Well, we officially arrived safely back in the Good Ole US of A on Tuesday, the 20th 2007. We crossed the border at Los Indios, Tx without a hitch. Turned in our paperwork and buzzed right through.
We are temporarily at First Colony RV park in San Benito, Tx. Lots of stuff to do, Laundry wash truck and RV make some repairs, do the dreaded Federal Taxes and probably a dozen other things that haven't been done in awhile. So will be busy for awhile.
It is definitely good to be back, not that Mexico was bad, just nice to have good electric, water and so on.
Phones get reactivated today. 3/22/07
Later Guys,Girls
Chuck, Dee Dee and Pancho.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Mon, March 19th
Arrived in La Pesca about 11:00 this mornig our time. What ever that is........We have 3 differant clocks and none of them read the same. I think that the computer and Sat clocks changed to Daylight saving time somewhere and the other is what we go to bed by....I don't think that Mexico knows that there are new rules for daylight savings time...
Anyway we will be crossing to the states in the next day or two. We will enter somewhere between Mc allen and Brownville. We are planing on Los Indios, we will see how it goes.
Headed for Tampico today Sun, 18 Mar 2007.
Arrived in La Pesca about 11:00 this mornig our time. What ever that is........We have 3 differant clocks and none of them read the same. I think that the computer and Sat clocks changed to Daylight saving time somewhere and the other is what we go to bed by....I don't think that Mexico knows that there are new rules for daylight savings time...
Anyway we will be crossing to the states in the next day or two. We will enter somewhere between Mc allen and Brownville. We are planing on Los Indios, we will see how it goes.
Headed for Tampico today Sun, 18 Mar 2007.
Veracruz to Costa Esmeralda.
Veracruz to Costa Esmeralda was another short day and we were set up in the Playa Norte (North Beach) before 1: PM. We will stay 2 days. Some locals came in to camp for the weekend. Saturday more locals came in. All of them camping in tents. Must be some of the more well todo Mexicans. They have nice camping gear, new cars, and lots of beach toys....
After leaving Catemaco, we headed for Veracruz. It was a nice short day and the roads weren't that bad. Found the Campsite.Campamento El Rey which is right on the ocean. The plan was to stay 2 days then head North.
Later in the afternoon a caravan of birders (11) moved in..........Voltage dropped to less than 100 VAC, so we changed plans and left the next morning.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Isle De Aguada to Catemaco.
This the Tepetepan River behind our camp.
Some local fisher persons.
I thought this was quite interesting. I is concrete and it is textured like branches.
Our Casa.
The pool.
And the slide, It's tiled.
Here is a beautiful Church in town.
This one is Laguna de Catemaco. (Lake)
One of the many birds here. This one flips crabs over on there backs and stabs them with his bill, then eats them.
After leaving Uxmal we headed for a small town called Isle De Aguada. It is a very small fishing village located just North of Ciudad Del Carmen. We spent 3 days there and enjoyed it very much. The place we stayed was called Freedom Shores. We met 2 couples that were temporarly traveling together. John and Barb, and Wok and Robin...Get it? Rockin Robin....OK, anyway they were very nice people all of which are full time RVers. Wok and Robin are from Australia.
On Monday 03/12 we hit the road again and planned on getting to Catemaco, and we did. However it ended up being a much longer day than we anticipated. We arrived a little after 6:00 PM. Set up and walked into the village and had a wonderful dinner. Total 76 pesos. We both had Polllo, Dee's was some kind of Pollo Crema, which she said was very good. I had Pollo with a spicy red sauce which was also wonderful. We are staying here.
This the Tepetepan River behind our camp.
Some local fisher persons.
I thought this was quite interesting. I is concrete and it is textured like branches.
Our Casa.
The pool.
And the slide, It's tiled.
Here is a beautiful Church in town.
This one is Laguna de Catemaco. (Lake)
One of the many birds here. This one flips crabs over on there backs and stabs them with his bill, then eats them.
After leaving Uxmal we headed for a small town called Isle De Aguada. It is a very small fishing village located just North of Ciudad Del Carmen. We spent 3 days there and enjoyed it very much. The place we stayed was called Freedom Shores. We met 2 couples that were temporarly traveling together. John and Barb, and Wok and Robin...Get it? Rockin Robin....OK, anyway they were very nice people all of which are full time RVers. Wok and Robin are from Australia.
On Monday 03/12 we hit the road again and planned on getting to Catemaco, and we did. However it ended up being a much longer day than we anticipated. We arrived a little after 6:00 PM. Set up and walked into the village and had a wonderful dinner. Total 76 pesos. We both had Polllo, Dee's was some kind of Pollo Crema, which she said was very good. I had Pollo with a spicy red sauce which was also wonderful. We are staying here.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Kabah and Sayil 03/07/07
We did another archaeological site. It is not as "finished" as some of the other sites, but it was very interesting, and the best part is we got to bring Pancho in with us.
The site of Kabah is located in the Yucatan Peninsula, south of the city of Merida. This archaeological site is famous for its palace with hundreds of carved stones representing the Mayan God Chac. (Rain God)
This is how the Mayans stored their water in times when it did not rain. I will just let you look at the next two pictures and get a better idea of what they did instead of me explaining it to you.
I thought this rather cool. These are what the ruins look like before the smart people come and put it all back together again. Putting these building back like they were is like putting a puzzle together. Only it takes years not hours.
This is an arch way on the road to town. There are several little town's (ruins) around. The place we are staying at now Uxmal, was the Hugh city, these are the suburbs.
This is another site they are still working on. Notice the finished, half done and rocks on the side's??
This one is another site that has been restored. I do not know what this was used for, I am thinking it was a housing complex.
This would of been the Governors house since it is the grandest structure on this site. On the bottom levels are housing for the staff.
This a a front view of the Temple.
This structure is in the jungle a few meters away. (ha ha, I laugh at the few meters!!! It was a long walk to discover these things, but it gave Pancho and me good practice on leash training and the proper way for him to walk with me)
This is a site they are uncovering still. I just love the way these banyan trees roots go all over the soils. That big leafy thing on the roots, that was a big air fern. Yeah really, they get Hugh here.
Now, cover the children's eyes on this one. They have a great imagine them boys did. Dream on. Maybe this is why the Mayans race died. Any women see that thing coming towards her ran. Hell, it this dude had trouble walking with that swinging, just imagine what it would be like when it was in a state of happiness. Anyway, my horse would of ran, so I know us ladies would of....there is a TO BIG rule ya know guys.
Just on ending, let me tell you that we walked about a 1/2 mile to get to this thing. Had I know that was about all it was going to be, I would of not wasted my time. Also, on some very very sad news. We went to a wonderful cave today. The best one I have EVER been to. The sadness comes from the fact that we both forgot our cameras. Oh I wish we had brought them so you could of seen the pictures. Dang, hate it when dumb things happen to smart people. So if anyone is in the area, go to the Lultun cave. It is so so worth it.
So that's it for now folks. We head out of here tomorrow to go to Isla Aguada tomorrow. That is a fishing village on the coast. Hopefully we will find some good deals there from the fishermen and have us a bar-b-Que fish dinner.
Hug and kiss your loves daily. Kiss you kitty and doggies to.
Chuck, Dee Dee and Pancho
The site of Kabah is located in the Yucatan Peninsula, south of the city of Merida. This archaeological site is famous for its palace with hundreds of carved stones representing the Mayan God Chac. (Rain God)
This is how the Mayans stored their water in times when it did not rain. I will just let you look at the next two pictures and get a better idea of what they did instead of me explaining it to you.
I thought this rather cool. These are what the ruins look like before the smart people come and put it all back together again. Putting these building back like they were is like putting a puzzle together. Only it takes years not hours.
This is an arch way on the road to town. There are several little town's (ruins) around. The place we are staying at now Uxmal, was the Hugh city, these are the suburbs.
This is another site they are still working on. Notice the finished, half done and rocks on the side's??
This one is another site that has been restored. I do not know what this was used for, I am thinking it was a housing complex.
This would of been the Governors house since it is the grandest structure on this site. On the bottom levels are housing for the staff.
Sayil is a ruined city of the Mayan civilization in the state of Yucatan, Mx. Sayil is in the southwest of the state, south of Uxmul. The site is small and quiet. During the Late-Classic period the city had 9000 inhabitants. El Palacio (670-1000 AD) is with its 85 meters long facade and three stories the largest building in Sayil. Remarkable are the Puuc-style columns, which recur everywhere. The palace was built in various phases; wings were added and platforms were designed, which were filled with stones and mortar to increase stability.
There is also a temple and a stela. Don't ask us what a stela is. We do not know what it means. We will try and find out and let everyone know, but until then, we will all have to remain on pins and needles.
This a a front view of the Temple.
This structure is in the jungle a few meters away. (ha ha, I laugh at the few meters!!! It was a long walk to discover these things, but it gave Pancho and me good practice on leash training and the proper way for him to walk with me)
This is a site they are uncovering still. I just love the way these banyan trees roots go all over the soils. That big leafy thing on the roots, that was a big air fern. Yeah really, they get Hugh here.
Now, cover the children's eyes on this one. They have a great imagine them boys did. Dream on. Maybe this is why the Mayans race died. Any women see that thing coming towards her ran. Hell, it this dude had trouble walking with that swinging, just imagine what it would be like when it was in a state of happiness. Anyway, my horse would of ran, so I know us ladies would of....there is a TO BIG rule ya know guys.
Just on ending, let me tell you that we walked about a 1/2 mile to get to this thing. Had I know that was about all it was going to be, I would of not wasted my time. Also, on some very very sad news. We went to a wonderful cave today. The best one I have EVER been to. The sadness comes from the fact that we both forgot our cameras. Oh I wish we had brought them so you could of seen the pictures. Dang, hate it when dumb things happen to smart people. So if anyone is in the area, go to the Lultun cave. It is so so worth it.
So that's it for now folks. We head out of here tomorrow to go to Isla Aguada tomorrow. That is a fishing village on the coast. Hopefully we will find some good deals there from the fishermen and have us a bar-b-Que fish dinner.
Hug and kiss your loves daily. Kiss you kitty and doggies to.
Chuck, Dee Dee and Pancho
Uxmal 03/06/07
Uxmal (OOSH-mahl) means "'built three times" in the Mayan language, and though its name is a mystery, its beauty is not. As a World Heritage site, it is one of the best restored and maintained ruins in the Yucatan, and certainly one of the most magnificent. Its architecture, some of the most majestic of the Yucatan ruins, is characterized by low horizontal palaces set around courtyards, decorated with rich sculptural elements and details.
This is a cool picture. Looking through two different windows into a courtyard.
No this is not a scud missile. Believe it or not, this is the whipping stone. Yep, whipping stone. You bad, you get strapped and whipped. In Public.
Can you see the face on this?? At the light show in the evening it was so neat as they pointed out what each one met, and they showed the way the Mayans had carved symbols within symbols. Like this one (the face) is for the rain god, but there is a snake carved into the picture to, along with the lattice work for they symbols of unity with the earth.
This is a court yard. It is so beautiful the way the carving are on all the buildings.
More rain gods
Even "simple" building got something pretty put on them.
This is a Jaguar.
These steps are leading into another courtyard. This site is HUGH. I mean HUGH. This must of been a Hugh city for the Mayans. It also was one of the culture hubs of the society also.
These are steps. They did them so cool. They look like a patchwork but they are all placed so orderly. You could probably take a tape measure out and they would all measure the same height and width.
another court yard with more beautiful work.
These people believed in meeting places. This is another courtyard leading into homes. There homes are very very small. I think all they did was sleep, make and have babies in them.
This is another view of walking in the mist of the buildings.
This is me on top of a Hugh building holding it up after walking up the steps. Notice I now have a regular tee shirt. It is getting a bit cooler temps here then on the Q. Roo side. Also, look at the carvings on this wall. Have you noticed the Macaw on the right side of me? I thought it was a thunder bird until I read the sign to this place and learned it was dedicated to the Macaw birds.
Chuck took this while we were up on the top of the Macaw building. Is that not a cool view??
This scary thing is to worship the gods of rain and whatever. We were (are) in awe on how well some of these are preserved.
This is the governors house. Were they also did meeting and what not.
Another cool building. This was going into the Cemetery.
Notice the cross bones at this site. We are in the cemetery.
Are these not cool or what. They wanted to protect there dead, so they put pictures of the dead people after rotting to scare away any evilness.
I like this one. It looks more like something a pirate would have. I bet you a dollar worth of donuts that the pirates stole this design from the Mayans.
The resident Iguana guarding his pile of rocks.
This is the light show at night. It was way cool. Course, this time we rented earphones so that we knew what was being said. Sure made all the difference in the show!!!
This is when thunder came.
So, this was these ruins. Chuck will have to post of the others when we get another day he says. probably tomorrow after we do the cave and other ruins to.
I have to say that if anyone is planning on coming to Mexico to see ruins, the best way I think if your not going to drive is to fly in and rent a car at the airport. Drive to these ruins and see them with your own eyeballs. They all have hotels by them, and there are small mom and pop motels to fancy first rate ones all over the place. Don't get bogged down with a tour group. These buses come in on a time schedule. They herd people in and out on such a fast schedule that the people miss a whole lot. No one was ever at the graveyard, and the guides do not tell you about them as they want the money for the next group. Amazing how little time they get in the facilities. Remember, YOUR PERFECTLY SAFE IN MEXICO. Just like where you live now, lock your door when you leave and do not pick up hitchhikers. Pretty simple.
So until tomorrow, kiss your loves and hug them to.
Chuck, Dee Dee and Pancho
Uxmal was the greatest metropolitan and religious center in the Puuc hills in the late classical period. It thrived between the 7th and 10th century A.D. and its numerous architectural styles reflect a number of building phases.
This is the best site we have been to so far. We thought Palanque was #1, but now this is our favorite so far with Palanque coming in #2.
This is a cool picture. Looking through two different windows into a courtyard.
No this is not a scud missile. Believe it or not, this is the whipping stone. Yep, whipping stone. You bad, you get strapped and whipped. In Public.
Can you see the face on this?? At the light show in the evening it was so neat as they pointed out what each one met, and they showed the way the Mayans had carved symbols within symbols. Like this one (the face) is for the rain god, but there is a snake carved into the picture to, along with the lattice work for they symbols of unity with the earth.
This is a court yard. It is so beautiful the way the carving are on all the buildings.
More rain gods
Even "simple" building got something pretty put on them.
This is a Jaguar.
These steps are leading into another courtyard. This site is HUGH. I mean HUGH. This must of been a Hugh city for the Mayans. It also was one of the culture hubs of the society also.
These are steps. They did them so cool. They look like a patchwork but they are all placed so orderly. You could probably take a tape measure out and they would all measure the same height and width.
another court yard with more beautiful work.
These people believed in meeting places. This is another courtyard leading into homes. There homes are very very small. I think all they did was sleep, make and have babies in them.
This is another view of walking in the mist of the buildings.
This is me on top of a Hugh building holding it up after walking up the steps. Notice I now have a regular tee shirt. It is getting a bit cooler temps here then on the Q. Roo side. Also, look at the carvings on this wall. Have you noticed the Macaw on the right side of me? I thought it was a thunder bird until I read the sign to this place and learned it was dedicated to the Macaw birds.
Chuck took this while we were up on the top of the Macaw building. Is that not a cool view??
This scary thing is to worship the gods of rain and whatever. We were (are) in awe on how well some of these are preserved.
This is the governors house. Were they also did meeting and what not.
Another cool building. This was going into the Cemetery.
Notice the cross bones at this site. We are in the cemetery.
Are these not cool or what. They wanted to protect there dead, so they put pictures of the dead people after rotting to scare away any evilness.
I like this one. It looks more like something a pirate would have. I bet you a dollar worth of donuts that the pirates stole this design from the Mayans.
The resident Iguana guarding his pile of rocks.
This is the light show at night. It was way cool. Course, this time we rented earphones so that we knew what was being said. Sure made all the difference in the show!!!
This is when thunder came.
So, this was these ruins. Chuck will have to post of the others when we get another day he says. probably tomorrow after we do the cave and other ruins to.
I have to say that if anyone is planning on coming to Mexico to see ruins, the best way I think if your not going to drive is to fly in and rent a car at the airport. Drive to these ruins and see them with your own eyeballs. They all have hotels by them, and there are small mom and pop motels to fancy first rate ones all over the place. Don't get bogged down with a tour group. These buses come in on a time schedule. They herd people in and out on such a fast schedule that the people miss a whole lot. No one was ever at the graveyard, and the guides do not tell you about them as they want the money for the next group. Amazing how little time they get in the facilities. Remember, YOUR PERFECTLY SAFE IN MEXICO. Just like where you live now, lock your door when you leave and do not pick up hitchhikers. Pretty simple.
So until tomorrow, kiss your loves and hug them to.
Chuck, Dee Dee and Pancho
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
