Isla Aguada to Uxmal 14 November

Though yesterday was simply a travel day, we did enjoy our evening stop. Today we actually had a destination in mind; a couple of ruins to see.




We were on the road at 9:30, driving along the narrow spit, water on both sides, very flat but still scenic and we were able to make good time.






We soon realised though that we were in insect country as we began another bug collection on the windshield. Eventually we had to pull off the road so Art could do a bit of "de-bugging". Here are the Before, During and After pics.





Watching carefully for our turn off the highway, wary of missing it, we managed to turn too soon and found ourselves on a very narrow local road. There was no way we were going to carry on so there was nothing else but disconnecting the jeep, turning both vehicles around and reconnecting. Back on the highway, in less than a kilometer, we found the correct road, well signed for the Edzná Ruins.






The parking area was completely shaded yet breezy so we took the opportunity to have a bit of lunch before proceeding to the entrance. These are early Maya Ruins, some restoration has been done but much has be left as found.





Returning to the rig we took the dogs out for a nature break then hit the road again for Uxmal, another Maya ruin, perhaps a bit better known, where we planned to stay the night.







We noticed in several villages along the way many houses built with the same rounded corners as found in the Edzná ruins.





Pigs and chickens, cows, sheep, donkeys and horses were frequent road hazards. For some reason, in one town the dogs were safely on the sidewalk--must be siesta time!







Driving through this town we caught up to these very long slow moving heavily laden double semi trailers. Then there was a large piece of coming the other way, fortunately the street was quite wide where we met. This was going to slow us down a bit!





As we left town behind the road straightened out a bit and eventually there was enough room to pass the nearest, then the second. Several miles later the first truck pulled off the road and we were rolling along a nice smooth and straight highway.

No wrong turns this time, a pleasant drive on reasonable road, 2 1/2 hours after leaving Edzná we arrived at Uxmal.




There is a very nice hotel and restaurant right next to the ruins. We were allowed to park in a large grassy field for a fee. . . 131 pesos for the night about 10 dollars.



The hotel is very tastefully done. The restaurant open at the front and sides, the hotel is only 2 floors story, more like a high end motel set tastefully in the grounds. Don't know if the carriage out side is a reproduction or restored, we guess the former as it was in very nice condition.





We quite enjoyed the musicians, both the mariachis and the marimba players but Art thought they needed more practice as they seemed a little rusty.




We had arrived in lots of time to take in the evening lighted show in the ruins. Art was quite annoyed to find when we got in that there was no easy access to the seating for the show--it involved climbing three steep flights of stone stairs so he returned to the motorhome. No luck in getting a refund on the way out though at least our tickets were good for a half price entry for the next day.


Next morning we had breakfast in the restaurant then spent an hour or so walking the ruins. Here are a few photos we took during our stroll, the Uxmal hyperlink above has lots of better ones.


Back to the motorhome where Gillian took the dogs out for a stroll while Art connected the jeep and got us ready to roll for the short drive north to Mérida, in the state of Yucatan.