Mexico trip - details

So we left in a snowstorm - Friday, Feb. 1st - and returned just after a snowstorm - Saturday, Feb. 10th at 2:30 am. The fun was in between. This could get really long as we had 4 cameras (Penny still uses film [we're working on that], I had my point & shoot and Dana's D70s, and I bought a single use underwater camera for snorkling). Mucho pictures! The "culled" version in the already-assembled album is about 55 prints. No, you do not want to see all those.

The Friday snowstorm was a big problem for many leaving Toronto (big smoke, TO, T., CotU). We got lucky. Our plane spent Thursday night in the hanger and we loaded on time. The de-icing and lines of plane traffic made us an hour late at take-off, so we arrived at the resort rather late; around 10:30 pm. Long day and we didn't get the best first views. But lovely nontheless. The Bahia Principe Coba has a grand enterance at any time of day, and the people we wonderful.

The Bahia is a large resort with 3 big sections. Each section is as big as most large resorts. Our section was Coba. Tulum and Akumal are the other two - all named for Mayan Riviera towns nearby. The resort is about 50 km south of Playa del Carman, fully two hours south of Cancun and not very far north of Tulum.

The week consisted of hanging around the beach, or the pools, eating at the many buffet and a la carte restaurants (and snack bars at the beaches and pools), walking around the resort, bicycling around the resort, visiting the nite life/shopping area (in the resort), and taking a couple of tours. The tours were to a Mayan ruin at Coba, and to an aquatic park just south of the resort called Xel-Ha (shell ha). Oh, yeah, the package was all-inclusive with a few bonus extras, so the bar was open any time day or night. And almost any of the resort facilities could be used - any dining room, snorkelling gear, bicycles, any pool. The spa was an extra charge, as was the guided snorkelling on the resort reef area.

We loved the resort and would go back in a flash. Others might have problems with the large size, walking distances (optional, there were many shuttles at all hours), and the beach. The beach has coarse coral sand and there is mucho coral rock in the swimming area. Not really a problem, but real beach fanatics might not agree.

The previous post gave a quick sniff of the resort, so I will focus on the tours. First Coba.

The Mayan ruins at Coba were found only a few years ago. They appear to be more extensive than others (Chichen Itza, Tulum) as the area has several villages within an area surrounded by several lakes. There is also a paved road of about 100 km leading toward Chichen Itza. all this was built between 500 and 900 AD or so. Our tour was a day long outing to the ruins, lunch in the town of Coba, and a visit to a current Mayan village. I think you need pictures.

These are of the ball court. Seems the Mayans had silly stadia like us.

Penny sees and climbs the pyramid. The steps are worn and uneven. Going up is a long climb but quite easy. Coming down is a whole 'nuther thing.

Looking out from the top there is another pyramid visible. Hardly any work has been done on that one, and there are many mounds and probable sites between. Then there is looking down from the top, and Penny at the top. Penny has some lovely shots of me sweating my way down (which I am not sharing).

These are at the Mayan village. The people were amazing, cheerful and welcoming, and the embroidery on the dresses was awesome. But don't ask about the electrical circuits. The open socket within easy reach of the open shower stall might curl your hair.

This is a very long post. Xel-Ha awaits another day. There are scads more pictures if anyone wants. And much more about the Mayans.

So, whoever reads this, be my Valentine.