(no subject)
When we got to Mexico last Monday we were super STOKED! By Tuesday we'd decided to extend our stay for a few extra days, since it turned into a honeymoon due to our unexpected marraige. I have trouble putting into words how much fun we had. The resort was beautiful, and since it was all-inclusive it was very relaxing not to have to worry about anything or fret over where to find safe food and water, or how to communicate with people adequately. We didn't do all that much relaxing though!
We stayed in Playa Del Carmen in the Yucatan Peninsula at Aventura Spa Palace. It's about an hour from Cancun, and the area is only now being developed so it was surrounded by the jungle and on the edge of the ocean. The view was nothing short of spectacular.
Tuesday we visited the ruins of Tulum. There is the remains of a large city left there, and you can still see the sculptural lintels over the doorways and arches of the temples and the look-out towers. There are dozens of small buildings that served various social and religious purposes still standing and it spralls across about a square mile or so. Pics later!
After exploring the ruins we took a cab into Tulum village, down by the water, and played on the beach at "Ana y Jose". I highly recommend visiting this place if you ever travel to the area. The beachfront there is lined with beds covered by canopies. You pay a small fee to occupy the space for awhile, but you get bedside bar service and the cleanest, prettiest, most amazing beach anywhere!
Wednesday we took an all-inclusive tour to the ruins of Chichen-Itza for the Spring Equinox. It's over 2 hours to get there from our resort, so the tour included a stop at an underground cenote (sink-hole fed by a natural spring) where we all got to swim in some super cold water while gazing up through the cave at the surrounding jungle, and feeling tiny waterfalls splash over us. From there we drove on through the jungle, and stopped in a little town for a buffet lunch of traditional foods. Thy entertained us with local dancers while we ate. WOO HOOO! It was cool! After that it was on to CHICHEN-ITZA! I don't possess words strong enough to tell you how amazing it was to be so close to so much history! We toured the ruins and learned a bit of history from our guide, who was a very fast, diminutive creature who kept us all running to keep up. We were really worried that the sun wouldn't come out and grace us with the image of the serpent. It rained a few times and the clouds wouldn't go away, but at exactly the predicted time the great pyramid (which had remained gray due to the cloud cover) exploded into light and shadow and the serpent appeared on the north side as if by magic to climg the staircase! I can see now how the ancients were able to believe that this display was truly divine. One minute it was dark, and the next it was as bright as if someone had called up the serpent from the gods. Those Mayan priests were crafty, little dudes! pics later.
Thrusday we visited Coba. I had not heard of this particular settlement, but I'm really, super, crazy happy we went there. It's the last site in the area that has a pyramid open to climbers, and it's nestled deep in the jungle. I was terrified! I'm really afraid of heights, and even more so if they are not protected by either glass or handrails or something. The pyramid obviously had none of these things, but I didn't want to pass up what may very well be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity so I just took a deep breath and sprinted up the stairs monkey-style! I couldn't belive it when I made it all the way to the top!! I stopped to look down, and I nearly got sick. I had to sit for a very long time to regain my composure before I started back down, but I'm really proud of myself for making it and for not crying like a wimp at the top. I'm also really glad I've been training so hard at the gym. I'm pretty sure i wouldn't have made it to the top without leg cramps or multiple rest stops if I had tried it one year ago. It's a long climb, very steep, and unimaginably hot in the jungle this time of year where no ocean breeze can penetrate.
There's so much more, but I have to get up and go do some unpacking and wash up a bit before I go get my baby. I haven't seen her since we got home, so I'm really looking forward to picking her up from school and loving on her!
We stayed in Playa Del Carmen in the Yucatan Peninsula at Aventura Spa Palace. It's about an hour from Cancun, and the area is only now being developed so it was surrounded by the jungle and on the edge of the ocean. The view was nothing short of spectacular.
Tuesday we visited the ruins of Tulum. There is the remains of a large city left there, and you can still see the sculptural lintels over the doorways and arches of the temples and the look-out towers. There are dozens of small buildings that served various social and religious purposes still standing and it spralls across about a square mile or so. Pics later!
After exploring the ruins we took a cab into Tulum village, down by the water, and played on the beach at "Ana y Jose". I highly recommend visiting this place if you ever travel to the area. The beachfront there is lined with beds covered by canopies. You pay a small fee to occupy the space for awhile, but you get bedside bar service and the cleanest, prettiest, most amazing beach anywhere!
Wednesday we took an all-inclusive tour to the ruins of Chichen-Itza for the Spring Equinox. It's over 2 hours to get there from our resort, so the tour included a stop at an underground cenote (sink-hole fed by a natural spring) where we all got to swim in some super cold water while gazing up through the cave at the surrounding jungle, and feeling tiny waterfalls splash over us. From there we drove on through the jungle, and stopped in a little town for a buffet lunch of traditional foods. Thy entertained us with local dancers while we ate. WOO HOOO! It was cool! After that it was on to CHICHEN-ITZA! I don't possess words strong enough to tell you how amazing it was to be so close to so much history! We toured the ruins and learned a bit of history from our guide, who was a very fast, diminutive creature who kept us all running to keep up. We were really worried that the sun wouldn't come out and grace us with the image of the serpent. It rained a few times and the clouds wouldn't go away, but at exactly the predicted time the great pyramid (which had remained gray due to the cloud cover) exploded into light and shadow and the serpent appeared on the north side as if by magic to climg the staircase! I can see now how the ancients were able to believe that this display was truly divine. One minute it was dark, and the next it was as bright as if someone had called up the serpent from the gods. Those Mayan priests were crafty, little dudes! pics later.
Thrusday we visited Coba. I had not heard of this particular settlement, but I'm really, super, crazy happy we went there. It's the last site in the area that has a pyramid open to climbers, and it's nestled deep in the jungle. I was terrified! I'm really afraid of heights, and even more so if they are not protected by either glass or handrails or something. The pyramid obviously had none of these things, but I didn't want to pass up what may very well be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity so I just took a deep breath and sprinted up the stairs monkey-style! I couldn't belive it when I made it all the way to the top!! I stopped to look down, and I nearly got sick. I had to sit for a very long time to regain my composure before I started back down, but I'm really proud of myself for making it and for not crying like a wimp at the top. I'm also really glad I've been training so hard at the gym. I'm pretty sure i wouldn't have made it to the top without leg cramps or multiple rest stops if I had tried it one year ago. It's a long climb, very steep, and unimaginably hot in the jungle this time of year where no ocean breeze can penetrate.
There's so much more, but I have to get up and go do some unpacking and wash up a bit before I go get my baby. I haven't seen her since we got home, so I'm really looking forward to picking her up from school and loving on her!