Playa del Carmen is part of Mexico's tropical Caribbean coastline where the main shopping pedestrian promenade is called, 5th Avenue or Quinta Avenida. It runs parallel to the turquoise waters of the beach and is a real touristy place located in the middle of downtown.

As part of our ship excursion we docked for five hours and a bus transferred us to 5th Avenue, the sun was already heating up so we bought what else, a sombrero. There are many different varieties from the straw woven ones to heavily jewelled encrusted velvet sombreros, but you have to have good neck muscles to wear them and know its likely to get hotter with that on your head.

There is an abundance of culture and color as part of the shopping experience with everything from Mexican handicraft, coffee, souvenirs, Cuban cigars, coffee to clothing shops with white linen and cotton apparel displayed on dummies out on the street and did I mention coffee? Most of the retailers speak enough English to get you to buy something and are ready to drop prices as soon as you start walking away!

In the five hours that we were there we got to smell the aromas, see the sights and taste the flavours of Mexico.