Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Agua Azul Cenote (Blue Water Well). It's a forty-minute ride from Chetumal, and I
thought $8 was a good price. The colectivo would have cost $2.
It was early, no traffic, and we arrived at Agua Azul in less than half an hour. It was still
dark as fog shrouded Agua Azul and the sun glowed, appearing to be a full moon reflected
on the lake, as if the scene was the sequel to Ansel Adams' prize photo Moonrise Over
Hernandez . The name of the lake was also the name of the restaurant, which was eclect-
ically decorated with old rifles from the Revolution, live squawking parrots, a mounted
bull's head with a hat on each horn, a Mexican sombrero balanced by a Texas cowboy's
hat. It was an open-air restaurant, posts supported the palm-thatched roof, and fans stirred
the humid air.
I was their first breakfast diner. Carlos asked if I'd like coffee while I waited for the cook
to set up. I said yes, and he brought me a cup of hot water and a jar of Nescafé instant.
The water in the cenote was crystal clear, ninety feet deep and actually fed by nine natural
springs. A family was already enjoying a swim.
When breakfast arrived, I asked Carlos to call a taxi for me. It was about a mile to town,
and I thought by the time I finished my breakfast the cab would be ready. Perfect tim-
ing. The cabbie arrived and we drove into Bacalar. The town was still quiet. The museum
would not open for another twenty minutes. I walked around the outside of the old fort. I
looked out over the multicolored lagoon. Small boats were for rent, and attractive restaur-
ants and bars were at the water's edge. This was a touch of paradise.
I took a few pictures and went back to the fort-museum. Its theme was pirates, ships and
navigation. There were comments about pre-Hispanic Mayan shipping and trade. The dis-
plays were written in Spanish and English. It was a relatively small fort and museum, but
I marveled that any band of pirates would attack.
I checked the bus schedule. I looked at my watch and scurried to the ADO-Mayab Termin-
al. I wanted to see Tulum, the Mayan coastal temple and walled citadel. Tulum may have
been the Spaniards' first view of an advanced civilization in the New World. Spaniards
were astonished by the stone citadel and compared it to well-built structures in Spain.
From Bacalar, I was in for a three-hour ride. I bought a ticket, but seats were first come
first served, and a number of teenagers, on their way to Playa del Carmen for the holidays,
had appropriate extra seats. I sat in last row. It was a good choice. The last row sat higher
than the rest, and I had a decent view of the highway ahead and a side window too.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search