Until now I didn't do social media, facebook, twitter, blogs, or spend much time on the computer. I do travel and lots of it!
I had a negative attitude. What is this facebook? So I can have 1,000 facebook friends to feel good about myself? Talk about how I'm working under the table in Korea? Get approval from people I met for 5 minutes 3 years ago? I'd rather be exploring Vietnam, experiencing the real world lost in a romantic adventure with my "then" girlfriend.
We'll I had it all wrong. Real people are real whether communicating online or in person and steemit has given me a deep appreciation for that; but there is nothing better than experiencing the cross-over from steemit friend to friend in the real!
I got the pleasure of spending my last day in Mexico with @mithrilweed, @donnaincancun, @luzcypher. After meeting them all in person and learning that we all have much more in common than steemit, truly brought another level to our friendship; and I hope to meet other steemians along my travels as well.
I'm now in Up-State New York and after a month I'll be in Thailand; but I'll be following and keeping in-touch with them on steemit in a much more significant way. @luzcypher might even meet up with me in Thailand later in the year.
Highlights of our Day Together
For some reason I started following this van on the way to @luzcypher's apartment; I got lost and showed up late. Not very "Travel Pro". When I finally got there I met @mithrilweed and @donnaincancun for the first time in person. I was given a warm welcome and handed a cold beer.
Naturally we all talked steemit for a while @donnaincancun and myself are newbie minnows, so we were on the learning side of the conversation. The more we learned the more incredibly revolutionary we come to understand this platform really is.
Lucifer!....I mean @luzcypher treated us to a great chicken paella type dish for lunch at his place, it was fantastic. Soon after, one of us sprung the idea to go to a local cenote. Which is this!
Pools of crystal clear fresh water purified through the biggest underground river cave system in the world! There are hundreds of these pools. This is Cenote Azul, one of the more popular easier to access cenotes.
So we piled into @donnaincancun's car and off we went, like a bat out of hell. Half-way there she explains that she used to race cars...then it made sense, white knuckles and all!
Here's a photo of Donna looking back for a photo opp, while almost getting us all killed! Bumper cars anyone?
To read about how she wisely blew through the Mexican Police check stop with open beers in the car. See @luzcypher and @mithrilweed post here.
/@mithrilweed/awesome-steemit-meet-up-in-playa-del-carmen-mexico
As you come up on the cenote first thing you encounter is the cliff to jump from. Donna goes right for it immediately. Forgetting my slight fear of heights and with a little encouragement from @luzcypher "go for it!" I too made the plunge.
How incredibly refreshing and beautiful it was! We spent the afternoon swimming, taking in the sun, and letting real minnows nibble and clean the feet of steemit minnows! What a great afternoon.
Afterwards we all got back into the race car; in half the time it says on google maps we were at Los Aguachiles Mexican restaurant. I'll never forget the huge sigh of relief @milthrilweed let out 30 seconds upon exiting the car!
There we enjoyed a great selection of fish and shrimp tacos. I mean like really good quality food. Playa del Carmen is not your average Mexican pueblo. This place has western standards and hundreds of restaurants competing for that tourist and local dollar. This makes for one of the best small cities I've been to for eating out. One restaurant after another with great food at great prices!
Being the visiting traveler, as they all knew each other previously having more "normal" permanent lives in Mexico; I made sure to let them know how special they made my visit, and how much I enjoyed their company. I then headed back to my hotel to pack and less than twenty four hours later I found myself ridding the NYC subways!
It was a very special way to end my time in Playa del Carmen. Thanks again guys I had an incredible time!