Turquoise, deep blues and hints of aqua compile to create the Caribbean sea. Situated on the coast of Mexico, the states of Quintana Roo and Yucatán offer the traveller an array of areas to create wonderful memories in this sun drenched country. Here are four places that you can not miss while in Quintana Roo and Yucatán. 

Isla Mujeres: 

Located a boats journey away from the bustling city of Cancun, Isla Mujeres is 7 kilometres long allowing you to explore this small haven in three hours and via hired golf cart. Natural beauty oozes from the island, white sandy beaches and green, aqua water that is unbelievably clear. The vast expanse of Cancun’s hotels can be seen beyond the horizon and wealth is seen by mega yachts anchored meters off the shore. Whether it is swimming in the clear waist deep water, taking in the beauty while sipping a coconut (or a margarita), enjoying the wind in your hair as you zip around on a golf cart, walking amongst the artwork displayed on the tip of the island or indulging in a local meal at Mango Cafe - There is something for everyone. 

Tulum: 

The rugged twelve meter tall cliffs, brilliant white sand beaches and turquoise waters are home to the Mayan city and at the tip the Templo Dios del Viento (God of Winds temple) guards Tulum. While walking around the ruins you can’t help but to marvel in the construction by the Mayans as it is the only Mayan city built on the coastline. The Castillo is situated on the limestone cliffs and is the foreground of the Carribean coast. The Temple of the Frescoes is the best preserved building within the Mayan city and represents the world of the dead, the living, the creators and rain gods.

Chichen Itza: 

The Mayan built city was the central hub for Mayans during 600 - 1200 AD). El Castillo dominates the site by standing tall in the middle and when one claps the small room turns the clap into an echo of sound that leaves you thinking “how did they create a building that does that?” Not only that the Mayans built El Castillo so that during the spring and autumn afternoons the light casts a shadow that appears to be a serpent. Apart from El Castillo, one can marvel at the sight of the great ball court, temple of the warriors and Cenote Sagrado. 

Ik Kil Cenote: 

Ik Kil Cenote is one of the most photographed and popular cenotes amongst tourists in Mexico. This is demonstrated when one arrives and stares down to see an aqua colour water mystically surrounded by vines hanging down to the waters surface and waterfalls dancing amongst the rocks. Once you have descended down the slippery stairs, the sheer cliff face stares back at you. Standing on the edge you dive into 40 meter deep water, where black cat fish swim and thinking you are able to push off the bottom you suddenly realise you can’t touch it. 

All photos taken by Codie Shearer. 

ISLA MUJERES

Cancun - a colossal expanse of hotels dotting the Caribbean shoreline, where beats from nightclubs pour onto the streets into the early hours of the morning and home to Spring break. The hustle and bustle is associated with the white sand beaches, glowing blue water and tourists galore. However, just out on the horizon a relaxed lifestyle of margaritas being sipped on the beach, coconuts served roadside and the hum of golf cart engines fill the air. This is Isla Mujeres.

Arriving in the early hours of the morning after our last attempt at trying to explore the island, we manage to rent out a golf cart. All it takes is three hours to make your way around the seven kilometre long island surrounded by the Caribbean sea. Map in hand, foot to the floor and we are off. Getting lost down alley ways, getting beeped at by cars is all part of the unique experience. We made it back onto the main road where the Naval base in all it’s prominence displays the long history of naval involvement Isla Mujeres has.

WEAR TO NEXT IN CANCUN ON INSTAGRAM

First of all I wanted to say a big happy new year to you all and thank you for following me! I hope that 2015 brings you everything you wish for and more. Remember to believe in yourself and your dreams and no matter what happens you can get through it. 

It is a new month, a new year, a new day and the first blank page of the incredible story which is 2015  so write a good one!

The above is some pictures from my time in Cancun and Playa del Carmen in Mexico thus far. There is plenty of photos that I will be posting in my photo diaries of my time here and in Las Vegas so stay tuned!

Follow my Instagram codie_zofia for updates of my travels!

Again happy new year to you all and may 2015 be incredible!
Love, Codie 

EXCITING NEWS!

Image from Tuula 

I have some exciting news to share with you all! In the months of December 2014 and January 2015 I will be embarking on a vacation to Cancun, Mexico and Las Vegas, America! 

I was told the exciting news about 4 months ago while my family and myself were preparing a cruise  for New Years and my birthday to Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia. My parents came home to say that they had some news for us, my grandparents called them saying they are going to Cancun on a house exchange and well they wanted us to come along. Needless to say my sister and I started screaming out of sheer excitement and the planning got under way! 

The flights are booked and the dates are set. As I sit here typing I am staring at three and I must say incredibly large suitcases that we purchased, that are making my already incredibly large amount of Wanderlust that bubbles inside me every minute of the day grow rapidly. I will be leaving on the 13th of December which so happens to be my last day of my first year of University. Flying from Brisbane to Los Angeles and than to Cancun. Cancun will see me celebrating Christmas, New Years and my 21st, before heading to Las Vegas to experience the Grand Canyon and the bright lights of the strip. 

Images from Tuula 

I can't begin to describe how excited I am to be traveling again this year even though I did a very huge and truly remarkable trip to Europe last year. I set myself a goal to travel every year and I truly hope that is the case. All of you of course will be along for the ride as I plan on doing travel posts on Wearing Wanderust as well as vlogs and videos of my experiences on my YouTube channel. I love to share all the details of what I have experienced as I love travelling and also capturing the moments as well as writing about it. I hope that after my graduation from University that I will become a successful travel blogger and journalist (a girl can dream!) 

So if you have been to Cancun or Las Vegas and you believe I should go somewhere or try something please share your experience with me by commenting! Also if you know of any amazing cameras as I am planning on getting a very good one in order to capture the moments from my future trips!

Thanks for reading and sorry for being so MIA!

Codie

xx

SYDNEY PHOTO AND VIDEO DIARY

Up nice and early on Saturday morning and I mean early 3:30am early *sighs* to board the plane waiting for me at the Gold Coast airport. I think if I didn't know a plane was waiting for me I wouldn't have been as eager to jump straight out to bed and get ready. The sky a light shade of blue with wispy clouds that the plane danced through welcomed us into the sky for a incredibly short plane ride (a walk in the park compared to my Brisbane to London adventure) An hour and a half later the sight of the Sydney harbour bridge and the Opera House stood out against the royal blue backdrop the harbour and Circular Quay. An overwhelming feeling swept over me, that indescribable sense of arriving at a destination and it is now time to explore and find all the hidden gems within it; True wanderlust I say!

Click for more pictures of my little weekend adventure! 

LONDON PHOTO AND VIDEO DIARY

Coming to terms with the fact that is was indeed the last place on my trip before heading home was not only incredibly heart breaking but also a whole range of excitement and sheer joy. I have always loved London and the English culture so finally being there and experiencing what this amazing city has to offer was by far the best way to end the trip. Of course there is no other way to get around London then by a double decker bus - The reflection of the bus dancing through the windows of the Georgian style houses, looking up from the top story of the bus to see the sky stretching beyond the horizon and feeling completely free and seeing the red telephone boxes dotting the sides of the streets just adding to the feeling that I am where I am. Seeing the London Eye for the first time and only sighing or the Big Ben and simply saying wow under your breathe. To be honest seeing the sights and just walking around the streets of this breathtaking city I felt like I belonged and I wanted to chain myself inside a room in the Ritz so I could soak up all that London has to offer for the rest of my existence. 

Click for more photos!

AMSTERDAM PHOTO AND VIDEO DIARY

I honestly don't think there was any better Dutch welcome then going to a Clog and Cheese factory as soon as we arrived in the Netherlands! The taste of smoky cheese and watching how the traditional Dutch footwear was made was an incredible experience when it first came to seeing the conventional ways of this gorgeous culture. Arriving in the heart of Amsterdam I instantly feel in love - house boats appear on the many canals, an abundance of bridges cross over the channels, green grassed parks and lush trees dot the canals. Gorgeous houses that have simply stunning architecture and the steepest of stairs that go to the bottom floor from the street; they of course look onto the canals with boats speeding past as a form of transport and a million bikes all parked upon the side of the street. 

Click for more photos!

PRAGUE PHOTO AND VIDEO DIARY

The Czech's enchanting capital Prague with its expansive Vltava riving flowing through the city centre. and it being founded during the Romanesque period but flourishing through the Gothic and Renaissance periods of Europe. These time periods can be truly shown in Praha's gorgeous collection of architecture from the likes of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Art Nouveau, Neo-Classic and Ultra Modern. Simply walking around this delightful city, with its warm climate as the sun warms your skin at the touch you can't help but be charmed by the magnificence that is Prague. 

Click for more photos!

MUNICH AND RHINE VALLEY PHOTO AND VIDEO DIARY

The Austrian landscape went by the window - Green grass hills then turned into deep valleys where streams in a light blue weaved their way in and out of towns with an array of churches, cute wooden houses stood with flowers dripping from their flower boxes, an abundance of trees were dotted along the hills then parting to make way for the snowy mountain peaks. We were soon in Germany, Munich actually the home of the glockenspiel, the largest beer hall in the world Hofbrauhaus and an abundance of culture! 

Click for more photos! 

VENICE PHOTO AND VIDEO DIARY

Croatia's ever changing scenery danced past the window on our way to our last Italian city on the trip - Venice! Little lane ways create a maze between the endless amount of stores and the entire time I was thinking "I am going to get lost!" Bridges cross canals, gondolas and boats whizz past, the sound of a incredibly happy gondolier sings in the distance, the smell of pizza and pasta wafts through the air, temptation grows as you walk past a gelateria, seeing the lace makers work their magic (I don't know how they do it let alone have the patience!) and the pale terracotta, yellow and white buildings rise from the water.