Marek Army on the road
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Renting a car was a great idea (not counting the fine and topes on the way, of course). You can drive around Yucatán endlessly, and there are still many places left to visit. We want to see some interesting archaeological zones and move on. Where? We will talk about it tomorrow.
Today we arrived in Campeche. On the way, on the border of both states, we were stopped by the army. The commanding officer, wearing a helmet and bulletproof vest, and carrying a gun, asked for our passports. Agnieszka smiled at him charmingly and answered truthfully:
– we left it in the hotel.
– So where are you going?
– to the Xtacumbilxunan cave (Shtakoombillshunan). And we have absolutely no idea where it is. Why don’t you show us the way? – Agnieszka asks.
The officer approaches his men. They talk quietly about something. Seconds pass, the council continues. Finally, two soldiers show us the right way. One of them shows the direction to the north, the other to the south, towards Campeche. Fortunately, we know very well that in a few kilometers we have to turn west.
The Xtacumbilxunan cave is interesting, but it doesn’t knock you off your feet. The Mexicans living near it are different. A few wonderful Indian families. As part of the entrance fee to the cave, we receive a guide. It is a charming little girl. She plays a double role, the daughter of the usher and the curator of this place. He enters the cave with a confident step in flip-flops on his feet and a large flashlight in his hand. A few moments after entering the cave, I dream of returning, but not wanting to make the child uncomfortable, I grin and photograph everything I can. The girl looks happy, presenting a wide, jagged smile.
Caribbean beach and ruins
If you come to Yucatan, don’t plan to stay too long. Unless you want to spend some time by the sea. In this case, stay away from tourist places and drive north from Merida, to Progreso. It is a small resort where Mexicans spend their free time. If you want to see real life, this is a good place to be. The Caribbean sea is just as beautiful as in Cancun or Playa del Carmen, but the atmosphere is worth experiencing. And that delicious Mexican food…
On the way back, we visit two places. The first of them is Uxmal, with the only known oval pyramid. It’s the House of the Fortune Teller, well, this house is a bit big and it’s not shaped like an iron at all, although that’s what I associate it with. It has been a long time since you can climb to the top of the pyramid. The authorities introduced the ban after several fatal accidents.
However, if you want to see a real gem, go to the ruins of Mayapan.
There are no people here. Tourists, for reasons known only to themselves, give this place a wide berth. If you’re lucky, you might be completely alone here. You can climb to the top of the step pyramid (if you’re not afraid of steep stairs) and watch the jungle around you from above. If you want, you can sit it until the evening, it’s very close to Merida, where you’ll probably go to spend a crazy last night in Yucatán. I wonder if you will like mezcal.
