Mexico > The Last Hours on Isla Mujeres

We can stay in the room until noon. After that, we take the boat back to the mainland. Before breakfast, I already select the items for my main luggage and carry-on bag. I also lay out the clothes I will wear for the return trip. After breakfast, I take a walk around the island. I follow the coast southwards. I pass the airport — or rather, what used to be an airport. The control tower looks neglected, and the runway is being used to park buses and trucks. Passing the airport means there is no shortcut for now to reach the other side of the island. That’s not a problem, though, as I have plenty of time. Around eleven o’clock, I return to the hotel. Across the street, I order a coffee. Then I change clothes and check out. Around half past twelve, we gather at the ferry terminal. We are well on time for the one o’clock boat. During the crossing, I spend my last Mexican pesos on a cola and a bag of chips. In the port of Cancun, Markos drives up again. Nice to see him for a moment. He drives us to the airport just outside Cancun in about an hour. Here we say our final goodbyes to Suzy and Markos. I enter the airport building and join the queue to check in. When it’s my travel companions’ turn, we’re told it’s best to check in as a group. All passports are collected. However, some have already checked in. The passports are checked, then checked again.

Mexico - The lighthouse in the center of Isla Mujeres

In any case, it takes a long time. Because I have a paper visa and no ESTA for the United States, I have to show my visa separately. Eventually, it’s my turn to get my boarding pass. It turns out Arno received the wrong ticket for me. He has my ticket. The luggage label is quickly corrected. Luckily, Arno realizes this quickly and brings the correct ticket. I proceed to the carry-on baggage check. Just before the scheduled departure time, the Delta Airlines flight takes off toward Atlanta. I have just enough time to watch a movie. This makes the flight, just over two hours long, go smoothly. In Atlanta, I follow the signs for ‘Connecting Flights’. I reach customs. The customs officer is fine once I mention I have a connecting flight to Amsterdam. Although the luggage is already checked through to Amsterdam, I still have to collect it from the baggage carousel and check it in again a bit further on. This feels like an unnecessary procedure. The carry-on baggage check takes more time. The line moves slowly. Strangely, electronic devices don’t have to be taken out of the bags here. In fact, all loose items, including passport and boarding pass, must be put inside the bags. Fortunately, I arrive on time at gate F01 for my connecting flight to Amsterdam. At half past ten, exactly on time, we take off for the Netherlands.