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worldofl0re · 2 years ago

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I sat in the very far back of the tavern, where it was darkest and most hidden. The dark cloak I wore over my darkened gambeson effectively made me invisible, keeping out of sight of everyone.

From that description alone, I wouldn't blame you for thinking I was some moody, dark, mysterious Rogue, one who happened to be the Chosen One, destined to save the kingdom from the clutches of tyranny, only to then disappear off the face of the Earth as quickly as I came.

But this couldn't be further from the truth. The truth is, I haven't had a grasp on what was happening in months. One day, I'm shipwrecked on the southern tip of the country, and the next, an old man with a wooden staff is speaking to me in a language I couldn't begin to understand, ushering me into some dark cellar where I became acquainted with a party of real heroes, who continued to speak to me in that same incomprehensible language. After that, one thing led to another, and I beheaded someone wearing a crown, in what I think was a palace.

After I did that, it just got worse. All the time I was too embarrassed to tell anyone, "sorry, but I don't know what you're saying," and kept my mouth shut the whole time. But even though I didn't say anything, people were infatuated with me, throwing themselves at me. It became too much, and so I just, disappeared, couldn't handle it. I ended up in this little town in the middle of nowhere. The bartender I think at least an idea of what was up with me, though we never spoke. I would just hang around here every day, and he would give me favorite drink: a tall glass of something fruity, colored like the sunset on a beach, adorned with a slice of lime and a tiny little umbrella, and in return, I helped him keep things calm when drunks inevitably had friction with other drunks.

But tonight, was different, and I knew it was different the very moment I saw someone walk in. She was a young woman, wearing white and silvery cleric's robes, holding a wooden staff in her hand, and looking around the bar.

The most distressful part was that I knew her: she was in the party of heroes, the ones who helped me defeat the Tyrant.

And she tracked me down... Oh God.

She scanned the bar, and immediately spotted me, my attempts to hide completely useless. She ran over, sitting right down at my table and looking at me.

My entire body froze. My heart forgot what it was supposed to do, and my lungs paused. She immediately began speaking to me, again in that language. I didn't know what she was saying to me, for all I know she could have been threatening me with a smile on her face.

I kept absolutely still, staring at her with beady eyes, hoping she would give up trying to talk to me any go away. The idea of telling her I couldn't understand her flashed past my mind, but the thought was so embarrassing that I couldn't bring myself to.

This cleric often talked to me when we were in the party. I think she found it amusing to try and force me to say something, but every time I didn't work, on account of my anxiety stopping me from doing everything, and so after a while she would give up, only to try again the next day.

This time, though, she seemed certain about getting me to say something. I thought I was going to cry, she just wouldn't go away. I didn't want to shoo her off, or God-forbid draw a weapon to get her to leave. She seemed just too nice, though I wasn't ever sure what she was saying, I couldn't do that.

I swiveled my head to the bartender, now appearing miles away from me, and stared into his very soul until he noticed me. It took a few seconds, but he did, and he soon started walking over to me and the cleric.

I breathed a sigh of deep relief, and watched him walk over. The cleric noticed him, and looked at him, saying something to him. He leaned down, and whispered something into her ear. Her face turned surprise, and my internal organs dived so hard into my feet I thought they'd try to dig through the floorboards.

"You... don't know what I'm saying?" She asked suddenly. My eyes widened to the size of oranges, and I froze again.

"Uhh, y-yeah?" I said, extremely quietly. She blinked at me blankly, and I felt hotter than that time our party stopped at a hot spring and I refused to take off my clothes.

"You... haven't understood a word anyone has said, the entire time?" She asked.

"Yeah..."

She blinked at me again, and then her lips twitched, she breathed in, trying to hold down a smile, which failed, and she started to chuckle, then laugh, holding her stomach.

"All this time you just didn't know what we were saying?!" She asked, really loudly now. I raised my hands in some panicked motion, trying to gesture her to be quiet, but just waving my hands wildly.

"Don-don't be so loud!" I hushed. "It's... embarrassing."

The cleric just shook her head, and put her elbows on the table.

"Oh... you're so lucky I know your language. Didn't know what anyone was saying, oh my God," He chuckled.

I gulped, and chuckled nervously, scratching the back of my head.

"Well, uh.. why did you come looking for me, anyways?"

For a moment I thought I saw her blush, but I think I imagined it. She sat up, and cleared her throat.

"Well, you just disappeared after we freed the kingdom, and everyone was just, kind of confused why. I think everyone just thought it was another, 'mysterious loner being lonely,' thing, but..."

"But, what?" I asked.

"Well, I wanted to know what was up, so I went looking, and here I am!"

"Oh."

"So you've just been here, not knowing a lick of Japanese and drinking your fruity drinks in the back of a small-town tavern?"

"Yyyeah," I said. She huffed out a chuckle, and shrugged.

"Not bad, honestly," She said. I chuckled myself.

"Yeah, just... uhm- er. So what now?"

The air got thick and quiet, my organs started descending into my legs again, and I felt my heart skip a beat.

"Well, do you want to learn Japanese?" She asked.

I couldn't really tell if my anxiety spiked or plummeted. I blinked at her, gulping again, and stammered out a, "Uhm... yeah. Yeah!"

"Okay!" She said, "Let's start with my name. It's Aiko. A, i, k, o. Aiko!"

"Aiko," I said.

"There! That's a start! Now what's your name?"

"Uh, Aksel."

"Aksel. Okay! Now-"

Aiko then started to teach me some basic phrases in Japanese. Listening to her was pretty fun, it made me more embarrassed that the whole time I've known her until this point I didn't even know her name, but it was still fun.

While we talked, I sometimes caught a glance of the bartender looking at us, smiling. He would immediately turn away when I noticed, but sometimes would glance at us while he worked.

I didn't really know what it meant.

Later that night, when the bar closed up, Aiko followed me outside.

"Hey! Do you got anywhere to stay here? I don't," She suddenly said.

"Uh, yeah," I blurted out, not realizing what I just agreed to.

"Do you mind if I stay with you?" She asked.

My body froze again. On the one hand, saying no to her would be very indecent, and I didn't want to be mean to her. On the other though... oh, whatever.

"Yeah, sure," I said.

"Great!"

She bounded down the dark, night-covered street, and I followed her down.

Everyone is fearful but respectful of that quiet badass chosen one with unheard of talent, eventually defeating the dark lord. The hero doesn’t want to be a loner, however. He just doesn’t know how to speak Japanese.

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love-toxin · 2 years ago

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Thinking about going to the beach with the fruity four... Steve immediatly taking a dad nap and falling asleep in the sun, everyone else drawing stuff on him in sunscreen (he gets a sunburn everywhere without a drawing so you can see the silly shit you drew on him for a few days). Robin volunteering to get buried in the sand, as soon as she's in up to her head she's like 'I'm hungry :(' so you have to hand-feed her snacks. Eddie tries to push you into the water with your clothes still on bc he's a menace. Feels bad about it afterwards tho and jumps in in his clothes as well so you're not the only one with wet clothes. Nancy saw this coming and brought a change of clothes for everyone. She's also the only responsible one so all of the snacks, drinks and the sunscreen are only there bc she remembered to pack them. She's just chilling underneath a beach umbrella & drinking a lil drink, fondly watching all the chaos.

words cannot express how much i want this rn......steve's dad nap is so accurate.......also not him beckoning you over before you run off to jump in the water, and getting you to sit in his lap to rub sunscreen all over your back. you and eddie digging robin out of the sand when she gets too hot to stay in, and yanking her out by the arms when it's shallow enough just for her to collapse into both of you, laughing. coaxing nancy out into the shallow area with you and the other two, holding her hands as she shrieks suddenly at how cold it is--she's so cute, she dives right into your arms for warmth but she's still laughing at herself. and only then do you see steve come running down the shore to grab you both over his strong arms, and grinning when you squeal and giggle before he tosses you both into the deeper water. and then all five of you are splashing and dunking each other, playing chicken with you on eddie's pale shoulders and robin sitting on steve's, while nancy judges the competition and gives a kiss to the losers. robin running out to get the polaroid and insisting on taking some pictures to save, ones you have no idea you're gonna still have when you're all old and gray in your precious photo album marked "1986 baby!". and when you're all soaked and sun-tired, you climb up the shore together and sit down on the picnic blanket, passing around nancy's sandwiches and chips and drinks, and waiting to watch the sunset while you're all sharing your towels. resting your cheek on one of their shoulders as you cuddle into their warmth and feel a kiss atop your head as you enjoy one of those many fleeting days of summer that you'll never forget.

#fruity four #fruity four x reader #eddie munson #steve harrington #nancy wheeler #robin buckley #st 4 #stranger things #ellie writes #anons

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https-sen · 3 years ago

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Picnic's!

A/n: I just had the sudden realisation that, i dont write for women 😨 which is weird because i find them attractive and hot (disappointed fruity sen noises 😔) so here's my first hc for both genders!

Genre: Fluff

Female Pairing(s): Hu Tao, Kokomi, Baal x gn!reader

Male Pairing(s): Zhongli, Bennett, Gorou x gn!reader

Warning(s): Cursing and Not Proofread!

Masterlist

Hu tao

A picnic in a forest!

You'd share some snacks you made yourself with her (and she'd devour it without hesitation). You'd make flower crowns for each other and talk about her pranks. You laugh at her jokes as you both enjoy each others company. You both walk through the forest and spook a few travellers on the way gleefully giggling at their expression. Sitting by a tree and watch the sunset as you hold hands. This is a wonderful way to end your day with her, and hopefully more days can come <3

Kokomi

A beach picnic!

As you both enjoy the calming breeze and the sunny day, you'd talk about all the places you went and all the different things you saw while you were away. She brought some handmade sandwiches, biscuits and juice so you both dont get hungry or thirsty. You'd both build a sand castle, collect shells and stroll along the shore. She tells you with a hopeful smile, "I hope I can come along with you one day my love. It sounds exciting!". And that's when you both start planning an adventure. Just the two of you <3

Baal

A picnic in her plane of euthymia!

She planned a small picnic just for the two of you because she didnt know how to express her feelings. She tried her best to make the snacks you like but it was either burnt or raw. You told her it was alright and that her dazzling self was already enough for you. She bursts into a ball of flustered-ness after that because she felt touched. In the end, you both got Yei's help and managed to whip out a new batch of snacks together <3

Zhongli

A picnic in a garden!

He's a classy man, everyone knows that. But he's a simple one too. All he cares about is the time he gets to spend with you. Nothing fancy, nothing expensive. Just drinking tea (or "oSmAnThUs WiNe") as you talk about the little things that happened throughout your day. He's actually very affectionate with physical touch, so expect him to lie his head on your lap or on your shoulder. And he loves it when you stroke his hair as you do so. He can't imagine a life without you, so he wants to savour every second he has <3

Bennett

A picnic in a flower feild!

Bennett is a very cheerful boy. He would try his best to make you the best picnic ever!! He tries to make it really fancy and over the top because you're the love of his life and his favorite person. But everything started going wrong because it was raining and the picnic blanket got wet. But that's alright! He still has the cookies he baked- Oh wait, he burnt them. When you arrived with an umbrella, you saw a droopy Benny sitting on he grass with a picnic basket beside him. You assured him it's alright and had an indoor picnic instead <3

Childe

A picnic on a hill!

Childe is a very busy man so he hardly has time for you. He feels bad and he wants to hang around with you more. Just like the old times. That's why he brought you to a hill with a beautiful view and a picnic basket in hand to weasel out with you at 7 in the fucking morning. You both talked about anything and everything!! It's not any day you get to spend this much time with him so mihht as well make it last. You'd tell him jokes and make him laugh, see who can drink and eat faster than the other and choke after. Little things like these made today a great one. Hopefully, he can weasel his way out for you again <3

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buckybarnabus · 4 years ago

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Bungalow on the Beach, part 1

Of Pink Umbrellas and Other Things

Summary: Dawn and Bucky are forced on vacation. It really isn't so bad.

Warnings: Some cursing. Brief descriptions of sex, so be aware

Word Count: 1.2k

A/N: Next part of my Snapshots series involving Bucky Barnes and OFC Dawn. I can’t for the life of me write a whole multi-chaptered story, so this will be a series of one shots in no particular order that may or may not develop into something coherent over time. You can also read on AO3 if you want. Thank you!

A gentle breeze through open windows. Late morning sunlight. The sound of the ocean, and sea gulls, and wind chimes dancing in the breeze. Warmth. Almost too warm, enough to leave the skin sticky and almost uncomfortable. These were the things that greeted Bucky when he woke up. More than that, what drew him from his slumber in the first place, was the shuffling of sheets beside him, the weight of another body settling over him, fingers sliding up the sticky skin of his chest.

He pulled in a heavy, tired sigh, furrowed his brows, kept his eyes shut against the sunlight. His hands came up to rest on the thighs encasing his hips, the bare skin smooth and warm beneath his fingers. Hair tickled his chest, and a sweet, gentle pair of lips placed the lightest of kisses along his collar bone. Bucky’s hands moved from Dawn’s thighs to her hips, fingers slipping under the hem of a borrowed t-shirt to touch her skin, and he let them simply rest there as she continued peppering little kisses along his chest. He just breathed for a while, let himself appreciate the feel of Dawn’s skin under his hands, let himself just touch like he never could before.

Bucky finally cracked his eyes open when Dawn shuffled just a little further up his body to gently nip at his chin. His heart fluttered in his chest upon seeing her. Hair wild and sleep mussed, eyes soft and sleepy, cheeks warm with wakefulness in the almost-too-warm morning. He would never get used to seeing her that way. He pulled a hand away from her hip when she pulled back, touching his fingers to her cheek, trailing a nearly faded bruise, a reminder of the mission that almost broke them both.

He didn’t want to think about it. They were on the beach to forget, to take some time for themselves, to just exist for a while. He pressed a feather light thumb against Dawn’s bottom lip, and she nipped at it playfully. Bucky didn’t want to break the peace with words. Not yet. He just wanted her. They looked at each other for a minute, lost in their warm, sleepy little bubble, and Bucky was so fucking in love. He cupped his right hand gently around the back of her neck and pushed himself up just enough to press his lips against hers in silent greeting.

She rode him right there, slow and lazy and perfect, the sounds of the ocean, and wind chimes, and sea gulls playing the soundtrack to their shaky sighs.

It had been Sam’s idea to send them on vacation, after everything. He basically had to force them into it, booked their flight and all but dragged them by the scruff to the airport. Bucky and Dawn had fought against the idea at first, but Sam was right. They were at the end of their respective ropes, one situation gone south away from losing it completely.

‘You two need to take care of yourselves for a while,’ he had told them, when they showed up, wild eyed and battered, on his door step.

‘Stop being weapons, learn how to be people. Separate the two. I’ll see you in a month. I also expect some grossly cute vacation pictures,’ he had told them at the airport.

Those first few days on the beach were... weird. Dawn and Bucky were in some sort of limbo, stuck somewhere between trying to relax and wanting to run back into chaos altogether.

It didn’t really click, at least for Bucky, until the end of the first week. They had somehow gotten roped into some kind of beachfront bar party by some of the locals in town. It was Dawn’s doing, really. They’d been in the marketplace, just wandering around and buying things they probably didn’t need, and she got to talking with some of the locals when they stopped to eat. They had immediately taken a liking to her. Bucky really couldn’t blame them. She had drawn him in easily enough, after all. She was just sitting there, with her bright smile and musical laugh, looking pretty in a sun dress, of course they loved her. Next thing he knew, they were at a bar at sunset on the never ending beach, surrounded by laughter and music and a whole bunch of people who either didn’t know, or didn’t care who they were.

He was standing at the bar, cradling a fruity drink with a stupid little pink umbrella in it, having a conversation with an older man in one of the ugliest shirts Bucky had ever seen. He found himself smiling, laughing. At ease in a setting he never thought he’d be at ease in again, and he had no idea how it happened. The sand was warm between his toes. The breeze felt nice, his drink was sweet, and he was content.

Bucky would remember seeking Dawn out the moment he understood the feeling. He spotted her on the far side of the bar, dancing with a group of people, her head thrown back in laughter. He briefly wondered how many of those decorated drinks she had since losing track of her in the first place.

“That girl you come with,” the old man said in his broken English, nudging Bucky to grab his attention. “Very beautiful. She has love. My people, they see. They know. You keep her,” he said, giving Bucky a knowing smile. Bucky huffed a breath of laughter, took a sip of his drink. He turned his eyes back to Dawn.

“She’s my best girl,” he said, voice far away, distracted. “I’d hate to let her down.” With that, Bucky pushed himself off of the bar, gave the old man a pat on the shoulder, and excused himself. He made his way through the sand, around bar goers, laser focused on getting to Dawn. He was riding some kind of high, with his newfound contentment with everything around him. He’d remember feeling absolutely drunk with it.

He’d remember the smile she gave him upon seeing him, the subtle furrow in her brow that told him she knew something had changed. The sound of her voice when she said his name in greeting. He didn’t say anything. Just took her face in his hands and kissed her because he could. He kissed her like he could pour every ounce of happiness and peace and contentment that he was feeling into it, like it would make her understand. He could taste the sugar on her teeth, the pineapple on her tongue, and he was so fucking in love.

That night was the first night they made love. It wasn’t just fucking. It wasn’t just the angry, desperate, rushed thing between two trained killers, two weapons who needed to feel something, anything, even if it wasn’t the right time. They made love under the moonlight shining in through the giant, open windows of their beachfront bungalow, and took a bath together in the stupidly large tub, and for the first time in a very, very long time, they started to remember what it meant to really be human. And they were so fucking in love.

#buckybarnabus writes #james barnes #james bucky barnes #james buchanan barnes #Bucky Barnes #bucky fluff #monday movie #sebastian stan #tfatws #bucky barnes x ofc #bucky barnes fanfiction #Winter Soldier #winter soldier x ofc #avengers #marvel

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miamisecretescapes · 5 years ago

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Miami Secret Escapes | Joia Beach

Thanks to Liquid Hospitality’s Chris Paciello and Mio Danilovic, this dreamy fantasy can become your reality at Joia Beach, the European-inspired hot spot situated right on the sands of Jungle Island. “Joia will be a genuinely unique beach restaurant, bringing an incomparable experience on the sand to our growing audience,” says Paciello. “We are excited about the opportunity to activate this spectacular untapped space with a concept that will really define all that is amazing about living in Miami.”

Basically, Joia Beach is a private restaurant-meets-beach club-meets complete and utter oasis. You can indulge in fresh seafood-centric cuisine prepared by executive chef Erhan Ozkaya, an alum of Mandolin Aegean Bistro. You can take fitness classes led by world-renowned trainers from Anatomy. Or you can do absolutely nothing and just hang out in a teepee by a fire pit (yes, really). That’s the beauty of Joia. You are the mastermind behind your perfect day at Miami’s newest slice of paradise.

An aerial view of Joia Beach’s private beach club on Jungle Island, shot by Genesis Bonilla.

Picture this: You’re lying on the beach in a luxuriously plush daybed while soaking up the sun. Someone brings you fresh snapper ceviche and a fruity cocktail with an umbrella (perfect for the ‘gram). You sip, sit back and relax as you admire the impending sunset slowly turn Miami’s skyline from a turquoise blue to cotton candy pink. The sun becomes enveloped into Biscayne Bay’s sparkling blue waves. You’re at maximum relaxation. But the night is still young: Do you join the rest of the crowd for drinks and hors d’oeuvres at the rustic-chic beach bar? Or maybe you decide to slip into your Lululemons and take a full-moon yoga class. Or perhaps you just want to continue to lie back as a DJ nearby spins chill beach tunes.

Joia Beach's European-inspired beach bar, shot by Brinson Renda.

#Miami Secret Escapes

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remember-panchaea · 5 years ago

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DXHC // beach_day

I have beach-y headcanons for if they all went to the beach together and I shared them with @kentaurex so now I’ll share them with you guys, too.

Adam Jensen: Spends all day in his hotel room with the curtains wide open, napping in bed. When the sun starts to go down, he hits up the tiki bar. On days where he goes outside, he sits in the pool and has snacks at the edge of it and occasionally has a light beer or fruity drink. He won’t go in water because of #Panchaea but likes the pool because the water is warm from the sun and not cold like the ocean.

David Sarif: Spends all his time gettin’ a nice tan. It’s gotta be even. He uses one of those ridiculous mirror things for tanning along with the little stupid goggle eye-cover things. Absolutely would go to the nude beach and terrify his co-workers. Wants to try ALL THE DRINKS but his tolerence isn’t what it used to be so he starts making dumb jokes and thinks they’re overly funny.

Faridah Malik: Surfs nonstop. She just cant sit still. Runs up and down the beach with either a surf board or a boogie board all day long. The few times she's still she's chowing down on vendor food and insists on trying new things, and has an adventurous diet of "try anything once". Has stopped to splash Frank by the pool and make him lose his mind at least once, and giggled while Adam tries to not laugh at Frank's "OH MY GAWD DO YOU MIND" outburst.

Francis Pritchard: He’s that guy who's trying to do work on his laptop at the beach. He’s always doing it and sometimes won’t go out. Once the sun is down, he goes and swims in the pool and sits half in the ocean waves to enjoy the cooler air and night sky sky over the water. He'll take any chance he gets to photograph the sunset and the sunrise, and is up early to make sure he gets the best recording possible of the waves washing over the sand. He makes it a secret.

Jim Miller

He has a strict "no work while we're here" policy. Surf board main. He won’t stay out of the water. Came back to shore one (1) time and Mac bitched about something and he dove right back in. Absolutely gets sloshed at the bar and sleeps on his beach towel under the umbrella, sunglasses on like he thinks it's fooling anyone.

Duncan MacReady He has insisted on super soaker party, because he wasn’t allowed to bring a real gun. The whole department that came along gets involved, and eventually him and Adam get way too into it and everyone bails when Mac reveals he came prepared with water balloon "grenades" and absolutely wages war on Adam's face with them. A stray one hits Miller and they both drop the guns and book it across the sand in a gleeful manic screaming panic.

Aria Argento She slowly manages to ease Adam into trying out the ocean water. He's hesitant but she never pushes him very far. Lurks with him in his hotel room when he doesn’t want to come out. They watch the programming on the TV and have a laugh. At night she asks if he wants to go out and get dinner and eat it on the beach. Cue romantic cute cuddly shit.

Václav Koller He isn’t used to being outside but now that he's been forced to, he's a maniac, maaaaniac (on the beach)! Absolutely mirror fold to Malik and neither of them would be able to sit the fuck down. It gets to the point they steal Mac's super soakers and go racing down the beach screaming as he fires at her. By the time they’re both actually worn out they're just collapsed in the same room passed the fuck out because apparently I imagine they get along perfectly. Vac is face down on the floor snoring.

Ivan Berk He is nothing if not inovative and decides he can swim too because ISOLAY FOOTS WITH FLIPPERS!! He's very good at swimming but complains when the sand grinds in his augs. He has discovered several people by the pool and decides a cannon ball is in fact the best course of action and absolutely howls when everyone shrieks in fear. They laugh along eventually, except for Frank who is still shrieking. He's forgotten his laptop has a waterproof case. Ivan likes the beach stalls for ice cream and haunts them forever. He's found a penguin on a surf board key chain and attaches it to a spot on his arm. He is very proud of it.

Bob Page He got a really bad sunburn and went home early because fuck the beach who even likes beach fuck the water ugh this is awful.

Bonus DX1 Beach Headcanon

Contributed by @kentaurex as well!

Anna Navarre She’s decided to go snorkeling to try and find a real jellyfish. She finds one and just is like taking a million pictures and later shows EVERY SINGLE ONE to Gunther but most have almost no real difference. She spends a while petting it because her augs let her. She has breathing upgrades and uses them to stay under the water for as long as possible. They see her like once, and it’s when they’re leaving.

"She’s gone. She lives out there now." “Was nice knowing her." “Was it?" “No, she's spooky."

Gunther Hermann He’s discovered no less than a dozen orange-flavored tropical alcohol drinks and orders one of each, all at the same time. He is seen frequently walking away from the bar with them in his arms, and he’s never been happier to finally get to drown himself in his one true love: orange drinks. Anna makes a super soaker modification for him that’s a skulgun. He can live his dream safely now, even if only for a little while.

JC Denton He wears his trench coat and shades to the beach, and everyone tries to get him to take them off. He cannot, for fashion is of the utmost importance. He stands around a lot and eats junk food and absolutely cannot be arsed to partake in fun but makes quips from time to time.

Paul Denton He is never in one place for long and is barely at the beach at all. He comes back to the hotel at the end of the day with a million bracelets and necklaces from the boardwalk shops. He shows up with shutter shades one time and immediately says “hey guys look, I’m JC”. At one point after being unable to convince JC to take his coat off, he makes like he’s walking off, only to run at him full tilt, nab him around the waist and launch them both into the pool amidst JC’s frantic screams of “THIS IS REAL ITALIAN LEATHER!!”

#deus ex #JensenDownTime #adam jensen #frank pritchard #david sarif #faridah malik #vaclav koller #francis pritchard #gunther hermann #jc denton #paul denton #ivan berk #aria argento #jim miller #duncan macready #anna navarre #and #bob page #too i guess

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emilyzh2019-blog · 5 years ago

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Things to do in Playa Del Carmen

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

Planning to visit Mexico soon? These are my favorite things to do in Playa del Carmen after living here for over a year. Pretty beaches, cenote swimming, Mayan ruins and more.

Playa del Carmen is a fun beach town on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, part of the classic Riviera Maya route down the coast.

Smaller and less touristy than Cancun, it’s becoming a popular travel destination for people looking for travel experiences that are more substantial than your typical all-inclusive resort.

I spent over a year working and living in Playa del Carmen as a digital nomad.

Lately, friends have been asking for vacation advice about the area — so I wanted to share some my favorite things to do in Playa del Carmen!

Playa Del Carmen Highlights Map

How To Use This Map

Above you’ll find a map of highlights in Playa del Carmen. Click on the top left of the map to find separate layers marking the route and points of interest. You can hide and show different layers, or click icons on the map to see the names of places I mention in this travel guide. “Star” the map to save it to your own Google Maps, or open the map in a new window for a larger version. Enjoy!

Best Things To Do In Playa Del Carmen 2019

1: Cenote Diving/Snorkeling

Swimming at Cenote Azul

What’s a cenote you ask? It’s an underground cave filled with fresh water. The Yucatan has tons of them — sinkholes that open up into underground rivers with the clearest water you’ve ever seen.

If you have your PADI license, you can go scuba diving in these caves with a guide. Because there’s daylight near the entrance, a more technical cave diving license isn’t required.

Not a scuba diver? No problem. You can also go snorkeling at most cenotes. Some of my favorite cenotes near Playa del Carmen are:

Cenote Dos Ojos

Cenote Azul

Garden of Eden

Gran Cenote

2: Visit Ancient Mayan Ruins

Coba Mayan Ruins

The ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum are located South of Playa del Carmen in the town of Tulum. Tulum was once a small but important port city that sits on the edge of a cliff, with a beach below where you can swim too.

Because Tulum is so popular, the ruins can be crowded unless you arrive early in the morning. Coba is another Mayan site near Playa del Carmen which sees less visitors. You can even still climb the pyramid there too!

Of course, everyone who visits the Yucatan Peninsula wants to check out Mexico’s most famous ruins, Chichen Itza. This site is a bit further away, about 2 hours by car.

3: Playa Del Carmen Nightlife

Coco Bongo Nightclub

Playa del Carmen’s nightlife is fun, but not quite as crazy as Cancun. Coco Bongo is one nightclub that I think is worth a visit.

Part Vegas show, part nightclub, and a bit cheesy — but it’s still one hell of a party. You’ll see flying acrobats, blockbuster movie characters, and rock-star impersonators take the stage in turns throughout the night.

Every ticket includes full open bar all night, so take plenty of photos because you probably won’t remember what happened the next day!

A few other good nightclubs that I recommend are Mandala and La Vaquita (just look for the cow dancing in the street!)

4: Swimming With Sea Turtles

Snorkeling with Sea Turtles at Akumal

Who doesn’t want to swim with sea turtles? I’ve always wanted to, that’s for sure. I got my chance at Akumal beach, 30 minutes South of Playa del Carmen.

The shallow blue-green water here is home to Green, Hawksbill and Loggerhead sea turtles that you can swim with.

To visit Akumal, the cheapest way is to take a colectivo taxi headed for Tulum from the stand located on Calle 2 Norte between Avenida 15 and 20 in Playa del Carmen. Tell them you want to get off at Akumal.

From the highway, it’s a 5-minute walk to Akumal Bay. Bring your own snorkeling gear, life jacket or rent some there. Swimming with the turtles is free!

Book A Sea Turtle Snorkeling Trip Here

5: Ocean Parasailing

Parasailing Above Playa

Ocean parasailing is a hugely popular activity in Playa Del Carmen, with many boats ready to pull their passengers through the sky over the ocean.

Take off can be quite a bumpy ride, once you’re up in the air paragliding is one of the most serene and peaceful experiences on the busy beaches of Mexico.

As a bonus, parasailing gives you an excellent view of Playa’s coastline from above. Great for photos if you have a waterproof camera! Sometimes they dunk your legs into the ocean for fun…

Book A Playa Del Carmen Parasailing Adventure Here

6: Self-Guided Taco Tour

El Fogon Tacos are Tasty!

Hey, it’s Mexico. Mexican food in the Yucatan is cheap & delicious. There are a few special restaurants in Playa del Carmen I want to share with you.

If you’re looking for some authentic tacos, check out El Fogon. Super basic with plastic chairs and Mexican Idol on the TV, but order 3 or 4 tacos pastor with a cold beer, and you’ll be in heaven.

Another great option for tacos is Don Sirloin. Their taco sauces are the best! My favorite is the jalapeno and pineapple one…

Don Sirloin has two locations, one on 10th Avenue between 12th Street and 14th Street and another on Constituyentes Avenue at the corner of 25th Avenue (next to Mega).

7: Salsa Dancing At Zenzi

Zenzi is a beach bar and restaurant, located right off the sand in Playa Del Carmen. While of course the food and drink here are great, the real attraction is salsa dancing!

Every Saturday night a live salsa band plays as guests and visitors join in or simply watch as local dancers show off their best moves on the dance floor.

It’s a great way to start the night off in Playa before heading on to other bars and nightclubs.

8: Boat Trip To Cozumel

Beautiful Beaches of Cozumel

Cozumel is a small island off the coast of Playa del Carmen known for it’s pristine beaches. Normally a stop for cruise ships, you can take a 45-minute ferry over on your own from Playa del Carmen for about $13 USD.

An easy & cheap day trip is renting a scooter and driving it around the island where all the best beaches are. Or, if you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can try hitchhiking around the island instead.

As long as there isn’t a cruise ship in port, you’ll have those white sand beaches to yourself. Plenty of stops on the way for lunch & photos. Jump on the last ferry back to Playa del Carmen around sunset.

9: Parque Fundadores

Playa del Carmen’s Parque Fundadores

Parque Fundadores, or the “Founding Fathers Park”, is a public park in Playa del Carmen just north of the Cozumel ferry terminal along the beach with entertainment for the whole family.

While a playground entertains children, adults can take a stroll down the beach and check out the Portal Maya statue, sitting over 50 feet tall.

You might also catch a Papantla Flyer’s (Voladores de Papantla) performance in the park. A spectacular acrobatic show of men swinging from a 90ft pole by their feet! Please remember to tip them too!

10: Ride A Colectivo

Colectivo Public Taxi Vans

You can’t visit Playa del Carmen without using a Colectivo (group taxi). You’ll see these vans cruise down the street picking up locals. It’s an interesting (and confusing) experience if you’ve never tried it before.

They stuff as many people as possible into these things, and rides can cost less than $1.

Destinations are written on the windshield, but if you don’t know the names, it won’t make much sense. A good place to start is by grabbing one at the Colectivo station on Calle 2 Norte from Playa del Carmen to Akumal beach (mentioned earlier).

Remember to tell the driver where you’re going! It’s cheap, fun, and will push you out of your comfort zone a bit.

11: Scuba Diving In Playa Del Carmen

Scuba Diving in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is a great place to base yourself if you’re a scuba diver. Along with all the cool cenote cave diving areas I mentioned earlier, there are some decent reefs nearby too.

A few of the most popular are Pared Verde Ledge and Tortugas near Playa del Carmen itself, Gorgonians down near Akumal, Palancar Reef and Santa Rosa Wall off the coast of Cozumel.

There are tons of dive shops and schools in and around town, so if you’ve always wanted to get your PADI open water diving certification, Playa del Carmen is a great place to do it!

12: Visit Playa Del Carmen’s Beaches

Best Beaches in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen’s beaches have been hit be erosion pretty badly over the past few years, and frankly the beaches down in Tulum are a lot nicer, however, you can still find a spot to soak up the sun while enjoying a fruity drink.

Mamitas Beach

One great place to lay out in the sun is Mamitas Beach Club. You can rent lounge chairs with umbrellas, go jet skiing, parasailing, or take a sailboat ride. This is kind of the “party” beach where people go to be seen.

Playacar Beach

Another good beach is in front of Playacar Phase 1 Community. While the gated community is private, the beach is public. Just walk a few minutes South from the Cozumel Ferry Pier. Fewer tourists, more sand, and just a nicer beach. There are no services out there — bring your own food/beverages.

Punta Esmeralda Beach

This is a busy public beach at the far North end of Playa del Carmen, with more locals than tourists. At Punta Esmeralda there’s a limestone sinkhole/cenote that’s connected to the ocean that acts as a protected swimming spot for kids.

13: Walk Playa’s Famous 5th Avenue

Walking 5th Ave in Playa

You can’t visit Playa del Carmen and miss walking down La Quinta, aka 5th Avenue. It’s the main walking-street lined with all manner of shops, beach bars, and restaurants.

The cobbled-stoned street is where you’ll find most of the city’s nightlife. It’s a lot of fun to find a bar or cafe, sit down, and watch the (sometimes strange) parade of people walk by.

You can spend hours wandering down the street, stopping into touristy shops, cafes, and trying different vegan smoothies. At night, street performers line the sides dressed in costumes, or breakdancing for tips.

14: Relax On A Rooftop Pool

After a busy day exploring the sights of Playa Del Carmen, what better than a cocktail while lounging by the pool.

Unlike many of the rooftop pools in the area, the Be Playa pool champions a laid-back atmosphere and provides a welcome escape from the loud music of the surrounding hotels.

Attracting many locals and expats for this reason, Be Playa’s rooftop is small but cozy and a real treat after a long day. There are even a few tables and chairs that sit in the shallow water.

15: Xpuha Beach Day Trip

South of Playa del Carmen, but before Tulum, there are two great beaches that make for a great day trip away from the larger crowds.

A 20-minute drive will bring you to Xpuha Beach; a stretch of beautiful white sand lies interspersed with beach bars and restaurants.

The beach entry fee is 50 pesos, and you can rent beach chairs, umbrellas, snorkeling equipment, and kayaks here too.

16: Sunbathing At Xcacel Beach

Beautiful Xcacel Beach!

A bit further south you’ll find Xcacel, one of my favorite beaches in the Yucatan Peninsula. The ocean is a bit rougher than at Xpuha, but there’s also a freshwater cenote to cool off in.

May-October is sea turtle nesting season, and some areas of the beach may be roped off to protect buried turtle eggs. If you’re a good swimmer, there is some decent snorkeling on the North side of the beach.

The entry fee for this beach is 10 – 20 pesos (for sea turtle protection). This remote beach doesn’t really have many services, although there are bathrooms.

17: Alux Cave Restaurant

Restaurant in a Cave?

For an upscale dining experience, check out Alux, the restaurant built inside an underground cave!

Aluxes are supernatural spirits who protect Mexico’s sacred places.

Colored cave lights created a mysterious atmosphere, while waterfalls set the tone for a romantic evening.

After dinner, make sure to ask for a quick cave tour, because the whole complex is MUCH bigger than it first looks! You may even see a bat or two flying around.

18: Frida Kahlo Museum

Frida Kahlo is one of those artists you either know or you don’t. A local icon in Mexico, Frida created portraits and self-portraits inspired by the nature and artifacts of Mexico; mixing realistic images with fantasy.

The Frida Kahlo Museum doesn’t contain any original works of art, but it does embrace the life and works of Frida Kahlo; giving visitors a chance to learn about her controversial art through photos, videos, diagrams, and collages.

Everything is very artistic and colorful, right through to the inevitable tourist gift shop, and it’s worth a visit if only for a little while!

19: Eat Some Street Elote Or Esquite

Mexican Street Corn!

Elote is essentially corn-on-the-cob, roasted on an open grill with a decadent coating of salt, chili powder, butter, lime juice, cotija cheese and mayonnaise.

Esquite is basically the same, only the corn kernels have been removed from the cob, boiled, and are served in a little cup mixed with different ingredients.

The best elote and esquite in Playa del Carmen can be found sold from carts on the main drag of Avenida Benito Juarez — especially in the evenings.

20: Rent A Jet Ski In Playa!

Racing Jet Skis off Mamita’s Beach!

I’m sure I don’t need to do much convincing here – who doesn’t want to whizz around on a jet ski as part of their holiday? Particularly when the location is as stunning as Playa Del Carmen!

Mamitas beach is probably the best place to rent a jet ski and drive it like you stole it… The flat seas offer a speedy and exhilarating ride, making jet ski hire well worth the cost!

Rent A Jetski in Playa Del Carmen Here

21: Take A Sailing Trip

Take a Sailing Trip off the Coast

From booze cruises to full-day sailing tours, the opportunities for getting out on the water are never-ending in Playa Del Carmen.

While the booze cruises are great for spring breakers, I prefer more relaxing trips to coral reefs for snorkeling. For the most romantic option, there’s also sunset sailing catamaran trips.

Another option is to simply rent a smaller sailboat (with a captain) right from the beach (like Mamitas) and cruise around the local reefs and do some snorkeling for an hour or two.

Book A Playa Del Carmen Sailing Trip Here

22: Sunrise Stand Up Paddle Boarding

You still haven’t seen the ocean in its true beauty until you do a sunrise paddle board session. The Aloha Paddle Club offers sunrise sessions for mixed groups.

Paddleboarding is available for all levels and abilities, with instructors present to provide guidance to anyone who may need it. An incredible way to appreciate the sunrise!

23: Grab An Acai Or Quinoa Bowl

Bio-Natural is an organic store and vegetarian restaurant, with plenty of vegan offerings and healthy options. It’s extremely popular in Playa.

Their fruit bowls are made fresh from scratch you can be sure that any dietary requirements you have will be taken care of. They also have some awesome cold-pressed juices.

Bio-Natural is worth a visit – particularly for the health-conscious! I often came here for breakfast, choosing the healthy & hearty quinoa bowl with a glass of carrot juice.

Cruisin’ Around Mexico!

Getting To Playa Del Carmen

Flying To Cancun

Playa del Carmen has a VERY small airport, but the most economical way is to fly into Cancun and drive down (bus, shuttle, or rental car). Check for Cancun flight deals on Skyscanner and read my guide with tips for finding cheap flights.

Renting A Car In Mexico

The best site to book your car is Discover Car Hire. They search both local and international car rental companies to help you find the best possible price. This is the easiest way to rent a car in Mexico.

Traveling By Bus

The cheapest way to get to Playa del Carmen from Cancun airport is the ADO Bus System. A ticket only costs about $10 USD and the trip takes just over an hour.

Airport Shuttle

There are a bunch of airport shuttle services offering rides from Cancun airport to Playa del Carmen, and they’ll be sure to harass you at the airport exit. In my opinion, they are overpriced and taking the bus is much better. As long as your hotel is in the city itself (so you can walk or take a taxi).

Where To Stay In Playa Del Carmen

Playa has become a popular tourist hub for travelers to base themselves while exploring the Yucatan Peninsula. If you’re wondering where to stay in Playa del Carmen, here are my recommendations depending on your budget.

Best Accommodation In Playa Del Carmen

BUDGET Hostal MX

MID-RANGE Reina Roja

LUXURY BRIC Hotel & Spa

Click here to learn how to get $35 off your first booking.

Playa Del Carmen Tips & Advice

The best time to visit Playa del Carmen is between October – December. Busy season in the area starts in December and goes on through March. There’s great weather in the winter, but many more tourists too.

What happens if you get stuck with a rainy day? Well, you can always go on a Rio Secreto cave tour! Another fun thing to do is visit the 3D Museum Of Wonders.

If you’re looking for fun festivals and events in Playa del Carmen, I recommend checking out the Sacred Mayan Journey around the end of May, Semana Santa Holy Week in late March, and Day Of The Dead on November 1st.

If you’re vacationing in Mexico and want something different than Cancun, you really can’t go wrong by basing yourself in Playa del Carmen to explore the best of what the Yucatan Peninsula has to offer. ★

Packing Guide

Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your trip. Pick up a travel backpack, camera gear, and other useful travel accessories.

Book Your Flight

Find cheap flights on Skyscanner. This is my favorite search engine to find deals on airlines. Also make sure to read how I find the cheapest flights.

Rent A Car

Discover Car Hire is a great site for comparing car prices to find the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.

Book Accommodation

Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent apartments from locals on Airbnb. Read more about how I book cheap hotels online.

Protect Your Trip

Don’t forget travel insurance! I’m a big fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read more about why you should always carry travel insurance.

Recommended Guidebook: Lonely Planet Yucatan Suggested Reading: The Maya: Ancient Peoples & Places

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