Looking for Doughnuts

Yesterday B and I headed back over to Cancun for the fourth time to see if our applications for FM2 status had been approved yet. Even though B had submitted his paperwork minutes before me, mine had been approved but his, not yet. Raul, the INM guy at the window, took pity on us and gave us the secret number to call so we don't have to make another wasted trip over to INM to see if B's is ready or not this Friday.



Normally, he should have scheduled my interview right then, since I was approved. He must have figured out that we are a couple because he wanted to wait and schedule them both for the same time. He must be very confident that B is going to get approved too.



After our ten minute visit to INM, we decided to walk over to Ave Tulum and catch a bus out to the Hotel Zone! If you knew how much we hate that area, you would be gasping right now that we did that. But I had an agenda. I had heard that there was a Dunkin' Donuts at Plaza La Isla and I wanted me one! Or a dozen.



I normally despise big shopping centers and only a pointed gun or the promise of a donut will get me near one. But I must say, I enjoyed this shopping center. Since most of it is outdoors with gigantic tarps over the walkways, you never get that "I'm at the Mall" kind of feeling.



See how light and airy this next picture feels? That's the feeling you get throughout.







Everything is done so creatively. Even the mural outside this toy shop.






One of the special things about this place is the canals that run all through it. Sort of a take off on Venice.






There are some really fun stores. Not the typical touristy kind, even though we did see a few of those. I really like this Ferris wheel. It is available as a kit.






My regular readers will remember that I like jigsaw puzzles a lot. I told you that they are expensive here and I never buy them though. Look at this one. $30 USD!








One store had duplicated this Diego Rivera mural from Mexico City on it's wall. A piece of culture right there in a shopping mall!






Can you find Diego and Frieda?




I always tell B that if I should ever die, I want my ashes stored in a Talavera urn. So that he can keep me around always. He says he is just going to give them to a fishermen to take out to sea and drop overboard. The thought sends chills down my spine. I told him that this one would do nicely!







This plaza is built on a former mangrove swamp that was filled in on the lagoon side of Cancun.






I soooooo know so many people that I would like to buy this shirt for!






Who can tell me what the name of this restaurant is?






The decorations, statues and fountains in this plaza are incredible. This was in the floor.





See what I mean about the statues. I suppose these are for sale.










One of the many covered bridges that go across the river.






You can go on a river ride in these boats. More like San Antonio than Venice if you ask me.






I found this statue interesting in so many different ways. Romanesque? Statue of Liberty? And look at those arms! Drag queen?






You will rarely hear me saying you should visit a shopping plaza. But I'll make an exception for Plaza La Isla. Don't go there to shop. Go there for the beauty of the place.



Oh. I never did find a donut shop. Damn.