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I'm really excited about testing out the new "Map Bike". It's a suspended mountain bike with enough gadgetry to make the Mexican Tourism Office jealous. The only things I can't do while on this bike are watch Oprah and make Cappuccino. Raul picks me up at 7am and we go through the torture of wiggling a bicycle into the back of the Volkswagon.
First stop is Crococun Crocodile Park, but we're too early, so we head further south to Puerto Morelos and a small resort called Caribbean Reef Club. I fail to tell Raul that this place is clothing optional, but he finds out soon enough when a rather well endowed women strolls past. As I wait for someone to show us the hotel, Raul wanders off. We catch up with him a few minutes later doing some official map surveillance behind several potted palms.
This hotel is quiet and nice. If it weren't for the adult theme I would love to bring the family here for a week. We thank our guide (who seems to find humor in Raul's newfound interests) and we head back to "The Mule" (the knickname for our VW beetle). Raul pulls that old car-won't-start-trick and claims that we'll have to stay here for the night :)
Back at Puerto Morelos I pull out the Map Bike. This is the part that I truly love. There is something about being thousands of miles from home, speaking a foreign language and riding the streets of a small Mexican town. Raul waits for me near Pelicano's restaurant, as I take GPS readings throughout the town.
We have lunch at Pelicano's and order the shrimp. I'm not sure if they were really shrimp or just small lobsters--these things were huge! They were cooked to perfection and accompanied by some great rice, and awesome salsa. This place is fantastic!
Leaving Puerto Morelos, we head south along the highway to Jardin Botanico (Botanical Garden). The park is closed on Sunday, so I vow to return later (big mistake). We head back north to Crococun Crocodile Park. It sounds like a silly thing to visit, but it's actually an interesting place. The guides educate you on native animals, and let you hold baby crocodiles, boa constrictors, and parrots (great photo opportunities). After much coaxing, I convince Raul to touch a baby crocodile. Getting him to put a Boa Constrictor around his neck was out of the question.
Next, the real challenge of the afternoon. Scouting a new all-inclusive resort called Bravo Club El Mandarin. All-inclusive resorts are extremely difficult to get into. It has become somewhat of a game for us, and the managers have no idea what pro's they are up against. I'll spare you the details but this was one of the most difficult we've ever encountered and we almost gave up. After an hour of pouting, whining, making pretend cell calls to the minister of tourism (actually Xavier), and being a major pain in the rear, I got permission to map the place.
El Mandarin is huge and it takes me another hour to get all the information that I need. It's a beautiful place. Although security is tight, everyone was very kind. And you can trust me...guests will not be bothered by outsiders!
Although it's late when we reach Cancun, I must keep working. I hop on a bus and head from downtown out to the hotel zone. My destination is an area called Punta Cancun. This includes several major malls including the Forum mall (home to Hard Rock Cafe) and Plaza Caracol mall. At about 1am I finish mapping the area and decide to call it quits for the evening.