A bit of history and a swim....

We arrived on the early flight from Cuba, picked up a car in Cancun and drove out of there as fast as we could! We had no desire to stay in little USA! Our first stop on the Yucatan road trip is Tulum.

Tulum ruins are well worth a visit, not just because of the well preserved Mayan structures, but because after you've had your fill of history, you can head to the beach within the ruins for a swim! Can't say I've ever done that before.

Archaeologists believe the walled city of Tulum was inhabited from as early as AD1200. When a Spanish sailor by the name of Juan de Grijalva sailed past in 1519, he described a city painted in bright blues and reds with a ceremonial flame ablaze atop the seaside watch tower. It is thought that the site was occupied by the elite ruling classes and that the majority of the population lived outside the city walls. The walls are 3-5m thick in some places and surround the city on three sides. The fourth wall of the fortress is formed by the sheer cliffs of the sea.

There are many temples and palaces in the site, all with carvings in the stone walls. It is strange to think that these beautiful structures were once a riot of colour. It is difficult to imagine. As the sun set, the stones took on a honey colour and the contrasting shadows were a photographers dream. Add to that a multitude of iguanas and an azure sea and you have a feast for the eyes! We left the site wet from the sea and with a smile on our faces.

NOTE TO TRAVELLERS: if you hire a car in Mexico, make sure you get overnight parking included at your accommodation! We didn't in Tulum and spent a restless night worrying about it! Tim woke up at 1.30am and looked out the window and our car was the only one on the street... a magnet for strippers... no not girls in next to no clothing.... car strippers who steal your tires, mirrors and other accesories. Luckily we didn't lose anything. Tonight we will be finding parking.... zzzzzz.... sorry, just nodded off there for a second!