La Quinta

This morning we finally found the courage to stroll down La Quinta (5th Avenue). It was hot but there was a little breeze, so we went for it, a real stroll, like the Italian “passeggiata”. La Quinta is a pedestrian street parallel to the beach with little stores, cafés and restaurants. It’s clearly touristy but pleasant. We stopped for “brown ice cream” and expressos then went on and discovered a playground just across the Cozumel ferry docks.

Today is the presidential election in Mexico, and I am telling you this country is committed to democracy. The voting polls were under huge tents, some sponsored by Corona…is that really politically correct? ;-) The hot sun did not prevent people from lining up for hours. If it was the States, we would have a 1% turnout. On the top of it, no one was showing any sign of impatience or irritation. Some women were chatting under a huge umbrella, one man was playing guitar and so on.

Sorry but I have to mention another superstore shopping experience: we went to Mega, which is sort of a Mexican Walmart, located just next door to…Walmart! We bought cell phones and beach towels. Mega has an incredible selection of food, pastries and pretty much everything else.

I really need to ask someone about all these huge stores in such a small town. In Brooklyn, there must be at least 5 million people, and we have one Costco, a (new) Fairway, and a few C-Towns and Key Foods, but that does not come close. In Playa, there must be 10 to 20 thousand people and FOUR megastores. It maybe 30 to 40% less expensive than in New York… but average Mexican wages are probably way less 40% of NY wages… I need to figure out the local economy a bit better.