Chichen Itzá 17 November

This morning we were rolling by 9:30, guessing a few hours to the town of Piste, just off the toll road the runs to Cancun. Here we hoped the RV Park was still operating as we did want to have a wander around the famous Chichen Itzá ruins. Gillian had seen them with her brother years before when we had flown to Playa del Carmen but Art had stayed in the room sick.

The trip was uneventful thankfully and we found the Stardust Motel and parked in front on the street while Gillian went in search of staff and information. She was told that she had to inquire next door as the hotel didn't own the RV Park any more. She didn't have much luck but within a few moments a man appeared asking if we were looking for the Trailer Park.

He already had the chain off the gate and waved us in to a large grassy and mostly shaded field. Art got out to check the sites and to decide on the best one. The caretaker told us that the sites along one wall had no electric connections. In fact all the site were fitted with 120 Volt 15 Amp outlets but they had all been wired for 220 Volts! 220 was painted on all the pedestals as a warning!

It was suggested that Art park the rig in front of the washrooms where there was a 120 Volt connection available. This site also had the most shade! The voltage problem turned out to be a moot point anyway since the 120 had no ground connection and the rig won't accept that!

However we got parked, leveled, awning slides out and had a bite of lunch, then off to the riuns. We opened the convertible roof on the jeep and also changed the plastic windows for the open mesh ones to keep the dogs cool

On arrival we were surprised to find a shady parking space and after a short chat with some American tourists, one of whom loved Gillian's jeep, we left the dogs behind and entered the ruins.

We paid our entry fee, which we thought quite reasonable, then further in we discovered that we had to pay another fee to enter the ruins themselves!




Several times during the afternoon we felt raindrops, apparently from a clear blue sky. Note the raindrops on the camera lense. There were a few small dark clouds quite a distance away, the rain must have been blown sideways by a pretty good breeze. We should have noted that.




We enjoyed wandering around, reading bits of the history and society and taking photos. Throughout the grounds were locals selling everything from imported cheap junk souvenirs to beautiful locally handmade crafts.


A few hours later we had had enough, almost "ruined out" so we returned to the Trailer Park. Gillian took the dogs out for a bit of exercise, throwing the ball for Trekker since park was almost completely enclosed she felt is safe enough to let him run a bit off leash.

Later as we relaxed inside, the dogs out on the grass on their lines, Gillian hear a noise and said "is that rain?" and before Art could reply we both agreed that yes indeed it was rain, which in an instant became a downpour accompanied by strong gusty winds. Fortunately the trees and surrounding walls protected us from the worst of the wind. Suddenly we both realised that the roof on the jeep was open, so dashed out to close it and and the roll up the windows. There was no way that we were going to stay out in that deluge in order to put the plastic rear windows back in, we'd just have to hope we could dry it out soon!





Once the roof was closed Art partially retracted the awning to reduce the risk of wind damage. The water running off the awning in the photo was not just a one time dumping of collected rain, this went on for some time!




A short time later the wind gusts were gone, the rain was gone and the sun came out. There was still a breeze blowing so we opened all the doors of the jeep to help dry things out, and put the plastic windows back in ready for towing in the morning.

Mérida 15-16 November

We left Uxmal at 10:30 and turned north. An easy drive, not much traffic in the towns along the way except the ever-present Coca Cola trucks and the small three wheeled motorcycle taxis.







Before long we crossed the state border into Yucatan. and very quickly were following the periferico (ringroad) around the city.





Carefully watching the Guia Roji, Churchs' directions and the GPS we were sure we would have no trouble finding the centrally located RV Park. At the last minute we realised that the intersection we had been so carefully watching for was now an overpass and we had just missed the exit we needed! We took the exit for the north coast; we're now on the right road but going in the wrong direction! A kilometer or perhaps less we found a retorno (legal U-turn) and backtracked. As we passed under the perifrico, the exit we should have taken now joining this street on our right we were back where we should have been.

Churchs' book noted that if the new entrance from the Liverpool mall was complete, access would be easy from there. As we waited for the traffic light at that intersection we noticed a small wooden sign with an arrow pointing to a narrow gate on our immediate right. The light changed, traffic began to move and so we turned right, alongside the Liverpool.

The new entrance hadn't even been started! Now we were alongside a shopping centre on the wrong side of the traffic light. As usual in Mexico, and in many big cities, returning the few hundred meters wasn't quite that simple; We did manage to turn around without disconnecting the jeep, a bonus, but were again north bound on the divided street looking for the same retorno we had just used!

This time around we made the right angle turn and crawled slowly along the track into the RV Park. In spite of all, we arrived at the Rainbow RV Park in Mérida at noon. At least we supposed it was the Rainbow RV Park. There were no signs saying so, but it was in the right place.

There was one other rig here, a small trailer and van with Ontario Plates that we thought we recognised from Saltillo, our first stop in Mexico this trip.

We quickly had the jeep disconnected, the motor home parked and leveled, slides out power, water and sewer connected, the Satellite dish up and dogs walked--it was time for lunch!

We had planned to spend two nights here as there was a possibility of internet (which we could never get to work) and Merida was reportedly a beautiful city. The rest of the day we lazed around, visited with William and Robert who were of course the people we had met in Saltillo some weeks before and Art went shopping for water and a few groceries, a trip that almost deserves a post on its own:


The Chedraui, the store he set off for, he didn't find, noticing the sign as he drove by it, but spotted another supermarket just across the street, so of course took the next retorno. Except this led him into a lane with a barrier not allowing him into the right lane until he had passed the one open entrance. There was another further along but it was blocked off due to construction!

Deciding that perhaps there was a side entrance he turned right at the end of the block. No such luck. Well, nothing for it but to turn right again and go around the block. He was soon in a residential area with very narrow streets and tight 90 degree corners. However he eventually made the required third right turn, in spite of the many one way streets and eventually found himself in the far right lane approaching the shopping centre. Being careful not to turn into the drive out lane of a fast food place, he took the next right and found himself alongside the mall parking lot with a high curb between them! Not to worry, ahead he notice cars exiting the lot onto the street ahead so he carried on. To find it an Exit Only! Fortunately, this was a two way street and he was able to make a U-turn utilizing a couple of small driveways and back on the main street, found the mall entrance.

By time he was done and north bound again for the RV Park traffic had built up and the sun was beginning to set. Good thing he had had a couple of practice runs at the returno north of the periferico because that is were he was going again, arriving back at the motorhome just as darkness fell.

Next morning we put the dogs in the jeep and went into Centro. William had given us a good tip for finding the centre of town using the Garmin Mexico map on the GPS: Just select CITY (in this case Mérida) as the destination and press GO. It takes you right to the Zocalo (Town Square) usually in the centre of tow, near the Cathedral, frequently a market, just where we wanted to to be.

And it worked perfectly, though the route seemed to be round about, it was seemingly the best way in. Finding a parking space was difficult, and spent some time driving around in circles (well squares or rectangles to be accurate) but eventually we found a space in a private lot where we arranged to have the car washed as well.





First on the agenda; we found a restaurant opposite the Zocalo and settled in for lunch. Trekker was quite interested in Gillian's. The dogs as usual got a lot of attention. A couple of Japanese girls working in the city to learn Spanish stopped to admire the dogs, we found it amusing to chat with them in Spanish!






After a great meal we spent some more time wandering around on foot with the dogs, taking a few photos and just being tourists.








A couple of places made us feel right at home!







The GPS took us back to the motorhome in almost a straight line! We realised that traffic congestion had mandated one way streets, and finding streets wide enough had determined the in bound route. Along the way we stopped at the Chedraui for something that had been forgotten on yesterday's trip and arrived home once again via the by now well known retorno and again at dusk.


Tomorrow a short drive to the small town of Piste, near the famous Chichen Itzá ruins.

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.

13 November Villahermosa to Isla Aguada

9:15 we departed the RV Park, a quick stop a few minutes later for fuel and we continued on south and east. Another two hours and we crossed into the state of Campeche--a new state for us! Here we were subject to an inspection--pork and chicken are not permitted to cross into the Yucatan. The area is clear of various swine and poultry diseases and the are trying to keep it that way.

We were taking the scenic coast road, part of it along a sandy spit and narrow islands joined by a couple of toll bridges. Many of the villages here were just a foot or two above the high tide level. Easy to visualise hurricane devastation.







Along this route we came across several anachronistic vistas such as this one. Concrete/brick house, three satellite dishes!






This turned out to be a short and easy driving day, arriving at the RV park just before 2:00PM.

A beautiful and scenic location, we enjoyed the afternoon, though there was no way we would be able to tune in the Starchoice satellite signal!

In the bar we chatted with a man from Brazil who was visiting with his wife and toddler; this is a kid who has a real head start in languages: Father is Brazilian (Portugese) mother is Mexican (Spanish) mother-in-law is Chinese (Mandarin) and both parents speak English. The little one is being raised with all four languages!

We also enjoyed an excellent meal here.

Later a family from Germany arrived. We met them in the morning and had a good chat. Their oldest son was quite interested in the hook-up procedure and was very quick in understanding what was involved.

Their RV was something to behold: the pic tells it all except that it was also a 4WD! Note that they sleep in tents on the roof!

They have traveled the Americas from Honduras to Alaska.