Tulum - White sand and an empty wallet

• Thedidgeridude's Profile
• About this blog
• Entry from Tulum

Trip Start Sep 09, 2008 Previous
Entry Trip End Aug 17, 2009 Next
Entry

  Tulum, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Sunday, October 12, 2008

Thanks to all our friends for your kind words. Itīs nice to know you are all thinking of us, as we are thinking of you also and missing the time we all spend together.

A twelve hour overnight coach journey brought us from Palenque to Tulum. We arrived at 5am and scrambled to the beach in time to catch a cloudy but nevertheless gorgeous sunrise. We were both very tired but the sight of crystal clear water lapping over pure white sand lifted our spirits high. We sat there, together, letting the scenery do the talking while we soaked up the morning sun. There is nothing quite like the re-energizing power of the sun, no wonder the Mayans held it in such high regard. A few hours later, after strolling along the coastline, we found a nice cabana on the beach which was to be our home for the next three days.
Tulum, hmmmmmm. We both have mixed feelings about our experience here. We came for the beach, the ruins and the peaceful ambiance. The beach, as I have mentioned was perfect. Our cabana was basic but comfortable and virtually on top of the beach. Tulum itself didnīt live up to expectations in a number of ways. What we thought was the laid back "backpacker" version of Cancun was actually a laid back tourist trap, where the locals view visitors as a source of income and little else. This seemed to be the general view amongst many of the people we met there. For some, it was their first experience of Mexico but I assured them that Tulum wasnīt the Mexican "norm". I donīt want to run down the place but it just wasnīt the cheap alternative to Cancun that we were expecting.
While we were there, Mish and I decided to treat ourselves to a day of Cenote diving and sea fishing. Cenotes are fresh water pools, hidden in the jungle with tunnels that lead out to the sea. Our guide lead us to one close by, where we excitedly plunged in and used a snorkel to look at all the fish swimming around in their own little jungle oasis. It was an amazing place, like a swimming pool in the middle of the jungle. I could see the tunnel that lead out to the sea but I didnīt go too near itīs dark opening for fear of what lurked within. On the sea side, our guide and I dived to the entrance of the cenote, where large fish danced in the mixture of fresh and salt water. The sea took on a strange color as the too mixed together. I could see the opening that lead to the cenote but couldnīt get near due to the pressure of the fresh water spilling out. I would like to dive these holes again one day with a tank, rather than a snorkel.
We set off after wards for the open sea and a spot of fishing. The bait was a small fish with a lure attached just above it's head. The intended catch....anything with nasty, big teeth. Three hours passed with only one near miss and so our skipper headed for storm, informing us that our chances would increase with the rain, and rain it did! The sky turned a very dark shade of grey as did the sea and the shoreline disappeared. The rain came down so hard it started to hurt our skin. When the storm passed, all that was left were four wet humans and boat with no fish. However, undeterred, we ploughed on and within half an hour Mish realled in a small Barracuda to the delight of everyone. With a new found confidence we continued and within twenty minutes or so I had a bite on my line. It was a struggle and admittedly I needed the help of the skipper, but eventually I realled in a Barracuda over one meter long with teeth to match. On the journey back I kept a keen eye on this beast as it thrashed around on the bottom of the boat. I didn't want to lose any toes so early on in our trip! There was an audience waiting for us when we arrived back on shore and everyone was very interested in the beast we had pulled form the sea. It made for very good eating that night, I must add.
Before we left, I had to visit the ruins of Tulum. Nestled on the clifftop, overhanging the tropical waters, these ruins are a most impressive sight. The ruins are modest but you do get a sense of the quality of life the Mayan people who lived here must have enjoyed. Unlike the ruins at Palenque, in the middle of the jungle and miles form any coastal resort, Tulumīs ruins are spoilt somewhat by their proximity to Cancun and itīs hordes of tourists. It was hard to get a picture without another person being in frame.
So, we made best of the time we had in Tulum, even if it wasnīt the place we were expecting it to be. If you want a beach holiday in Mexico, where money isnīt an issue, then this is the place. However, Mexico has much more to offer.
Itīs nearly the end of our time in Mexico. Central America beckons our arrival.

XX

Post your own travel photos for friends and family Pictures

The ruins from our fishing boat	Cenote we dived	Tulum beach	Mishy and the cabana
The locals	The deep sea monster	Entrance to the cenote	Mish's Monster

Slideshow Print this entry Share

Previous Entry Next Entry