It tastes kind of like bacon and is seasoned with chili and salt. Not bad! We also spent a memorable day at Seasons of the Heart cooking school. There are ruins to explore, carvers to meet, bike rides on dirt roads past farmers on donkey carts. (here’s what I wrote about our experience.)
If you are in Cancun or along the Riviera Maya, you’ve got to visit Tulum where during Mayan times, those with the most knowledge — astronomers, priests, doctors — lived closest to the temples in the last cities inhabited by the Mayans just 75 miles south of Cancun. Many people I met love staying in Tulum with its laid back vibe, gorgeous beaches and tiny hotels, some with just 15 or 20 rooms.
If you want a little more action, consider Playa del Carmen. I loved its signature pedestrian area, the musicians, the beaches and the outdoor cafes. Check out the new Hyatt Playa del Carmen in the heart of the town where room rates start at under $200 a night and you will feel totally safe wandering around.
I’m excited for my trip next month to Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit on the Pacific Coast. I don’t know what I’ll want to do first — hit the beach or explore Puerto’s regional eats. There are the galleries at San Pancho, the cultural capital of the state of Nayarit and I’ve got to see the crocs and the birds in La Tovara National Park – home to 80 per cent of the Pacific migratory shore bird populations.
Maybe I better add a few more days….See you there!