Hotel Big Ben Chetumal, Mexico

Hotel Big Ben Chetumal, Mexico
Originally uploaded by teerlinck.

Near the border of Mexico and Belize, this was our last stop before crossing. Chetumal is a loud, obnoxious hellhole that smells like sewage and is full of unfriendly people, like everywhere else we went in the Yucatan. The bus service employees of ADO and Oriente were especially rude and arrogant toward us.

Chetumal is nothing more than one vast market selling TVs and skanky dance-wear fror women that feature camoflage, sequins and "Go U.S. Army" printed on the front or G-strings with red crosses on them. Maybe its not for me to judge, but I can't help but think: "go U.S. Army"? What the hell are these folks thinking?

As far as the culture in general goes, Yucatan Mexico seems to like everything fast, loud, impersonal, bright and tacky--a little like Las Vegas. Loud, repetative, brainless music blasts from every shop and street corner 24-7. Posters of scantily clad, artificially enhanced women everywhere sell everything from car mufflers to beer. Belize is the opposite: Reggae, friendly smiles, relaxed pace.