Fun question for locals

[Cancun crazy]

I have been wondering this for a long time now. What's a normal day like for you living in Cancun? I know you have to work but how do you relax or what kind of things do you do in your free time? Where do like to eat or just hang out?

[gene37412]

I, for one don't work. I just hang out and go where I want when I want...

[CancunCanuck]

Normal day? Wish there was such a thing with a two year old in the house. :wink:

I work part time, but six days a week. My first class starts at 7 am and I teach until 10:30, M-F, 8-1 on Saturdays. I pick up my son from school and we usually head straight home for our nap. Walks in the neighbourhood, parties at people's houses (mostly kids' parties, though there is always enough beer to make Barney tolerable for the adults ). Weekends we'll head to the beach, Isla Mujeres, PDC or Cozumel, though often we just hang out in the neighbourhood or go for long walks.

We don't have a lot of money for going out to the nice restaurants or hotel zone clubs, though hubby goes out almost every Friday night, usually to Terrasta. On the rare occasion that I get out, I will go to Yaxchilan to meet friends at one of the bars, or head out for a big disco night out with the girls, but that is a rare treat these days!

[ELLABEAR424]

Originally Posted by gene37412

I, for one don't work. I just hang out and go where I want when I want...

ok gene37412, so where do you like to spend all of your free time?????
Where are your favorite places??

[RiverGirl]

I get up at 5:30 am 6 days a week. M-F my daughter has to be at school by 7. And on the 6th day my husband has to be at work by 7 so I get up and make his lunch. Then I go running and work out for an hour and a half.

After that I meet with clients and work until it's time to pick up my kid at 2:30. And once a week or so I meet a friend for coffee in that time. After I pick her up I run errands and/or work. Often I work on and off until 10 pm.

On weekends we sometimes go out to eat. Often we see some friends and have a drink or two with them. Sometimes we ride our bikes around the city. Sometimes we go to a movie or go shopping. Rarely we go to the beach or over to Isla Mujeres for a day. And sometimes we go down to Playa del Carmen or Puerto Morelos.

If we have visitors we act like tourists and go to the beach and to Mayan ruins.

When I lived in the US I would travel on weekends, go mountain biking, camping, fly somewhere cheap. Here it's more difficult to get away for the weekend. Here I put a lot of time into friendships but not much into travel.

To be honest this area is quite boring imho. There aren't big cities with lots of cultural activities here. There are very few protected natural places to go and enjoy nature. There are no mountains. But my closest friends are here. And my kid loves school here. And my business is here.

I think to be really happy here you need to have the money to travel often. And right now I don't, but like I said I have my friends, my work and my family here.

[Steve]

I haven't quite figured out whether every day is a working day or every day is a holiday since my work is something I enjoy and I have no boss to answer to.

I have very little routine day to day, but spend at least 70 hours a week online - that could be a 16 hr stretch on a couple of days with just a couple of hours here and there on others. If we want to go to the beach on a Wednesday we do and if on a Sunday we have no plans then I'll happily work all day. I'll often work until 2am as it's quiet and I can concentrate so I normally dont get up until 10:00am.

At the moment two or three times a month we have the cancuncare booze cruises so that is something we enjoy doing and get to see some sun and fun. We also have wasted days where we might end up queuing for hours and visiting official offices multiple times such as immigration or to pay the car tax.

Like Kelly, we have a 2 yr old too so Jannet and I dont get much chance to go out together on our own. Jannet normally goes out on a Wednesday with the girls, I go out with the guys maybe once a month if that. There's normally someone we know having a house party, kids birthday or BBQ every two weeks or so.

We usually go out at least twice a week during the day as a family but seldom eat out at restaurants, maybe snacks at a beach side place or downtown with a few beers or somewhere with a kids play area such as McDonalds. I'll probably get slaughtered for this but I am still yet to find a restaurant in Cancun that I truly enjoy in the same way I could name half a dozen places back home, and much prefer Jannets home cooking.

[lambert13]

Good answers guys. I am in the soul searching stage right now in deciding if we want to move to Puerto Rico this year. As I am sure many people who moved to Cancun have struggled with, I am trying to perform the mental separation of vacation and living somewhere. We considered Cancun for a while, but for many of the reasons Rivergirl mentioned, we decided it was not for us. Plus, since Puerto Rico is a US territory, we dont have to deal with all the immigration and citizenship headaches.

Thanks again from me for the insight. I love hearing about it here or in some of your blogs.

[gene37412]

Originally Posted by ELLABEAR424

ok gene37412, so where do you like to spend all of your free time?????
Where are your favorite places??

well I still trade stocks a little bit to keep me busy....but mostly just what ever strikes me at the time....I like La Taberna and My Place....Doug at La Taberna is a great guy and offers great drinks and the same can be said for Joe and Janet that own My Place. I also like to drive around and explore and meet more and more locals regardless of where they hail from. Basically just chilling out...

[Elizabeth]

I do the same thing I do back home except the weather is nicer (minus WILMA the EVIL) and I get to go to the beach on the weekends year-round. Add fewer choices for numerous amounts of other things and a general frustration of some more things and that pretty much sums it up!

[RiverGirl]

I agree with Steve, there are almost zero restaurants here that I like. The ones I do like are ones where the food is decent and I like the ambiance.

The restaurants I like are Il Chianti in Plaza Nayandei, the food is the best Italian I've had in Mexico, very good! I also like Marakame, as much for the decor as the food. I like Dub Cafe for lunch, the food isn't fab, but is fine, but I like the place. And I like My Place's food, and of course am chums with Joe and Janet. The ill-named Club Sandwich Cafe on Tulum has decent food which is always carefully prepared. And I like a little fish taco place on Tulum called Los de Pescado. Then across Tulum from that, near the Hospital Americano is a Japanese sushi place that is quite good, though I forget the name.

[Elizabeth]

I vote TEMAKY for great restaurants.

[janie]

Elizabeth ... LOVE your new avatar!!!

[Elizabeth]

Thanks Janie. I thought I looked much sexier in this avatar as opposed to the other one.

[RiverGirl]

I like your avatar too Liz, but you ARE prettier than your puppy is. I know you think he's the most beautiful being on the planet but...

[Michael F.]

I also heart Elizabeth's old avatar

[Ana]

Monday to Friday; wake up at 5:45 AM and wake up our 3 teenagers, drive first to high school and then to jr. high school (gate close at 6:50 AM)

Then go to Casa Blanca gym for 1 hour and then go to Alianze to do gymnastics from 9 to 10:30 am.

Back home, bathe and begin to work until midnight, As a personal time I take 2 days of the week to sunbathe and swim instead of working.

Saturdays and Sunday always on duty with a lot of teen agers at our house, on the boat, wave runners, knee boarding and all the other stuff.

[ELLABEAR424]

What is it that you all do for a living?
I have read that you go to work, but I do not know what it is that you do.


Thanks,
EB

[Ana]

Originally Posted by ELLABEAR424

What is it that you all do for a living?
I have read that you go to work, but I do not know what it is that you do.


Thanks,
EB

We own Gray Line Cancun,

[Naoautorizada]

Originally Posted by Ana

We own Gray Line Cancun,

Kewl.
Does that mean that there's a discount for those of us here? [Coupon code: CCare]
(Even better!)

This has actually been a rather informative thread in that I would think that 'places to go' and 'things to do' would (or at least should) be the norm for those living in Cancun.

I hear somewhat the opposite instead.
What an eye opener.

[CancunCanuck]

Originally Posted by ELLABEAR424

What is it that you all do for a living?
I have read that you go to work, but I do not know what it is that you do.


Thanks,
EB

I teach English as a Second Language at a private school that only teaches English (ie, not a regular school with math and history). I mostly have adults (hotel and restaurant employees) but do have some teenagers. Hubby is the web designer for Royal Resorts. He works from 9 to 6, but because of having to travel to the HZ, he leaves home at 7:30 and returns at 7:30. He is one of the lucky ones though in that he only works Monday to Friday.

In terms of restaurants, our selections are pretty much based on how good their playland is, haha. As much as I am not a fan of McDonald's, we've tried several of them to find the best play area for Max (so far we like the one at Kabah near Davinci and the one on Lopez Portillo near Kabah). Other places that are kid friendly include Bisquets Obregon on Coba, El Porton and Toks. We do order in once or twice a week and our favourites include Tizoncito's and Tortas de Puebla. I think it's funny that now when we order from Tizoncito's we don't even have to give our address, they know Jorge's voice and our order and they just know where to bring it.

In terms of doing the touristy stuff, most of us don't have the time or money to do so. We have tried a few tours when family comes to visit, but that's about it. Doing a regular touristy tour would cost us about half of my monthly pay cheque!

[T.J.]

So Rivergirl, if you like Marakame, you must love La Troje. There are no better creative and tasty salads in all of Cancun. I like both of these places.

How about Super Carne for the Arrachera Paqueta, 1/2 kg of carne, choice of potato or grilled onion, tortillas and all the "fixins" and a non-alcoholic beverage. All for $83 or $85. I forget which as they just went up from $77.

I like Fonda Argentina for non touristy Argentian food and decent prices. A big room and the acoustics are not so good but I have always had good food and good service.

Italiani's is coming to Paseo Cancun and hopefully it will be cheaper than the HZ location. This is a chain, but very, very good. Part of the TGI Friday's organization.

[RiverGirl]

Haven't been there yet TJ, where is it? If it's where I'm thinking it's got funny hours and I always miss it being open.

We just went for tacos at the hole in the wall place at the end of our street. It just opened a few days ago, and the only reason we went is that a neighbor is the owner. They have no menu, just cardboard signs made with marker and stuck on the outside of the windows, so as soon as it rains the signs will get wrecked. They have ugly raw fluorescent light bulbs, and plastic chairs and tables from some soda company. They only serve carnitas, barbacoa and consome de barbacoa, 3 items. I don't eat any of that. I tried the carnitas but there was a pound of salt in there, so hubby had to finish them.

With 3 items on the non-existent menu and bad lighting and uncomfortable chairs and salty food I can't imagine that this place will be open in a month. Awful. But this is "real" Mexican food, someone decides to open a "restaurant" and thinks that all it takes is cardboard signs and bare light bulbs. It's the Mexican way!

[carrie77]

Canuck, I went to the McDonalds on Lopez Portillo near Kabah a few times when I was there. I lived just off Kabah near Coba.

There's a pizza place here that knows my voice and order, too! LOL

[carrie77]

Originally Posted by "CancunCanuck

In terms of doing the touristy stuff, most of us don't have the time or money to do so.

So true!!! As a shot girl at Slices, I worked almost two months straight with NO days off, and being low season, there were days I barely made enough in tips ($40 MXP!) to get home and back to work the next day... and shot girls don't get any pay, just tips. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED my job (Hello, partying!) and there were days I made $800 MXP... I was just clarifying how I relate to Canuck's quote.

[T.J.]

Kim (and others)

Super Carne is in the plaza between Elektra and Blockbuster on Coba, just west of Palenque. I have eaten there as late as 11 pm. And I can never remember if the Blockbuster is next to Office Max or Office Depot, just the one that is NOT at the corner of Coba & Tulum. The other one.

Also, no one mentioned Tacos Rigo on the glorieta at Paleque and Xpuhil. Great barbacoa but they run out before dark. Great tacos all the time - many, many types. Good for after a not too late night on Yaxchilan. LOL.

[RiverGirl]

TJ - I meant La Troje, not Super Carne...

That's Office Max next to Electra and Super Carne.

We sometimes go to Tacos Rigo at 1 or 2 am, well, by sometimes I mean I've done it twice in the last 2 years...their tacos are decent there. And there's almost sort-of maybe some kind of ambiance there. Many of my Mexican friends love it there.

[T.J.]

La Troje is on Acanceh, next to the back side of Sports City.

[RiverGirl]

Ok, so it IS the one I was thinking of, the one that is NEVER open when I drive by and think of stopping...Thanks

[cunspin]

Rivergirl, La Troje is open from before 9am till midnight everyday except for Sunday, they Serve Breakfast lunch and Dinner and are great!
I have to give Marakame the absolute worst service award, food is good but I will not go back the service sucks and I have given them more than 15 chances.
A place that is Fantastic is De Pa in the Parque de las Palapas OMG! talk about really good food Patric the owner is very entertaining and speaks fluent english too.

[RiverGirl]

Cunspin, thanks for the info. I've eaten at Marakame at least 10 times always had either good or great service. Went there on Valentine's Day and they were giving away mugs and chocolates. I will try De Pa for sure.

I've tried to go to La Troje 3 different times, with 3 different people who love it and thought it should be open then, and it was closed. So they definitely have something odd going on with hours. I will give them another shot soon though.