Viva México!
On September 16, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Catholic priest in the town of Dolores (now Dolores Hidalgo in Guanajuato), called upon the local people to rise up against the Spanish colonial government.
His passionate speech, given from his church, encouraged rebellion, and it is widely regarded as the start of the Mexican War of Independence.
Every year on the night of September 15, the President of Mexico reenacts this historic moment by delivering the Grito de Dolores from the balcony of the National Palace in Mexico City, shouting “¡Viva México!” and ringing a bell, just as Hidalgo did.
This is replicated in cities and towns all over Mexico, including Cancun!
And last night my sister & I bore witness to the Mayor of Cancun performing the grito in the Parque de las Palapas in Cancún Centro.
Stalls, street food, music, decorations, thousands of local families & jam packed restaurants lined the streets as the celebrations kicked off around 7pm.
We first stopped for some ‘delisioso’ pastor nachos & a cold Mexican beer to take in our vibrant surroundings. Then walked the streets relishing the sights, sounds & smells.
“Viva Mexico!” rang out around us, on the buses, in the bars, from the vendors.
At just before 11pm there was a short military display followed by the Mayors speech which culminated with an impressive drone display, music, and celebrations as the crowd chanted “¡Viva México!” “Viva Cancún!” in response.
It was a fantastic atmosphere and I’m over the moon we got to see it and join in the celebrations!
A definite highlight of our trip!
A Birthday Outing on the Caribbean Sea
Aside from that joyous occasion, Friday was my birthday!
We spent the day sailing out to Isla Mujeres on a ‘luxury’ catamaran with an open bar, music, snorkelling at another MUSA spot & then relaxing at a beach club on the island.
While that sounds glorious (and overall it was), we made a bit of a rookie mistake when booking it.
Instead of booking directly or via a travel booking app, we took a punt at one of the travel agent booths you find in tourist shopping areas. We didn’t check the reviews of the company or do too much due diligence and as a result the lady who sold us the trip completely misled us.
We paid for a ‘luxury’ day out all fees included and ended up on an over crowded boat, were hit with surprise fees, and didn’t get half of what we were promised, including the premium beach club or parasailing. While we certainly made the best of the day it was not the premium experience we were sold.
When checking the Google reviews after the fact, we found them rampant with complaints.
So hot tip!
Always check reviews before booking, and beware travel agency booths as they may overpromise and underdeliver, and some will inflate prices significantly. It’s a good idea to do your due diligence, compare prices on the company’s own website vs. third-party apps like Get Your Guide or Viator, and don’t be afraid to ask direct questions about extra fees.
Ultimately, booking directly or through a trusted platform often ensures you get what you’re paying for and avoids the hassle of a disappointing experience.
With that being said, I spent the day in the Caribbean Sea with my family. It doesn’t get much better than that!
Other highlights included;
- Trying Chicken Mole – a traditional Mexican dish featuring chicken in a rich, savoury sauce made with spices and chocolate.
- Discovering Pastor Tacos – a traditional Mayan dish with marinated pork, cooked on a spit, and served in soft tortillas with pineapple, onions, and cilantro.
- Tasting a Devils Margarita (Tequila, strawberry, syrup, chamoy and miguelito) which is gorgeous! (For someone who doesn’t drink spirits and distinctly dislikes Tequila this was an interesting discovery)
- Seeing the new Transformers movie in the local cinema with reclining seats & gourmet popcorn!
(No wonder my waistline has grown – all my highlights involve food & drink!)
Coming up;
- Chicken Itzá
- Xoximilco Mexican Fiesta
- Coco Bongo
- Speedboat Tour!
See my post on the Best Things to do in Cancun here.
Viva Mexico! 🇲🇽
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