Marek The rental car is small, comfortable with air conditioning and has already won the first parking ticket on the ban. And where were we supposed to leave the car, so that we wouldn’t have to look for it all over the city? The fine is payable within 2 weeks. Then we will be far away from Yucatan, and the police will probably not chase us. The roads in Yucatán are in great condition. But if you think you can get up to speed, you’re wrong. Anyway, rental cars are not racing cars. Every few kilometers we pass the topes. Speed bumps. Similar to what you can see in Poland, that’s it. that much higher. Their appearance (transverse, deep scratches) shows that every second driver rubs them with the chassis. This is inevitable, as they are most often poorly marked.
Immediately after leaving the city, the police stop us. In fact, it doesn’t have to stop us, because we’re already standing on the side of the road. A cigarette break (they still sell delicious menthol ones here). Terrified, we remember the story of a Polish woman at the airport. He will certainly plant drugs on us and then demand a bribe for his release from custody.
I’m nervously looking for my driver’s license and car documents. I wonder if I have something illegal. The policeman approaches us with a slow, dignified step. In the mirror I see a martial expression. A large pistol on his belt. The only thing missing is the bandolets hanging from the shoulders and a wide-brimmed hat.
He looks into the car. He looks at us, his face lit up with a smile when he asks if we need help. When we answer that we don’t, he returns to the police car with a look of disappointment on his face. It starts with screeching tires, leaving a cloud of dust behind it.
Surprised by this turn of events, we breathe a sigh of relief. Being in Mexican custody must be a nightmare. We hit the road. We start with the farthest destination, Tulum, a coastal Mayan stronghold. And you know what? As the first place visited in Yucatán (already in the state of Quintana Roo), it is impressive. If, like us, you have come to the whole of pre-Columbian Mexico before, this place is not worth driving all these kilometers. This area of the Yucatan Peninsula is not for travelers.
After driving through tens or maybe hundreds of topes, welcome to Valladolid. This is another place loved by tourists, where you can visit several very famous cenotes. These are water-filled karst wells. Some open, some inside caves. Especially in those located underground, it is worth swimming in crystal clear, cool water. Lunch in the center of Valladolid makes us realize that the dishes that can be eaten in a Mexican restaurant in Poland are not Mexican at all.
We arrive in Chichen Itza. Everyone knows the absolute ‘must see’ of Mexico, the pyramid of Kukulcan. For many years, it has not been possible to climb to its top. It’s a pity. The most impressive is climbing the extremely steep stairs. In the days when the pyramid was not closed, you could see people going down the stairs, sliding down on their buttocks step by step.
If you want to buy souvenirs here, bargain until you drop. Here you can lower any price, anywhere. Well, maybe with the exception of the Oxxo chain of stores.