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Lula Cucchiara Shares Her Mexico Travel Diary, Captured On Film

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La Quinta Avenida, or Fifth Avenue, is one of the top Playa del Carmen attractions. Photo / Lula Cucchiara

The New Zealand-Argentinian photographer and film-maker holidayed around Playa del Carmen.

New Zealand-Argentinian photographer and film-maker Lula Cucchiara shares her Mexico travel diary, which saw her holiday around Playa del Carmen, along the Yucatán Peninsula’s Riviera Maya strip of the Caribbean shoreline.

It was the first time she’d seen her family in three years, and a chance for them to meet her wife Siobhan and their two-year-old Florian after a year of planning.

Lula’s Travel Diary

I took this photo in our rental home, Villa Romantica, in Mérida. The house was incredible, with gorgeous light and big rooms. We stayed there for five nights, but if we could have, we would have stayed there for a month.
I took this photo in our rental home, Villa Romantica, in Mérida. The house was incredible, with gorgeous light and big rooms. We stayed there for five nights, but if we could have, we would have stayed there for a month.
Unfortunately, most beaches in Playa del Carmen are owned by hotels (so bizarre, I know) but there is a beautiful public beach right in town. It’s easy to access from the street, no resort wristband required. Sometimes there are issues with seaweed, but things have been looking up compared to previous years and there is a season where you can avoid that.
Unfortunately, most beaches in Playa del Carmen are owned by hotels (so bizarre, I know) but there is a beautiful public beach right in town. It’s easy to access from the street, no resort wristband required. Sometimes there are issues with seaweed, but things have been looking up compared to previous years and there is a season where you can avoid that.
This is my mamá and papá Vir and Hori. My parents live in Córdoba, Argentina, however, my two brothers and their kids migrated to Mexico seven years ago. We haven’t been together in one place for over eight years, so we decided to all meet in Mexico. It was emotional and magical.
This is my mamá and papá Vir and Hori. My parents live in Córdoba, Argentina, however, my two brothers and their kids migrated to Mexico seven years ago. We haven’t been together in one place for over eight years, so we decided to all meet in Mexico. It was emotional and magical.
This is a photo I took in Mérida, the capital of the Mexican state of Yucatán. A lot of the houses and facades are colourful with beautiful adornments. I loved the combination of baby blue and pink.
This is a photo I took in Mérida, the capital of the Mexican state of Yucatán. A lot of the houses and facades are colourful with beautiful adornments. I loved the combination of baby blue and pink.
This is another snapshot from Mérida. Look how tall those walls are! It’s such an incredible city. Mérida apparently is the hottest city in the Yucatán Peninsula; in summer (July) it can go up to 46 degrees. We were there in April and it was hot already — 30 degrees felt like 46 degrees — so perhaps avoid going in July.
This is another snapshot from Mérida. Look how tall those walls are! It’s such an incredible city. Mérida apparently is the hottest city in the Yucatán Peninsula; in summer (July) it can go up to 46 degrees. We were there in April and it was hot already — 30 degrees felt like 46 degrees — so perhaps avoid going in July.
This bakery was amazing. I could smell the making of cakes and bread from three blocks away. The pink facade made me stop and grab a photo — how could I not?
This bakery was amazing. I could smell the making of cakes and bread from three blocks away. The pink facade made me stop and grab a photo — how could I not?

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This was the roofline of Villa Romantica in Mérida. Look at that pink! It’s a colonial-era home with so many thoughtful touches, including 18-feet-high ceilings with portholes and arches. It was designed by renowned local architect Henry Ponce with a central courtyard and pool. The rest of the house wraps around it with an indoor-outdoor kitchen and dining room, ideal for staying cool in the heat.
This was the roofline of Villa Romantica in Mérida. Look at that pink! It’s a colonial-era home with so many thoughtful touches, including 18-feet-high ceilings with portholes and arches. It was designed by renowned local architect Henry Ponce with a central courtyard and pool. The rest of the house wraps around it with an indoor-outdoor kitchen and dining room, ideal for staying cool in the heat.
This was a very cool hostel in Playa del Carmen. I took this photo through the fence as I walked past it many times and it always caught my eye.
This was a very cool hostel in Playa del Carmen. I took this photo through the fence as I walked past it many times and it always caught my eye.
If you want to shop for gifts in Playa del Carmen I recommend you avoid Fifth Avenue and the more touristy areas. You can find great local artisans selling the same things for less and better quality. Also, you get to see the town with a more local view than the tourist side. We felt safe everywhere we went during the day and during the night, too.
If you want to shop for gifts in Playa del Carmen I recommend you avoid Fifth Avenue and the more touristy areas. You can find great local artisans selling the same things for less and better quality. Also, you get to see the town with a more local view than the tourist side. We felt safe everywhere we went during the day and during the night, too.
We had the most delicious tacos at La Zebra, a beach club in Tulum. If you go to Tulum, make sure you go and eat and drink here. Everyone is super nice and accommodating, and the food and drinks are great.
We had the most delicious tacos at La Zebra, a beach club in Tulum. If you go to Tulum, make sure you go and eat and drink here. Everyone is super nice and accommodating, and the food and drinks are great.
I walked past this shop a million times in the month that we stayed in Playa del Carmen. Coca-Cola in Mexico is very popular, especially accompanying tacos. It is definitely a thing.
I walked past this shop a million times in the month that we stayed in Playa del Carmen. Coca-Cola in Mexico is very popular, especially accompanying tacos. It is definitely a thing.
I took my nephew and niece one afternoon for ice cream in Playa del Carmen and on the way to the shops we came across an amazing street market that only happens once a year — what are the chances! We got to see live music, delicious street food and lots of handmade gifts. If you see any street market, you must stop to have a look — it’s absolutely worth it.
I took my nephew and niece one afternoon for ice cream in Playa del Carmen and on the way to the shops we came across an amazing street market that only happens once a year — what are the chances! We got to see live music, delicious street food and lots of handmade gifts. If you see any street market, you must stop to have a look — it’s absolutely worth it.
My family and I decided to catch a 35-minute ferry one morning from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel for the day. Cozumel is a popular cruise ship port with beautiful arrecifes (coral reefs), the perfect place to see underwater caverns, dolphins, manatees, sea turtles and much more. It’s a must-visit, I think.
My family and I decided to catch a 35-minute ferry one morning from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel for the day. Cozumel is a popular cruise ship port with beautiful arrecifes (coral reefs), the perfect place to see underwater caverns, dolphins, manatees, sea turtles and much more. It’s a must-visit, I think.

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