Cancun, Mexico. Known around the world for its strip of powdery white sand, where luxurious hotels and nightclubs face incredibly turquoise waters, Cancun’s beaches are located on a narrow sand bar across from the city proper. Last week, the “Zona Hotelera” (Hotel District) bulged with Spring Break revellers from the U.S. and Canada, as well as other countries. The pulsating beat of hip hop and pop music could be heard over the strong Caribbean trade winds buffeting the shore.
The cool ocean breezes also reach the other side of the bay, parallel to the hotel zone, along the Malecón Tajamar. A “malecón” is a typically Latin waterfront promenade, and “tajamar” means “breakwater.” It is a favoured place in the early evening for Cancun residents to jog, walk their dogs, play with their kids and snuggle with loved ones. Tuesday nights have yoga class, Sunday evenings a youth group rehearses salsa dancing. As night falls, the twinkling lights of the distant hotel zone look like constellations of stars pulled down from the sky. The cool air and 150 acres of space behind it provide a respite from the hot, mostly concrete and increasingly congested city.
Photo: Danica Jorden. Couple enjoying Cancun’s Malecón Tajamar
