Cenote Azul and Ek Balam...

Our last full day in Mexico was a dreamy one.  I was feeling kind of sick.  I think it was dehydration and a little disagreement with something I ate.  No fever or anything, just feeling sick and tired.  In the morning, everyone but Lorien and Clare headed out to the cenote closest to our house called Cenote Azul.  It was absolutely stunning!  We went to a different cenote when we were in Tulum that was cool but Cenote Azul was my favorite.  Because I wasn't feeling great I decided not to get into the water.  They are very protective of the cenotes (rightly so).  You have to shower before getting into the water, no sunscreen is allowed, and they are strict with the materials you can take into the water (no flippers).  I figured it was best to not put my possibly infectious body in the water.  I did fully enjoy the views around the cenote!  I've never seen anything like it.

The family members who did get in the water had the best time.  The water was clear and so beautiful!  Wyatt was the first to take a jump off the cliff.

Everyone else soon followed Wyatt's example!

Wyatt jumped off the cliff the most.  Once he did the best straight man falling into the water holding this pose the whole time.  Everyone watching had a good laugh at his show.

It really was the most beautiful place I've seen in a long time.  So lush and tropical!

After the cenote, Will took the younger four kids and drove the two hours out to Ek Balam, another site of ancient ruins.  Lorien and I stayed back at the condo.  She and I wandered around the little town near our condo and had lunch at an Italian restaurant where we could watch some dolphins in the bay.

Meanwhile, Will and the other kids were having the time of their lives climbing ancient ruins in Ek Balam.  I wish I had been feeling well enough to do the long drive and hike around.  It was the experience I was looking for over the one we had a Tulum.  There were hardly any other people there and they got to get up on the ruins (carefully) and explore.  It was a very cool end to our trip for them. 

I had to stay home, drink pedi lite, and pack up the condo.  Thankfully, I had Lorien's pleasant company and the gorgeous views to keep me company.  It was an excellent last day in Mexico for me too.

A needed down day...

After two really full days we all needed some rest.  We decided to spend the next full day at our condo just relaxing and enjoying the ocean right at our door.

Adell, Colter, Will and I snorkeled.  The tide was a little different from the first time we tried snorkeling.  I got very motion sick.  Colter stayed in the more sheltered areas of the bay.  Adell, Will, and I did go out and see some awesome fish.  The water was incredible!  Warm, clear, so much fun to be in...if you weren't sick.

Wyatt led the kids out on a few different adventures to collect sea shells.

For dinner we went into Playa del Carmen again.  We ate at a Thai food restaurant for dinner.  We found a little cart where a guy was crispy dessert crepes.  They were warm and delicious!  It was a well earned day of relaxation in our tropical paradise.  

Turmoil in Tulum

One of the adventures we were looking forward to was visiting some of the Mayan ruins in Mexico.  There are a few in the Cancun area.  Will planned a day out seeing one set of ruins in Tulum where the ancient city is perched right on the coast.  

As we drove into the ruin area (a protected park) people started shouting at us, saying we couldn't drive any further.  The GPS was telling us we could.  Will ignored them and drove on.  I had to close my eyes and ignore everything!  We did stop and pay for parking.  Enterprising individuals tried to sell Will a tour package with admission into the park at 500 pesos...actual admission is only 80 pesos.  Will said no to several sales pitches as we made our way into the entrance of the park.  We parked and walked down the street.  As we passed vendors shouted at us to buy their wares.  A few people had animals (snakes, monkeys, etc) they offered to let you hold and charge you for a photo.  It was overwhelming for me.  

We made our way into the ancient city and paid the more reasonable entrance fee.  

 

It was so cool!  The ruins really were right on a cliff over the bright blue ocean.  There were several buildings.  The area was also really crowded.  There were lots of people milling around.  It was hard to enjoy the buildings in peace and quiet.  Colter was not really into it.  I ended up taking him off separately and we looked for iguanas.  Colter ranked us as we spotted more and more.

We managed to meet back up with the rest of the family for some pictures and a little informational tour from Wyatt.  He was the one most engaged with the tour pamphlet.  He discovered what the city was like in its glory days.  He described commerce and social life for us.  Wyatt also pointed out cool carvings.  One was of the defending God, on the winter solstice the sun shines on the feet of the carving.  

Tulum was cool...but it was also hot and crowded.  We all ran out of patience.  We drove into the town of Tulum to find a restaurant to eat lunch at.  Lorien was feeling the most out of patience and decided to stay in the car while we went out to eat.  

The food was really yummy!  I tried ceviche for the very first time, it was good!  We really enjoyed the chips and salsa too.  We ordered a big platter of fish and vegetable and ate our fill.  We all needed the fuel and time to sit.

On the drive through the town we got into some of the residential neighborhoods.  Will said it reminded him of his mission in the Dominican Republic.  The houses were made of whatever people could gather for materials: cinder blocks, sticks, cans, very random stuff.  We also passed a LDS chapel!  

It was interesting to see some ruins and experience a hyper tourist spot as well as the town the tourism supported.