First of all I have to say about the geologic specifics of Yucatan peninsula. It has no rivers…Zero. It is made mainly of white limestone and dolostone and some underground rivers are serving as its fresh water supply. In fact the best part is that there are many sink holes, some completely under ground, some with their dome broken and therefore facing the skies, and the ones close to the sea – completely like little lakes – they are all called cenotes and they are all fresh water with the temperature the most comfortable for human body on a hot tropical day.
So there we headed from the car rental place in search for cenotes and Mayan pyramids. One note – if you start driving to Valladolid from Cancun airport, not the city center, be aware that they will direct you on the road that is toll road and has no exits whatsoever till you reach Valladolid 2 hours later. The road is good, no question about it, almost no cars, just occasional Mexicans on their bikes gathering wood. The cost is $20 USA even. In case you have enough time to drive much slower and and stop at many “lying policemen” in their little towns and villages, you have to take the road from Puerto Morelos or from the center of Cancun.
Valladolid is small, you enter it and very soon you are in the center. their streets are narrow, so they are one way and they number their streets in a peculiar way, find out when you go there. THis is our hotel, La Aurora, named after the first manufacture built in Mexico right by the hotel:
As all the inland towns we saw there – the colonial architecture is their feature. Brightly painted walls, not much seen from outside, but you get into the buildings and see inner gardens, or stairs , other structures or even parks there:
As I mentioned earlier, they are masters in making tiles and installing them. If you notice, the decor on the flower pots in the lobby matche the sinks and floors in guest rooms:
WE walked around, saw the space in Candellaria square prepared for evening mass in front of the church:
And went directly to Cenote Zaci, which is right in town:
And, of course, we went to swim. It was incredible! To cool off after being sweaty and tired in the tropical winter of Yucatan, but that wasn’t all. The water was so soft and embracing, that it felt like bliss, or heaven or whatever one believes in. No wonder cenotes were sacred places for Maya people and still are. They all have an altar or a place of worship before immersing. This cenote has it straight above in a little niche.
The tree roots were hanging over our heads and some small stalactites.
Some street views while we walked too look for a restaurant to eat. Not so many choices to tell the truth:
Once of a sudden we found a big gate , entered a big establishment with stairs. with inner gardens, with terraces of tables a souvenir store and even a chapel:
So that evening we ate there, but I don’t remember the name of the restaurant…Just the address – on the corner of 44th and 41 streets:
Not many people eating…just a lot of masks on the walls, it was impressive. Though not very tasty.
Tomorrow – to the first pyramid!