29th January
Today our port is Cozumel, the world’s most popular cruise port. Cozumel is just a small island off Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsular. It has a vibrant, pulsating Latin heart, everywhere is all action and activity from the music-playing downtown bars and cafes and shops. Cozumel is situated in the Caribbean Sea and is Mexico’s largest island at 33 miles long and 9 miles wide, with about 50,000 inhabitants.
Mexico is known for the Aztecs, but it was the Mayas who lived on Cozumel from about 300 AD. On 1st May 1518, Juan de Grijalva and the first Spaniards arrived: life for the 40,000 Mayas was never the same again. A year later, Hernan Cortes put in a brief appearance, ordered the destruction of many temples and left two missionaries to convert the Indians. The usual massacres took place over the next few years and many of the Mayas returned to the mainland. Most of the rest succumbed to European diseases brought by the Spaniards and by 1600 Cozumel was abandoned.
During the 17th and 18th centuries Cozumel was only of interest to the pirates and smugglers. Things changed in the 19th century when Mayan refugees fled from the war of Castes and settled on Cozumel. During World War 2, the Americans built an airstrip (and destroyed a few Mayan temples in the process) and a few wealthy Mexicans began to live here. However, changes really only started after Jaqcques Cousteau filmed part of his famous underwater documentary off Cozumel. Tourism began in earnest, first only 20 years ago, with the keen divers and with the building of several hotels. The island is a port of call for some 500 cruise ships annually, and today there were seven, either berthed or anchored off shore, however P & O had secured the prime berth right next to the downtown shopping area.
There is only one town on the island – San Miguel de Cozumel, a town geared to tourism. It is a hive of activity, and the jewellery here is unbelievable.
Today we had a round trip of the island, first stopping at a museum called Mexico Park, a new building where we learnt of some of the history of Mexico.Here they had displays of Mexican art and a model village showing the ancient Mayan cities and pyramids constructed in 1000AD. From here we drove to El Cedral, the oldest settlement on the island, which was inhabited by the Mayans. The village, unfortunately, had turned into a tourist hotspot with market stalls, etc., but did have a very nice Catholic church around the corner. This made the visit worthwhile.
From here we crossed the narrow island to the north east coast viewing the untouched coastline with beautiful panoramic views. We stopped at El Mirador to view the natural limestone formation and the white coral beaches at close quarters. All too soon we were on the move again to stop at a tequila distillery, where we learnt how tequila was made from the blue Agave, and here we were able to sample various forms of tequila. We all returned to our coach slightly merrier for the journey back to San Miguel de Cozumel, where we chose to be dropped off in the old town area and walk back to the terminal via many shops. These shops were crowded with all the cruise ships in town, especially the Americans. Bargaining was the order of the day, where typically the initial asking price was high and after a few minutes bargaining could be reduced by up to 80% (for example Doreen purchased a small hand painted plate which started at $60, then it went to $50, $40, $30, $20 – I then told the guy I wouldn’t pay more than $10 for it and the guy said OK – but did I pay too much, who knows).
After two hours wandering the shops we returned exhausted to the ship for afternoon tea and a short rest before our evening dinner followed by two shows, the first a Beatles Tribute Group and second The Headliners Theatre Company with “fABBAulous” an ABBA tribute show. Yet another memorable day.
Tomorrow is a day at sea to prepare ourselves for Montego Bay, Jamaica on Sunday.
Today our port is Cozumel, the world’s most popular cruise port. Cozumel is just a small island off Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsular. It has a vibrant, pulsating Latin heart, everywhere is all action and activity from the music-playing downtown bars and cafes and shops. Cozumel is situated in the Caribbean Sea and is Mexico’s largest island at 33 miles long and 9 miles wide, with about 50,000 inhabitants.
Mexico is known for the Aztecs, but it was the Mayas who lived on Cozumel from about 300 AD. On 1st May 1518, Juan de Grijalva and the first Spaniards arrived: life for the 40,000 Mayas was never the same again. A year later, Hernan Cortes put in a brief appearance, ordered the destruction of many temples and left two missionaries to convert the Indians. The usual massacres took place over the next few years and many of the Mayas returned to the mainland. Most of the rest succumbed to European diseases brought by the Spaniards and by 1600 Cozumel was abandoned.
During the 17th and 18th centuries Cozumel was only of interest to the pirates and smugglers. Things changed in the 19th century when Mayan refugees fled from the war of Castes and settled on Cozumel. During World War 2, the Americans built an airstrip (and destroyed a few Mayan temples in the process) and a few wealthy Mexicans began to live here. However, changes really only started after Jaqcques Cousteau filmed part of his famous underwater documentary off Cozumel. Tourism began in earnest, first only 20 years ago, with the keen divers and with the building of several hotels. The island is a port of call for some 500 cruise ships annually, and today there were seven, either berthed or anchored off shore, however P & O had secured the prime berth right next to the downtown shopping area.
There is only one town on the island – San Miguel de Cozumel, a town geared to tourism. It is a hive of activity, and the jewellery here is unbelievable.
Today we had a round trip of the island, first stopping at a museum called Mexico Park, a new building where we learnt of some of the history of Mexico.Here they had displays of Mexican art and a model village showing the ancient Mayan cities and pyramids constructed in 1000AD. From here we drove to El Cedral, the oldest settlement on the island, which was inhabited by the Mayans. The village, unfortunately, had turned into a tourist hotspot with market stalls, etc., but did have a very nice Catholic church around the corner. This made the visit worthwhile.
From here we crossed the narrow island to the north east coast viewing the untouched coastline with beautiful panoramic views. We stopped at El Mirador to view the natural limestone formation and the white coral beaches at close quarters. All too soon we were on the move again to stop at a tequila distillery, where we learnt how tequila was made from the blue Agave, and here we were able to sample various forms of tequila. We all returned to our coach slightly merrier for the journey back to San Miguel de Cozumel, where we chose to be dropped off in the old town area and walk back to the terminal via many shops. These shops were crowded with all the cruise ships in town, especially the Americans. Bargaining was the order of the day, where typically the initial asking price was high and after a few minutes bargaining could be reduced by up to 80% (for example Doreen purchased a small hand painted plate which started at $60, then it went to $50, $40, $30, $20 – I then told the guy I wouldn’t pay more than $10 for it and the guy said OK – but did I pay too much, who knows).
After two hours wandering the shops we returned exhausted to the ship for afternoon tea and a short rest before our evening dinner followed by two shows, the first a Beatles Tribute Group and second The Headliners Theatre Company with “fABBAulous” an ABBA tribute show. Yet another memorable day.
Tomorrow is a day at sea to prepare ourselves for Montego Bay, Jamaica on Sunday.
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