Cuba, Costa Rica and a bit of the US.

Wednesday, 6 April 2016

Day 3. 5 April. Cancun. Chichen Itza tour.

Magnificent sleep 11.00 - 5.30.

Early up, short 15 minute window for breaky, ready for our 'Express' tour pick up at 6.45. Juan our driver is taking us out to Chichen Itza.

After a little time on the same roads as yesterday, we turned right and headed off on a very straight road towards Chichen Itza, not a whole lot to look at and 196km of ragged jungle and some crumbling habitation and building along the way.

We arrived at 9.20. Juan arranged a guide, a Mayan man - Santo - who was excellent and filled our heads with so much information and great history and stories of Chichen Itza.

We were early to beat the heat, stall holders were still setting up. Before we were even in the place, the hat sellers were ready to go.

A strange device outside the banos (loos) took a pic. Later learnt it is the digger that the archaeologists used to excavate the Water well.

One of the structures.

Learning ALL about the very complex Mayan Calendar. Thanks Santo.

Zoned out for a bit and distracted by a bird in the tree above.

What is Chichen Itza? Mayan ruins - of a sacred walled city, built here because of it's proximity to water, actually the Sagrado Cenote. Chichen Itza means Mouth of the Water well of the royal family, Itza.

The "Feather Serpent' was very important to the Mayan culture here. There are heads all over the place.

Rosewood tree in front of Priests grandstand, which overlooks the ballcourt.

Serpent. NB. see that ring on the wall? That is the hoop that the 7 players on the huge ballcourt had to get a 20cm rubber ball through (the hole is 30cm) They were not allowed to use hands or feet.

Some of the amazing carvings, here a warrior I think.

The Castillo. This is actually all about the Mayan calendar and the Feather Serpent.

The structures here were all housed within the walls, it was a Sacred religious site, no-one actually lived within, it was a place for worhip and ball games and sacrifice. Chichen Itza saw an arrangement between the peaceful Mayan people and the Mexican Warriors Tulpecs (?)

There was lots of history, amazing stone building skills, religion, ball courts and games with rubber balls and hoops, resulting in the privilege of human sacrifice for the winner, all to ensure good harvests.

The Mayans were obviously smart and designed the Mayan calendar, which is what the Castillo structure at Chichen Itza is all about, very complicated, but still 365 days in a year, with 19 months, and a 52 year cycle, to ensure 13 'leap' years are dealt with. All very interesting, but too much to retain and regurgitate here. The main thing I was left with was the wisdom and persistence of these people.

Here we are L-R Glenda, Margot, Suzie, Me.

The detail is unbelievable, there is no stone or step or terrace without some meaning relating to the Mayan calendar.

The site has many different structures and contains many many artisan souvenir stalls.

Some of the many, many, many colourful plates, scarves etc.

We spent almost 2 hours looking around with Santos, then Glenda and I walked to look at Sagrado Cenote - the Water Well around which the whole city was based.

Sagrado Cenote - the Water Well.

The Mayans stayed here until too many human sacrifices resulted in the pollution of the very water source on which they relied. The Cenote was large, but the water very green. Heard and saw a quick view of motmot bird.

We also saw many lizards and iguanas sunning themselves around the ruins.

Female.

Another one, think female.

Then we met Suzie and Margot, bought a couple of souvenirs

More people as we left. Great call by Suzie to book us early and Express, no stopping at places along the way.

and back to Juan and the van and off to Valledolid for lunch at Hosteria de Marques, where we enjoyed some typical Mayan juices and foods.

The Hosteria courtyard.

Some of the 'stuff'' around the very old Hosteria de Marques.

Valledolid street from bus

more of Valledolid.

Then we asked Juan if he could take us out along the Zona Hotelera for a squiz.

The zone was amazing, hotel after hotel after hotels, some shops, malls, golf courses, manicured gardens, some nightclubs. All in all the party strip. Well worth a look and we got some nice shots of the beach and it's very blue tri coloured ocean.

Zona Hotelera beach.

Obligatory photo stop.

Then back to hotel, sorting out some money, how many pesos do we need for 24 hours?

A couple of hours break before dinner, we ventured back to same location as last night and went to a very nice place - La O11ce Gastrobar. Had fabulous meals and very good Sangria.

Suzie and her Sopes.

Margot with crab soup and some sort of Pork Crackle, guacamole concoction.

Glenda with a massive salad with pears, and a mushroom dish.

Jeannie went for Salmon and Veg.

Mine was a crispy shrimp and udon noodles in honey soy sauce. Here we all are.

A bit of an issue with bill and tips, but it was sorted, but put a bit of a dampener on a really good meal and evening. Got our 'round trip' taxi home. Talked again about Pesos, we need more than we thought, these tips are the things that you forget to factor in.

Back to pack a little as we leave tomorrow at 12.15pm for the airport and off to Cuba.

Tuesday, 5 April 2016

Day 2. – 4 April. Cancun. Ocean Way – Turtle and Cenotes Tour.

Finished yesterday with a nice dinner of proper Mexican tacos, then off to bed with high need to sleep.

Took one of Suzie's sleeping tabs and got exactly 4 hours, then managed another couple before alarm at 5.30 woke me from deep sleep.

Up and organised for day tour with Ocean Way Tours to Turtles and Cenotes/Xenotes tour.

Breaky at hotel doesn't start till 6.30, which is pick up time, so very thankful I threw in some muesli bars at the minute. Phone rang at 6.24, as I was leaving the room, to say my ride was there. A lovely young bloke - Edgar was the driver.

It was pouring rain, roads awash with water. A fair bit of traffic. We had 5 more hotels to pick up from. First one was on the Zona Hotelera, which is the party zone in Cancun. Turned out this group postponed till Wednesday (due to the rain), but it was worth the trip to see the opulence, size and number of hotels there - despite the rain.

Then back onto main roads again towards Playa del Carmen, where we did more pick ups, including our guide Mark and trainee guide Francesca. Finally after 2+hours we picked up the last 2 and headed for the Chikin Ha Cenotes park -

where we snorkelled in amazing clear water in an open Cenote X-Tabay,

That us down there, © Cora.

Yup, me, white and tired but happy to be there. © Cora

The Cenote X-Tabay.

Amazing lily like plants growing on the bottom and up toward the light.

Fish and different water weed, Crystal clear fresh water.

Best I could get of a catfish amongst the rocks and greenery.

Looking up from in the cenote. (pronounced see-note-hay)

Bright green and coloured plants on floor of cenote.

Beautiful blueish fish on plants.

"I think I can, I think I can!" They just keep growing up to reach the surface.

A group of bluefish

a closed Cenote - Chikin Ha

Amazing blue, the same colour as Bombay Sapphire Gin bottle. © Cora

My white mermaid pose. © Cora

Looking down.

Looking out from inside the closed Cenote - like a cave, but it didn't get totally dark.

So clear, you could see for miles. The rocks on bottom were actually the collapsed roof of cave.

Poor attempt at selfie.

and finally we visited a Sacred Cenote - Taak Bil Ha.

Beautiful colours, calcium floating on the surface. Due to it's Sacred status, no swimming allowed, thus the calcium has remained.

The Mayans believe the Cenotes are a place of the Gods. The Cenotes were created 16 million years ago, when the sea level dropped exposing the coral area that is now the peninsula we are on.

This exposed limestone that over time slowly melted in places from the fresh water rain, forming vast numbers of 'sinkholes/caves' called Cenotes, many of these are linked and are a favourite for cave divers. The cenotes were filled with cool, crystal clear water, lillies, fish, roots, rocks in varied formations above and below water.

A cross on each point of the compass, signifies, not a crucifix, but represents the various worlds that the Gods move through, below, the current world and heaven,The vine tying the cross represents the Cenote - the place where the worlds meet.

Looking into the Cenote, you can see the calcium on the surface.

Me amongst the ficus roots, the strongest roots to break through the limestone above and reach for the water.

Then a lovely buffet of fruit, empanada and cake.
Forgot to mention some amazing birds called motmot - beautiful colours and an amazing 'lure like' tail and a distinctive "mot mot" call, which is believed to call the Gods. These guys live in Cenotes and are also sacred as a result.

Back onto the bus with Edgar to Akumal beach (Mayan for Ak = Turtle, Mal = Nest) we we added fins to our life jackets, masks and snorkels, ready for about 90 minutes snorkeling again in crystal clear water, with beautiful white sand and perfect wind and waveless conditions. We saw Green Turtles, sting rays, lots of fish, some reef with coral and beautiful white sand.

Our crew, myself, Zoey from UK, ? from Canada, trainee guide - Francesca, Maya (UK), our guide Mark, Finn (UK), Osam and Emma (UK), Gary? (Canada) © Cora

Cora, our photographer has taken shots at all locations and underwater at Akumal, included some of these, which I've captioned with © Cora.

Once done there, we showered and waited around for a bit, loaded back onto bus with Cora (so she could show and sell her picture packages) and headed back to drop off again, stopping at all the hotels again, waiting for some folks who needed to run into hotel complex, to get money for tops and picture package. Finally home again at 4.30. A very big HALF day tour, but fantastic and I appreciated getting a good look around.

One of the turtles.

Had enough to eat, coming up for air.

Popping up at the surface.

Stingray and fish.

Me. © Cora

Out for dinner via maxi taxi to a place in a nearby Mall - El Costenito. Our waiter Alberto was most helpful, given I'd just had lunch at 5.30, not too hungry, enjoyed a couple of mojitos and a good night out. Fun getting a cab home, ended up needing two, no big cabs could be found. Poor Alberto, spent ages looking around to try and get big cab - worked in his favour for tip!

Day 1. 3 April. Melbourne to Los Angeles to Cancun, Mexico.

Awake before alarm, checked watch with oven, it hadn't clicked back, so another little while in bed.

Showered and breaky, final farewells to the dogs and even Uncle Keith got up to see us out.

Car waiting downstairs, then around the corner to pick up Jeannie (met and said goodbye to her boys - Ollie the dog and husband Andrew.) Then choofed out to Tullarmarine, bit of rain overnight, but easy trip.
Super easy check in and customs OK, then met Margot and Glenda inside (these ladies have travelled with Suzie before.)

QF 93, departed a little late, maybe 30 minutes of so, some technical difficulty - an indication issue! My minds eye pictured a broke blinker and that the pilot would have to stick an arm out the window when turning. (it was early and I WAS sleep deprived)

"pulling back" at Melbourne.

The Bolte Bridge.

Port of Melbourne.

Arrived 14 and half hours later at LA, 6.30 am LA time.

Sunrise as we cross the coast of USA.

LA. I think I may have just missed capturing the 'Hollywood' sign, Somewhere near the motor.

Again pretty smooth run through customs etc, then a short walk to another terminal for our Delta check in "experience" OH BOY! Lots of people, luggage, machines and not much help. Lucky we had a 5 hour window to sort it out. We eventually conquered self service check in, only to join a looonnnnggg queue for baggage drop. Got that sorted and into Terminal 5 lounge for a couple of hours wait.

Seems no one had much sleep between home and LA.

Boarding was late but it seems Keith has arranged premium economy type booking for this leg, so we are quickly boarded and amazingly depart right on 12.00pm - on time. A smaller plane, sat next to a lovely couple from Mooloolaba, they had left Brisbane 3 hours before us and still going.

Delta was pretty good - a quirky airline, a bit of humour in safety vid, good drinks and snacks. Unfortunately they were given only Spanish Customs forms for entry to Mexico, which provided a slight challenge, but interpretation over the speaker by the hostie got us sorted.

Our Hotel seems OK, rooms very nice, but let down by some poor service and no bar or alcohol at the restaurant.

Here we are, our first 'official Dinner' sans drinks. L-R. me, Jeannie, Glenda, Suzie and Margot.

Day Minus 1. 2nd April. Moe to Melbourne.

A leisurely day in Moe, visits from Sue and Zaxon, Bron, Mike, Sam and Kate.

Then out to drop Ska (the car) at Outhred's, who then dropped me at the train station. Thanks Anne and Ian

Here I am, ready to go.

Busy train, some Saints supporters on board and lots of others. Arrived in Sunny Melbourne at 5.10.

Collected by Aunty Sue, home to her place, beautiful chicken casserole for tea, some last minute stuff and turned back the clocks - that extra hour was going to be precious!!!!