That’s how our tour guide kept saying it. Easy to remember, if you think about it. Our tour guide was great. He’s actually Mayan. ..did you know there were Mayans still roaming around?
Is that a dumb question?
When you hear your whole life the Mayans were completely wiped out, it makes you scratch your head when you stand in front of someone who says they’re from Mayan decent. He even speaks Mayan. I thought it was interesting how he said the generation of today, are refusing to learn Mayan. They only want to speak Spanish and English because that’s where the money is. Makes me think of those I know who’s parents refused to speak their native language to their kids because they thought it was beneath them.
Regardless, our tour guide, Raul, was sad that its becoming a dying language.
It took 1 1/2 hours to get to the Yucatan. It was long. Especially in a van where everyone didn’t talk. Strangers and all, but thankfully, Raul dropped his front seat, flipped around and talked to us all about the Mayan history.
Driving through the little village was honestly just what I expected a Mexican town to look like. Trash, skinny dogs everywhere and run down everything. What I wasn’t expecting were the Police with automatic weapons and oozies standing all around in the streets.
One truck drove by us with the police and their uzi's standing in the back of the truck, leaning over the cabin. Just about everyone’s eyes bulged as it drove by, with a ‘we aren’t in Kansas anymore’ look.
The ruins were amazing to see. Knowing it was all built so so very long ago and still standing, amazes me.
For whatever reason, the iguanas there were captivating. I’ve seen iguanas before..but on a Mayan ruin?? I couldn’t stop staring.
Is that a dumb question?
When you hear your whole life the Mayans were completely wiped out, it makes you scratch your head when you stand in front of someone who says they’re from Mayan decent. He even speaks Mayan. I thought it was interesting how he said the generation of today, are refusing to learn Mayan. They only want to speak Spanish and English because that’s where the money is. Makes me think of those I know who’s parents refused to speak their native language to their kids because they thought it was beneath them.
Regardless, our tour guide, Raul, was sad that its becoming a dying language.
It took 1 1/2 hours to get to the Yucatan. It was long. Especially in a van where everyone didn’t talk. Strangers and all, but thankfully, Raul dropped his front seat, flipped around and talked to us all about the Mayan history.
Driving through the little village was honestly just what I expected a Mexican town to look like. Trash, skinny dogs everywhere and run down everything. What I wasn’t expecting were the Police with automatic weapons and oozies standing all around in the streets.
One truck drove by us with the police and their uzi's standing in the back of the truck, leaning over the cabin. Just about everyone’s eyes bulged as it drove by, with a ‘we aren’t in Kansas anymore’ look.
The ruins were amazing to see. Knowing it was all built so so very long ago and still standing, amazes me.
For whatever reason, the iguanas there were captivating. I’ve seen iguanas before..but on a Mayan ruin?? I couldn’t stop staring.
The sky was incredibly blue. No haze, no smog, no pollutants, just beautiful deep clear blue without a cloud in the sky.
{{love a good photo bomb-she was a part of our group}}
I wish I could convey to you how short this woman was. Maybe 4ft. So very very tiny.
Did you know all the ruins used to be painted? They were in reds and greens and blues. Everything was all covered in color. We found this fascinating.
On our way back to the hotel, we stopped for some delicious food where we all sat around the table (we were a small group of 8) and really got to know each other. We all became fast friends and even though I’m sure we all would have loved to talk the entire way back, every single one of us fell asleep. Walking around for 6 hours in the hot sun with no shade can wipe a group out fast. Even the tour guide was asleep.
The only thing I really wanted to do but couldn’t was walk up the pyramid and tour the inside of all the ruins. They stopped doing this in 2007 or 2008 due to vandalism and it was really disappointing to hear we wouldn’t get that opportunity. Regardless, I highly recommend this tour if you’re ever in the Cancun area. I think you’ll enjoy it as much as we did. Pin It Now!
5 comments:
Gorgeous pictures! Everyone says its a must see in Mexico...if we ever take a vacay there, its on our list for sure.
So jealous of your journeys!!! How beautiful!
That is sad that people would vandalize. They mess it up for those who would appreciate it. The pictures are beautiful!
This brings back such fun memories of our honeymoon! Even our tour guide called it Chicken Pizza :) (maybe they all do)...
Great pics!
Ah, I've always wanted to visit this part of Mexico! Gorgeous! It would be so neat to see what the ruins looked like when they were painted! I bet it was beautiful!
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