Cancun, Mexico 墨西哥坎昆 4/2015 (1)

10-13/4/2015. I made this trip back in April 2015, starting in Cancun, Mexico, then to Havana, Cuba, The Bahamas, and finally Washington. D.C., USA. The memory is still sweet and beautiful today, English or Chinese. I wanted to see the old Mayan civilization, unvarnished Cuba, the seductive beaches of The Bahamas, and the seat-of-power-of-the-universe, Washington, D.C. I thought I would binge myself to death for once.

I couldn’t go directly from the United States to Cuba, because these neighbors were not on speaking terms. So I picked Cancun in Mexico as the stepping stone. It was quite smart, really. I killed four birds with one stone—the chance to see Mexico without being hit by stray bullets in other lawless parts of this country, to frolic in this famous beach resort, to see the old Mayan civilization, and to sneak into Cuba from here.

Cancun’s stretch of the beach was very built up and totally occupied by tall luxury hotels, fanned out like stand-up meerkats along the beach. I couldn’t help feeling I was among those who had made it by just walking on this beach. Nearby was a beautiful lagoon with clear turquoise water, the quiet swamp that equally left its mark in my memory. I later joined a day tour group to visit some Mayan ruins, many still well preserved. Mexican history is very vivid here.

All the news about the drug and gang wars, the out-of-control security situation in many parts of Mexico—no hint of it here. This was an oasis of peace and breeze catering to the rich and the privileged. All I now remember of Mexico was the beautiful sunshine, the blue sky, the gentle breeze, the beautiful beaches, the serene turquoise lagoon, the tall hotels; life was good here. I rode in the public buses full of local people and the inevitable gaze from the children. That image still sticks in my mind. In front of a shop in a mall, I saw a girl sitting on a bench, in a bright yellow, off-shoulder traditional Mexican dress. I took a closer look. She had been waiting there too long – she was now reduced to a skeletal frame. Next to this mannequin, a caption read, “She is still waiting for the perfect man”. Years ago, I was gifted a personalized T-shirt with the words “Mr. Perfect” printed on the front. Sorry, darling; I am late.

10-13/4/2015 这是我4/2015年的旅程， 从墨西哥坎昆到古巴哈瓦那，再到巴哈马，最后到美国华盛顿。行程是有点仓促， 当时没计划笔记经历，只顾尽情享受。现在趁还有少许记忆，借照片勾起回忆，你以中文或英文随行，那回忆都一样的美妙。我要看玛雅的古文明，我要看坎昆闻名的海滩，我要一窥神秘的古巴，我要看巴哈马海滩美到那里，我要看华盛顿有什么了不起。我要的太多，但不过分，因此我来了。欢迎随行。

我无法直接从美国进入古巴， 因为这两个邻居合不来，看对方不顺眼，已多年不往来，我只能先到墨西哥坎昆，一个著名海滩和旅游城市，从这里进入古巴。捡了个便宜，这一举一石四鸟 – 一睹墨西哥这犯罪泛滥国家，一游著名的坎昆海滩，回顾旧玛雅文明，借路进入古巴。我想得真美。

这一带长长的海滩都给高层豪华酒店占据，像直立的火柴盒一一面海，在滩上散步我顿时觉得自己身份不同。在附近是平静绿蓝的泻湖，虽没有海滩的炫耀，她矜持寡言一样讨人喜欢。接着又跟团一日游，到几个景点参观几个玛雅文明遗迹，的确曾有辉煌历史。在这里见识了墨西哥的现代和历史，很享受这拼盘之游。

墨西哥的治安声明狼藉，毒品惹的祸真不小，当然也归功于美国慷慨的大量进口。听党徒火拼厮杀，枪林弹火新闻，这好像是个失控的国家，但坎昆有如安宁的绿洲，是为有钱有权人特设的天地。我对墨西哥的印象就这样形成，只记得那里有美丽的沙滩，林立的豪华酒店，晴朗的蓝天，清凉的海风，宁静清澈的泻湖。

我搭上当地公交，车上乘客那好奇眼光往我身上上下下来来回回扫描，把我都看透了，那些小孩目光好像还在注视着。 在商场一间店外一椅凳上坐着一个妙女，身着俏色墨西哥装，她傍边字题写到, “她还在等着她的完美先生”。她望穿秋水，历经风雨朝夕等待，如今只留得骨架。多年前我受赠一件很适合我个性化的T恤衫，衫前写着 “完美先生”。很对不起，亲爱的，我来晚了。今生今世， 只要自知自己不完美， 那特别的一位却认为你是完美，人生就完美了。