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10/04/2003 Archived Entry: "Cancun - still Mexico?"
Time is a relative concept, so let's start a week before today's date. I was in Cancun last weekend, 4 days to forget about the relentless pressure of work. This was my 3rd time in the resort, lucky me, and the least exciting stay of all (unlucky me).
Nothing to complain about the package from Hyatt, including flights on Aeromexico. The hotel (Hyatt Cancun Caribe) was nice enough, though I still prefer the Omni Cancun, further down the strip of white sands that extends for 20 km. In general, my conclusion as a diligent beach jogger is that the Hyatt has the last attractive beach in Cancun, all the hotels further North boast disappointing patches of sand dotted with rocks and garbage.
So what's wrong about Cancun? Well, in a nutshell, besides beautiful beaches, it's getting boring, or to be more precise, boring like the USA. The same brands, restaurant chains, discos, politically correct attitude, manicured lawns, hotel blocks, are found everywhere. All with the same pleasant average quality, nothing exceptional, nothing to make you raise an eyebrow either.
Granted, the atmosphere in a resort is influenced by the tourists who travel there. I have reached the conclusion that Cancun is best appreciated around Christmas and New Year. Sure, the prices are at their very highest, but at least when you go out you have the opportunity to meet interesting characters from everywhere in the world, Mexicans, South Americans, Europeans, etc.
As silver lining to a rather dark cloud, I had an excellent dinner on my last night in Cancun. The restaurant is located by Nichupte lagoon not far from the Omni hotel and is called the Laguna Grill. The food is a sort of Asian fusion cuisine served in a nicely and originally decorated multi-level dining room. The cook is Swiss and the restaurant only 1 year old. Next door is the club Tragara, sharing the same exquisite decoration and lagoon-side charm that reminded me of similar clubs in Greece. Both are highly recommended, over and above the industrial eateries further North.
Next year I shall pack up several bottles of mosquito repellent and try staying in Playa Del Carmen, slightly over 50 km South of Cancun. Who knows, maybe I'm getting addicted to the Mexican ambient mess and American hygenic blandness is bound to cause some allergy? Ah, no, I just wish that the beaches of Cancun were in Cartagena de Indias (Colombia) - I would never travel elsewhere!
Replies: 1 Comment
I can't believe you think you have a balanced perspective on Mexico. Given this kind of condescending attitude, I'm surprised you are allowed to do business there, or do you keep all these little demeaning observations buried down deep inside as you smile and smile and accept the friendship of your Mexican partners?
You might just find that an acceptance of the way things are will get you a lot further than thinking you are there to "show 'em how it's done." Mexican people do not necessarily have the same goals as does our society, and this reflects right up to the top levels of their government.
Hard to imagine how anyone could actually live in Mexico, as I have, and write nothing about the great music, food, and big hearts of the Mexican people.
Posted by Ron Mears @ 11/16/2003 07:11 PM MEX
