Day 1: New Years Day 2012 in Playa Del Carmen

I spent new years eve in Toronto at the airport. I really wanted to make sure I wasn’t late to catch my 4am Check-in and 6am flight on January 1st. One of my good friends accompanied me on the journey and spent New Years Eve with me till 6am drinking beer at the airport and listening to music.

While attempting to check-in at the airport, the clerk mentioned that the flight I booked from Toronto to Houston (and I took a connection flight to Toronto to Houston and then to Cancun) was overbooked and she offered me an 8am flight direct to Cancun. I agreed to it, after all it was a bonus considering I could sleep all the way to Mexico without any interruption.

I arrived in Cancun International Airport at 12pm Mexican time. The 3 hour direct flight on Air Canada was perfect after an all nigher in Pearson International Airport.

The flight was very pleasant, I shared the three seater with a very nice older married couple who I didnt get to speak to much because I was passed out from my airport NYE adventures. I woke up just when we were about to land with an adrenaline rush that filled my body and mind for the adventure that lay ahead.

After clearing Mexican customs, I searched for a bus that was heading over to my new home in Playa Del Carmen. I jumped into the small bus with another married couple from Toronto who shared with me their story regarding their visit. They were here to see their son who quit his job at Bloomberg and now lives in Mexico with his taste for adventure and his new passion for photography. Along with them, I shared the ride with a German man and an interesting German woman who told me about her adventures in travel and her New Year’s Eve in Mexico City. She was supposed to have met her friend in Tulum but instead accidentally booked a flight to Mexico City instead of Cancun which is a heck of a lot closer to Tulum. Regardless, her error resulted in an exciting night in Mexico City and an awesome adventure to Cancun. This is what this journey is all about! Connecting with people all over the world who come to Mexico for adventure, find themselves and sharing stories.

After fumbling with my iPhone to try and pull up a Google map, I decided that I had to find a Wi-Fi hotspot so I could check my mail and do my check-in on clients, projects and my other life in Toronto, Canada. I spoke to an American couple who told me to go stand outside a hotel down the street near the beach that had spillover of free unprotected Wi-Fi. I hustled over, took out my laptop and set up what looked like a portable command center with my laptop and techie gadgets.

I pulled up the map and noticed that I was a good 30 minute walk away from my place!

Starving and dehydrated from last night’s beer, I decided that I would suck it up and do the walk. Realizing that I would be walking past the tourist spots and venturing in the local housing to my destination without any knowledge of the safety or reactions I would spark walking with a full backpack and winter jacket in my hand, I was still up for it! After all, I was after some adventure!

After packing up my command center and getting ready for my journey to my new home, I headed up the famous tourist street of 5th Ave North. My destination was 5th Ave and 75th Ave. Along the walk I checked out the tourist shops and restaurants. This is a beautiful city! All this action and just one block to the right of me was the most beautiful beach. Pure white sands and turquoise water.

I continued to head up the street and slowly the tourists and related shops began to fade away. I was now surrounded by the locals. The real Mexico so to speak. The homes were distinct to the people and as I continued to walk further into the horizon of tourist central, I contemplated on the life of the locals. The moped riders, cyclists and humble vibes from everyone I walked past. All the families and children gathered in the front of the house, eating, drinking, laughing and enjoying music with dance. It was truly refreshing!

I now needed to make sure I was on the right path to my new place, I needed to ask for directions. I saw a young Mexican woman standing by a house and I approached her. She did not speak any English but yet she was very warm and caring and through a series of sign language and broken up Spanish on my part, she stood there helping me with directions. I looked across the streets and neighbors overlooked the whole interaction with curiosity. A man then came out of the house who appeared to be her father. At least that is what I could tell from the way she was interacting with him. He too was happy to assist me on the right path. I wish I could have spoken a little more Spanish at this point… I thanked them both and I headed a few blocks away to my new home.

When I arrived, my jaw dropped as I looked passed the tall iron gates guarded by an ancient Mayan head carving. It looked like a forest converted into a living complex. Lush exotic trees, plants and the sounds of birds and animals filled the air. I yelled out for my Hostess. “Maria! Maria!” and she came down to greet me. As I walked with her to my place, I was speechless. I can’t believe I will be living in this complex for the next month. It was absolutely beautiful!

Maria showed me to my suite which belongs to her but choose to sublet to me. I took about an hour to settle in as we talked about life journeys and spirituality. She shared with me her story. She is originally from Finland and she moved to Playa to live her dream and that she truly does! It is rare to meet people who are truly happy and living their dream from every angle. Maria was certainly one of those people and it was reflected in the living space. Her space to the last detail is a mirror reflection of her true self. I thanked Maria for sharing her home with me. She went back to her place and brought me back a set of keys to her bike lock. She told me that I was free to use her bike and that next week she will get me my own bike which I can use for the duration of my stay. This is perfect because in the area that I am living, I am surrounded by local homes and there is nothing much around in terms of shopping or places to eat.

After settling in for about an hour, it was time to grab some grocery to make my first meal and to also grab some Tequila for some drinks as I enjoy some down time.

I rode Maria’s bike into the city wearing my backpack. I stopped off in downtown Playa Del Carmen and picked up ad 40oz of Tequila. This would last me a whole month unless I have some guests over. Otherwise, I drink very occasionally.

I then head over to a big box store and grabbed my first batch of groceries. The place was called Mega. It was a huge superstore that had all my grocery needs. I headed home, parked the bike and made my first meal… Nothing special, but it was a start. Some sprouts, raw spinach, a fresh avocado and some canned fish. And of course some hot salsa! I grabbed a jar of salsa from the Mega store but I will be buying some fresh stuff from the locals as soon I get a chance later.

I went to bed at around 8pm and slept about 14 hours. Tomorrow I am planning to do some more exploring since Maria left me the key for her bike again.