To clarify that weird headline right up front, here's what I mean: our ship had a port call today in the island of Cozumel, Mexico. And I didn't bother going ashore. Why not?
First of all, because I have been to Cozumel twice before. I felt no real need to spend more time here.
Second, because there were four other ships in Cozumel besides ours, and most of them were bigger than our 2,000-plus passengers. That's too people-y for me!
And finally because, as a result of the total of five ships, Cozumel needs three cruise ship piers. On my first two visits, we docked at the pier right by the centre of the town, San Miguel de Cozumel. This time, we were relegated to the outskirts. See the cruise pier way off in the distance with two ships moored either side of it? That's the one in town.
Now, even I have to admit that Cozumel looks rather pretty by the dawn's early light.
The one other thing that might have tempted me would have been some good Mexican eatery on the pier. But what did we get? The normal cruise port assortment of American chain stores and American "Tex-Mex" restaurants. All of which added up to a nice quiet day on board. A good brisk walk around the Promenade Deck in the morning (about 1.5 miles or 2.4 kilometres), ...
... a couple of relaxing swims in the pool, interspersed with a made-to-order pizza and a favourite warm-weather liquid refreshment, ...
... and a nice relaxing nap in the afternoon.
But I don't want to sell my loyal readers short. What did I do on my previous visits to Cozumel that I feel is worth doing if you go there? It all has to do with the Mayans. Many people mistakenly believe that the Mayans are one of the lost civilizations of the past. Well, not exactly. The great Mayan city-states all collapsed and were abandoned very suddenly and mysteriously. But the Mayan people are still here, very much alive and kicking, and are more numerous in Cozumel than most places around Yucatan.
So, on my first visit, I took the cruise company's Chichen Itza Express tour. That was a mistake. Chichen Itza is an incredible place, no question, but it takes time. Trying to do it on a one-day tour from a cruise ship in Cozumel was definitely not the right way. Read about that misadventure at this link:
The second visit gave me a chance to encounter some Mayan culture along with a broader Mexico-wide folkloric show -- definitely kitschy for tourists, but also informative and revealing on many different levels. Read about that visit in this post, after the material about the stingrays in Grand Cayman:
And with that, since I've basically covered the subject, peace out, Cozumel. The next port call will take rather more work to cover.
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