Thursday: Becan, Xpuhil, Kohunlich, Cenote Azul, Chetumal

Our first stop today is the ruins of Becan.  It was the capital of the city state known as Rio Bec.  There is a moat like structure around it but it never was for water.  One of the characteristic things about the structures here are that the corners are rounded rather than square.  The palaces are big and dense with a bit of a labyrinth of rooms.   Again, the decoration of older structures that had been covered by newer structures are in the best shape.   Now that we are out  of the Puuc region, the sun god is more venerated than the rain god.  Don’t worry, we didn’t climb the steps with the rope.  In my younger days, I was the first one up those steps. 

The next site is Xpuhil which is just a few kilometers down the road.  In fact, if one climbs the highest pyramid in Becan, the main pyramid of Xpuhil is easily seen.  I sit this one out as I need to give my knees a break. 

Since it is too early for lunch now and there really aren’t any places to eat around Kohunlich, we stop in the town of Xpuhil to buy some snacks to eat at the ruins.  We buy a watermelon and some salty, crunchy snacks. 

When we get to Kohunlich, the caretakers invite us to use their kitchen to cut up the watermelon.  That is certainly neater and easier than a stump and there is plenty to share with them.  They share the mangos they have with us.  Kohunlich is close enough to the Caribbean that it is an excursion site for cruise ships.  Luckily, today wasn’t a cruise ship day! 

 We sit out a short rain shower under their thatched roof and then set off to see the ruins.  We immediately notice a big change in the vegetation.  The trees are much bigger, more palms, healthy, huge plants that at home we see for sale as an indoor potted plant.   We are lucky that any time a short shower hits, we are near a thatched shelter. 

The Sun god is the one most focused on at this site as well.  It is represented between the underworld and the sky deities. 

Our last stop of the day is at Cenote Azul which is the biggest and deepest of the cenotes in the Yucatan peninsula.  It has a nice restaurant attatched to it and is a favorite place for Mexican families to spend an afternoon.  It is relatively easy to get into as it at ground level.  The biggest problem was that the steps leading to it were very slippery.  Somehow, we made it both in and out!  The water at this cenote was warmer than at any of the others.  After our swim we  enjoyed more shrimp ceviche, guacamole and shrimp kabobs. 

Only a short drive to our hotel in Chetumal.  After settling in, we ventured out for some ice cream. 

Now time for me to call it a night……