Another day in paradise Cancun a Mexican resort with something for everyone

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Blend the rhythmic sounds of an azure sea with pearl white sand, toss in 240 days of sunshine, and what do you have? A vacation in paradise. That is where I found myself earlier this year.

In June, friends and I left Boston’s squalid and grimy Logan Airport at 6 a.m., made a brief stop in St. Louis and then boarded the plane for Cancun.

Some little known facts shared with us by the flight attendant: Nearly 80 percent of the people on board any given flight to Cancun are newlyweds and a majority of the rest are repeat vacationers to Cancun. For my friend Allan, this was his fifth trip to the Platinum City.

As we flew over the densely forested countryside, I knew only that Cancun is located in the state of Quintana Roo, on the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, where about 500,000 people live. The island is a compressed 14-mile strip. The Caribbean Sea wraps around it like a warm blanket on one side, with the Nichupte Lagoon on the other side. And all the while, an ocean breeze offers kisses of relief from the summer sun.

We arrived at tiny Cancun Airport at noon to be greeted by a mass of flesh dressed in summer whites and Hawaiian brights. Numerous airlines all arrive within minutes of each other.

For those who have not yet filled out the paperwork to obtain a passport, don’t let that stop you from visiting Cancun. A driver’s license with your picture and birth certificate are your papers of entry.

A rather bored Mexican official stamps your entry card and hands you an exit card. Hold onto it because you will need it to leave the country. It is a document you fill out on the airplane, letting the Mexican government know when you plan to leave and the purpose of your visit.

My friend Allan’s friend Al met us at the airport. He is a young Cancun businessman who loaded us into his pickup truck and then flew us down the boulevard to our hotel located in the Hotel Zone. The Hotel Zone is reached on its southern end by the Punta Nizuc bridge and on the northern tier by the Playa Linda bridge and is located between the sea and the lagoon.

The HZ has 40 hotels from the deluxe Ritz-Carlton to the Hotel El Pueblito Beach Cancun, a 350-room, five-swimming-pool, all-inclusive resort where we stayed.

For those who are economy minded, “all inclusive” means everything from meals to drinks to room is included in the day rate.

Eating is an ethnic delight, with restaurants representing a cross section of the world from Argentina to Tex-Mex. In addition to numerous five-star restaurants where waiters await the tiniest flick of your finger, there are restaurants that scream America.

It’s only about a mile to the first McDonald’s restaurant. Take that McDonald’s, toss in a few Burger Kings, Domino’s Pizzas and Pizza Huts, blend it all together and you have not escaped America’s junk-food craze.

Getting around the tiny island is not a problem. There are buses, taxis, car rentals and bicycles. You can even rent a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The downtown area is a short bus ride away. I fell in love with the buses. Buses run regularly along the boulevard, but be prepared.

Don’t be concerned about air conditioning, just open a window. The buses all creak and groan and belch black smoke, but as quickly as you hand the bus driver your 45 cents, sit down because the all-male drivers break away from the stop like a jackrabbit being chased by a fox. They speed down the boulevard to the next stop and then slam on their brakes. The buses skid to a stop where more people hop on, while a few paled tourists jump off.

The downtown is a short 10-minute ride from the hotels and offers row after row of vendors in small, open-air shops. For the hearty bargainer, the downtown vendors love a good haggle, but do it with a smile. You will walk away with many great bargains. If you are interested in silver, there are some dandy pieces, including bracelets and rings. Woodcarvings, including the gods of the Mayan Dynasty, also make a wonderful souvenir.

There are also upscale malls that include Armani and Gucci, but don’t expect to get a bargain there unless the item is on sale.

Our third day of sun and fun was a trip to Chichen Itza, about a three-hour trip inland to what the Mexicans say is the most-visited archaeological site in the peninsula of Yucatan.

On the trip, we stopped at a cenotes, a natural sinkhole created when limestone collapses, creating a huge water-filled hole. There are several of them near Cancun. At the cenotes, we got off the bus and walked down a rock-enclosed path to the base of the hole that was filled with water. High above our heads were three small holes that offered a tiny view of the sky. From each of the openings were long strands of vegetation that looked like swing ropes at a summer watering hole. About a dozen passengers took advantage of a short swim in the deep water.

Back on the bus, our Mayan guide, Francisco, was a poster boy for his culture. He laughed and joked, but mostly offered riders a compressed college course in Mayan history. The city dates back to AD 445 and was founded by the priest Lakin Chan, who also was called Itzamna.

While thousands of world cultures were focused on hunting and gathering, the Mayans were masters of writing, mathematics and astronomy. They even devised their own calendars. Numerous times during the tour, Francisco reminded us that his ancestors were able to build the huge stone cities without the aid of tools or animals.

The first stop was the huge 545-foot-long ball court, where a whisper on one end can be heard on the other end. The Mayans invented a rather unique game that involves a ball and a round paddle attached to the sportsman’s waist. He hits the ball with the paddle trying to send it through two rings located on either side of the stadium. Spectators lined four sides of the ball court.

While most sports involve losing team members who usually go home with broken egos, the Mayans played to the death, with the losing captain sacrificing his head.

Our next stop in the tour was, according to our guide, where the Mayans were able to study the stars and the planets.

But central to the entire tour was El Castillo (the castle), a four-sided pyramid. According to Francisco, during the equinoxes in March and September the sun casts a shadow on the 91 steps that lead to the top, creating the illusion of a snake slithering up the side of the pyramid.

The steps are steep and the climb is not for the wimpy of heart. At the top, you are rewarded with a striking view of the surrounding countryside and the other ruins. Carry water with you.

The climb down is even more of a challenge because you cannot put your foot squarely on the step, but have to maneuver the stone steps by bouncing down on your backside, or walking down with your foot sideways to the steps.

While I was up on top, I noted that the hesitation of going down was not related to whether you were male or female, young or old. Several people chose to slither down on their rear-ends.

For those not interested in Mayan history, Cancun also offers windsailing, snorkeling, and deep sea diving. There also is sport fishing and several water and adventure parks and numerous cruises. Several people were there with children, so it is not just for the romantic few.

There is also plenty of nightlife with clubs, cantinas and musical shows. At the hotel where we stayed, there was something different each night, including musical entertainment by a talented group of young people who do everything from a Caribbean show to a Hollywood revue-type show with bright costumes and finger-snapping music.

There are 14 different shows and, according to the hotels sales executive Guadalupe Nugueda, guests will not see the same show twice.

The last night in Cancun, my friends and I sat on lawn chairs and listened to the gentle roll of the surf. Although a week in paradise seemed like a long time, I know that I will be among the 20 percent who again will return to Cancun.