Two winter holidays : Mexico and the DR part one: Mayan Riveira

Image via WikipediaLast year we went to the Mayan Riviera in January. Since we had a good break we decided to do it again this year- this time to the DR. Last year was a novelty as it was our first experience in an all inclusive resort. We stayed at the Viva Wyndham Maya near to Playa del Carmen. We enjoyed being spoilt and being able to walk out at night in just a short sleeved shirt!  We managed to do some sight seeing between sunbathing and shopping. Our trips to Tulum and Chickenitza were experiences we will never forget.   The trip to Tulum started out on a catamaran.      About 20 people were taken out in the Carribean in rough waters to an area to snorkel.However it was too rough! I embarrassed myself by being scarred of climbing over the edge of the boat when we were transferred to small fishing boats to get to shore. so    two fishermen had to carry me over the top of the catammarn and lower me down into the boat ! We enjoyed the walk up the beach and through the ruins at Tulum.
Our other memorable trip was to Chichen-tza an old Mayan community. We had the educational experience of being on a bus with everyone from Canada but the only two people not from Quebec! Our poor guide had to speak in French and English! We were amused though that the bus showed an educational video from the Canadian musuem of  Civilisation, Chichen-tza is a world renowed site. We also stopped at a cooperative to have lunch an buy souvenirs.On th e way back to the hotel we stopped at Cenote X'keken Yacatan and climbed down into a cavern. An impressive nat ural subterranean formation of turquoise waterlocated  7 km from Valladolid Yucatan. Valladolid is one of the oldest towns in the Yucatan. We returned from our holiday with sun/wind tans and a healthy respect for a different culture.