We stopped on our way to Chichen Itza for lunch, and a chance to swim in the sacred Blue Cenote.

    The entrance to the cenote complex was gorgeous - flame trees, hibiscus, thatched buildings, trees that looked like ancient sculpture, and stone "conversation benches", so-called because the seats face one another, but are part of the same bench. They can be found in almost every public park and attraction, all nicely painted white. They remind Chatty of the wooden 19th century ones she has seen in museums, albeit much more modern in design.

             

               


              

              

            

            
    
            

    The cenote itself took Chatty's breath away. Cenotes are huge holes in the ground that have filled partly with water from underground rivers. Because all the rivers in Yucatan are underground, cenotes were sacred in ancient civilizations - both because of their majestic appearance, and because once away from the sea, water was scarce and precious. It's hard to know exactly how deep this amazing cenote is - suffice it to say that "deep" barely begins to describe it!

    Chatty - and everyone else who ventured in - had to take a shower BEFORE she climbed down the 120 (slippery and uneven) steps to the water's surface, because the state is very concerned about keeping as many non-natural ingredients (perfume, sunscreen, hair spray etc.) out of the pristine and amazingly clear water as possible. In addition to the magnificent blue-green colors, the water is also deliciously cool - about 73 degrees. You can dive off a 10 meter platform hewn from the rock, or climb down rustic wooden ladders (Chatty chose the latter!)

    This picture was taken from a height of about 120 feet - at the first "rest-stop" going down the stairs carved out of the stone surrounding the cenote. The vertical lines in the picture are vines. Because they dart so quickly, in this picture you are unable to see the tiny birds that flutter and dive in and out of the foliage that descends all the way down to the water's surface - but they are everywhere, and you can hear the beating of hundreds of tiny wings above you when you are swimming. The tiny black "specks" in the water are fishes about 6 inches long, that swim around and tickle one's feet. At the bottom right, Chatty swears she can see a foamy mermaid...

            

    Once in the water, swimming away from the platform and toward the other side, seeing no other people - only tiny fishes and tiny birds, and looking at the greenery hugging the edges of the cenote up up and up to a sky that seemed endlessly high - Chatty had a moment where she felt part of earth's long history - and could almost feel the presence of the people who swam in this ancient body of water thousands of years ago, just as she was doing now. It was eerie, and lovely - and an altogether moving experience. Then, she turned around - and there were all her fellow tourists - and she was jerked back to the present just in time for lunch (which was excellent!)

    This second picture will give you an idea of what the rock ledges looked like - and also how incredibly bright the sunshine was at the top! A lot of people were enjoying the cenote when Chatty took this picture - but by the time she gathered her courage, took her shower, and descended, she had it practically to herself, which was also cool, and helped create the atmosphere described above. Note that although this picture was taken from over 120 feet above, you can see the legs of the swimmers. We're talking CLEAR WATER, folks!


                    

   The Wiz did not swim in this cenote (he swam in the Grand Cenote a couple of days later), but he did climb down to the first viewing point:

            

    After our buffet lunch, we got back on the bus for the 10-minute drive to Chichen Itza and its fabulous pyramid. More on that another time.

    Later, alligators!