Travelers vs. Tourists

 

We are in Cancun and yesterday we went

to visit Isla de Mujeres, an island just off

the coast of Cancun.  It was our second trip

to the island, we had visited last year.

 

 

Last year we took the local bus into

El Centro where they told us to change

buses, which ended up being a van with

benches ringing the perimeter of the interior.

 

We climbed in, it was filled with local Mexicans

on their way to work.  They shyly smiled at us

because I'm guessing few sunburned Americans

ever get into this van.  We hopped out at the local

ferry which was a rickety old bucket of bolts but

filled with character.  We've been telling this story

all year...

 

 

Yesterday we walked a few minutes from our

Hotel Zone resort and took the gleaming new

ferry filled with other vacationers. 

No story there...

 

 

Last year we explored quiet streets on

foot, taking pictures, listening to the

sounds of everyday island life coming

from the homes, smelling what was

cooking for lunch, seeing life up close

and personal.

 

 

Yesterday we breezed around the island

in a golf cart.  If there were any interesting

sites or smells to be had, we missed them.

We were viewers from afar.

 

 

Last year we ate lunch out on the street.

We sang Feliz Cumpleanos en Espanol to

someone in another restaurant, the whole

street joined in.

 

 

Yesterday we had a very nice lunch in

a beachfront restaurant.  We listened to

loud American conversations all around

us.  If not for the view, we could have been

anywhere in the US.

 

 

Last year we found a deserted beach

where we snorkeled and frolicked in

the water and when we finally came

out of the water we realized 4 hours

 had passed.  Then we collapsed beneath

a palm tree and walked over to a local

beach bar for a pina colada.

 

 

Yesterday we rented chairs and an umbrella

on a beach where they brought drinks to your

chair.  The chairs were crammed together so

we had to suffer the loud music and stinky

fumes of cheap cigars from our neighbors...

 

Can you tell our preference in travel?

I'm not saying one is right and one is

wrong ~ absolutely not.  I'm saying find

what is right for you and enjoy it.