended up using nail clippers to cut the knot. Of course I sterilzed eveything with Betadine first, and throughout the procedure. Caused a bit of bleeding when I pulled them out...but looking quite nice today. Dr. Richard told me that the 7 days of Levaquin was more than adequate for my antibiotic treatment. So, did not purchase any more. Too much antibiotic can be a bad thing.
You end up killing off your good bacteria. (glad I have microbiology under my belt). I think
Michael Jackson was guilty of going overboard in that area as well...if reports are to be believed.

I am excited because Tank Ha Dive shop is literally outside my door of my hotel. They were the dive shop I wanted to use but wasn't sure of their location...I got so lucky spotting them the other day! They really have a kiosk of a shop.

I am going to sign up for the whale shark snorkel hopefully for Monday morning. They pick me up in a van at 6 am,(right in front of my hotel...because of their location) transport to Cancun and then speed boat to the whale sharks near Isla Mujeras. You are back in Playa by 3-4pm. Cost is $185 includes ride, snacks, lunch and whale sharks. They also have pricing and pick up from Cozumel.

Mary

 

[alohagal]

Okay...all signed up for whale shark snorkel tomorrow. Leave at 6AM with Tank HA!!

Will let you all know how it went!

Mary

 

[DiverG]

Okay...all signed up for whale shark snorkel tomorrow. Leave at 6AM with Tank HA!!

Will let you all know how it went!

Mary

I am looking forward to the report.

 

[alohagal]

Bought liquid bandage 125 peso's and transderm patches (waterproof bandages usually put over IV's and Central lines) for another 125 peso's. I shlepped to countless farmacia's pricing stuff. Not everyone carried it. I figure my right arm is worth it. I am prepared for Whale Sharks and Cenotes!!

Mary

 

[MMM]

Bought liquid bandage 125 peso's and transderm patches (waterproof bandages usually put over IV's and Central lines) for another 125 peso's. I shlepped to countless farmacia's pricing stuff. Not everyone carried it. I figure my right arm is worth it.

Yeah, for less than $20,I'd say so! I'd pay for more than that for my dominant arm.

 

[CaptEsteban]

Ola Alohagal,
Sounds like you are ready to go. I hope the seas are good on the way out there, & that the Whalesharks are happy to finally get to meet you ! I am sure you know this,, but I would treat that wound well, after the trip & keep an eye on it.
Sounds like you rode the luxury bus to Itza. A/C & bathroom ! Blasphemy ! The last trip for me was on an old surplus school bus.
Have a great & safe trip !!!

 

[alohagal]

Way too many Whalesharks!
There were so many whale sharks in the water today...they kept bumping into our boat. It made it difficult to figure out which side of boat to jump off of and which whale shark to follow and photograph. :d

All the people in our boat were trying to estimate just how many of the critters there were. It was well over the hundreds. UNBELIEVABLE!!

If they were lionfish we would have been crying...that is how many there were!!

No need to go to Holbox! One hour north of Isla Mujeras and the water is literally teeming with them. No joke! It was the most surreal thing I have ever witnessed.

Don't need to spend $4000.00 to go to Galapagos to see whale sharks.

Mary
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