Tuesday, after finishing CELTA up on monday, I went with Tom and Claire, fellow student teachers, down to Tulum. On the way we stopped at Cenotes Azul.
Cenotes are natural pools of various forms. Some are in caves and extend far underground. Others are open pools. This area of Mexico has a lot of different Cenotes.
The place we went to had 2 different ones. The first was cave-like with a stone ledge roof and was deep enough to swimm in. It was odd because the water was cold at the surface, but in the back you could dive down deeper and there, under the water, it was warmer.
The second pool was larger and primarily open topped, but with passages dissappearing into caves on the fringes of the pool. It was very beautiful and deep enough to dive into. Maybe 40 yards in diameter. The water was very clear and with the sun shining the water shone of various shades of green and blue. Very beautful.
We had both Cenotes almost completely to ourselves.
Next up we continued down the road to Tulum by catching a passing collectivo van. We went to the Mayan Ruins which are located right on the ocean front. The ruins themselves were nice, but smaller than those at Chitzen Itza or Tikal. The seaside local is what this place has to offer.
Just down from the ruins is a long stretch of very nice beach. Claire, who has traveled the world extensively, says it is the most beautiful beach she has seen.
Seperating the ruins beach from the rest of beach is some rock cliff hills jutting into the water. At first Claire and I looked at it and decided we should walk back around through the ruins as the water looked to deep to go around the rocks. Tom challenged us to do it... and so we decided to.
We all put our bags on our shoulders or heads and set off. The first 100 ft was ok, sandy and only like waist deep. Then it started getting deeper. It got to be like chest deep on me and we were all getting a bit nervous. Then we hit some rocky areas. Sharp ex-lava rocky areas. I had sandals on, but Tom and Claire didn't. I looked back just in time to see Clair fall into the water and Tom catch her bag saving it from the drink. We struggled on a step at a time never sure if the next steps wouldn't bring waters too profound for passage.... in the end we perservered and emerged victorous on the pristine beaches of the far side. Beers and guacamole awaited us at a seaside bar.