April 24, 2007
Olla to our friends, family, fellow students, and malo staff from Tulum, Mexico. Our group of twelve left Vancouver yesterday, arriving in Cancun, Mexico that evening around 4:30p.m. Overall it was an uneventful first day that saw us all taking a referesing dip in the pool immediately after arriving. After that we found a great local place to eat and watched a gorgeous sunset go down over the bay.
First thing the next morning we were up to eat a quick breakfast of fruit eggs, granola, yogurt and hot sauce. Druing breakfast, our very charming host tried to fool Melody into going to his "casa", but her Spainish was up to the task and she declined with a smile. We were picked up shortly after that by three cabs that took us on a mad dash to the bus depot. The bus ride to Tulum was about two hours and took us past many resorts located on the ocean side of the highway. It was interesting that there was almost nothing on the other side of the highway except a few very old businesses, ramshackle homes and large tracts of undeveloped land. There was, however on this 'other' side a particularly beautiful little chapel with beaugainvilla's (sp?) cascading over oneside of the building.
Once we arrived we arrived in Tulum we went to the Weary Traveler Inn where we spent the night. It is a reasonably nice place, but not for the faint of heart or those requiring finer things such as bell hops or clean bathrooms. It's all good though and we were assigned to several rooms with three sets of bnk beds in each. I got the top bunk, which is good - I think. Some downtime allowed us to get some lunch and check out the sights and sounds of this little Mexican town. Lots of fun and we wandered the streets in out shorts and sandals looking for that perfect gift for that special somone back home.
By 1:30p.m. were ready to catch the bus to the Tulum ruins. Kim and Roslyn were our tour guides and they gave us some background on the history and culture of this wonderful place. Many of the ruins are still substanial in appearance and it is easy to get some idea of what it may have looked like so long ao. My favourite was the "Temple of the Wind". I think it is a beauiful name and when you stand on the cliffs nearby the wind carries the spray of the ocean to your face.
I particularly enjoyed our time on the beach which is just below the ruins and cliffs. The sand is soft and white and squishes up between your toes. People are laughing and giggling children run up to the waves and run back to the safety of the shore as quickely as they can. I have never swam in the warm Caribbean ocean before, I waited before going in just to take in the moment and appreciate the experience. The water is warm and the waves crash against you and pull you back at the same time. Several of us swam way out to where the water was more clear and floated on our backs. I didnt want to get out and played in the water as long as I could. Alas, we hand to leave and had to walk a fair distance to catch the "free bus" back to town. Of course there is a reason it is free - because it's crowded and hot and just when you think they couldn't possibly fit another body on, five more show up. So our trip back toTulum was an adventure all its own. It was a wondeful first day and we are all smiling and having fun. Back in town we shower, change and go for more shopping, eating, and exploring. Soon we will be off to bed with our "strange bed fellows" and up bright and early for another bus ride. I can't wait to see what we will be up to tomorrow and where we will end up......
Kelly Whitney-Squire
