merida cancun Day 3

these spanish keyboards are going to kill me

yesterday, we got up earlier than expected after a VERY restful and comfortable sleep ... it was heaven compared to the heat of the day before ... we went downstairs and had our americano breakfast ' bacon or ham with eggs (chopped into them), bread, fruit, juice and coffee.

then we checked out of the hotel. we had decided to go ahead and drop the rental car in merida ... we could just ride with marios folks that way and we didnt have to worry about what time we were going to get back into cancun ... it cost more money since we were leaving it somewhere other than we rented it ... but we decided the flexibility was worth it ...

martin and laura picked us up and we went back to the aunt{s house to finish loading up the vehicle and say goodbye to everyone ... then we all got in the van and began our journey of the day ...

the first destination was to chichen itza http://www.internet-at-work.com/hos_mcgrane/chichen/chichen_index.html ... http://www.mysteriousplaces.com/mayan/TourEntrance.html

the main pyramid has 365 steps ' 91 on 3 sides and 92 on the 4th ... we picked the side that had 92 ... why quibble over one step ... me and my fear of heights ... not thinking about how i was going to get back down ... went up it one step at a time ... that bad knee you know ... and i walked on my feet and hands at the same time so i was going up at the same angle as the pyramid ... it was SUPER HOT (muy caliente) and the steps were burning my hands as i went ... but it was worth it to get to the top and walk gingerly around (close to the building) to see around us and feel the power emanating from within ... when it came time to leave ' i told mario just to fly me up some water and send me some food ... i wasnt going back down ... but he finally got me started back down the same way i came up ... and stayed with me as i went ... there was one point where i nearly lost my balance ... that would have gotten me down ... but probably not alive in the process ... but i finally made it to the bottom and collapsed on the grass ....

we were constantly being harrassed by people wanting to sell us something ... all i wanted to buy was water ... and we finally found someone that would sell us that ... apparently its ok for artisans to sell their wares but not for the merchants to sell water ... i drank a large liter bottle of water without stopping and then got another one .... there is a lot there besides the main pyramid and i think once i recovered we managed to see most of it ... i kept praying to CHA ' the mayans rain god ... and at the tail end of the visit ... he listened enough to make it worse ... lol ... go figure ....

from there we drove a little further to Valladolid to go the dzitnup cenote there http://www.xaac.com/playacar/dzitnup.htm ... spectacular ... about 30 steps down into the earth ... with ropes to hold onto for support and 3 candles to light the way ... you get down into the earth to this large lake ' about 50 yards in diameter ' and there is a hole at the center that lets light in from above ... it was really nice .... but unlike caves in the us ... mexico caves are NOT cold ... it was probably 80 degrees and 99.9% humididy ... mario went back out and got our suits and we went swimming ... the water is perfectly clear ' you could see your toes and once you get off the slippery and rough ledge, it was super deep as well ... the water seemed cold at first ' it was probably 80 degrees also though, but it was VERY NICE after nearly passing out from the heat prostration of the our earlier visit ... but soon enough it was time to leave ... it was now 5 and we had not eaten lunch yet ...

we got back into the van and traveled o into the small town of valladolid and had during at the meson . similar to a food court at a mall, but that was the extent of what the place was ... we had a pork dish that was similar to brisket (cochinita pibil) ... mario and i ate twice ... and the food bill only came to 220 pesos for all 4 of us ... then we headed out to find the autopista ... the toll road .... which we never found .... and apparently that was the only town we could get onto it from .... so instead of 2 hours back to cancun we spent about 4 ... with martin driving, me yelling anytime i saw a tope (speed bump ... but like driving over a horse in the middle of the road) or a tope sign (damn things are hard to see) and at one point when martin and i were both trying to read signs we hit one doing about 40 ... ouch .... (and of course mario was bitching everytime we hit one) but i think that was the only one we hit full on ... martin and i make a pretty good team i think

we finally got to the resort and got checked in ... just looking at prices, its obvious the owners of this plush resort are americans ... we have definitley left the low cost of mexico behind .... mario says all of cancun is that way .... c'est la vie ...

guess thats all so far ' were off to explore the resort and later are going into cancun shopping .... ugh ....

but that DOES remind me ... mary bought a necklace yesterday ... and after she gave martin the change and walked on out he looked at me like i{m sure i look everytime mario goes shopping ... so i guess he has parts of both his parents ... i wish i had had a camera to capture that look on film it was priceless....

back to the riviera ...