Being on the road for three months, exploring cities within Mexico, US and Europe was a great life time experience. Sleeping in different places, running to catch a train or a flight can be stressful too; that is why after finishing our big adventure, we decided to mellow down in Cancun, Mexico.
We didn't have plans of traveling to Cancun but, our flight from Paris flew direct to this piece of paradise. So, it was the perfect excuse for us to stay for few days and explore the area.
We took the bus from the airport to the bus station in downtown, which is few blocks away to the cute hotel we stayed for a couple of days. El Rey del Caribe is an eco-hotel in the center of downtown, it's like a little paradise in the middle of the city. They serve delicious complementary breakfast under a palapa surrounded by a beautiful garden.
Downtown Cancun is not very charming and it feels more like a business district. It seems like they're trying to improve this area which it would make it more attractive.
Cancun is surrounded by white sand beaches, the turquoise Caribbean sea and it's close to legendary archaeological cities of the Mayan culture. It has great infrastructure, an international airport and all the amenities that a tourist destination needs.
The most important section of this city is the hotel zone, a long strip which is right in between the ocean and a lagoon, giving it spectacular views. This is where you find all the resorts and apartment buildings... It is the perfect spot for a wonderful vacation or for the ones who are looking to retire and have the comfort of a modern life style.
There is an island only about 30 minutes by ferry from Cancun, Isla Mujeres is the perfect paradise!
This place is a great destination for the ones who are looking for a more relax adventure, picture yourself on the white sand, bathing in the calm turquoise ocean and having a beer in one of the small restaurants right on the beach... Sounds good, doesn't it?!
The island offers enough activities to keep you entertained: snorkel or scuba dive, visit a turtle farm, or just put on the sunglasses and open that book you've been dying to finish. Enjoy the beautiful sunsets, a good dinner in one of the many restaurants and the nightlife scene which moves at a relaxing island pace. Go out for a nice hike and visit Punta Sur, which is a nice park at the end of the island with incredible views.
The best of Isla Mujeres is that its cost of living is less expensive than Cancun and it has a more quitter environment, that's why is becoming very popular for snowbirds and full time retirees.
Safe travels!
Our experience in Spain was wonderful and we would've loved exploring some other cities but, we needed more time and Euros! Our next stop was going to be Paris so we were ready to move on.
We decided to take the new high speed train from Barcelona to Paris, we wanted to have this life time adventure!
AVE is the name of the high speed train in Barcelona, this is a good way of traveling for people who don't like to fly. Riding this beauty is fast, comfortable, smooth and it was a great experience traveling through the countryside and different cities between Spain and France... the views were breath taken!
We made it to Paris six hours after our departure, I couldn't believe we were in the city of lights!
Our stay was going to be for two weeks so we rented an apartment to be able to have more privacy. The studio was in a cute local neighborhood, surrounded by outdoor cafes, restaurants, small groceries stores and delicious bakeries. It was close enough for us to walk to the cultural sites and the metro station was only two blocks away.
Paris is a very walkable city, every avenue and little street have their own charm. We walked most of the time and had the opportunity of discovering and learning more of the local life style. Something it called my attention was seeing people eating a baguette while walking on the street, then I learned this is part of the culture and it's also an inexpensive meal. So I did what Parisians do, I made baguettes filled with ham, cheese and tomato and took them in our backpack to satisfy our hunger while exploring the city.
Rich in history, culture and with an amazing architecture, Paris is a great travel destination. Walking around and getting lost in the city is the best way of exploring it. It's definitely a lifetime experience!
Like any other big city, life here can be very hectic. Traffic is a big issue but taking the metro is the best way to move around. We made a big mistake by carrying big luggage with us, walking on the streets, getting in the metro, going up and down stairs was not fun at all... Lesson learned!
If you're outside of the touristic area, be prepare to use your French skills. Locals don't like talking English that much but they appreciate when you make an effort to communicate in French. So with the help of a translation App, I was able to buy our bread and groceries! Then we went to a restaurant and I thought I was going to be able to communicate using the App... What a challenge! Luckily, the menu had pictures so we used our "sign language" instead.
It was such a nice adventure, and that's why we enjoy visiting places with different cultures, customs and languages.
Paris was the end of our adventure in Europe. Being on the road for about three months was exhausting but, it's a trip that we would always remember.
It was time to go back home and relax for a while. JJ found a good deal flying direct from Paris to Cancun, Mexico so we decided to stay there for few days to mellow down by the beautiful turquoise Caribbean sea.
Traveling can be expensive but is the best investment we can make in ourselves. So have fun, enjoy life and give yourself the opportunity of finding happiness.
Thanks for taking the time to follow our adventures!
