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car accident in Playa: traffic guard on duty at intersection waved to us
to turn left, but traffic on the cross street did not stop and motorcycle
hit us. More senior policemen came, one spoke English, and claimed that
we only have right of way if traffic guard rotates his body to indicate
that the other traffic must stop; the hand gestures mean nothing. We do
not know if this is true, but we didn't argue. Fortunately there was a
Hertz office in Playa and they helped us through it. License and
impounded car returned quickly for 760 peso fine, paid at the police
station with computer-printed receipt. No bribe ever suggested; the
police were quite pleasant and professional through all of it.

Riviera: we hadn't been there in 20 years and the change is shocking. We
were disappointed in Playa, the beach is not much, although there are
some beautiful people on it. The hustle on Av 5 is disgusting. None of
the restaurants were good, and they were all $10-15 per person; at that
price, one can get gourmet food in Mexico City. We did have a beachfront
room at the Hotel Alejari, a small homey hotel, and this was very
enjoyable.

Gran Hotel, Merida: we booked a front-facing room well in advance, but
upon arrival they assured us that we didn't want it because of the music
in the square would keep us awake. Real reason, of course, is that they
had no front rooms available. They pushed several windowless rooms upon
us one after the other, and finally "found" a windowed room on one side,
with leaking toilet and dripping AC.

Merida: great town, wonderful experience (Sat eve. & Sun), even though
there is nothing particular to "see" there.

Uxmal: much more interesting than Chichenitza. The Club Med hotel is very
nice too. Hardly anyone was staying at any of the fancy hotels here.

smaller archeological sites south of Merida: there are africanized bees
on some structures, be careful since these are aggressive and don't wait
for you to do anything before attacking you (maybe we should call them
Bush bees).

Valladolid: The Hotel el Meson del Marques knows that it is the nicest
place in town and has become rapacious. Insists on cash in advance;
highly praised restaurant is not very good (shark layered between
tortillas is actually canned tuna).

Coba: very much worth a visit, although here you are starting to see too
many tour group tourists from the coast.

car rental return in Cancun: There is no gas station anywhere near the
airport. One is being built on the main N-S highway (just N of where the
short airport feeder connects to it), but until it opens, fill up well in
advance if returning the car to the airport.

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On 04/01/2003 1:29 PM Chuckles conferred with the ghost of Faye Wray and
said:

>car accident in Playa: traffic guard on duty at intersection waved to us
>to turn left, but traffic on the cross street did not stop and motorcycle
>hit us. More senior policemen came, one spoke English, and claimed that
>we only have right of way if traffic guard rotates his body to indicate
>that the other traffic must stop; the hand gestures mean nothing. We do
>not know if this is true, but we didn't argue. Fortunately there was a
>Hertz office in Playa and they helped us through it. License and
>impounded car returned quickly for 760 peso fine, paid at the police
>station with computer-printed receipt. No bribe ever suggested; the
>police were quite pleasant and professional through all of it.
>
>Riviera: we hadn't been there in 20 years and the change is shocking. We
>were disappointed in Playa, the beach is not much, although there are
>some beautiful people on it. The hustle on Av 5 is disgusting. None of
>the restaurants were good, and they were all $10-15 per person; at that
>price, one can get gourmet food in Mexico City. We did have a beachfront
>room at the Hotel Alejari, a small homey hotel, and this was very
>enjoyable.
>
>Gran Hotel, Merida: we booked a front-facing room well in advance, but
>upon arrival they assured us that we didn't want it because of the music
>in the square would keep us awake. Real reason, of course, is that they
>had no front rooms available. They pushed several windowless rooms upon
>us one after the other, and finally "found" a windowed room on one side,
>with leaking toilet and dripping AC.
>
>Merida: great town, wonderful experience (Sat eve. & Sun), even though
>there is nothing particular to "see" there.
>
>Uxmal: much more interesting than Chichenitza. The Club Med hotel is very
>nice too. Hardly anyone was staying at any of the fancy hotels here.
>
>smaller archaeological sites south of Merida: there are africanized bees
>on some structures, be careful since these are aggressive and don't wait
>for you to do anything before attacking you (maybe we should call them
>Bush bees).
>
>Valladolid: The Hotel el Meson del Marques knows that it is the nicest
>place in town and has become rapacious. Insists on cash in advance;
>highly praised restaurant is not very good (shark layered between
>tortillas is actually canned tuna).
>
>Coba: very much worth a visit, although here you are starting to see too
>many tour group tourists from the coast.
>
>car rental return in Cancun: There is no gas station anywhere near the
>airport. One is being built on the main N-S highway (just N of where the
>short airport feeder connects to it), but until it opens, fill up well in
>advance if returning the car to the airport.
>
>
Thanks for your trip report. Sorry you had an accident. The whole
process of negotiating a left turn in Mexico is very convoluted in my
experience. You have to signal for a left turn yet yield to any
traffic behind you by moving to the right. Then there's a whole
different procedure when a traffic cop is involved. I just avoided
driving all together. You are very lucky indeed that your accident
didn't happen in some out-of-the-way place. At least in Playa there are
representatives from car rental companies who can act on your behalf.

--
________
To email me, Edit "xt" from my email address.
Brian M. Kochera
"Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once!"
View My Web Page: http://home.earthlink.net/~brian1951

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I forgot to add:

Los Almendros restaurant, Merida: famous restaurant recommended in all
guidebooks, now a horrible tourist trap with picture books showing each
dish, uninteresting oversalted food (salt was a problem throughout the
Yucatan, but not as much as in this restaurant)

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