Another Life Goal Completed

We got up early today because the woman in the cabana next to ours had been to Chichen Itza before and she strongly suggested that we get there as early as possible, to avoid the crowds and the heat. We had meant to leave by 7am, but it ended up being more like 8.

On the way to CI, we stopped at 7-11 and got some snacks to eat for breakfast. At home, 7-11 is not ideal for breakfast and this is still true in Mexico. However, we needed something to sustain us on the 2 hour drive, so bad convenience food it was.

It was basically one road from Tulum to Chichen Itza. And it was one road (albeit a different one) from the Cancun airport to Tulum. I kind of like this one-road thing! Makes getting around really easy. :) We saw a couple of small side streets that said San Diego 2km, and San Francisco 1km and had ourselves a chuckle about how close we were to California.

Anyways, when we arrived at Chichen Itza my first impression was that it was HUGE. We walked in and was immediately greeted by the famous "El Castillo." This was what I came here to see, this is what was on the life goal list. I was a little awestruck, and I think I kept murmuring "Oh my god, oh my god," but in truth I don't remember much. Let me just tell you that it was impressive.

In the middle of it all, they were setting up for a concert - Elton John was coming to play right amidst all the ruins. But despite all the equipment everywhere, we pretty much had free reign and walked anywhere and everywhere we wanted. It wasn't even all that busy at first.

There were several little stands set-up by locals who were there to sell some souvenirs, and it was really nice looking stuff. As the day went on, they were everywhere. You couldn't walk anywhere without going by them. Ted bought a really cool mask. It was really very hot though, and I was not that interested in shopping & bartering, so I didn't get anything for myself. I suppose I probably should have.

After we left the huge site, we stopped for some lunch at the little local cafe. We shared some burritas and they were excellent. While eating we were entertained by some Mexican dancers one of which performed while balancing bottles on her head!

When we drove home we went through a military checkpoint. We had seen them on the way there, but they were waving everyone through. On the way back, however, they seemed to be pulling people over and searching their car. Lucky for us, they seemed busy enough and we were waved through again. Big sigh of relief!!

On the one road between Tulum and CI, you pass through several small towns. One of which was called Valladolid, and it was charming. An old cathedral, colourful buildings, a park, and many great shops accentuated it. It was really pretty.

Passing through another small village, we could see kids up ahead on the road playing soccer. There are always speed bumps in the main parts of town (any town in Mexico, it seems), and they "accidentally" kicked the soccer ball right at our car and hit it straight on. As we slowed down, they came racing up to our vehicle trying to sell us stuff. Clever ploy, eh? I imagine that some people feel bad enough to buy something from them.

When we got back to our resort we went to the beach to join up with the rest of the group, soak up some rays, and play in the surf while the sun was still out. And then for our last night in Tulum Ted & I went in search of a really nice dinner. We walked down the road and found a lovely hotel that was serving outside on the patio right on the beach. We had the sunset, then candlelight for dinner. It was very romantic (although at times, really quite windy).

After dinner we spent the last bit of our time with the group, having drinks and socializing at the resort restaurant. Up at the bar they had swings instead of stools, so that was fun to hang out there. It was our last bit of time in Tulum - tomorrow we are back to Mexico City!

Day of Whatever-we-want

Slept late this morning. Ahhhh, it was decadent. Well, pretty decadent anyways. The cold night and the birds chirping at 5am were not ideal, but hey, it's just a different form of paradise to adapt to. ;)

Speaking of those chirping birds. The one right by the cabana had me awake long enough to determine that it was changing its chirp over and over. It would always do the same chirp twice, and then change it up. Double-chirp, just to make sure you heard him correctly, and then onto the next. Made for interesting listening, actually - just not at 5am. Anyways, I haven't seen him yet, so I don't know what kind of bird he is.

We headed down to the beach bar, which served breakfast overlooking the ocean. Crystal blue waters and gorgeous sand beach. Warm air, tropical breeze. NICE. Oh, but if you sit facing the wrong way you can get more than you bargained for - the beach is clothing-optional. It was a little jolt in my morning paradise to see naked-man doing handstands and yoga poses as I was trying to just chill out and enjoy my meal. Ted says it's all in where you sit and what way you face.

We decided to take the 10 minute journey to the Tulum ruins, which are just down the street from where we are staying. Apparently they are unusual because they are situated on the coast, while other ruins in Mexico are inland.

We were there for a couple of hours and it was pretty awesome. I am always amazed by being able to experience something that was built so long ago. I am walking in those same footsteps, seeing the same rocks, wondering at the same carvings. Fantastic!

When we were done we stopped at the little market/shopping area located on the way back to our car. There were a few cultural performances happening around us, too. It seems like many of these people depend on tourist dollars or tips to make a living.

I had lunch at Subway. Despite all the bonafide Mexican food I have been eating, I really have been craving a good veggie sandwich. And so that's what I had! So far, no problems with my stomach - hope it lasts. The sandwich is just like what I'd have at home... except for the pickles. I don't know exactly how to describe the pickles, but they are not the same. More sour, more salty maybe?

We got back to our cabana and had a bit of a rest. The heat really saps your energy, and we just spent 2 hours walking, walking, walking. A nap was in order! Upon waking we went to the restaurant and had a snack and a drink. While we were sitting there we saw 2 guys from the wedding arrive. We visited with them for a while, and waited a bit longer for the rest of the group - 20 more were on their way. We are going to take over this place, haha!

As the rest of the group arrived we hung out with them down by the beach and then we eventually all moved up to the restaurant when it became too windy. We are planning to go to Chichen Itza tomorrow but none of them will come with us since they have another week her and just want to relax. We can hardly blame them. But, as we are leaving in 2 days, we want to take the chance while we have it!

Off to shower & bed. I think the shower water is salt water, and it does not do a great job of washing my hair. I don't really feel clean afterwards. I suppose I'd get used to it if I had to, but for now it just leaves a little grimy feeling. Ah well, better than the sweaty, sticky-suncreen feeling. Tomorrow, Chichen Itza!!

Travelling to Tulum

Today was a travel day. We got up early, which was difficult since we got home so late from the wedding last night. We arranged a taxi to the airport through our hotel, and checked into our flight.

Then we had breakfast at a restaurant at the airport. It had a buffet, but I think that best be avoided when travelling. I ordered some familiar-looking stuff, and Ted had bread - he was feeling rather sick.

A friend of mine recommended that I get some Grapefruit Seed Extract and put some in whatever I drink down here in Mexico. It's from the health food store and apparently neutralizes any (bad) bacteria that is in your system. Anyways, I must admit that I am a bit of a skeptic, but after getting sick on my last trip I am willing to try something new. More than a few drops makes your drinks taste bitter though, so I just put it in my juice.

One thing that I am impressed about at the airports here in Mexico is that there are many individuals in wheelchairs working as information agents. I don't see that much at home, and it seems like a good job to have.

The flight to Cancun was pretty uneventful - only 2 hours. When we arrived we talked to some information agents about how to get to Tulum, which is almost 2 hours drive away. We were convinced to rent a car, as it would be cheaper in the end and allow us a bit more freedom.

They gave us a standard, so I started us off with the driving, much to a few people's surprise. Ted hasn't driven a manual in a while, so he didn't want to take the first shift. Anyways, the drive was long and in some places harrowing - not surprisingly, there are fewer rules here than there are at home. Cars squeezing themselves into any spot that they can find, passing within inches of each other, Mexican police parked by the side of the road every 5 minutes or so. There were also these speed bumps every once in a while which forced everyone to come to a virtual stop on the highway. Lucky for us it was one road from the airport to Tulum, but I have to admit, I was wishing we had taken a taxi by the time we actually got there.

When we arrived at our resort, Copal, I was initially charmed. Cabanas right by the beach, water views, the sound of the ocean with clear blue water and the finest sand I have seen. Magical! The reality of the eco-friendly resort was, however, not terribly luxurious. I describe it as similar to camping. No electricity, no lights, sleeping with the sounds of the outdoors (ocean = good, squawking birds at 5am = bad), sand everywhere on your floor, running water but fickle plumbing, etc. All in all, it was good - but luxury, it was not. There were however fresh tropical flowers waiting for us in the cabana when we got there, courtesy of Ted. They were beautiful and made the cabana smell lovely!

We were pretty hungry by the time we checked in and so we had dinner at the resort restaurant. We were accompanied by a very friendly feline friend who sat next to us and talked to us and wanted to be petted and waited patiently for handouts while we ate. We had yummy Mexican food - fajitas and guacamole and chips and salsa... it was heaven. It was right at dusk though and there was another feast going on - and the dish was me. That's right, mosquitoes came out in force and I got about fifteen bites in 10 minutes. By the end of dinner I was squirming. Why didn't I bring my insect repellent??

Off to the local grocery store we go. We pick up some Off, After Bite, sunscreen, snacks and drinks. The sunscreen was about $17. I think that store made a killing from unprepared tourists! Ah well. The After Bite was soooooo nice, and made me much more tolerable to be around, I'm sure.

Sleeping in the cabana was fine, although it takes some getting used to. I didn't know it was going to be so cold! In the middle of the night I had to get 2 more blankets. The sound of the ocean is nice to fall asleep to though, and even though I had nightmares that night, I still woke up to a little bit of paradise. :)

The Wedding

Well, today was the big day. The day of the Mexican-Norwegian-British-Canadian wedding that we have all been anticipating. We found out that we would be getting on a bus at 11:00am and the bus wouldn't be coming back until 1:00am, so this really was going to be an all-day event.

We got up fairly early (we had crashed pretty early from all the travel-itis) and had breakfast at the hotel. Then we got all dolled up (me in an orange dress, no less) and got onto a bus that took us 1.5 hours and outside the Mexico City city limits.

When we arrived at the Ranchero, it was immediately apparent that it was going to be gorgeous. And lush. Apparently it's the oldest Ranchero in the area. It was green and lovely with rock-face walls and a back-in-time kinda feel. We went through corridors to nooks and areas that held flora & fauna everywhere. There were little lizards about, and lovebirds in cages all around the outside.

It was a gorgeous day. It was sunny and unfortunately for me it was quite hot. I managed to almost pass out during the (long-ish, Catholic) ceremony. Heatstroke is always nearby with me. Anyways, after the ceremony, we went to a courtyard where we were treated to some live music and waiters serving drinks and canapes. Yum! Food and drink was exactly what I needed, and it was really quite good.

Then the reception started. Pretty much right away. We were seated pretty close to the stage and our 3 course meal started coming out. We all had menu cards explaining what our choices were for the meal. Oh, except that for the starter, we didn't really get a choice, everyone just got what they got, random as it was. I managed to snag my choice of tomato, cheese, & balsamic salad tower. It was great.

Did I mention that this wedding was British/Mexican/Norwegian/Canadian? The groom is English & Canadian, and the bride is Mexican & Norwegian. This made for some really entertaining traditions. Read on.

The Norwegian cousins and friends at our table explained that one tradition at the wedding reception is for all the men in the room to run up to the bride and kiss her if her groom leaves her at the table. And if the bride leaves her groom alone, all the women rush up to kiss him. There was also the typical clinking of glasses. Muchos kissing!!

Our main courses and desserts came quickly too, and all-in-all, we were done all the eating by 4:30pm. 4:30!! So early. Then came speeches, which were suitable, funny, and in three languages. At one point a very inebriated Mexican relative or friend came up and interrupted the MC's, which lead to laughter of course. They shooed him away pretty effectively.

Dancing started at 5:00pm and lasted the rest of the night. It was obvious that the bride LOVES dancing, but it was hard not to bust a move yourself with the great music that was playing. There were Mexican favourites and Latin songs and the usual top 40. The dance floor was pretty much packed all night.

There were also dancefloor "novelties" as well. Little gimmicks that made things quite interesting, and which appeared every hour or so. First, a mini-wrestling ring was brought out and Mexican wrestling masks were handed out to everyone. You know, like the movie Nacho Libre? Some theatrics ensued and then dancing continued.

The next novelty was a guy that came out on stilts with a mini-soccer goal attached behind his head. Then beach balls that looked like soccer balls were thrown about and everyone tried to score. That was pretty fun. Perhaps that was a nod to the groom since he's a soccer player.

At one point, the bride was given a box full of slippers embroidered with her & the groom's initials, and she threw them up in the air all over the dancefloor, "for the ladies." I didn't get any, but then I was wearing pretty comfortable sandals so it didn't much matter.

The next novelty was wigs of all sorts of colours: red, green, blue, yellow, orange. Everyone passed them around and posed for photos. That was quite comical too.

The last novetly was a man on stilts who came out on the dancefloor, passed out hats (kinda looked like a Mexican cowboy hat) and gave out shots to everyone - in cups and sometimes straight from the bottle. That one was popular!

Eventually some typical traditions came out, sortof. At one point late in the evening all the girls were gathered together, linked hands and ran around the room - first slowly and then faster and faster. We ended up in a line in front of the bride & groom, who were waiting on top of chairs. You had to pass between them and have them feed you tequila as you went under. THEN they did the bouquet toss. I guess a little tequila helps your bouquet-catching abilities. Needless to say, I didn't catch it. Nobody was disappointed about that. :)

Next the groom-taking-garter-off-the-bride ceremony. Then all the guys lined up, linked arms and ran about the room. And then yes, they also had to be doused with tequila by the bride & groom. There were a lot of wet shirts.

Sometime before the end of the night, they served a snack which was really tasty - chips and black beans and some kind of green sauce. It was REALLY yummy and well-timed since we had all eaten nothing since 4:30.

The reception finally ended at 12:30am after 7.5 hours of dancing. Whew! What a party! And a wedding like no other!

First Impressions

Well my flight to Mexico was pretty uneventful. I was lucky enough to sit near the back of the plane and thus get a whole row to myself, which was nice. I tried to sleep, but no luck there. I am glad that at the last minute I grabbed a fleece to wear on the plane, because it was cold!

When we landed in Mexico City, we got off the plane and onto a bus - I was the last one to squeeze on before we took off towards the terminal. After arriving at the terminal, they made us wait outside for a while, which I thought was rather strange - but hey, at least it was nice and warm.

Of course as luck would have it, I get pulled aside immediately after entering the terminal and all my luggage is swabbed down - presumably for drugs. What, now I look like a drug dealer? :)

Once I found Immigration (just followed the crowd, really) it was a huge line. While you are waiting in line these guys came around and made sure that you filled out your "Welcome to Mexico" card properly. I hadn't. Had to find a pen (I left my 4 dollar pen on the plane, argh!) and sign the back of the card in a not-very-conspicuous space. Anyways, then I went through Customs and all was fine.

As soon as I got out of Customs my phone rang and I was talking to Ted for the first time in weeks. The part of the trip I was most worried about was finding a taxi at the airport and getting to the hotel, but turns out it was totally organized & safe. There are these kiosks called "authorized taxis" and apparently they are the only taxi companies that are allowed to work at the airport. You pre-pay, you get a receipt, you get the taxicab #, and off you go.

During the taxi ride we were stopped at a red light and these 2 shady looking guys came out and suddenly started a drumming/fire performance act. I guess they do this at lights for extra cash. My taxi driver paid them a few coins. Beats the squeegie punks!!

Ted called me again while I was in the cab and asked if I wanted him to get some food, which I gratefully accepted since I was starving!! I got to the hotel ahead of him, but soon after he arrived with Burger King. :) So great to see him after so long. Soon after that it was bedtime though, and tomorrow was bound to be a very long day!

Africa

This video was sent to me by my Mom. I love watching it, and seeing how a collective of people come together and make something so beautiful. No kidding - I actually get a little choked up. I think it's fantastic. Do you?

Stephen Brunt Video Essay - Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics