Cozumel

Early on Saturday morning, Lisa and I returned from ten days in beautiful Cozumel, Mexico. Not only was the weather in the mid-to-high 80's every day, with continuous ocean breezes and occasional rain showers, but the people of Mayan Mexico stole our hearts. These are fabulous people, living in less-than-fabulous conditions, who have a genuine passion for improving the lives of others.

 

Each time that we vacation in Mexico, we like to get off the resorts in which we stay and meet the people of the land. This year was no different.

 

Cozumel is a small island, located several miles off the coast of the Yucatan, adjacent to Playa del Carmen, south of Cancun. It is 56 kilometers around, fourteen kilometers across, and some thirty-six kilometers from top to bottom. The eastern coast is developed, relying on tourism from the mainland. It is filled with shops, bars and tourist services. The northeast is filled with resorts and recreational opportunities for visitors. The western coast is largely undeveloped, due to its rougher terrain and open ocean climate. The south is populated by tourist attractions, resorts, and pirate memorabilia. The northwest portion of the island in populated by indigenous Mayan Mexicans, living in traditional ways, and military installations.

 

The minimum wage is $.35/hour. The average workday is ten hours. The average workweek is six days. The average daily wage, at least in the Mayan region, is less than $5.00/day. During our stay, we had the opportunity to interact with many of the locals, including the resort staff.

 

I met Caterina, our daily maid. She makes $.35/hour, works ten hours, six days per week. We tipped her daily. One day into our stay, I do not recall which, we did not have the usual $5.00 tip. I left $10.00 instead. Mid-morning, I had to head up to the room for some now forgotten reason and encountered Caterina, as she was leaving our room. She thanked me profusely for the daily tips, I think. (I speak very little Spanish and she spoke even less English.) She tried to either give me back the $10.00 or have me consider it two-days tip. Tears ran down her cheeks as she explained to me what the daily tip meant to her. Though I understood few words, there were some that I recognized. I certainly recognized the emotion. It was thanksgiving and celebration.

 

We met Lupe and Elmer, both of Mayan descent. These gentlemen took true joy in making people around them happy. Despite very difficult lives, their smiles and excellence in service made all the difference in our stay. We met Wilma, who hawked her handmade wares daily on the beach. By week's end, we knew about her marital and family situation, what her homelife was like, and how appreciative she was of those few tourists who would actually interact with her. We met the proprietors of Wet Wendy's, she a Hungarian and he a U.S. citizen, and Havana Bob, the owner of a Cuban cigar shop, who is actually from Hamilton, Ohio.

 

As Lisa and I begin to reminisce about our trip, as we look at pictures and videos, it is the people, both on the resort and off, that we will remember. Such a beautiful place and such beautiful people! Despite their relative hardships, despite having nearly nothing, they are thankful, generous, kind and loving. 

 

I learned from these beautiful people. I wish we all could.

 

See You Sunday!