You must understand that the Pirate King and I are very much into history. When we did our first Western Caribbean cruise, six years ago, we knew we'd have to do an excursion to Mayan ruins. We looked into several excursion in the Yucatan, but wound up doing a beach day at Isla Pasion (loved the Twister!) and visiting ruins at Altun Ha in Belize instead. Labadee was supposed to be our beach day this trip (laugh out loud time), so we planned to visit Mayan ruins in Mexico. We considered Tulum, but opted for Chichen Itza.
When the ship arrived at Cozumel, we could see that we were not alone -- the Carnival Dream and Liberty of the Seas were with us. After a quick breakfast in Windjammer, we headed to the theater to meet our excursion group.
Musical Cue: The theme from "Raiders of the Lost Ark"
Be forewarned, the excursion to Chichen Itza is not undertaken lightly. You will be the first off the ship at Cozumel, and the last to arrive. Your tour will be very, very structured. You will spend most of your day in transit, you will eat your snack and lunch while traveling, and you will not have time to shop. Not in Cozumel, not in Playa del Carmen, not even at the site itself. The trip is worth it to some, but not to all.
The theater was the meeting point for all excursions to the mainland, all excursions that required a ferry ride. We were given numbered stickers to wear on our shirts to identify which excursion we were on. We were given an opportunity to buy bottled water and to take seasickness pills. And let me be clear: if you have even the slightest tendency towards motion sickness, take the pill!
When our number was called, we were led to the gangway, to the pier, and through the port area to the ferry. We found seats quickly, and got comfortable. The ferry crew handed out plastic seasickness bags to all of the passengers.
I will say it again: if you have any tendency to motion sickness, take the pill.
The ferry got underway, and the water was very, very choppy. Perhaps more so than usual, given the bad weather in the Caribbean that week. Neither the Pirate King nor I was affected by the motion -- despite the fact that we didn't take the pill -- but we pretty much knew we could handle the ferry. Alas, we were in the minority. there were at least 8 people who should have heeded my advice: take the pill!
I would have loved to spend some time in Playa del Carmen, it seemed like a lovely town, but no sooner did we get off the ferry than we were hustled to the spot to meet our tour guide. I did get a chance to take a picture before we boarded the bus:
We were each handed a paper bag as we boarded the bus. The bag contained a corn muffin, a banana, a bag of chips and a juice box.
(Yes, I took a picture.)
We happily snacked while our tour guide, Qualtemo, gave us a lesson in Mayan culture. Temo's lecture was humorous and entertaining and very detailed.
Once we got to the site, Temo became "all business". Each of us was handed a radio and headset, so that we could hear Temo wherever we were at the site. Yes, even in the restrooms (and ladies, you might want to bring some Charmin or Contonelle with you on this excursion!) Temo kept talking from the moment we entered the site until the moment we re-boarded the bus, explaining all that we were seeing. El Castillo. The Temple of Warriors. The Great Ball Court. The intricate detailing, the carvings.
It is a truly magnificent site.
Although we didn't have time to shop, somehow the Pirate King managed to purchase a model of El Castillo, which has now joined the souvenirs from Altun Ha on his mantle.
Back on the bus, we were given an authentic Mexican lunch -- a hm and cheese sandwich and a can of "real" Coke, made with sugar cane and not corn syrup:
Temo suggested we each take a siesta on the long ride back to Playa Del Carmen.
Musical Cue: Supertramp, "It's Raining Again"
Although it was sunny at the site, by the time we got back to Playa del Carmen, the weather had changed. Temo walked us back to the ferry, and handed each of us a ticket as we boarded. The ferry ride back to Cozemel was worse than the trip earlier in the day, with high winds making the seas even choppier. But no, still not seasick. Others weren't as lucky.
Dinner that night was in Chops Grille. I think this may have been the best meal we ate aboard ship -- he ordered the scallops appetizer, the onion soup and a steak. I had the crab cake and a veal chop. And the most decadent dessert.
There was no entertainment in the theater that night. Instead, the skaters performed in the ice rink. We opted out.
From our balcony we could see the lights of the Mexican coast. And a single star.
1 comment:
On a shore excursion to either Chichen Itza or Tulum, our tour bus passed a woman walking alongside the two-lane asphalt highway in the middle of nowhere. Carrying a huge bundle of sticks on her back for her family's cooking fire. With her hair in braided pigtails and wearing the white peasant blouse and long black skirt. Just like in the geography books.
At Tulum, one of the Mayan structures was roped off. Vandals had spray painted graffiti. On one of of the few "interior" surfaces protected from the elements that retained its ancient color.
The toilets. There were facilities on the buses. I did not learn until a Mexican whale watching and beach excursion 1) furnish your own toilet paper and 2) do not flush toilet paper. Discard in trash can. Or potentially clog the whole community's septic system.
Which is why I always carry a "travel-size" packet of Kleenex and hand sanitizer.
There was one woman on the tour who made a big production of using the hand sanitizer.
Hmmm. I cannot think of a single reason the indigenous people might find that offensive.
Also very surprising in Cozumel was the number of old school Volkswagen Beetles which had been converted to spyders ("permanent convertibles"). Ranging from really cool to Whoa!
Check it out. My Captcha to determine if I am human or robot was buses. Tour buses.
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