Touring Yucatan and Quanta Roo
Trip Start
Mar 01, 2006
1
67
159
Trip End
Jan 25, 2006
Where I stayed
Tulum, Chichen Itza (Chicken Pizza), Merida and Progreso., Mexico
Sunday, June 4, 2006
Cruising first down the coast, south from Playa del Carmen to Tulum to see the Mayan ruins. And fantastic beach which we had all to ourselves. As we left at around 10am the tour buses started to pour in and yet again we were congratulating ourselves on our impeccable timing! (Slap on the back, bloomin good show old bean and all that.. what what what!)
Road to Chichen Itza (aptly named Chicken Pizza by a couple of old dears we had met in Cancun) was a bit dodgy but I have to say that the Jeep and Dani's superb road skills (DOH.... now it's in writing I can never go back!) got us there in one piece having passed some beautiful and very traditional Mexican villages.
Chichen Itza had been billed by other travellers as a bit touristy, and we could say this would have been true, but on the day we arrived it wasn't as busy as expected and we actually savoured the full majestic impressivenous (is that even a word?.. sounds good so I'll leave it in!) of the main pyramid without thousands of cattle (sorry.. other people) milling around to spoil our view.
A couple of hours later and a bit ruined out we left for Merida.
After driving around for a bit looking for accommodation we settled on a hotel called 'Hotel Trinidad Galeria' which looked like a bit of a dump from the outside but once inside you were transported into a mad reception area with statues, artwork, fountains, grandness, plants galore etc.. etc.. and once on a tour of the place you entered a labyrinth of corridors all decked out with cool bits of art or old pieces of.. well.. stuff! It really was one of the coolest places I've stayed in and at a very low price.
We arrived on a Sunday, which to our delight, we were informed was festival day! Woo hoo... jackpot again!
All the restaurants put their chairs and tables outside and loads of live bands performed whilst everyone had a good ole time dancing etc.. After a romantic dinner in a choice venue we hit the festival and had a gay old time.. (he he, just trying out a different style... hands up who likes it??)
The next morning we left for Progreso, a beautiful beach on the Mexican Gulf, before taking the scenic route back to Playa....
