Isla Holbox

This is my new favorite beach place. Well i will probably say that a lot this trip, so it is my favorite thus far. Its a teeny tiny island 3 hours north of Cancun, right off the tip of the Yucatan penninsula. It has about 1000 inhabitants and the tourist industry is not heavily developed so while there is a large presence of tourists they only have small hotels and hostels. Hilton hasn't made it here yet. Although apparently there are plans in the works by some Mexican millionaire to build a huge resort on the island and turn it into another Playa del Carmen. I hated Playa del Carmen. Tulum also is developing really quickly, and as much as I loved Tulum, it doesn't have the magic of this little island.

We are staying in a little cabana hostel/campground establishment. Its incredibly cheap, only 110 pesos a night for the dorm room. And its really beautiful and clean with a nice garden and hammocks and space to do yoga. Last night we went out for dinner at an italian restaurant, and there was a table of really drunk people who were singing along to a guitar player, very loudly and not very well. But it didn't bother me, it was just funny. Juan Carlos joined in with them and then the whole restaurant sang a mexican soccer song together. It was great. Juan Carlos learned that these people are from the same city that he is from! So that was a funny coincidence. We saw them again today, and one of the people who had not been at the restaurant was Juan Carlos's neigbour from home!! Small, small world.

When we arrived we had to take a ferry across the bay from the town of Chiquila, but the boat was full before we managed to get tickets so we climbed in a "lancha", a small boat, with 5 other men. Juan Carlos was talking to them and I was understanding bits and pieces, but they said the were musicians and they come here to perform at a bar called 'Mescalito'. They offered some advice on places to stay and eat on the island, and then we said we would see them later at their show. They played amazing cuban/carribean music, a 6 piece band. The guys we met played the trumpet and trombone.

This morning we went for breakfast and I had these amazing mexican eggs, 'huevos motulenos'. It was like a layer cake with tortilla, beans, egg, cheese and ham. Mmmm. We walked around one end of the island to a protected area where some kind of bird lays its eggs. The beach was deserted, it was only us. Very peaceful and quiet. When we felt like re-joining civilization we walked back to the main beach and passed a lot for sale that had a run down house and an open platform which we decided would be perfect for Juan Carlos to use as a beachfront yoga studio. 

There is a carnival in town tonight, so that should be fun! I guess its that time of the year, all the places I visit are having the pre-lent carnivals.