Tuesday, 11/20/12 Tulum and Takah

So, I'm sitting out here by the pool on Wednesday at noon, temp around 85, cool breeze in the shade, clear skies with the occasional puffy cloud, ocean covered in flashing diamonds and defines the true value of blue, tall fresh squeezed OJ close at hand and I have my computer on my lap trying to relate how absolutely amazing a day can be - I'll try but no promises.

Up around 6:30, dressed, breakfast and a pick up at 7:50 by Gray Line for our upcoming adventure. A 16 passenger Mercedes with our faithful driver Xavier and intrepid guide Carlos.  Aboard already were a couple, Mike and Renee from Tacoma and 7 Chinese students, Owen who is a grad student at Ohio State and 3 women and 3 men from Dallas studying at Texas Tech.  I lay this out simply because at 7:50, we were complete strangers and at 6:00 P.M., it felt like we were all good friends.  I am truly sorry that I did not catch the names of 6 of the Chinese students.  I may not know your names but your smiles will stick with me for a long time.

It's a long ride out to Tulum, about 2 1/2 hours - time spent reading, listening to my ipod, sleeping and beginning to get to know our fellow adventurers.  Carlos gave us a 15 minute course on Tulum, a city founded some 5000 years ago by the Mayans.  One interesting fact was that when the Conquistadors  showed up, they asked the locals the name of the area.  The locals puzzling over these crazy men said Yucatan which in Mayan loosely translates to, "What the hell are they talking about??"  Obviously the Conquistadors did not speak Mayan as they then and forever called this place the Yucatan.

We parked and walked 3/4 of a mile to get to the ancient ruins.  Carlos gave us a lot of facts concerning the ancient city.  The city was designed around the solstice where on December 21st and June 21st, the sun would rise and shine through a window.  The roof of the temple was built a 17 1/2 degree slant - the exact angle that the Earth tilts on it's axis.  These folks were truly advanced - no wonder they looked at the Conquistadors as barbarians - they were.

We walked around the ruins and were in awe of the history and sacredness of this place.  The ruins, the foliage, the beach - all too much to be able to describe.  My only two sadness's - 1. We only had 40 minutes to wander on our own - I needed a minimum of a couple of hours and 2. The batteries in the camera died and we left 15 - 20 shots that may not be on film but will forever be recorded on the soft emulsion of my mind.

The entrance to the city of Tulum

One of the last remaining residents of Tulum

Our guide Carlos - hard to understand his info for me with his heavy Spanish accent, impossible for the Chinese with English as their second language

A surviving sculpture of a sacred god

Marveling at craftsmen of 5000 years ago

A temple roof reflecting a 17 1/2 degree tilt

The beach of Tulum where folks relaxed after a hard day of masonry

On our walk, we began to converse with our bus mates.  We found all 7 Chinese students to be friendly, outgoing, interesting and genuinely funny.  There spirit and joy was infectious as we heard them giggling and singing as we went from place to place.  Mike and Renee were also great to talk to - very real, funny and easy to be around.

We then gathered, did a head count and drove to Takah - a jungle village.  We exited the van, walked a 1/4 mile and loaded into Jeep Wranglers - Kathy driving, me shot gun, Mike and Renee in back and a guide hanging on for dear life on the rear bumper.  We drove through the jungle in 3 Jeeps, us in the lead.  Dense is too kind a word.  A road that basically was one long pot hole, exotic ferns and vegetation, mouths of caves, odd haunting calls from hidden fauna, pools of water covered in lily pads - a very interesting but intense 25 minute drive, (especially due to Carlos stating twice, "There is no insurance, you scratch it, you buy it."  With that in mind, we were super cautious as I and Renee took our turns behind the wheel.

We be rocking

So the trail begins

Looking a bit tense, imagine how I felt.

The road levels out?

One of many caves

Our new friends

We then walked to a jungle lake where we had two opportunities to try our hand at zip lines, each of which stretched across the lake.  Greattttttt fun, even if the jungle still reverberates with my screams, little girl like - just louder.  Our 2nd zip line dropped us off by our canoes which we took out onto the lake.  I keep using the word amazing but that will just have to do.  We cruise down narrow inlets filled with dense undergrowth, lily pads, sunken ancient logs, pristine clear water, caves, flowers, and all kind of ohhh's and ahhh's moment.  The laughter and joy was a shared moment by all.

Mike, Renee and Carlos on the road to more adventure

Our new swimming hole

Wow squared!

Paddling towards a large cavern on the left

Inside the cavern

Stepping up, stepping out

We then had Carlos lead us on to a swimming hole that included a 15 foot cliff that you could jump/dive off.  I was so hot and sweaty that I did not hesitate to jump off the cliff to be met with a instantaneous cool refreshing swim where each and every nerve ending was giving a contented sigh.  It was fun to watch our Chinese friends jump off the cliff trying out new experiences.  One man made the error of doing a belly flop - he survived but I bet his stomach is still a bright red.  Two women screwed their courage up and jumped together - their screams of delight can still bring me a smile.

Enjoying the moment

The laughter and joy!

A 15 foot drop that looks like 30 when your standing on the edge

We changed back to our street clothes and walked a couple hundred yards to our luncheon buffet.  We ate and drank well.  I had to smile as one of the Chinese women called to me, "Jeff, turn around, we want your picture."  We all felt a closeness where even if I don't speak Mandarin, I felt I knew exactly what they were talking about.

Lunch be served

No need for a wishing well, our wishes have been granted

Bouganvilla, in November!

The Gang

Me and the boys

We finally and sadly returned to the van for our 2 hour trip back home.  E mails and blog addresses were exchanged as well as warm good byes.

We were both very happy, very happy - me over being the oldest participant but being able to keep up with twenty plus year old's and not being the weakest link.  We both took long hot showers with a ibuprofen cocktail.   We had a quiet dinner and a stroll out by the pool enjoying the warm, balmy air and sound's of the surf meeting the shore.

What a absolutely wonderful day!!!!!