I’ve had plans for months to get down here. Anywhere, close to the ocean, with sunshine and cervesas… took me a minute, what with making idiotic choices like buying a house I probably can’t afford and taking on yet ANOTHER hound pup, like a fool, but here I am. Day one. Yucatan Peninsula. It’s Aspen’s “senior trip,” and we’re doing Cancun. I’ve never been, and before I pick a spot on the map and decide to live there I figure I better see what all the hubbub is about at some of these other places.

We left Spokane behind us at an ungodly morning hour, shortly ahead of a winter storm system that beset the northern parts of the country. I kinda feel bad, but not really.

Other than throwing a perfectly good $12 turkey sandwich on the floor of the Denver airport, losing a cell phone momentarily in a bathroom stall and not being able to find ANYWHERE in Isla Mujeres to break a 500 peso bill to pay the poor taxi driver, the trip was pretty uneventful. We pre-booked a shuttle from the airport to the ferry terminal and I couldn’t figure out why the shuttle guide was looking at me with such pain in his eyes when we drove away until I realized I was probably supposed to tip him as well as the shuttle driver. Oops. Those eyes will haunt me for days. I actually couldn’t have tipped him even if I remembered because the only pesos I had consisted of a handful I scrounged out of my “foreign money” collection jar, and half of those turned out to be obsolete coins with no value after I tried to pay the unfortunate cab driver with them. (Note to self: coins collections that have been collecting dust for eons are better left at home.)

At any rate we found an ATM and a super cool Jungle Bar with staff that kindly broke down the bills for us, obliging us to eat there after we settled into our hostel.

It’s Aspen’s first hostel experience, and she might be getting the wrong idea because this place is awesome. Legit boho vibes and absolutely perfect beachfront access… for $26 a night. Ok so, in true hostel form you’re putting up with the tall german girl in the opposite bunk who scolds you for leaving the balcony door open for a couple minutes because of mosquitos. And somebody left their drawers in the shower, but you know, it’s all good for 26 bucks a night. Chief complaint is the one flimsy pillow the price gets you. At a certain age you become accustomed to - nay, reliant upon, a certain architecture of pillows stuffed between knees and under aching low backs in order to sleep well, and I forgot my unicorn pillow which usually helps bridge the gap somewhat.

Dinner at the Jungle Bar/Japanese restaurant was spectacular, complete with a tricksy bartender channeling some Mexican Tom Cruise ala Cocktail that seemed to REALLY like Aspen, as he let her have a taste of most of the concoctions he was choreographing behind the bar. What’s not to like though, amiright? Since most of our time here will be at an all inclusive AND this is one of only a couple dinners we’ll have to buy AND we finally made it to Mexico AND it’s Valentines Day, it only seemed right to splurge on a few fanxy drinks and some delicious asian-themed cuisine. Best of it all was some spicy rock shrimp. This is why the ocean is important.

After stuffing ourselves and making friends with the staff and the other people eating at the bar, we waddled back across the street (ok I waddled, Aspen glided gracefully) and tried a sample of what the hostel bar had to offer. Less expensive but no disappointment there. And, in true hostel form, an interesting crowd for people watching.

Can’t wait for the sun to come up and see this place in the daylight. We’ve only got two days on Isla Mujeres and while every bit of me wants to just go plant myself on the beach, there’s a couple spots on the island I really want to check out. Plenty of lounge time at the all-inclusive coming up.