cenotes

my 1st cenote was CENOTE AZUL near the Belize border

A cenote is a natural pit, or sinkhole resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater underneath. Especially associated with the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, cenotes were sometimes used by the ancient Maya for sacrificial offerings.

quite large and plenty refreshing

#2 was the Grand Cenote that had a bat cave in part of it

follow the buoys into the darkness

my first blue water was on the beach at Marahaul

there is a lovely lighthouse there

Otto made me a relleno stuffed with veggies/ the 1st exotic meal of the trip

#3 Cenote Chihuan near Chichen Itza was completely underground

had to walk down a staircase and there it was / had it all to myself

more ruins

I admit, by this point I was overdoing it with ruins. Chichanna

at Becan they had ropes to help scale the pyramids

more spectacular aerial views from the tip top of Becan

the three towers at Uxpjil

this was the last time I saw Chute before he dipped to Belize

saw howler monkeys on the walk into Kohunlich

part of the ruins at Kohulich

trees will grow most anywhere in this climate

At this point in the game I was near the border of Belize, but still wanted to see Tulum and Chichen Itza to the North. So I went North.

ruins & falls

slept outside of the ruins of Pomona

the ruins of Pomona have no cover charge

the ruins at Reforma are free as well. imagine me on the apex lying down, eyes closed

now imagine me opening my eyes to see a buzzard circling me

he landed on this outcropping, musta been bummed I wasn't dead

down the road the Reforma Falls were at flood stage

kids from all over the country were repping the virgin Mary

I felt like Indiana Jones in search of Salto Grande / shit got sketchy

but I found it and it was less than GRANDE in my estimation

the ruins at Balamku were the 1st really tall pyramids that I could climb

I first met Chute from Holland while at Agua Azul & kept passing him

I altered my course to visit Calakmul & it was worth it

saw spider monkeys living life in the trees

and had 360 degree views over the jungle canopy from the major pyramids

palenque

Palenque was the 2nd ruin I visited... well manicured

astrological observatory

chatted up some Aussies way up here

I forget the names of all the buildings.....

I dig the perspective on this one

hiked out into the hills and took a swim here

saltos

salto de eyipantla

my first fresh local coconut of the trip

the Chiapas countryside

agau azul

was impressive

Dutch from Predator went over the falls to the right

there were swimming holes throughout

woke up to a flat tire

but Rockwell the Band helped me change it and HK performed for them

I was in Zapatista territory

I was expecting soldiers @ the road blocks, but it was all kids

salto de milso ha - another location from Predator

you could walk behind the falls and it was so sketchy