Yucatan

Although currently I'm based in the state of Quintana Roo, yesterday I took a day trip to the state of Yucatan to see some of the amazing things recommended to me by my brilliant Year 9 students. A big plus about this day as oppoaed to previous cultural days out this trip was that this time I was lucky enough to be accompanied by my husband!

An unusual start to the day was that Yucatan state is in a different timezone to Quintana Roo so after 30min in the coach the time went back an hour!

First stop was at a Maya cooperative where we learnt about ancient cleansing rituals using obsidian and plants. We then tried some delicious traditional Maya cuisine, including the local delicacy called Cochinita Pibil - a type of slow cooked pulled pork. The photo I took didn't do it justice so here is a photo from the internet.

Then we went to the mighty and wonderful Chichen-Itza. In equal status to Tikal on Guatemala and the Palenque ruins, this archaeological site was a hugely important ciry for the Maya people and then later the Maya-Toltec people. The Toltecs in particular were very much into human sacrifice, they believed that when the sun set every day, it died, and they had to offer a sacrifice to ensure its reincarnation the next day. The Pyramid of Kulkulcan was breathtaking and in 2007 became a Wonder of the World. On the spring equinox an unusual phenomenon happens where the sun creeps down the pyramid like a snake in a mathematical manner. It also has an acoustic phenomenon where if you clap, the echo comes back in the sound of the quetzal, a sacred bird that looks like a flying snake with feathers.

Our next stop was an absolutely brilliant life experience. We went swimming in a cenote. The Maya people believed that these were the openings to the underworld - they are underground sinkholes full of freshwater in which you can swim.

My husband can't swim but made a mammoth effort to come into the water conquered all of his fears to enjoy this brilliant experience with me.

Ever the adrenaline junkie I absolutely had to jump in!

We then visited the colonial town of Valladolid and made our way back to Tulum for some pre-birthday drinks.