THIS BLOG WAS SET UP TO CHRONICLE OUR ADVENTURES IN MÉXICO & GUATEMALA IN 2010.

Mike and I explored the Mexican Yucatán Peninsula for 2 weeks of flyfishing (Mike), diving (Stacey), snorkeling, Maya ruins, a colonial city, cenotes, quite a few hammocks and lots of great food.

When Mike flew home I headed to San Cristóbal de las Casas in Chiapas for 2 weeks of Spanish study with a small group in tow. We lived with host families and visited area sights including villages, museums, and ruins.

When the group flew home I bused to San Pedro La Laguna on Lake Atitlán in Guatemala for a week of planning for future growth of the Beca Project (link below) and meeting our sponsored kids and their families.

When our daughter Mariah and her husband Greg invited us to share a timeshare in Quintana Roo between Christmas and New Years, a new chapter to this blog was added. HAPPY TRAILS!

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Valladolid

Today we moved on to the beautiful colonial city of Valladolid in the interior of the Yucatan Peninsula, about an hour and a half by bus west of Tulum. This area has a colorful history. In the mid 1800’s the local Maya Indians revolted in a conflict now known as the War of the Castes. As a result, the enslaving Spaniards were forced from the Yucatan and the region officially became a part of Mexico. Also, exactly 100 years ago this month, a group here in Valladolid created the spark (“la chispa” in Spanish) that started the Mexican Revolution.

The town is colorful and vibrant with wide streets, an inviting, tree shaded zocalo (town square)


and beautiful historical buildings including the San Gervasio church built in the 1700’s.


Our Hotel Zaci is a great value ($35/night with air conditioning) and charming to boot (pink building on left in street scene below, interior courtyard below that).



This afternoon Mike watched the Denmark/Cameroon World Cup match in air conditioned comfort (recovering from all that fishing) while I explored with camera in hand, arranged for transportation for tomorrow, and visited a local museum (see bowl with human teeth below).


Dinner out tonight and the ruins of Chichen Itza tomorrow - HAPPY TRAILS!

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