Bienvenidos to Cozumel, Mexico (or welcome to cozumel resort)
Cozumel – from Mayan language: island of Swallows. An exotic island in the Caribbean sea off the eastern coast of Mexico. The main town on the island is San Miguel de Cozumel.
Morning in Cozumel, Mexico
The island is about 30 miles north to south and 10 miles east to west, and is the largest Atlantic island of Mexico. It is about 12 miles from the mainland, and some 36 miles south of Cancun. The vast majority of the population of Cozumel (about 70 000) lives in town of San Miguel, which is on western shore. The rest of island is low, flat, and densely vegetated.
Cozumel’s harbor
With a Mexican heart and a Caribbean soul, Cozumel is a paradise where tradition, flavor and joy coming together. It’s easy to find a friendly face and a warm welcome to make you stay, however brief, an unforgettable one. Famous all over the world for its coral reefs, there are plenty of water sports such as diving, deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, kayaking and more. Cozumel’s mostly undeveloped territory at the center of the island is covered by jungle and swampy lagoons, which are home to tiny mammals and endemic birds that have never left the island.
With its beautiful beaches and exotic locale, Cozumel is an ideal destination where all can enjoy colorful and breathtaking sunsets, swim through crystal clear waters and enjoy fresh locally made foods.
Shopping mall in Cozumel, Mexico
When you are ready for a break from the sun and surf, stroll through the shops in town. Most of them accept credit cards, U.S. dollars and traveller’s checks. The local currency is the Mexican peso. 1 USD = 10 peso.
That information is easy to find in any tourist bouklet.
Sea-front street and stores, Cozumel
Then, on day of my brightest visit here, sea-front street was, like usually, very crowded. There was only one cruise vessel in the port – ours, that’s why local businessmen concentrated all possible efforts by our pier in the downtown.
After we got across the sea-front street, we were hospitably met by moving staircase going to market center. Life was boiling around – trading, public nutrition and other forms of business, like, for example photografing with animals. Not far away there was one such girl with monkeys. She didn’t like free flash of my camera at all.
Mexican-style business
I and two Latin American guys went out to have some fun. We wanted everything what seamen usually need while onboard – natural food, beer, rest from Asian faces and, of course, women.
One of them, my boss, stopped white taxi car. Driver informed him that all parlor houses are closed today, on Monday and took us to one of the local bars with name Caracol. That means “seashell” from Spanish . Those places were empty, except 2 workers and few waitresses in shortskirts, but in Mexican way without necks, were sitting lazily by the counter. Drinks and food were national and very spicy – pickled oysters and beer. Music, of course, was salsa . There were pictures of mermaids and plenty inscriptions in Spanish. Everything was cheap and angry, but boring.
Bar “Seashell”
Streets, disregarding heat, were wery busy. There were a lot of constructions in progress; amount of commercial was even larger than in American ports. Somewhere I observed moulded leaflets . Street posts, like everywhere in the New World, probably, were made of wood. There was same amount of staff as on long-haul lines of electrical lines in my country. Motionless varan was sitting above the sidewalk, such a crocodile over the head!
Varan – symbol of Mexico
Very soon we saw other bar, even restaurant as per its size, and dining room of the Soviet childrens camp or factory as per appearance. In contrast to Europe, where such a big institutions are usually nicely decorated, it had plastic tables and chairs. Ventilators were spinning quickly and golden cocks were painted on the walls.
Mexican restaurant
Waitresses were dressed in bright scarlet mini – skirts and blouses . All of them demonstrated that service level have to be high disregarding the level of the place. Typically stumpy, they had half-animal beauty. We continued to party in the same way, with beer and national snack, sitting in the corner. I observed that place with interest, but nothing interesting happened. To the accompaniment of salsa some people were coming to have a dinner, some people just had a rest; there was an atmosphere of careless fun. One very small Mexican – meter and something of height, put on enormous bike helmet and started to clap his hands in the time of the music and dance around the table, what caused burst of laughter of people around!
Food of Mexican restaurant
When it was time to go and waitress came for payment, informed, that main parlor house of Cozumel «Salsa» however is open. We, in state of drunkness because of beer and heat, took the taxi. It took approximately 15-20 minutes to get beyond the town. On the way I payed my attention to huge military hospital, probably for its purpose was opened that house of prostitution. There were some commercials of shows on the margin of the road.
Parlor house was nevertheless closed that Monday. Paid off with taxi driver, we entered big bar under the shed with huge amount of tables. It was empty, only bartender looked bored by the counter, and there were two prostitutes at the table. One of them was looking pretty, as for Mexican, she was taken by my boss. She had neck; she was wearing eyeglasses and had appearance of univercity student. Other one was looking like potato from Chornobyl by any means. She was got by other Nicaraguan and I remained alone by the couner to drink beer. My Spanish and bartender’s English were awful and conversation was not successful.
On the way home my happy companions told that their one-time pleasure cost 80 dollars: 20 – for the rent of the room and 60 – directly to the hands of female priest of love. Rooms were primitive inside the wooden houses; all furniture consisted of big ventilators and ordinary, covered with sheet, bed. To the question if they regret about that visit, both of them shaked their heads.
In the port I noticed small navy cruiser.
Warship of Mexican naval forces
