COZUMEL 5 APRIL

No diving today - we were both beginning to feel the effects of all the long, deep, repetitive diving. We stroll through the shops (alongside the many cruise ship tourists!). Go for a pastry at one of the popular local pastry shops. The museum is a highlight (used to be one of the first hotels on the island). Very interesting the Mayan history and how they also fought to keep independence. Each young Mayan girl had to make a pilgrimage to Cozumel (The Island of Swallows) to pay tribute to Ixchel, the goddess of fertility and the moon. Small pox (introduced by the Spanish) killed half of the 8000 Mayans on the island and then only 200 survived the attacks by conquistadors. In the late 17th it became a sanctuary for pirates and then at the beginning of the 20th century the economy exploded because of the craze for chewing gum!!! (Chicle grew on the island!). Then it became a US military base for WWII, and when the military departed fell into an economic slump (need I say more!). It was Jacques Cousteau’s documentary on the fantastic sea life that brought tourists overnight! (We now heard that Bill Gates and Donald Trump is busy buying up most of Cozumel – for mega resort developments, and it is already ruining the reefs!). We struggle to get Luc away from the model of the Spanish galleon – he is completely fascinated by it! We decide to be adventurous and to go for lunch at one of the local food stalls in the Municipal Market. The market is an interesting place, selling fruit, veg, fresh meat and fish to cheap Chinese junk! Cannot understand any of the menus and decide to sit at the restaurant that looks the busiest (well trained by Uri!). Our waiter, who also becomes the chef (small family business!) helps us out and we end up with two delicious fried fish (lots of garlic!) and Callie finally gets to eat Camerones (prawns). It turns out to be the cheapest meal we have had here and one of the best tasting! The boys decide that they still have enough energy for more exploring and once again the set off on their scooter. I sleep the rest of the afternoon (OH – all those deep dives!!). This time they go snorkelling at Chankanaab Park, national park with dolphins and good reef. Luc cannot stop talking about the afternoon there, when they eventually get home. We decide to cook in and end up talking with the neighbour (who’s daughter made friends with Luc), swopping out food and wine! She is also from Atlanta (Decatur – where Liz lives and we will be next month!!!) and is not happy with her husband who when on a diving course last week because he knew he was coming to Cozumel!!! The long predicated rain finally arrives and it pours down (with lightning!!!)