The ruins are impressive, but the backdrop of the blue ocean is what makes them special. There are lots of lookouts where you can stop and see the ocean, then turn and look at the sprawling Mayan ruins. Many people are in tour groups, but they just clog up the paths. We press onward.
We have a bit of fun with Bill, as he has left the remote for his selfie stick at the unit. It is rather fun to watch him try to get the timer to work, while standing in the blazing sun. There are lizards everywhere, but they know how to avoid the tourists and stay just off the pathways in the no go zones. Almost as impressive as the ruins are the people. Watching them pose in front of the view, or scamper around is is quite entertaining.
We spend about 90 minutes wandering around looking at the various ancient buildings, learning a bit about the Mayans who lived here, and the eco system at the time. Then it is back to Carlos and the A/C van! We are all hungry, so we ask Carlos to take us to an inexpensive, authentic eatery. He tells us of a roadside place, where the food is good and cheap. We stop at Las Gazuelas. A family run open air eatery. Tacos are the mainstay here, so we order a variety of fish, chicken, pork and beef. Cole is the drink, and after biting into a taco with some substantial spice!
Next we are off to the cenote! Carlos tells us, this is his favorite, and it involves underground caves and caverns. We are off, and after a few miles on a dusty bumpy dirt road, we arrive at the Sac Actun Cenote! We change into our swimming gear and meet our guide for the tour, Omar! He tells us the tour is in Russian! He is kidding, and his English is pretty good. We make our way down a steep wooden staircase with half a dozen other adventurers. A quick lesson on not touching the stalagmites, and we jump into the cool water. It is very cool, and refreshing. We bob about as our guide sets up and then we are off swimming as he shines a light on various formations both above and under water. We head further in, and under ground. The small passage open into a huge underground cavern. The stalactites and stalagmites are amazing. Our guide tells us these formations are thousands of years old. We are very careful not to damage anything.
Our guide takes us further into the cave, some ares the stalactites are so close to the water, you feel like you are going to be impaled. The cave gets narrow and we inch our way through the formations. Into another wide open cavern. Here there are bats! They swoop around, as we have disturbed the few flying insects. Others are just hanging in crevices in the cave ceiling.
Our guide extends the tour, buy taking us though a maze of under ground corridors and tight openings. The only light is his flashlight, which he alternates above and below the water line. The caves become a little spooky with shadows and images from our imagination. Even more so, when you realize that you are 50 feet below the surface, in an underwater cave, with no idea of the exit!
To emphasis this, our guide gathers us in a small cavern and extinguishes the light. There is a complete void of light. We quickly realize that our only safety is our guide, and if he wished it, we would never find our way out of this watery tomb! Fortunately, tourism is the business here, so we are safe!
Upon exiting the caves, our guide tells us they his boss once spent two days trapped in a newly discovered cenote! Glad we didn't "discover" any new ones on this trip!
Carlos takes us to our next stop, Akumal Beach. Bill and Pamela have been here before, so they offer some advice. We rent some life jackets and wade out into the impossibly blue water in search of the Mayan turtles. The girls are surprised as juvenile turtle breaches for air, right between them!
There are massive turtles just a few feet below us, grazing on seaweed. They don't seem to mind all the tourists splashing above them. We see maybe a dozen of the creatures, even get to swim along with one as he searches for his next meal.
We are all tired and satisfied, as Carlos bring us back to our unit. He tells us we should walk 5th Ave, but for cheaper food and better deals on trinkets, head off 5th and go along 10th or higher. And always negotiate and pay in pesos!
A couple of hours of rest is in order, and we sit out on the deck, watching the beach goers.
Around 9, we decide to head off 5th to get a snack. We take Carlos advice, and find a little eatery off a side street. Restaurant Brisas. Again, we enjoy some tacos, cuba libras and cerveza. Alil in, the cheapest meal, at about 240 pesos! The girls get some ice cream (Bill too!).
Then back to the unit, and watch the Euro game between Germany and France.
All in all, a great day.
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