Day 5, Fifth Avenue, Playa del Carmen

5th Avenue

The rest of my group were going to the monkey preserve where you can enter their cages and let them climb all over you. At first, I was going to join them, but fatigue caused by yesterday’s heat and humidity made me change my mind. In the morning, I swam in the ocean and in the pool. I had to check out of the hotel by 12 p.m. as I was moving to a new hotel as my group was leaving (three to go home and Kris and Brandi to Cancun) and I didn’t see spending that much money on a hotel when I would be spending the days going on tours. The man who sold me some tours sent someone to the hotel to take my bags to the new hotel, in exchange for me to go to a time–share presentation. I also was given something off the cost of my tours. I wasn’t interested in buying a time share, but I had never been to one of these presentations and was interested in doing so. I was given lunch––the same uninspiring chicken fajitas as yesterday. Before going to my new hotel, I took a long walk down Playa del Carmen’s 5th Avenue, a very fun pedestrian street. Photo: Part of 5th Avenue.

5th Avenue

A map of 5th Avenue. It is quite long and much fun to walk on––loads of stores, restaurants, cantinas, etc. If you find a good hotel near 5th Avenue (preferably on the ocean), you really don’t need to go all–inclusive as there are so many places to eat at on the avenue.

5th Avenue

I thought that some of the prices were high here, especially for talavera––see photo. I have bought a lot of talavera and know my prices. I could buy almost everything that was being sold for a lower price in Los Angeles. But I still found some things to buy in the stores––it was much fun shopping. I have put a slide show of 5th Avenue on this website: Go to Slide Shows, Mexico, “5th Avenue, Playa del Carmen.”

5th Avenue

The Real Playa del Carmen Hotel

When I had checked in my hotel earlier, I just asked to have my luggage put in my room. It was twilight when I started to walk to my room. I saw a strange wild animal on the pathway and went back to the desk to report it. They thought it was very funny that I could be scared of this animal, but I insisted that someone walk back with me––a bellboy did, who was really laughing at me. I was feeling angry at them for finding me so amusing. They didn’t know the English name for the animal but I heard it called something that sounded like The Hun. Anyway, the next morning I looked for it, but didn’t see it again until the next morning. It was a Mexican raccoon, not so scary looking as at twilight. But if I didn’t know it wouldn’t come after me, even in the daylight I would have given it room. Photo: One of the hotel’s raccoons––they are supposed to have three of them.

The Real Playa del Carmen Hotel

A closer–up view.

The Real Playa del Carmen Hotel

The raccoon digging up the lawn in search of grub worms. The grub worm thing I know about as I have had raccoons (black and white ones) digging up my garden at home. I had to put in motion sprinklers to keep them out of my garden.

The Real Playa del Carmen Hotel

I wasn’t that pleased with this hotel, but I am the one who chose it. It needed some work and updating. The paths to the rooms were too dark at night and I had to ask for the toilet to be fixed three times. However, I slept really well here. Photo: the hotel––not a good time to have taken this photo.