OR, HOSTELS LIKE HOME!
I have had to backtrack to revisit my horrible experience in Bacalar, and am still digesting the no go areas advice that I would give for present day Mexico and the things still worthwhile and to be explored. Just thinking about it makes me have a panic attack as do a few places this time, so before that, I’ll finish the hateful Bacalar moan then can go onto the lovely parts of my trip which really was the archaeology and my lovely new family in Homun of course!
After the trials and tribulations of my journey down from Tulum (coconut oil leaking in my rucksack, late bus, rip off taxi from ADO bus station in Bacalar and not being able to find my hostel!) I finally settled into my modest but lovely accommodation and breathed a sigh of relief. I’d forgotten that however experienced, we all can cock up sometimes when travelling solo.
My lovely hippy place was a refuge and now I could properly relax. I just wanted beer and cigarettes and to sit and chat with some lovely mellow travellers and not feel that I had to be doing something all the bloody time. My face was still red and starting to peel after my severe sunburn at the beach in Tulum. I just needed some me time. I checked out the nearest pier that’s super close to my ‘Near Lake’ hostel and it warned of crocodiles! It was also closed due to flooding as is the whole place as I was to find out later. Indeed I spent some lovely time in there which calmed my bruised feelings.
The lakeside is beautiful with a delicate ecosystem that they are protecting very carefully now and there are signs everywhere to warn that you should not use sunscreen when you swim to protect the animal life! Just shows how dangerous the bloody stuff is as I’ve be saying for years, it damages humans too! They have areas here with ancient stromatolites, a kind of coral if you will, up to ten thousand years old so they say. Apparently they are very scarce and only exist in thirty locations in over just twelve countries worldwide. They are considered to be the oldest ecosystem on the planet and appear like huge flat rocks in the water. More on that later.
The solo travellers here are all on a tight budget like me, so there’s no shame in saying that none of us wanted to take the pricey boat tours and were cooking in! Normally I’m the princess as you know, but this has been a great education for me. Staying at this very Zen hostel has shown me that going cheap unites people and they become like an extended family, albeit transient. You form bonds quickly, and just as quickly they are gone! Pouf! Off to another place! It’s rapid and wonderful even if you feel a little sad when they are gone.
Tomorrow I also am moving on to a beautiful beach place called Mahahual, but not before meeting up with my new mates on the pier for a swim and an intellectual chat while bobbing around in the water. That’s the other thing, these solo travellers are like-minded and love freedom and are just, well a breath of fresh air!
HORRIBLE POLICE AND ‘LAKE MAFIA’ BULLYING AND CORRUPTION.
Well now everything changed. Took a couple of beers on the pier and was fined £70!!!!! Things have really changed here I must say. Feeling hysterical, I didn’t know that it was a problem as I just looked at the signs about nature not another one practically demanding the death penalty. It’s like a slap on the wrist would have been good enough but probably they will share the cash. Going to forget going to the beach now as it will be strict there too. The cop and his Lake Mafia sidekick threatened thirty six hours in jail or cough up our bribe money. For indeed it was going straight into their pockets as no docket was given to us. You just don’t argue with that when you’re away, it’s far too risky. We just swallowed hard and did as told. Now I know why Lake Mafia is now a coined phrase for this bunch.
Alert: There’s no drinking and smoking in what they say are public areas, which is kind of a grey zone. This has been implemented all over so beware, make sure drinking a couple of beers won’t end up costing you a huge fine. This is the first time that I have had this problem so now I shall be super careful. It’s very corrupt all over now and this was a huge wake up call. Don’t get too comfortable at any tourist spot for they will fleece you in any way possible, all in the guise of the new presidents ‘Green Agenda’. They are being so green that they are opening Gates mosquito labs in the North of Yucatan Peninsula and also releasing balloons full of the same heavy metals that are in the chemtrails. Make no mistake, she cheated her way in and now is implementing the Marxist propaganda. They had previously said that there would be no geoengineering but I saw a bunch of chemtrails there in my last two weeks.
I’m close to tears. Been a horrible experience. Just want to leave now. This place is too draining and tourist trash. I shouldn’t really have taken advice from the lovely couple I met as they were on a different mission which included many tours and hostels. I’m definitely not going to the much lauded Mahahual, that I just mentioned. I’m going off to my archaeological sites around Xpuhil and will wash this place out of my hair forever thank god.
Never mind onward and upward for my fresh journey to Xpuhil the next day where I had a great little cabin and lots of the good type of adventures. Love you all x
Old Bird Travels Solo! 