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...
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
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
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
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