Tulum, Chichen Itza
The area of Cancun we stay in isn't really Mexico. It is a self contained tourist area and it is amazing. The security is fantastic. You feel very safe indeed - something you need in Mexico just at the moment. Perfect place for a vacation. It is easy to stay away from the party hotels and ours is very quiet and laid back.
We have a lovely evening meal in an Outback steakhouse. We haven't noticed them before but it seems it is a very large chain in the USA. We discover the staff and the manager have no idea where the pictures around the place are from so we have a great time 'selling' Australia to them. For those unaware this is Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes - 3K from Black Rock.
We take a half day tour to Tulum (turns out to be 8 hours). This is quite a small city. Our guide is good but sadly we are taken to one of their stores, which was not mentioned in the brochure and spend 1 hour at the store. Then we only have 2 hours at Tulum and it isn't enough. Feels rushed.
They've done a good job in regard to restoration. The little thatched roof provides protection for one of the better preserved carvings.
At Tulum we get 30 mins to swim in the Caribbean sea. We've already swum in the Gulf of Mexico and thought it brilliant but the colours of the water here are perfect. It is warm, so it isn't really refreshing and with the temperature in the 30s we need something to cool us down - and there isn't enough time to go to the bar - not happy Jan!
We learn a great deal about the Mayan culture. This is their alphabet on their paper. While we are often lead to believe that the Mayans died out, this is not true. There are over 3 million of them still in the area and they have managed to protect both their language and their culture.
This is Blue Agave as it is harvested. It goes to make Tequila.
A Mayan village. They have many of the same issues as any indigenous people experience; low education, poverty, no electricity etc. but their life expectancy is a remarkable 80+
and finally we are at Chichen Itza. This was one of the items I put on the itinerary. It is awesome. A massive city. Still in the process of being restored but the feeling of the place is extraordinary. I'm speechless (yes it is possible)
We learn so much about their history and every time we're told more we are in awe. This was a remarkable culture. One of the things that saved this area from destruction was that there was no gold.
The size and the splendour of the buildings. They would have been painted in the same colours as per the alphabet above. The carvings are spectacular. Some of this is over 1000 years old.
I thought I was satiated with history but this really made me sit up and take notice.
and this is their observatory; recognise the shape? seen it before? knocks your socks off when you turn the corner and see it for the first time. It was actually hard for me to catch my breath.
The next day we took an adventure tour to the cenotes (sink holes). We got a bit more adventure than we bargained for. We'd been on the road for over an hour and on the dirt track for about 30 mins when we came across this 'road block'. Our driver gave them some food he'd stopped in a take away for and they let us pass. They were not happy looking people. Everyone was very nervous. We had to go thru it again on the way back, in the dark, but the head-honcho of the adventure tour preceded our bus in his tinted glass 4 wheel drive. He negotiated something with them and we were allowed to pass.
The official part of the adventure tour was driving along fire tracks to two cenotes (sinkholes with water 200 feet deep) on ATVs (All Terrain Vevicle like those on the beach hills) and then either jumping into the water from a great height or dropping from a zip line. We weren't brave enough to drop from the zip line. It was a very unique experience and we were the grandparents of the group - so we were very proud of ourselves. I can tell you Frank challenged a couple of the young bucks as he passed them on the ATV (with me clinging on for grim death!)
After the ATV they gave us very strong Pinna Coladas and took us to the zip lines. The reason the photo is blurred is because I'm going so fast, feeing no pain!!! It was so much fun.
and that was Mexico and we have to go back. We did less than half of what was on offer. This is an amazing holiday resort. The weather was perfect. Loads of shopping. More bars and shows than you would ever want and a local bus service that has to be experienced to be believed.
Next stop; Hawaii and less than 10 days before we are home.
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