15th Oct. 2016
I am reminded we are back in Mexico when my breakfast omelette comes with frijoles (a paste made from pinto or black beans) and tortillas. I am not good with unusual food first thing in the morning, so this is not a welcome addition. At lunch I find a spread of frijoles in my ham and cheese baguette and then at supper I am sure it is lurking under the tomato base of Dave’s Mexican pizza. Too much!
Having said that, we have enjoyed our time in Mexico and are looking forward to our last few days here before we move on to Central America. Four years ago a fellow travellers recommended visiting Bacalar as the lake there is beautiful. We did not have time then, and so we feel we must visit it now as we are so close. We decide this is best achieved by a day trip from Chetumal.
Our trusty LP guide book tells us that combi taxis to share are found at Cruz Roja so off we set. Hmm, none to be seen. After enquiring of passers-by we are finally indicated to a small garage full of taxis and told to get in the second car. We climb into the back of a Daewoo Matiz and are soon joined by two girls and for the pricely sum of £1.50 each we set of on the half hour journey and are dropped off in the Plaza Mayor in the centre of Bacalar.
There are two main sites in Bacalar, the Fort and the lake. From experience, it is best to go for the intellectual option first so we explored the Fort. Good views over the lake and photos with canons and carts. In the museum there we also learnt about pirates as they were prevalent in this area in the 16th and 17th Centuries and the Fort was built to defend Bacalar. To us Sir Francis Drake was a great English Sea Captain but to the Spanish he was no more than a pirate.
Culture done, it was time to head for the beach, but not before stopping to take a picture of this chap enjoying the heat on the fort wall. Much of the shoreline has been taken over by hotels and restaurants so there are only two public beaches, which is where we head. We choose the one with the facilities which cost all of 40p to get in. This does include changing rooms and toilets but tables with shade are extra!
The water was suitably warm and it was good that it was lake water and not salty sea water. The only downside is that you do not float so easily. Great to cool off for a while just enjoying the water but soon Dave has disappeared. Off taking photos again, this time with his phone in its waterproof pouch.
Just one final stop as we spot a church, very plain compared with many we have seen. We decide to take a taxi back to Chetumal without trying to share. We climb in the back of one of the many little Matiz taxis and find the fare is per person and the same as the trip out here. Settling back for the half hour journey, the first stop is to get some fuel for the trip, reminding us of how hand to mouth life here can be, especially with so many taxis touting for business. Off we head down the dual carriageway but 5 minutes later screech to a halt to pick up a chap who jumps in the front. This is then repeated as a chap joins Dave and us in the back. Three sweaty bodies in the back of a tiny Matiz is not pleasant! Still we were dropped back at our hotel, hot & sweaty and ready for a beer!