The Frog

We found a frog in our yard... a very very small frog...

Frog in Our Yard

Frog on Me

Most Littlest Frog Ever

Mexico Part Dos

Back to the Mexico thing.  We wanted to have that vacation vacation but we also wanted to do some cool stuff, so, we headed to town and one of the little tourist hut things.  We chatted with the people there and we booked us some tours.  The tours were actually quite reasonable for what you end up getting and they were well worth it.

I've organized this blog into a few locations, and the few tours.  Please remember that there are always more photos etc. in the album so if this isn't enough please go to the Album.  Also photos are arranged in pseudochronological order... 

Location 1: Puerto Morelos

Its a small fishing village but its main industry is turning... or has turned... to tourism...

Pelicanos

Lighthouse

The Beach

Night Light

Lean

Spin

Shadows

Iglesia de Puerto Morelos

The Bell Tower

The Church

Banner

A Summary of Puerto Morelos

The Pier

Down the Beach

Down the Pier

Puerto Morelos Magico Start

Traditional Mexican Dancing

Traditional Mexican Dancing Video

Less Traditional Mexican Dancing

Traditional Mayan Dance 1

Traditional Mayan Dance 2

Marqueseta

Lemurthings

Baby

Awares

Church feat. Night

Location 2: Villas Playasol

Whatshisface's Lunch

Chikita's Lunch

The King's Lunch

The King's Skin

Cacti!

Proparaglider

Incoming

On the Hunt

Prey

Going to the Tortilla Factory

Lunch of Tortillas

Villas Playasol

The Playa in Playasol

The Grounds

Palm

The Pool

The One Breath Swimming Challenge!

I'm So Awesome

Flowers

The Mexican Moon

Moonrise

Sunset

Reflections

The Moon

Playasol Night

The Smiling Moon

Lounge

Outside the Oasis

The Pool

Us

Fluffy Bug

The Closest I Could Get to Sunrise

Great Ball of Fire

Location 3: Ojo de Agua (Eye of Water)

The Ojo is a freshwater stream coming out into the ocean.  The Yucatan Peninsula has no surface water.  All fresh water is transported in underground rivers... this is one of those.  The water becomes turbid where the fresh and salt mix and some fish love it, while others hate it....

Also, given the nature of the tourism industry, they naturally build a hotel inland of the Ojo (actually, my sister's wedding reception was there since it is next door to Playasol).

The Ojo Wedding Part 1

The Ojo Wedding Part 2

The Ojo Wedding

Swimming at the Ojo

Fishes

Big Fish Small Fish

The Ojo

Tour Number 1: Chichen Itza

We got up at eeeaarrrlllyyy and were standing outside the pickup location (which happened to be the church) at 7:30 am.  The van picked us up, we drove around and picked up some other people, and then we drove to Playa del Carmen to a mall where it was the meeting place of allll the tour busses.  We got rerouted to the bus we were to be on and we were on our way.

Our first stop was the colonial city of Valladolid.  We stopped at the main square, had some time to check it out, had some time to check out the big church, and then we were back on the bus.  It was a nice stop to see it since it was on our way, but it wasn't our primary destination so we kept on our way.

In Valladolid

Caption

Iglesia

The Church

Up

In the Square

  

Our second stop was a Mayan village.  We headed off the highway and drove through the village so that we could see how the people of Mexico truly live.  When people go to the big tourist destinations you really don't get a feel for the country.  Our condo is a bit off the beaten path so it is a little better but still, seeing the villages is the best way to do it.  The people there are living in straw huts with dirt floors, wearing their traditional clothing, and speaking their traditional language... which in this case, is Mayan.  We passed an "indigenous" school which means that the standard grade school education is provided in Mayan.  Most of the people who work in the Mayan Riviera have Mayan roots, and most speak Mayan, including our tour guide.

We passed through the Mayan village and then we headed to a Mayan handicraft market.  Se spent some time there... spent some money there... and then headed to the next destination.

Because carrying your drinks isn't hard enough...

 
We stopped at a massive restaurant with a massive buffet.  We were the first bus in but a bunch showed up (after stopping at different villages on the way to spread around the wealth).  We headed to the buffet, got some traditional food (with hand made tortillas by these tiny little Mayan ladies), and watched some traditional dancing, with like, spinning with bottles and trays on their head... and stuff.

It was good food, actually, it was pretty amazing.

In the Mayan Restaurant

 
From lunch it was a short drive to Chichen Itza.  We got there, and headed off into the overly impressive archaeological site following our guide.  They explained the use of the pyramids in their sacrificial ceremonies and they explained the mathematical nature of the Mayan construction.  I have been too the site before, but every time I go I seem to learn more and more and more.  We had the tour for about an hour, and then we had some time to wander.  We saw the cenote, a few more buildings, took a few photos, and then haggled on some goods as we walked passed the multitude of vendors as we were escorted out for closing time.

Chichen Itza!

Chichen Itza's Pyramid

Chichen Itza's Observatory

Tourists

The Pyramid at Chichen Itza

On the Ball Court

The Loser Holding the Winner's Head

The Court

Where the King Sat

Wall of Skulls

Awe

Chichen Itza

The Cenote

Overlooking the Cenote

Stalls

On the Flat

Stairs

The Snake

Steps

Ominance

In the Jungle

Under the Canopy

Unesco

Back on the bus we had one more stop on the way home.  It was a quiet ride as people were starting to get tired, but it wasn't long before we had arrived at another cenote (freshwater sinkhole).  This was a huge one and the entrance was simply a hole maybe 15 feet across in the ground.  Well, that is how they found it, but they later dug down and put in a staircase so people didn't fall in and get stuck forever.  We headed in and threw on our bathing suits.  We swam in the cool water as some performers performed some traditional music under the light from that 15 foot hole I mentioned.  It was cool, it was refreshing, and it was amazing.

The Hole!

Into the Cenote

Music on Water

Light

Chasm

Inside the Cenote

Performance in the Sun

We all got on the bus and this time it was a very very quiet ride as people left right and centre fell asleep.  We were almost back at Playa del Carmen when we heard a sound like the motor falling out of the bottom of the bus.  Well, that is pretty much what happened, but we had managed to get to the transfer point so we could just hop on our van to get us back to Playasol in Puerto Morelos.

The tour cost $60/person and we thought it would be a 4-5 hour thing... no, we left at 7:30 am and we got home at about 10:00 pm... so yeah, they take their tours pretty seriously down there, and it was well worth it.

Eating the Mystery Fruit

 
Tour Number 2: Xcaret (Ish-ka-ret)

This tour was less of a tour and more of a transportational arrangement.  We were at the church at 9 am this time (waaayyy better than 7:30) and en route to Xcaret (which is an exceptional ecological reserve/park).  It took us a while to get there because the other people that were supposed to be riding with us were a bit... tardy... but we made it there eventually.

We got to Xcaret, got our wrist band thingys, and then headed into the park.  One day is really not enough but we did the best we could.  I think I will have to let the photos do most of the talking here, but long story short, if you ever get the chance to go, you should.

Highlights: Mayan Village, Wallless Church, Tapirs, Monkeys, Deer, Boars, Mystery Rodent, Turtles, Manatees, Parrots, Underground River, Parrots, Iguanas, Parrots, Cultural Show, Parrots, Buffet Lunch, Parrots, Jaguars, Puma, Awesomeness.

Read the photos... there is a thousand words in each...

Mexican Cemetery

The Gates

Chapel

Inside

Sheep

Wool Thingy

One of those things that Chloe Has...

The Rock

Puma/Cougar

Jaguars

Growl

Searching for Food

Butterfly House

Cocoons

Butterfly

Feeding Frenzy

Worn

Perfection

Eyes

Citrus

Blend

Duo

Solitude

Butterfly Garden

Salty Pools

The Shore

Waiting

Sea Cows

River by the Manatees

Statue in the Trees

In the Thicket

Monkeys

Tower

You've Been Warned

Bird Conservatory in Xcaret

Macaw

Preening

Babies

Stuck

Turtle

Making More Ducks

Parrots in a Row

Parrots Everywhere

Green

Intent

A Drink

Head in the Sand

Teamwork

Lunch

Parrot 360

The Pole

Fly

Spinny Hangy Dudes

Hang

Going Into the Underground River

The River

Waterfall

The Girl

The Underground River

Canal

Jungle River

Leaves

Out of the Underground River

Xcaret Ruins

Sun

Xcaret

The Inlet

Wave

Floatin'

Giant Sea Turtle

Tapir

Boars

On the Water

Orchid

Mushroom Farm

Mayans Ready for the Show

The Neverending Wave

Full House

More Bigger Wave

Candle

Lights in the House

Lighting Up the Crowd

The King

The Show

The Ball Game

Ultimate Death Flame Ball

Cheers!

If you want more than that then you will have to go see it yourself!

On Board Beverage System

Tour Number 3: The Reef feat. Day

One of the biggest attractions in that part of the world is the second longest barrier reef in... the world.  Having completed our other tours successfully we booked the third and fourth.  We headed to town, hopped into the boat, headed out to the reef, and all hopped in.  It was good.  I don't think it was my best reef trip, but it was good, and our guide was good.  We saw all the usual fish and coral, and a little sand ray, and a little sea turtle, and etc.  It was fun... I've got a few movies so you can get the feel of it but the photos were... tricky...

Disembark

Fishies feat. Guide

Millions of Fishies

Chloe Disembarks

The Flying Ray

Coral

Coral Long Blue Fish at End

Sea Anemone

Fish in the Coral

Fuzzy Branches

Schools

Under the Sea

Spiney Coral

Fish in the Grass

Stick Fish

Sand Ray

Sand Ray Again

Wild Conch

Tiny Blue

Seascape

Sea Cucumber Camouflaged as Giant Poo

Glow in the Light

Shore

The Ocean

Puerto Morelos Lighthouse

Most Graceless Hunter

Tour Number 4: The Reef feat. Night

Everyone knows about snorkeling in the day, but not everyone knows about snorkeling at night.  Last time we were down (my sister's wedding) we did a night snorkel at the reef for the first time.  It was amazing, and I was eager to repeat the amazing trip.  We lined up another boat and another guide.  It was about 7:00 pm when we got to town and probably 7:30 pm when we headed out.  When we anchored the boat (say 8:00 pm for consistency) it was dusk.  Our guide duct taped a flashlight to the front of the boat so we could find it later, handed us flash lights and then this shit got real!

Beachlong Twilight

Boats

Super Excited!

Po Mo

Heading Out Night Snorkelling

Our Epic Captain

In the dusk we could still see a bit under the water, but we definitely needed the lights.  We didn't get far when we ran into a squid.  We looked at him, he looked at us, he said screw this, inked us, and then went shooting off out of the range of our flashlights.  It was an excellent start to night snorkeling.  Our guide was amazing, he was finding us stuff like crazy, showing us everything, and generally being awesome.  We saw about a zillion urchins the size of soccer balls as they were moving around the coral, we saw a dozen lobsters, a handful of crabs, three sleeping sea turtles (two were at least a metre across), one barracuda (totally almost crapped my pants when he swam under me), two or three sea cucumbers (yay the animal that looks like poo), a few stick fish (or seaweed fish, uses its skin as camouflage like the stick bug does), all sorts of fish and so much more.  I cannot possible recant the awesome (though all the crustaceans are pretty interesting, their eyes look like rubies under the flashlight, especially the shrimp), so I recommend you just go yourself.

For your perusal are a few movies, but there are a few things to keep in mind.  Left hand, flash light.  Right hand, camera.  Me, floating in the waves (also, trying not to get pushed into the urchins by the waves).  So the three stars needed to align so to speak to get any vido, so yeah...  There are a few really good shots (given the circumstances), I will try to indicate that in the caption.

Sleeping Sea Turtle

Big Fish

Sea Cucumber

Lobster

Active Lobster

One Urchin

A Zillion Urchins

Baracuda

Octopus!

Stick Fish

Back From Night Snorkeling

Tour Number 5: Sea Sickness/Sea Legs

So anyone who is sensitive to motion sickness can probably understand this... if I am in a car, a plane, the ocean, etc. too long I get accustomed to the motion.  That means that when I get back on land I still feel like that motion is going on.  As a kid I would get it when we sat on the boat for hours and hours.  I often get this from cars, and often planes.  Well, snorkeling twice on one day, adding up to 3-4 hours of water time, resulted in my feeling like I was in the waves for another two days!  Not one, but two.  Tour Number 5 was simply my brain feeling like I was touring around the ocean while my body actually sat around doing nothing.  Come to think of it I need to stop writing this, it is causing a... recurrence, or flashback or whatever.


Anyways.

It was an amazing trip.  We negotiated like crazy, bought 100 cigars and some other touristy crap/treasures, then headed home.  It was a smooth ride home.  I didn't get searched at customs (for like, the first time ever).  And then we headed home for a lovely supper of slurpees and pizza.

Overall:

Epic.

The Stash