Nothing fancy tonight. I got off the ferry from Tampa in Puerto Morelos, Mexico and I´m tired. I´ll do a lot more tomorrow and add some back story about the ferry trip.

The ferry people don´t make it terribly clear that the ferry to Cancun doesn´t actually go to Cancun. The port is some 10-15 miles from Cancun. Not wanting to pay the $20 for the transfer van, I hooked up with a South African guy from Portugal who´s been working in Florida (you figure it out) whose name escapes me. We took a taxi to the bus stop for US$2. Then the bus to Cancun for US$1.60. 3.60 beats $20 any day. The bus was actually much nicer than anything Greyhound has to offer in the US. Cushy seats and televisions. My friend didn´t speak Spanish, so I was surprised that I was actually able to get a few points across, ask a few questions, and understand a few key points of what was said. Not much... but a start.

"Comical and a bit depressing."
By the way... ya know Latin television is a huge thing. NBC buys Telemundo. Spanish channels popping up on US cable outfits... it´s huge. So we get on the bus in Puerto Morelos and what´s playing on the televisions? A TLC show from 1997 that must have been titled ¨The US Military Blows Up Lotsa Stuff." It was dubbed into Spanish so I didn´t understand much... but it was comical and a bit depressing to realize what it means when television is how many people form opinions of the US.

But that aside... Cancun is pretty interesting. The hostel room is one of those military style, 20-beds-in-a-room kinda things. I´m by the window... which means plenty of air but also lotsa noise. But I´ve got earplugs so no worries. Just a little overwhelming to finally be here. But I´m alive and looking forward to some beach time tomorrow.