We wake up early again to eat breakfast and be in the lobby for 8am. Pedro, our guide meets us and brings us back toward our bungalow to the back entrance where the horses are waiting. Pedro doesn’t speak much English but our Spanish is getting better everyday. Ryan is buzzing with excitement because he has never been on a horse before, ever. I’m thinking, we live in AZ; I really should have made a point of trying to get him on one before now. Everyone was wondering why I made them wear long pants and the mosquito shirts, now they understand. Heck, I’m missing my boots cause it doesn’t feel right riding in sneakers.



Pedro leads us through dense jungle for about an hour. Every time we pass a big mound, I point out that they are ruins yet to be excavated. And the path, if you could call the trail that, looked to be a ****, or white road for that time. We go to a little clearing where we dismount. Pedro leads us down a smaller path that leads to a steep drop with a rope. He shows us how to semi-repel down to a ledge. Ryan more or less does a semi-controlled side. Again, I start getting looks like, what have I gotten us into? This is the edge of a huge sinkhole. It was easily a football field across but it was hard to tell because the juggle had reclaimed the edges. Down another steep drop and we’re on another, wider ledge.

Repeling aka falling with a rope in your hands

Ledge with Pedro


There is a section with caves that has stalactites and a small stream. Pedro tells us the water dripping from it is safe to drink, and demonstrates. Before I can say microorganism, the rest of the family tastes it. Oh hell, how sick can you get in a couple of hours?(Don’t answer that. I know. But I have faith in all the Acidophilus we’ve been taking for the last two weeks.) It was some of the best tasting water I’d ever had.
Wider ledge

Looking up from second ledge

Water filtered the old fashion way

Cave and stream that leads underground

We climbed out of the hole and got back on the horses to head back to the hotel. As we go by the large mounds again Pedro confirms what I had said earlier and the kids look mystified. We get to canter a little on the road back, which gets Ryan laughing hysterically, which almost makes him fall off but he’s having such fun he doesn’t even notice.

Horse before ride

Horse after ride

After saying gracias and adios to Pedro and the horses, we head over to Chichen Itza. Ok, we’re sweaty and smell like horses but…we go anyways. Walking around Chichen Itza I have a hard time imagining what the light show would have been like and am glad we went to sleep early. Don’t get me wrong, it was nice, but after seeing the other ruins with no crowds, we were spoiled. By now it was just before 11am and we’d seen enough. We walked back to our bungalow changed and went swimming before packing up.(We showered first to get rid of the Horse smell) By the time we loaded the car and hit the road it was 12:15pm.


What do you mean I smell like a pack animal?

Mayans were really into the phallic symbols

Pile o' peckers (unofficial name)

Relief carving

Sacred cenote no swimming

We got as far as Kunkunul when my little voice started freaking out. I know we are on the right road, no question, so what’s not right? “Kids, you got your ipods??… What do you mean you don’t know!!!” We stop the jeep and check every bag and pocket but no ipods. They must be back in the room. The one time, ONLY TIME, I don’t do a last walk through…. We turn the car around and ride back in very tense silence. As we pull into the parking lot, the sky opens with a huge downpour. The kids and I jump out and head to the front desk where there is a long line waiting. I spy the porter that helped us check out and I explain to him that the kids left some toys in the room. Is there anyway we could go back and check for them? He looks at the line, the drenched, panicky kids, the borderline hysterical mom and goes around the back of the desk and grabs the key to the bungalow. It was still were he had left it almost 2 hours ago. He gets a cart and drives us out. The kids ran in and came out with arm loads of stuff, including both of their ipods, 3 digital cameras and Chris’ PJ's. I’m still not sure how all that stuff got left behind but I was thanking any deity willing to take credit for my little voice.
Village butcher on way to valladolid

Local house

Local woman walking the free road

I was hoping to have a chance to go through Valladolid on this pass through but it wasn’t meant to be; what with the detour back to the hotel we’ll be lucky to get to Casa Texoma before my Dad does. We did have time to stop at the Prison and pick up a couple of hammocks. I have no idea where I’ll put them; the desert isn’t know for its trees or sturdy construction.


We go through Valladolid and head to Cheamex to get gas and experience our first attempted scam.
As we pulled up to the pump, the attendant seemed to move to fast. He almost had the nozzle in the tank before Chris opened his door. No one moves that fast down here, so I look at the readout. It was already on $70 pesos. I speak up in a very loud, firm voice, pointing out that it wasn’t on zero to start off.( THAT’S NOT ON ZERO!! THAT’S NOT ON ZERO!! ) Scared the begeebers out of the kids but 7 buck is 7 bucks. I don’t mind spending dollars on nice rooms or rides through the jungle because I watch where the pennies go. If you’re going to take money from me, you’re going to have to work for it.
As we pass Coba, I note the time because later in the week, we’re planning to do this hike too. We get to Tulum after 4:30 pm so we hit the market to get some supplies for the week. I completely forgot about the no booze after 2pm on Sunday rule. Damn, that turning back is still coming back to get me. By the time we get to Casa Texoma, I’m thinking Dad could be here any minute or an hour from now. I set out to make some dinner as the kids explore the house and beach. The pool was so inviting that I put food off in lieu of a quick dip. When I jump in somehow I mange to flip Ryan head over heals and lead to the Phrase of the Day, ‘Ma, you flipped me like a flapjack!”


Now, it’s getting dark and I’m thinking Dad’s never going to see the turn off for South Akumal in the dark so Chris drives out to the entrance to watch for him. (Did I mention that Dad is in his mid 70’s?) After an hour, I’m getting worried. We used the caretakers phone to try to reach him but no luck. I’m thinking maybe they got delayed, so we drive up to the cyber café in Akumal Pueblo to check. The airports both have the flight leaving and landing on time but the airlines says it was canceled. ****!?! I check my email while Chris tries again to reach them via telephone but gets no answer. At the top of my mail list is an email from Caribbean car rental saying that they noticed the flight was canceled and they’d be at the airport, same time tomorrow to meet them, unless there was a change. The phone rings and the guy transfers it to Chris. Dad and Step Mom have gone to bed and didn’t get to the phone fast enough so she called the number to see who it was. We explain everything to her, along with the car rental guys waiting for them the next day. All set, see you tomorrow. I email Caribbean to thank them profusely and tell them same time next day. Total bill for phone call and 45 mins on-line was around $3.50. Best $3.50 I ever spent.

We get back to the house and while disappointed to find out Grampy Jack isn’t coming tonight, the kids were glad to know everything was OK. On the one hand, we lose a day of doing things together but on the other we get a day to sleep late and hang on the beach. After the last 3 days, a little ‘forced down time’ isn’t such a bad thing.


ps. After looking, the repelling photo didn't show up so here it is again.