Cynthia:  Our day trip to Isla Mujeres was so different from anything else we’ve done during our months in Mexico exploring expat destinations.

Edd:  For sure. Starting with live music on the ferry from Cancun. Early morning classic rock including a ZZ Top cover?? That was certainly unexpected.

C:  “Unexpected” was pretty much the theme for our entire visit. Since lots of people told us we had to go there, we decided to just show up with minimal research and see for ourselves what was special about this place.

E:  Something that wasn’t a surprise was how touristy a little island near Cancun is. As soon as we stepped off the ferry we were approached by locals hustling diving tours, golf carts, and souvenirs. 

C:  No time for any of that because we needed to find the coffee shop where we were meeting a local expat. Isla Mujeres has been his home for seven years, and he was happy to get together to share some interesting insights into the expat community there. 

E:  He thought ...

Edd:  We had vacationed in Cancun before but arrived with no idea what it would be like to live abroad there.

Cynthia:  You’re right. On an anniversary trip years ago we only left the property where we were staying for one night. And even then we remained in the hotel zone.

E:  Cancun’s development began in the 70s, around the same time the area where we live in Cuenca called New Town started to be built. We were caught off guard to experience how similar downtown Cancun felt to our neighborhood.

C:  Especially after weeks walking throughout historic Mérida where the walls and doors are built right to the edge of the sidewalks. Then the contrast of countless mid-rise condos with rooftop pools in Playa del Carmen.

E:  Of all the places we’ve been so far, who knew we would feel the most at home in Cancun of all places!

C:  Not only because of the architecture, but also by the small family-run shops and restaurants serving mostly locals that were everywhere. You’re right, Cancun ...

Cynthia:  Playa del Carmen was certainly a different experience from Tulum, wasn’t it?

Edd:  I’ll say. To begin with, the “hotel zone” of Tulum is totally separate from the actual town. The design of Cancun is similar. In Playa it’s all one big happy family.😀

C:  Generally speaking there’s the beach area. Running parallel a couple of blocks from the coastline is the famous pedestrian 5th Avenue. Beyond that thoroughfare, the town becomes more residential with businesses to support daily life.

E:  Gotta mention the beach itself. Our review of Tulum was kind of gloomy, so we didn’t even bring up the tons of stinky seaweed there and again at Playa.

C:  It was disappointing to see our second expat destination in the Riviera Maya having the same problem. You’re quite the ocean lover and you never got close to the water.

E:  No way I was going to walk on that disgusting greenish-brown carpet. Seaweed notwithstanding, overall we found a lot to like about Playa, right?

C:  Yes, startin...

Edd:  Since we were only in Tulum for four days and there were heavy rains a lot of the time, we can’t really give the place a thorough evaluation as an expat destination.

Cynthia:  That’s true, but we do have some snapshot impressions we can share. I think it’s fair to say when most people think of Tulum, they picture blue skies, crystal clear water, powdery white sand, and upscale hotels and resorts.

E:  Of course. Tulum has done a marvelous job of packaging its image as an eco-chic destination. But even though we were only there a short time, we quickly recognized there’s a night and day difference between the “hotel zone,” along the beach road, and the actual town of Tulum.

C:  It’s important for our readers to understand that throughout our travels we’re staying where expats might actually live, not in pricey vacation areas. And, boy, the Tulum we experienced was an eye-opener.

E:  I’ll say. As opposed to the yoga studios, high-end boutiques, and fancy eateries at the...