Playa del Carmen is busy. Really busy. Lots of international tourists.
The beaches are nice, but really quite busy.
Our goal for our first official day in Mexico was simple: get a lay of the land, and seek out good tacos.
For Happy Hour, we visited Reef 38, which is a hotel next to our condo. Their rooftop bar was surprisingly deserted, and we enjoyed some cocktails and sunset views in peace and quiet. There is the constant thump thump of music from nearby bars and clubs, but the rooftop was a lot more serene.
For dinner, we read that El Fogon has some of the areas best tacos. We had walked by this restaurant earlier in the day, and it was closed up tight, so not much to look at. That evening, it was really bustling and alive. The drinks were cold, the tacos were outstanding, and the wait was worth it.
After dinner, we walked the length of the 5th Avenue pedestrian street. Really big crowds, busy restaurants and bars, over-priced upscale shopping. It was really a bit seedy in some spots. I must have been asked 10 times if I wanted to buy drugs (. . . a little something for your nose?). Returning to our condo, we were very appreciative to be off the beaten path a bit, away from the constant noise and crowds of this over-touristy area. We had to remind ourselves that we picked this destination for warm, sunny weather and good local food.
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