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Published: February 28th 2015
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Mayan Church
Mayan celebrations are held in this square. We headed out to Valladolid next so that a day trip to Chichen Itza would be less of an ordeal and we could get there earlier; before all the crowds and day trippers from the Cancun area showed up.
Once again we took the ADO bus service. The ride was shorter again than what we thought, which is good as long as you're paying attention. As our bus wound its way through tiny streets we at first didn't realize we had reached our destination. A quick hop to Hostel del Fraile from the bus stop and we were checked into our MXN130 per night dorm room.
We were quickly given a map by Victor, highlighting the supermarket, food Bazaar, city cenote, and other important sites. He let us know that he was running a bike tour at 1500hrs and seeing as we thought it was 1430hrs, we felt a little rushed to get settled. Fortunately we were simply plagued by the all too common error of not changing our clocks; the state of Quintana Roo (where we landed in Cancun) is actually one hour ahead the rest of Mexico. A change for the first time as recent as February
2nd of this year, still boggling tourists and locals alike.
We started out the bike tour through town at a local Maya church to hear about a local holiday and the celebrations involved. Then out of town to cenote Oxman (Osh-man) for a quick dip. That cost us MXN30 each for entry, descending the 73 steps so that we didn't have to take the 22m plunge into the water. There was a much more pleasant rope swing to do that from. This cenote had the tree roots dangling the hole way to the water, giving it a somewhat eerily beautiful look.
Then we did some off road riding along the railway tracks. These have been being updated for the last 7 years of a 6 year project, with an estimated 3 more years to go. Victor remembered riding the train when he was younger to Merida, a 158 km train trip that took 8 hrs.
Then off to the main square. We took some time in the 'palace' to check out the 4 paintings depicting the times before the Spanish, when they arrived, how they subjugated the Maya people, and when the Maya revolted.
We stopped
Cenote Oxman
From the water up in at cenote Zaci in town to have a look, but not to swim. Then to Plaza Candelaria and back to the main square for coco ice cream (not cocoa as Dan had thought, and insisted we go on Ashley's behalf but coconut). We hit the free Tequila factory tour where there was a free tasting of three tequilas varying in age, each getting more smooth and easier to drink.
Then to return bikes which cost MXN15/hr to rent for the four hour tour. At that point we lost Victor to a family emergency and he sent us to the cantina for beer and snacks for which we paid MXN28 per beer, and the snacks weren't on the bill. The five of us were full when we left having spent only MXN56 each for drinks and food, no need for supper after that.
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John Lipski
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Looking Good!
Looking good! You are still alive! Great to receive your regular posts! You are giving me the travel bug again! Keep havin' fun! : )