Da "K" Spot: Last Stop, Cozumel!

So we finally arrived in Cozumel. A Mexican island about half hour off the coast of the mainland but a world apart. It was completely breathtaking and our favorite destination of our island vacation.We have agreed to go back and spend an entire vacation there.

You have to walk through their Duty Free "strip", which equates to a mini-shopping mall prior to reaching customs - they know how to get you, but there really were some great deals. We took advantage of them on our way back to the ship so we didn't have to carry all of our stuff around with us while on the island all day!

Just through customs, look at this sight!

...and then there were all kinds of the fun "touristy" things to do within the market square

Check out these guns!

Recreation of Mayan temples

We had a ball

Manicured gardens and statues

He's actually alive - and scared the crap outta me!

City square

So after exploring the market place we decided to go off the known path and explore the beautiful city before finding the beach. Yeah, I know - pretty risky in Mexico where we don't speak any Spanish but we figured we weren't on the mainland and not at any more risk than in any other place - so why not! You only live once - and this would sure be a wonderful place to go!

First, we exited the "safety" of the marketplace and walked towards the city

Next, we got cash! In dollars - but our receipt showed Pesos, LOL We were thousandaires!

Then, we found a taxi driver - who taught Darryl bad words in Spanish!

Took pictures with Castro and were on our way

It was a lovely ride through town. High end shops, a mix of old and new architecture - and the overall appearance of the area was simply beautiful. The city was gorgeous. We finally decided to head to an all- inclusive spot called Paradise Island (free drinks, food, water sports, etc. for like $60/pp. - much less expensive than what the cruise ship was offering for the same thing).

It was about a 15 minute ride through town

and another 10 minute ride on a dirt road

Now that's where it got interesting! Darryl went into full "military" mode - scanning his surroundings, not talking at all, checking out all possible escape routes and things within arms reach that could be used for a weapon! Meanwhile I was just talking to the driver and chillin' - but the thought did go through my mind several times that we were gonna be kidnapped by some cartel members and taken off into the woods and never seen again - was this risk worth it? Aggggghhhh

At times the car was going at less than 5mph and swerving from the left to the right side of the road almost fully enveloped by trees and bushes - avoiding potholes (or were they traps, did Mexican cartel members use IED's). And just about the time when I was about to "switch" to full military mode I saw the water...wheew!!!

But we still weren't there! LOL - we took a boat to the island. It was about a 5 minute ride. We rode over with a father and daughter who operates a business on the island. They taught us how to say "I love tacos!" in Spanish.