Woken by my alarm I hunt down coffee, filling my cup to a surreal backdrop of a city at night, drifting past the windows. We’re in Mexico.

I was off the ship and on a bus while it was still dark. The bus was old, rattling constantly even before we reached the cobbled streets, the plastic chairs a decade past their projected lifetime.

It was light when I got off the bus but the sun still hadn’t risen. I watched its progress along the shore on the far side of the bay.

I found the sea wall full of statues, and overlooking it, the 16th century cathedral. Looks nice and as the sun rose the congregation broke into a hymn, the same tune as a British Christmas carol but the Spanish lyrics more melodic.

The hill behind the cathedral was steep and I hurt one knee climbing the steps up it, and the other falling down a step at the top.

That photo lies, I went up a different route, just as steep. Later I passed the pink tree, looking down at it.

That was near a moment of comedy. Walking along, an empty street, looking down at the uneven cobbles to assure my footing (and avoid the ubiquitous evidence of substantial local dog ownership) I heard a squeak from above and looked up. A boy, maybe 9 or 10, greeted the dawn by throwing open the double doors opening onto a balcony rail overlooking the street, a full on “He’s not the Messiah” moment. I laughed as he nearly pulled down the curtains trying to hide.

Further down the street it seemed someone had a very good night.

By 9am, 5km already walked up and down the hill and the sea front, I found a cafe with Internet access. The ship leaves in just 5 hours so ta ta for now.

–/–

Back at the ship, someone generously sharing their wifi by the pier.

I’d been shopping but couldn’t afford the thing I wanted.

23000 pesos was a tad too much, even if I haggled. It wouldn’t fit in my camera bag anyway.

Instead I went hunting for food. Beef tacos, Mexican style.

They didn’t speak English so it was a point at the menu job, which might explain getting two beef instead of one beef and one mexican sausage. Not to worry.

I resisted the temptation to just order a kilo of cooked meat. Next door I’m not sure what was going on, but sensed strong emotions.

The bus back to the ship seemed to take longer, leaving me concerned I’d missed my stop but I kept seeing familiar landmarks. “Get off at Walmart” was the instruction from the on-board guide but I saw the ship from the bus, got off opposite. I never did get to see Walmart.

It’s $16 for a taxi from the ship to the main part of town. For the same $16 I got two bus rides, two coffees, two tacos and a bottle of beer. Somehow I also got 50 pesos, the locals providing change in a different currency to the original payment.