Our first full day was spent at Atkun Chen, a nature reserve of sorts with a dry cave you can walk through. They showed us a few pets they had like this boa, which only a brave few touched.
Just a note for anyone who has been in a cave NOT located in the tropics: tropical caves are hot! As we discovered in the Caribbean and relearned again in Mexico, this cave was warm. We are sticky, especially with an extra 25 pounds of chubby, sweaty boy.
One of the most surprising things I learned is that the Yucatan is all limestone and filled with holes called cenotes or caves. The jungle is really short, not much above an average size tree, because the plants send all their energy down in their roots. These long "ropes" are tree roots reaching down for water, which comes and goes as it rains. Pretty much, the whole area is a sponge with holes... not much for soil or mined minerals in the Yucatan.
Our guide would jump on the "ground" so we could here the hollowness of the caverns below our feet or hear the ones which were filled with water. It was a little unnerving. He also told us that the Mayans viewed the cenotes as entrances to the Underworld and never lived in them because they were sacred.
Can you see the water line in the above picture? It's pretty tricky. Very calm. Very hot.
Here was a friend to greet us as we came again to the surface. Isn't he pretty?
I liked Keegan's communication with the monkeys, complete with arm actions.
Keegan also developed an amazingly annoying pout while we were on vacation and he was employing it here. He sticks his tongue halfway out and pouts; it really makes me want to slap him. Just honest parenting here.
The view from our balcony... sigh.
Aside from being hurricane-proof, this was a lovely place to stay and the maids even did my dishes before I could get to them. We had to be careful not to drink the water.
A few interesting pieces of artwork in our condo which were painted on plywood. I thought Ephraim would relate.
We had a thunderstorm blow through that evening but we all hurried out to the beach for a little swim time before it hit.
As you can see from the grimace on my face, I sliced open my foot on the rocks and broken coral underwater. Three hurricanes have battered this area in recent years and it's a lot like walking in the Hay river in Wisconsin for those who have. I learned and wore my water shoes after that.
I hitched a ride in with Keegan.
Once it started raining, a few brave souls ventured out for a Mayan rain dance. Not a whole lot of dancing in cold rain though.
Our first full day was spent at Atkun Chen, a nature reserve of sorts with a dry cave you can walk through. They showed us a few pets they had like this boa, which only a brave few touched.
Just a note for anyone who has been in a cave NOT located in the tropics: tropical caves are hot! As we discovered in the Caribbean and relearned again in Mexico, this cave was warm. We are sticky, especially with an extra 25 pounds of chubby, sweaty boy.
One of the most surprising things I learned is that the Yucatan is all limestone and filled with holes called cenotes or caves. The jungle is really short, not much above an average size tree, because the plants send all their energy down in their roots. These long "ropes" are tree roots reaching down for water, which comes and goes as it rains. Pretty much, the whole area is a sponge with holes... not much for soil or mined minerals in the Yucatan.
Our guide would jump on the "ground" so we could here the hollowness of the caverns below our feet or hear the ones which were filled with water. It was a little unnerving. He also told us that the Mayans viewed the cenotes as entrances to the Underworld and never lived in them because they were sacred.
Can you see the water line in the above picture? It's pretty tricky. Very calm. Very hot.
Here was a friend to greet us as we came again to the surface. Isn't he pretty?
I liked Keegan's communication with the monkeys, complete with arm actions.
Keegan also developed an amazingly annoying pout while we were on vacation and he was employing it here. He sticks his tongue halfway out and pouts; it really makes me want to slap him. Just honest parenting here.
The view from our balcony... sigh.
Aside from being hurricane-proof, this was a lovely place to stay and the maids even did my dishes before I could get to them. We had to be careful not to drink the water.
A few interesting pieces of artwork in our condo which were painted on plywood. I thought Ephraim would relate.
We had a thunderstorm blow through that evening but we all hurried out to the beach for a little swim time before it hit.
As you can see from the grimace on my face, I sliced open my foot on the rocks and broken coral underwater. Three hurricanes have battered this area in recent years and it's a lot like walking in the Hay river in Wisconsin for those who have. I learned and wore my water shoes after that.
I hitched a ride in with Keegan.
Once it started raining, a few brave souls ventured out for a Mayan rain dance. Not a whole lot of dancing in cold rain though.
2 comments:
Wow, the view from your condo makes me sigh. Beautiful. I can imagine how HOT those caves are! The trees with the roots are so cool to see. I feel you with the pouting....you just have to HOPE that it is a phase that will pass quickly. It looks like you guys had some fun. Now you just need a vacation after your vacation so you can relax, right?
Oh, and tell Keegan that he was very brave to get that close to such a big snake! (Or was that Cody's influence? : ) )
ahhh, i've only made it thru day 1 and my kids are going bananas...so i'm going to have to come back later to read about the rest of your trip. looks fun so far!!!
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