The barrier lifts and a few steps take you out of resort world, and into Mexico.
It is immediately clear when walking out onto a busy road, that the gated community is now behind you. Each step furthering you into a barrage of new colour, sights and sounds.
Without coincidence the road leads directly to a lively pedestrian tourist strip, full of bars, gift shops, tequila outlets, tour operators and a bizarre amount of pharmacies.
The amount of pharmacies was remarkable, to the point of a game being played every time one was spotted. 'Oh look, a pharmacy, better remember where it is in case we need anything!' And then within 30 to 60 seconds another would be seen. 'Oh look, a pharmacy, better remember where it is in case we need anything!' You can see where this is going!
The tourist area recedes within blocks of the main drag, and the town of Playa del Carmen goes about its day to day business. Down on the waterfront there are crammed beaches and a couple of jetties, with the expected throng of visitors, street vendors and performers.
All of this under the watchful eyes of the highly visible Marines. No matter how many times I saw them, I found it unsettling. They are in full combat fatigues, face coverings and are heavily armed. Not only do they patrol the streets, they also comb up and down the beaches, usually accompanied by a beach quad bike.
It is something I had not seen before.
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| Supermarket patrol. |
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| Tension on the jetty. |
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| More drugs, this time with a deli. |
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| High street patrol |
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| A street vendor shouted 'Look, Real Mexicans!' when this group with new sombreros walked past. |