Rebels in Swimming Suits

As I mentioned in my last post, I am spending the week in Cancun.  Not only am I having a good time, but I am learning a bit about how much the world had advanced since I retired.  I was already fully aware that the use of mobile technology and the way companies are automating and doing everything online has surpassed everything I knew when I was working.  It was just in its infancy then.  I always thought I was pretty savvy technically, but that was then, this is now.

So, the first full day we were here, we decided to go to Walmart to get some groceries and miscellaneous supplies.  We were told that the best and least expensive way to get around was to use Uber.  We had verified this when we arrived, as we hadn’t made reservations for a shuttle, so had to take a taxi.  I can’t bear to tell you how much we paid to get to our hotel.  I’ve never used Uber or anything else like it.  I was pretty nervous about doing it the first time, especially in a foreign country.

I found the app in the App Store and downloaded it.  The first thing we had to do was ask someone which Walmart was actually the closest to our hotel, having no clue where we were in relationship to the rest of the area.  With that information and a little guidance from my friend, we able to request and get a ride to Walmart.  Our driver was really cool and gave us lot of local information on our way.

We got to Walmart and quite frankly it looked like any other Walmart I’ve been in except for the signs in Spanish.  It was a challenge to find what we were looking for, but we managed.  It just took a lot longer and a lot more walking around than it normally would.  Converting the currency required regular use of our phones.  It was a lot harder than it was in Europe when I had traveled there for work.  I’m still not really sure how much a U.S. dollar is worth in Mexico.  I just kind of went with the flow.  We managed to complete our shopping and were ready to head back to the hotel.  Minor issue:  No internet service to be able to order an Uber.  I only had internet service when I was on the WIFI in the hotel.  Fortunately, a young man working there helped us out and ordered for us on his phone.

The last few days we stayed around the resort and just relaxed. Both my friend and I are smokers.  I guess smoking isn’t a big deal around here, as finding a place to smoke while out and about has been challenging.  More than once we were told we couldn’t smoke where we were.  We had to go down to the beach to smoke.  Well, I’m still on crutches and that’s a lot further away than the pools.  We always tried to smoke away from others and always policed our butts.

Today, we took a ferry over to Isla Mujeres.  Successfully used the Uber app again and got dropped off inside the ferry terminal.  After purchasing our tickets, we had some time to kill, so decided we wanted a smoke.  We asked one of the workers and he told us there was no smoking anywhere, that we would have to go back out to the street.  Well, that was a long way on crutches and not really an option for me at the time.  He leaned closer and quietly told us where he goes for a quick smoke sometimes.  We found the area and sat down to have a cigarette before boarding the ferry.  Hence the title: Rebels in a swimsuit.  When you’re a smoker, you gotta do what you gotta do, regardless of so-called restrictions.

When we returned on the ferry, again no internet.  Couldn’t get an Uber.  We finally negotiated a lower price with the taxi driver and got back.  It took every bit of cash I had left in pesos and dollars to pay for the taxi.  My friend had forgotten her wallet so we had been managing on mine.  For safety reasons, I hadn’t taken all my cash with me, so the supply was getting low.  The restaurant we chose to eat lunch at only took cash, so I had already used quite a bit of what I had and used my card on everything else in order to have enough cash to get back to the hotel.

Now that I’ve been writing about our experiences a bit, I’m thinking the title of this post should have been “Mexico on a wing and a prayer.”  But I really like the pic of my friend and me smoking in the corner in our swimsuits.  So, I’m sticking with my original title.

About the healing I’m supposed to be doing while I’m here.  I am healing.  The sun and the beach are filling my soul.  I really needed this time away to recharge.  Sharing it with a close friend who is always watching out for me is even better.  My physical therapist had given me exercises to do, but told me the best thing to do for my recovery was to walk.  I’m here to tell you it’s working.  Just after 4 days of relaxing, walking and pool exercise has made a huge difference in my pain level and my strength and stamina.  The first two days, I was back in my room by noon for a 2-hour nap before carrying on the rest of my day.  Today I fell asleep for a few minutes on the beach, but made it all day with a lot of walking and not much pain.  A massive improvement since last Saturday when I needed an oxy by the time I got on the plane, due to what it took to get there, even with a wheelchair and help from my friend.  I haven’t needed it since.  I will say that the people here have been wonderful.  Everyone is willing to help and my being on crutches has expedited our getting around.  Both ways on the ferry we were taken directly to the front of the line to board so I didn’t have to stand in line.  At the exit when we got back, some workers moved the fencing so we could exit straight up the ramp without having to walk all the way around the rows of fencing to exit.  Definitely saved some wear and tear on my leg, especially at the end of a long day.

I’ve been pacing myself so as not to overdo it.  Very unusual behavior for me.  I typically keep going until I fall on my face.  Not this time.  I am using this time for what it was offered for…a chance to escape my world for a moment in time and get recharged.  If you’ve been reading my posts. you know a lot of what I have been going through this year.  When my friend offered me this getaway, I jumped at the chance.

I owe it to myself and her to take advantage of this time and get the benefit from it that she was offering.  So, while I’m having fun, I’m also taking care of myself so I can keep getting better.  I’m doing all kinds of things out of my ordinary…such as eating on a regular basis, drinking water, being active but getting the rest I need also.  Spending this time with my friend has also been an opportunity to share our experiences and provide strength not only to our friendship, but to how we’re each coping with life and moving forward.  Maybe we’ll even quit smoking at some point, but I’m sure I’ll find more rules to bend.

On that note, I’m going to close this and relax a bit.  It’s early to bed tonight as we’re being picked up at 5:50 a.m. for an excursion to the ruins and snorkeling.  I’m sure it will be another adventure.

Love and Peace

Chick