Cozumel, Mexico - May 2002
Summary
I went to Cozumel for 3 nights on an educational trip
sponsored by Funjet. (I know it’s a hard job but, somebody has to do it.)
These trips are a great way to see several hotels all at once and experience
the flight and ground transfers first hand. We also get to eat at a number of
the hotels. Finally, we do get to have some fun and check out the shopping and
sites of the destination.
History
Cozumel is Mayan for Land of the Swallows. The island was
settled around 300 AD and acted as a commercial port for the Mayan sea trade.
Traces of the original Mayan settlement can be seen at El Cedral. The ruins at
San Gervasio are of a temple to, Ix-Chel, the Mayan goddess of medicine, corn
and fertility. Mayan tradition has it that every woman needs to visit Cozumel
once in
 her life to ensure that she will bear children.
At 32 miles long and 9 miles wide Cozumel is the largest
island in Mexico. Originally, the government in San Miguel also governed the
Playa del Carmen area. In fact the streets for the two cities are laid out
exactly the same. Now the much larger Playa del Carmen administers Cozumel.
The crime rate in Cozumel is very low. Nearly ninety percent of the residents
were born on the island. That kind of close knit community makes it hard to get
away with anything. Continued Photos
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