Leaving behind about seven inches of fresh snow and 30 degree temperatures in Sofia on December 20th, Kate and I embarked on an uber- belated, but well-deserved honeymoon to the 85 degree, soft white sand of Mexico. On a journey that took us from Sofia to Frankfurt to Atlanta (one night in the ATL) to Cancun, we started our trip by spending five nights on the wonderful islands of Holbox, located about two hours north of Cancun.
This was our primary pre-Christmas activity while staying in Holbox. There are no cars, no paved roads, and only a few golf carts. We started each morning with a run or some yoga, spent the afternoon reading on the beach, went for lunch and dinner in the town square sampling each of the restaurants during our time there. Guacamole and corn tortillas for every meal, and washing it all down with a Margarita.
Our hotel, Casa de las Tortugas, had an okay location.
Every morning from the 22nd until the 26th was spent drinking coffee here. The family that runs the hotel also held a Christmas Eve champagne toast here for all of the guests.
Kate and I were both worried as the numerous weather websites we checked called for clouds and rain almost every day. We were lucky, except for Christmas Day, we had almost perfect weather.
The sun sets were phenomenal each and every night.
Another day, another beautiful thirty minutes of beauty.
This is sunrise as we are about to catch the boat to the mainland. On the 26th we took the fifteen minute boat ride, caught a $3 bus to Cancun, and another $1.50 bus to Puerto Morelos, a small fishing village located mid way between Cancun and Playa del Carmen on the Riviera Maya coast.
The color of the water off the Mayan Riviera coast is pretty ugly.
Our hotel in Puerto Morelos, Rancho Sak O, featured beds suspended from the ceiling by ropes. It was a bit challenging to fall asleep because it always felt like you had too much to drink, your head spinning, even if you had only one margarita or cerveza.
Hammock-time!
The beach in front of the hotel was yours - not a soul in sight. Also, a major reef is found just off the coast of Puerto Morelos. One day we took the chance to explore this reef and went out for early morning snorkeling. I saw thousands of beautiful fish, one massive turtle, a smaller turtle, a ray, and some scary barracuda. Kate thought she saw a shark, so she spent most of the time on the boat catching rays (the sunny kind, not the fishy ones).
After spending three nights in Puerto Morelos, we ended our trip on another island - Isla de las Mujeres is located right across from Cancun. The color of the water here was the most amazing blue I have ever seen. We also found a lancheria run by this charming old woman where for three days straight we ate a lunch consisting of a plateful of guacamole, a cheese quesadilla, and chile rellenos stuffed with more cheese. It was divine. (note - the picture above is not the lancheria, but of a lavandaria located right near our hotel - I loved this sign).
