Playa del Carmen

After two days in Belize, we left for another couple of lazy days, this time back in Mexico at Playa del Carmen. Just across the Mexico border you'll probably stop at the bus station for a couple of hours - if so ask directions to the Museum of Mayan History. It was here that we saw accurate scale models of Tikal's buildings, Palenque's temples and played with computer based interactive learning systems. I even learnt how to read the intricacies of the Mayan calendar and gained a better understanding of the Mayan writings - still something of a mystery however to the best archaeologists.

A beachside resort just becoming popular, Playa del Carmen has one long road full of shops, several hotels situated right on the beachfront and some magnificent and friendly restaurants. As with Panajachel in Guatemala, Playa comes to life at night time with a wide selection of live music to be enjoyed. Many street artists earn their living here. It is amazing the paintings that can emerge from a few spray cans in less than 10 minutes. We even met a Kiwi painter here, who is now a resident of "the planet" and who travels regularly painting local scenes of his planet, all with oil paints and a knife. One of our tour party is now the proud owner of a great sunset painting of Chacmool, the reclining god-like figure from Chichen Itza.

Playa Del Carmen is really like Cancun was 10 years ago, less spoilt by high rise hotels (although they're coming), full of friendly shops where you won't be hassled into buying what you don't want. Most importantly, it is full of great restaurants which are as good as any in Mexico.