Our day in Cozumel was wet & windy (20 mph gusting to 30), but our tour was diverse & interesting. Glad we chose this tour, as the water & 4-wheeler adventures were canceled because of the crazy weather.

The island of Cozumel is the largest of Mexico’s islands. Named for its famous swallows, it was a pilgrimage destination for Mayans who were seeking fertility favors from the gods. The arrival of the Spanish led to the demise of the Mayan Empire & the birth of the Mestizos (Mayan/Spanish). 20% of Cozumel’s 100k residents still speak Mayan. Only 10% of the island is developed, & only on its western side. The eastern side is a buffer zone for hurricanes. 90% of the island is beach, mangroves, jungle, & swamp. Pirates “owned” Cozumel during the 1800s. It was gradually repopulated after their demise, but remained a quiet sleepy island until Jacques Cousteau “discovered” its beautiful reefs in the 1960s. Scuba divers. Then more tourists. And here we are now.

Our day included an artisinal tequila tasting (we bought a bottle of the almond cherry tequila to sip on our balcony over the next few months); a local market; statues & churches; & a small Mayan temple. The 7-pointed piñata, representing the 7 deadly sins, was a teaching tool for the Catholic missionaries. We did NOT pick a green papaya or buy any drugs….