The second week of July found Cameron and I waiting in line at immigrations and customs in Cancun Mexico. Cameron, nearly 27 weeks pregnant had spent some time lecturing about the inadequate restroom facilities near the immigration facilities of the airport. Her concerns were justified as there appeared to be only one set of restrooms and it took us nearly 2 hours to clear customs.
Our friends Kat and Jason were getting married on a Yucatan beach in three days. We were staying at an all inclusive resort on the white sands of the Mayan Riviera. I had been promised six days and nights of open bar. My mind was elsewhere.
We didn’t make it to our hotel room until nearly nine that evening. There were several long lines, some idle waiting, and a shuttle ride that seemed like it would never end. The van sped south out of Cancun, slowing to a crawl for the frequent and aggressive speed bumps and traffic stops. To our left were the palatial entrances of numerous resorts catering to the wealthy tourists. These high security gate areas were dominated by picturesque fountains and pleasing architecture designed to catch the eye and promising luxury all while being shrouded in foliage significant enough to shelter those inside from the right side of the road.
The right side of the road was miles and miles of jungle, broken by frequent glimpses of abject poverty. Patrolled by numerous stray dogs, these pockets of rural Mexican life were dusty and depressing in contrast to the splendor on the other side of the street. Part of me was repulsed by the exploitation of this country and its people by the resort industry, and by the people, like me, who would indulge in it. The other part of me just wanted to lay in a hammock and get drunk before lunch.
I’d like to talk about the beauty and magnificence of Quintana Roo, the Mexican state that we were in, and the rugged nobility of the rural lifestyle enjoyed by it’s inhabitants. The startling natural beauty of Mexico. The impressive legacy of the cultural heritage left behind by the Mayans. I can’t though. I only left the resort a single time the entire week, and that was to visit Xcaret, an eco park largely populated with other tourists. The remainder of the time I spent swinging in a hammock or floating in the ocean.
We had a great time. It was a lovely wedding. The resort was beautiful. The food was good. The drinks were free. I think I’d like to go back sometime. I’d like to think that if we did, we could spend some time actually exploring the country. On the other hand, laying in a hammock that swings to an ocean breeze is pretty compelling.
