For our last week in Mexico, most of our group headed to the Mayan Riviera on the Yucatan peninsula with coast along the Caribbean. This area is most famous for Cancun and its resort towns, and while we took full advantage of the beach and the sunshine, we also got to see some incredible Mayan ruins.
We stayed at a resort in Playa del Carmen, a resort town south of Cancun. We took full advantage of the resorts all-inclusive food and drinks, but we went into the town one night as well. It’s pretty tourist-y, with lots of shopping and souvenirs, but it also borders a beautiful beach. Mexico got more than its fair share of beauty between its beaches and mountains.
One day we went to Tulum, a small set of Mayan ruins. While the ruins were interesting, it was the setting that was truly spectacular. Perched on the edge of cliffs running down to white sand and the bluest water I’ve ever seen, the whole place was surrounded by palm trees. After exploring the ruins, we went down to the beach and were able to take a boat out to the coral reefs a few hundred feet from shore for snorkeling. The coral was only a little more than a foot below the surface in places, and full of sea urchins, sea anemones, and bright tropical fish. Really, the Mayans would do well in real estate today; it’s all about location, location, location.
On our last day we drove a couple of hours inland to Chichén Itzá, one of the New Wonders of the World. This is the Mayan’s crowning achievement. Its home to a massive pyramid, a structure with thousands of intricately carved columns, and a modern-day stadium-scale ball court. There was also of course a place dedicated to displaying the skulls of their enemies and sacrificial victims where even the stones were carved with skulls, just to make sure you got the message.
One of the other interesting things we saw were pilgrims headed to Mexico City for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which is celebrated December 12 and is one of the most important holy days in Mexico. We were constantly passing groups of people running, on bikes, or in trucks, all decorated with images of the Virgin and many carrying a lit torch. Mexicans have a truly touching affection for their patroness, and they show it by making their way to her shrine once a year.
Finally, it was strange to hear so much English in Cancun. The resort and town were full of American, Canadian, and European tourists, and we had some funny incidents where the hotel staff didn’t realize we spoke Spanish. It was a slow introduction back to the US.
I’m writing this post from the Dallas Airport. It feels good to be back on US soil, but I know I’m going to miss Mexico. This has been one of the most educational experiences of my life, and I know that I will be coming back to Latin America in the not-too-distant future. Once I’ve had more time to process everything, look for a post about what this semester has been for me as a whole. But for now, I’m excited to see my family and enjoy simple luxuries like flushing toilet paper and drinking water from the tap.
Viajes en Puebla 