Posted by BigLou on April 18, 2001 at 20:15:47:
BEACHES: Where are they?
BEACHES: Where are they?
BEACHES: Where are they?
Okay, maybe we’re spoiled because we’re from California, where people can actually access the beaches they’re legally
entitled to use, and originally from New Jersey, where people often have to pay to access the beaches, but at least they can
get to ‘em. I am truly sorry I did not ask Bill and the rest of you where the beaches were before I left L.A. I kinda assumed
they were….there. About the only places I found them were on the maps I brought and the postcards I bought. Seriously, we
found a highway along the coast from which it was impossible to view the water, not normally a problem nor a complaint. We
also found hurricane fence after locked gate after private property with locked gate after fence with barbed wire on top
after….you get the picture. C’mon, even when you find a road to the beach, like at Playa del Secreto, you wind up unable to
get to the water because of all the houses built next to each other. The only way to the beach is by trespassing. Has the
entire coast been bought off by rich people and mega-resorts and, if so, how do ordinary folk who just want to explore the
coast, sit on a few beaches, and snorkel without paying for the privilege, do so? What’s up with that? If the law in Mexico
says all beaches belong to the public, but then you have (1) all of ‘em owned by corporations or rich people and (2) no way
in hell to get to them, what’s the point of the law? Bill, I think you would be doing some of us a great favor by having a link to
a website that explains “How to Actually Get to the Beaches Along the Mayan Riviera Without Getting Arrested or Shot for
Trespassing.”
LESSON #9- Ask Bill about the beaches next time.
XELHA, XCARET, TRES RIOS, ETC.: Not interested. But I guess if we were, we could have paid $40-50 (each, before food,
etc.) and been able to get close to a beach.
PHONE CARDS: Jeesh! Thanks for the tip. Seriously, in all our 33 years of trying to phone home from Mexico this was the
first time we had NO problems. A snap. So why did we see so many gringos NOT using the pre-paid phone cards? BTW,
thanks for the tip.
INTERNET: Found cheap (and expensive) places fairly easily. Learned to ask the connection speed, because when you are
getting charged by the minute a slow modem can cost you serious money.
PUERTO MORELOS: Nice reasonably-priced lunch and drinks. Great little town. And…..a beach!
CANCUN: Had 5-6 hours to “kill” between leaving SA and flying home, so we visited Cancun. Hey! Along the south end of
the “strip” there were actually places one could park and sit on a beach- for free! As for Cancun’s hotel zone, my wife and I
are not religious people, but if there is a hell, we both believe Cancun just might be it. We’re glad we took the time to give
the place the once over because now we know to avoid it.
LESSON #10: Just because a gazillion people from all over the world rave about a place doesn’t mean it’s worth visiting.
ATM’S: Like you folks said, no problem getting money. Came home with about 800 pesos and will be using them as an
excuse to visit Rosarito/Ensenada r-e-a-l soon.
PREDICTION: In 10 years Hwy. 307 will have nothing but huge billboards lining both sides of the highway from Cancun to
Tulum. Some people will define this as progress.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Overall, a very enjoyable and worthwhile trip. Great country, great people, great food. But, as you can
tell, we were pretty disappointed with our inability to explore and access the beaches of the MR. If this was our fault, if we
“missed something,” please enlighten us. Would we go again? We’d love to, maybe even next Jan or Feb, but we’d like to
know how to access the many beaches along the coast. Rent a helicopter?
A SINCERE AND HEARTFELT THANKS (AGAIN): To Bill and the others on here who put up with my dumb and semi-dumb
questions while I was researching the trip. In case no one has told you lately, you are very special people. Your willingness
to take the time to share your experience and knowledge of the area sure makes things a lot easier for us rookies. Muchas
gracias.