Written by Lily
About 12 years ago, a friend of mine and I went on a cruise with a group from work. A coworker got a deal that was too good for us to pass up. We were going down to the Mayan ruins in Tulumn and the island of Cozumel in Mexico before heading out to the Caribbean islands.
I love to go places and try to get a taste of different cultures. The culture shock is hard for me. I want to give everything away. I have never been back to Mexico, although, I wouldn’t mind. I did fall in love with Jamaica on this trip and went back twice more. I didn’t care for the cruise itself. Too many days on the ship without being in port. I came to feel stuck on the ship and would have rather spent that time on the islands.
The ship dropped passengers off on the mainland of Mexico. Ferries go back and forth to Cozumel where we had to meet the ship later that evening. We had no intention of taking the cruise ship tours. We wanted to be adventurous and being in a large group didn’t appeal to either of us. I had gotten information on how to get around on the other islands. I left the details of Mexico up to my friend. Sal had just been to a different part of the country the previous month. We were dropped off on the mainland around 5:00 a.m. and the heat was already intense. Everyone else got on the cushy air conditioned tour bus to enjoy snacks and cold drinks. We watched everyone drive away. There we were- at an empty hotel. There was a big bath house outside of the main building. It was so early that there was no attendant to ask any questions. We freshened up before heading out to look for someone who could direct to us a taxi.
We felt a twinge of panic when no one was to be found. The entrance of the hotel was locked, there were no cars, no people. Behind us was the beach, in front of the hotel was a driveway which led out to a dirt road surrounded by nothing but fields of corn. We had no idea where to go, but took a right on the dirt road and hoped it headed into town. Yes, two smart American women walking around Mexico with no idea where or how far away the town might be. We couldn’t see over the corn which surrounded us. Not being able to see and being all alone out on the road made me feel lost at sea. We walked for about a half hour and then suddenly, Sal gasped and grabbed her side. She had forgotten her fanny pack at the hotel bath house. We were already hot, but now we were panicked. It had her passport and all of her money in it. We ran back to the hotel, so sure that it would be gone and she would be in a mess. We had been told no one was allowed to reboard the ship without proper I.D. We didn’t use any energy to talk on the run back, but it was crossing my mind as to if I would be staying with her or leaving her alone in Mexico. I surely, didn’t want to leave her alone, but I had no idea what would be required of us to make sure she would be okay. You cannot imagine our glee and relief, when the fanny pack was right where she had left it, on the sink. Everything was still in it. It was still so early, no one had been there but us. The hotel still wasn’t open. Knowing we caught a lucky break, we started retracing our path on the road.
I was so glad when we did see a town. It was just a couple of stores. I didn’t see any regular cabs, but, I happily noted three white city taxis. We were both suffering the from heat and the affects of our panicked run. We went straight into the first store to get something to drink.My friend Sal, was good at bartering. She was so good, that on the other islands, we ended up feeling ashamed and gave out huge tips. I stood there drinking my Pepsi while Sal went and talked to the city taxi drivers. She decided that the city taxis were too much. I watched as she ran to a bus that was stopped and asked “Tulumn?” and then “cuanto?” Then she motioned for me to get on. With faith in my friend, I boarded and paid the one U.S. dollar the driver had requested.
I turned to find a seat and realized we were the only Americans and there were only a couple of other women. It was a bus that took the workers out to the hotels along the coast. As the bus made its stops we became the only women. You couldn’t see the hotels from the road. We had no idea of how far they might be, and didn’t want to walk down any more roads by ourselves. Me, Sal, the driver, and two men who had been talking to the driver for the entire ride became the only passengers. We began to feel more and more apprehensive. All we could do was sit and ride. Finally, the bus stopped, again we saw nothing but corn fields. No other vehicle had passed us since we stepped on the bus. The driver opened the door and the other men pointed down the road. We got off and started walking. The lost at sea feeling returned. We turned a corner and there was a taxi. We didn’t haggle but agreed to whatever outrageous fare the driver first stated and happily got in the cab. He then drove us about two city blocks and around a corner. There we saw the tourist shops of Tulmn! We both noticed there were plenty of taxis to take us back. Our driver was a happy guy. I think he asked for $20.00 for the short ride. We would have paid whatever he wanted to get us out of there.
There was a slight problem getting into the ruins as they only accepted Pesos. All we had were U.S. dollars. This was another surprise, but we did some money exchange by buying a couple of small souvenirs we didn’t mind carrying around with us. Walking around and examining the ruins was a special experience. The ruins were beautiful with steep cliff walls. I had never seen cliffs like that over the ocean. It was also cool to see a couple of iguanas sitting as still as the rocks beside them.
We were stupid…… and lucky. We should have known where and how far the town was before we even got off the ship. It was very different than what we had pictured- being dropped off in a resort town. We would have never guessed that it spread out so, or that there would be no taxis waiting for the shipload of passengers. The rest of the trip was enjoyable and I liked getting a sampling of the islands. I didn’t care for Cayman, but as I mentioned, I fell in love with Jamaica. So beautiful with the falls and gardens. I have been to Oahu – it was beautiful. But, I love the culture and feel of Jamaica. I can’t wait to go back there again.
Do you have a scary vacation story or did you go on a vacation from hell? Have you made any tourist mistakes not knowing what you were doing? Lose your money or your passport? Did you lock your keys in the car while you were the only people at a remote lake, run away from tornadoes, see a tree get hit by lightning, or have a falling tree come close to your campsite while you lay there half asleep? (That’s another story). Please share your vacation experiences whether they are perfect, practically perfect or just plain imperfect.
Sounds wonderful and terrifying! My scariest story was when I had to fly just after 9/11. The combination of paranoia and hyped up security at the airport was panic inducing, but not nearly as interesting as your story!
So glad it all turned out well!
Oh my gosh, where do I begin? I have so many vacations from hell. Well the vacations aren’t from hell but the getting there and back are hell. My ex-husband bought a “camper” from his uncle and basically it was wide chevy van. Yes, it slept 4 and had a stove, toilet, ref., etc.. My ex worked on this camper for weeks on end getting it prepared to go on vacation to S. Dakota, Badlands, Kansas, St. Louis. Broke down I think in Wisconsin, part needed ordered, spent 8 hours waiting for camper to get fixed w/2 boys in garage and made it to relatives in Kansas. Ex-husband worked for weeks before our 2nd trip and vowed it won’t break down. So here we go to DisneyWorld in Orlando. We started out around 10:00 p.m. (God knows why) from northwest Ohio and made it to the Ohio/Ky border where the camper broke down. We limped into a rest stop and only made it to park in the semi truck area. Being we were so small I envisioned some semi plowing into us and as my 2 boys and ex slept I stayed awake. We did manage to call a garage in KY to tow us and as we all crowded in to the truck cab on the trip to the garage all the while the driver touching my knee to shift. $400.00 on MC. Wonderful experience in DisneyWorld and a safe trip back home. Decided to take the same camper out west to Yellowstone w/stops along the way to stay with relatives. . Camper then needed to be fixed in Colorado at the relatives house because hoses still leaking. Fine, then we were on our way. We joined up with 3 adult relatives and with my boys 7 kids. Whoo Hoo! Had a great time the first couple of days in Yellowstone until well, you guessed it, the camper having been camped my ex was going to go somewhere and well it didn’t start. The camper was towed while me and the boys stayed at the campsite freezing in 40 degree weather waiting for the return of the camper. Our relatives built us a fire to keep us warm and merrily left on their way to the laundramat. Well camper came back and we enjoyed the rest of the stay at Yellowstone. Absolutely wonderful. We parted ways w/the relatives as they went back to Colorado and we headed home. Made it out of Yellowstone and I think Gillette Wy. and then (can you guess), camper died. Now towns in Wy. are few and far between. Here we are in the middle of no where, no cars passing us, no signs of life on the side of the road. Speed limit 75 mph, #1 car flys by going 80-85mph, #2 car flys by, #3 car flys by.. I decided to put up a red cloth on the antenna to get attention, heard it on some travel channel I think… #4 car, #5 car, I am now broke down in tears ready to kill ex. I told him that if (and a very big if) we get home to Ohio I will never set one toe back inside that damn camper. Oh my God did he say I was right? Car #6 STOPS… I tell them what is wrong, stating that we have two young boys w/us and we are in the middle of no where and night will be falling, he said he will stop at a garage in the next town and send a tow truck. Are you kidding me? Is anyone that kind? God Bless them they were. Tow truck came, we back tracked back to town, fixed those darn hoses again (more charges on MC) and on our not so merry way. Kissed the ground when I got back to Ohio and alas, it was the last trip in that damn camper. Did that stop the ex from more adventures, noooo, he bought a used (and improved) camper for more wonderful trips. Well, I will say that we did take some nice trips (again out west) to Colorado with my niece. Ex thought it would be a good idea to expose her to the wonders of the west. Well, my boys and her were vinager and water, longest driving trips ever. picked up same relatives, and on to Mesa Verde and Santa Fe. Wonderful sightseeing, hellish driving trips. Niece will never go on vacation with us again. Ex decided to go east… Yeah, I always wanted to see Boston. X-mas time he (I thought jokingly) mentioned to his oldest sister if she wanted to go along. Nothing was ever said after that. One week before vacation I’m packing the camper and he tells me that I’m using up too much closet space that his sister needs room. Ummm Your sister? My ex never told me that his sister agreed to come on the trip. My boys were not too excited about it either. Well, his sister was a back seat driver on the driving trip. Campgrounds we stopped at, couldn’t get her out of the camper. Met up w/same relatives from Colorado in Cape Cod. Still couldn’t get sister out of camper. Had a great time sightseeing Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard. Then on to Boston. Had a another wonderful time sightseeing. Sister complained quite alot. Relatives camper broke down and cut vacation short. Never did go whale watching but I probably would have thrown sister-in-law off the boat. One of the straws that broke the marriage’s back. Last family trip. Since divorce I do miss traveling, especially w/relatives since they were so much fun and we had a blast together (whereas w/ex not so much) but don’t miss campers, campgrounds, hours of drive time and ex.
Wow, Barb. I would have stopped after the first breakdown. I am not one for being stuck out in the middle of nowhere. In the end, it sounds like you had a good time if you kept going back for more. 🙂
Glad you got back safe, Lily and I enjoyed your post.
I don’t think I have any real nightmares to tell. We did take a cruise to Alaska 7 years ago and someone died on our ship. We had to get out of the inside straight and make up time on our way to Hubbard Glacier at the end of August. Winds were gusting at 60 mph and they turned on the ship’s stabilizers. Well, I was already sea sick as it was and had the patch on and of course it just got worse. I could hardly pick my head up off the bed (except to throw up.) Once we got to our destination I recovered but it took me awhile. I also won $1400 on the casino playing slots that trip so it made up for it.
I also won $1400 on the casino playing slots that trip so it made up for it.
<jealous> OK, Pam, you are NOT allowed on this thread!!! </jealous>
I went to Cancun with a friend 20 years ago. I accidentally packed my book in my checked luggage so I had nothing to read on the airplane. I ended up reading an article on how to save yourself from drowning in the in-flight magazine. Good thing I did. I went swimming alone one afternoon while my friend napped on the beach. I am used to swimming on NJ beaches where the swimming area is marked by two flags posted on the beach. Well, at this resort, the flags denoted the areas that were unsafe for swimming. There were no life guards on duty, no one to stop me from swimming between the flags. (I will now admit they were black, not green as they are in NJ. Also, NO ONE else was swimming there. I should have figured this out.) I ended up in a very strong rip current that took me out to sea. I panicked at first, until I remembered what I read on the flight down: DON’T panic! Conserve energy by floating with your face in the water. Do not struggle to keep your head above water the whole time, just get air and put your head down again. When calm, begin to swim parallel to the shore until you can no longer feel the undertow. THEN swim toward shore. I managed to calm down despite being pulled further out. It worked.
I have never been so tired in my life. I was greeted on the beach by a very nice security guard who called me “senorita” and asked me to avoid the “peligroso.” Gee, thanks for the advice, sir.
Barb, You are a trooper going through all the breakdowns, but the trips sound kind of fun except for the SIL. Sounds like she just went along to ruin it for everyone else, what a joy.
Pam, I would like to make that trip sometime. It seems the personal accounts I have heard of that cruise to Alaska include the seasickness. It really makes me think twice about doing it that way.
Ann, OMG, I’m so glad you’re alive. How terrifying to be out alone like that.
Wow. These stories are wild! 🙂 You guys are way more adventurous than me. I am still absorbing Ann’s. So glad you packed the book in the suitcase sweetie. I hate to think of a different outcome if you hadn’t read that article…
Vacations are always a mixed bag, IMO. Something always goes wrong, and I end up thinking, I could have stayed home in my own bed, saved a bunch of $$$ and avoided this drama! Of course, that doesn’t keep me from vacationing again….
The only really “bad vacation” I took was my first and last trip to Vegas. So not my thing. 100 degrees. Second-hand smoke assaulted me everywhere I went. Didn’t win any money. The shows didn’t live up to expectations. Sigh.