Oh my hell - I am thoroughly exhausted!! Completely done in!!! Can hardly move exhausted!!! Have I told you I love adventure - well, today was adventure!!!
Shortly before we left, I booked a tour through Grayline tours. I knew it was going to be crazy, but, not realizing how crazy. I wanted to go to Chichen Itza, but, after hearing about Tulum, decided we could go there instead. Tulum is a large site of Mayan ruins. But, the tour I found had another part to it.
We were picked up at the hotel by our tour guide Carlos and the driver Jaime (pronounced HI - ME). In the van already was this couple, a woman 26 and her husband 28 - their names are Erin and Cory. OMG, the most adorable little things in the land - it was like I was on this tour with my kids we got along so well. It was explained to us that we would be going to Tankah first and then Tulum. OK - I thought we were doing it visa versa, but, no big deal.
Tankah is actually a Mayan community. Yes, there are still Mayans in the world. They earn the money from tourism in this small community. It has no electricity, no plumbing. This community consists of six families with a total of 35 residents.
We get to Tankah and are greeted by a young gentleman who had fruit and water for us. Both Erin and I had to go to the bathroom, but, there were no facilities where we were - so we had to wait. Our first part of our tour was jeeping. Now, I was really excited about this, because my cutest hubby is really into Jeeps - however, Carlos is explaining how there is no insurance on these jeeps and if you break them, you pretty much buy them. Everyone says, you can drive - and so I end up driving. I am just driving on the dirt road and I have the guide (Freddy) with us - by with us I mean he is hanging onto the back of the jeep and giving directions - by directions I mean, the only words he knows is stop, left and right. So he is hanging on and telling me when to turn left and right (have I told you I am not good with left and right??). So all the sudden, he says turn left and we are going up and down, over and around rocks, puddles and all sorts of crap. The two kids in the back seat are being eaten alive by these little mosquitos. It was so crazy!! So, all the sudden, we are going down this 75 degreen incline and this Jeep has really crappy brakes!!! It was rather freaky and I fully expected to be buying a Mayan Jeep. Cory decided he wanted to drive and he took over. And Erin drove once we got back to the flat ground. Oh, by the way, when we did stop at the bano (bathroom), I can't wait for you to see it. A little green stool with a hole in it - no flusher. And that's how these Mayans live.
Next came zip-lining. I was really excited about it until it was time for me to go. I had to go, though, because cute little Erin was kind of freaking out about it and didn't want to go. So I told her if this old fat woman could do it, so could she. I will let the video speak for itself.
We then hiked to a cenote (pronounced say-no-tay). We swam in the cenote for a bit. It was a very nice and calm feeling.
After the cenote, we went into the Mayan village. I can't wait to post pictures - it was amazing. And these people live there and they live so simply. Erin asked Carlos if the people were ok with their lives - and the answer is yes, it's an extremely simple and isolated existence and they love their lives. They served us a buffet lunch - and it was awesome. It was cooked on an open flame - and consisted of chicken (and I could tell that it was extremely fresh chicken - that they raised themselves), pork, fresh guacamole, salad, fresh fruit, rice, beans and homemade tortillas. That was the best food we have had while we have been here and so very authentic. It was an amazing feeling to be among these indigenous people - so simple, so sweet.
We then hiked back to our van and left for Tulum. We had to hike about a half mile to the entrance and it was getting a little drizzly. Our time in Tulum was kind of wet. But, it was such a warm drizzle you hardly noticed it. Carlos was so very informative. He was an awesome guide. He explained so much about how the places were built and about the Mayan gods. It was so interesting. He also explained how the Mayans calendar actually means that on December 21, 2012, it actually begins a new cycle and new century. That the calendar actually begins anew - and how the Mayans whole world was based on 28 days and the cycle of twenty. Everything revolved around the seasons, the sun and the directions.
When we got back, I could feel all these muscles that I use so very seldom. Between ATV, speedboats, jeeping, zip-lining and all that stuff, I am rather sore. I wouldn't change a dang thing, though, this has been an awesome day.
Shortly before we left, I booked a tour through Grayline tours. I knew it was going to be crazy, but, not realizing how crazy. I wanted to go to Chichen Itza, but, after hearing about Tulum, decided we could go there instead. Tulum is a large site of Mayan ruins. But, the tour I found had another part to it.
We were picked up at the hotel by our tour guide Carlos and the driver Jaime (pronounced HI - ME). In the van already was this couple, a woman 26 and her husband 28 - their names are Erin and Cory. OMG, the most adorable little things in the land - it was like I was on this tour with my kids we got along so well. It was explained to us that we would be going to Tankah first and then Tulum. OK - I thought we were doing it visa versa, but, no big deal.
Tankah is actually a Mayan community. Yes, there are still Mayans in the world. They earn the money from tourism in this small community. It has no electricity, no plumbing. This community consists of six families with a total of 35 residents.
We get to Tankah and are greeted by a young gentleman who had fruit and water for us. Both Erin and I had to go to the bathroom, but, there were no facilities where we were - so we had to wait. Our first part of our tour was jeeping. Now, I was really excited about this, because my cutest hubby is really into Jeeps - however, Carlos is explaining how there is no insurance on these jeeps and if you break them, you pretty much buy them. Everyone says, you can drive - and so I end up driving. I am just driving on the dirt road and I have the guide (Freddy) with us - by with us I mean he is hanging onto the back of the jeep and giving directions - by directions I mean, the only words he knows is stop, left and right. So he is hanging on and telling me when to turn left and right (have I told you I am not good with left and right??). So all the sudden, he says turn left and we are going up and down, over and around rocks, puddles and all sorts of crap. The two kids in the back seat are being eaten alive by these little mosquitos. It was so crazy!! So, all the sudden, we are going down this 75 degreen incline and this Jeep has really crappy brakes!!! It was rather freaky and I fully expected to be buying a Mayan Jeep. Cory decided he wanted to drive and he took over. And Erin drove once we got back to the flat ground. Oh, by the way, when we did stop at the bano (bathroom), I can't wait for you to see it. A little green stool with a hole in it - no flusher. And that's how these Mayans live.
Next came zip-lining. I was really excited about it until it was time for me to go. I had to go, though, because cute little Erin was kind of freaking out about it and didn't want to go. So I told her if this old fat woman could do it, so could she. I will let the video speak for itself.
We then hiked to a cenote (pronounced say-no-tay). We swam in the cenote for a bit. It was a very nice and calm feeling.
After the cenote, we went into the Mayan village. I can't wait to post pictures - it was amazing. And these people live there and they live so simply. Erin asked Carlos if the people were ok with their lives - and the answer is yes, it's an extremely simple and isolated existence and they love their lives. They served us a buffet lunch - and it was awesome. It was cooked on an open flame - and consisted of chicken (and I could tell that it was extremely fresh chicken - that they raised themselves), pork, fresh guacamole, salad, fresh fruit, rice, beans and homemade tortillas. That was the best food we have had while we have been here and so very authentic. It was an amazing feeling to be among these indigenous people - so simple, so sweet.
We then hiked back to our van and left for Tulum. We had to hike about a half mile to the entrance and it was getting a little drizzly. Our time in Tulum was kind of wet. But, it was such a warm drizzle you hardly noticed it. Carlos was so very informative. He was an awesome guide. He explained so much about how the places were built and about the Mayan gods. It was so interesting. He also explained how the Mayans calendar actually means that on December 21, 2012, it actually begins a new cycle and new century. That the calendar actually begins anew - and how the Mayans whole world was based on 28 days and the cycle of twenty. Everything revolved around the seasons, the sun and the directions.
When we got back, I could feel all these muscles that I use so very seldom. Between ATV, speedboats, jeeping, zip-lining and all that stuff, I am rather sore. I wouldn't change a dang thing, though, this has been an awesome day.
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