Visiting the Pre Maya Civilization: Coba
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Over so many years of visiting Tulum, we’ve done most of historical Mayan ruins except Coba. Coba is a large ruined city of the Pre-Columbian Maya civilization, located in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. It is located about 90 km east of the Maya site of Chichen Itza, about 40 km west of the Caribbean Sea, and 44 km northwest of the site of Tulum.
My favorite ruin is so far is Chichen Itza because of it’s better condition of Pyramids and the most intrigued workmanship of it even though I prefer the natural surrounding of Coba and the beautiful ocean view site of the one in Tulum. The fun thing about visiting the Coba is that they rent out bicycles to go around the site. All the ruins are connected with charming lush trails with tons of trees and birds.
This is called an Air plant. You see the roots are out in the air. They grow quite big at the end. Actually we have one in our Brooklyn home from Tania!!
8 years ago, when we climbed up to the Chichen Itza ( now climbing up to the Chichen Itza is banned.) , we had the same method: your own risk, a massive rope attached to the center of the pyramid, crawling and climbing.
Gael, mom loves you , you brave boy! You are the best Gael! We made up to the top together!
Dripping sweat. But big joy that we all did it together as a family.
Doing the Local thing: Tulum Village
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Am I too old fashioned? Am I not cool enough? I always prefer to be on the rather local’s side. You know what? At the end, that’s a real smart deal. That’s how I see it. No need to completely stick to 100% local, but you want to see how people live and what they eat. They are who they are either it’s good or not to you.
Here, come and stroll with us the village of Tulum.
My favorite cart of all in the entire village. The Chiapas’s ladies’ cart! They sell all hand done dolls, shirts, textiles and leather bags and more. Of course you see same or similar goods in more of store spaces, but the flair that this cart brings is so much more charming. I love it. They are beautiful and affordable.
By the way, the restaurant behind is a Argentinean steak house. They have impressive selection of meat. ( I did hear though all the meat are coming from Canada not from Argentina. But I do think they have quite good food including salad and pastas)
Their “chinturo”, the “belt” reminds of the “Obi” of Kimono. See, they all come together. By the way, lovely mom and 2 daughters.
Hahaha, You know I had to try this one on me this time. This is a skirt from Chiapas of Mexico. Anything more “cultural” or “traditional” things you see in Tulum would be generally from Chiapas or Ohaka. Some of the skirts are in wool and seriously hairy. The belt is also hand woven just as the skirt. So many people asked me if the necklace was from Tulum and no, it is not. I did buy it in NY Chelsea flea market 7 years ago. It became my staple thing to wear for the beaches.
By now, I have one of each of all these stuffed animals they make. They are absolutely AMAZING. The shapes, colors, expression of each. They are brilliant.
Under $10, 3 of us can have a big lunch here. Our favorite grilled chicken place in the village. Juicy and well seasoned! It comes with delicious fresh tomato & chili salsa, rice, simply chopped cabbage and warm tortilla. Try it. Good idea to take out and eat them on the beach!
I don’t know what happened to the bigger photo of this place. Anyway, fruit shop right near the municipal office. They have ugly yet delicious fruits. No preservatives here.
Typical Mexican souvenir shop. There are many of these kind along the main street. Colorful hammocks, sheets, carpets, floral dresses, plates and more.
After visiting Coba, we turned our car to Punta Laguna where there’s a quite and beautiful lagoon and lush jungle with Spider monkeys are. Only 10 kms away from Coba, this beautiful and humble Lagoon offers you exotic plants, toucans, many different gorgeous mariposas (butterflies!), thousands of water lilies and even crocodiles!!!
Walking into the jungle!. It was such a spontaneous trip to Punta Laguna, we were not prepared with proper attire. We wished had long pants and long sleeved tops on to reduce mosquito bites. But once we were stopped by scene of spider monkeys flying all around us, we couldn’t care less about bug bites!
The spider monkey is considered a primitive new world monkey. They are called spider monkeys because they look like spiders when they are suspended by their tails. Spider monkeys are usually all black, but some have flesh coloured rings around their eyes and white chin whiskers. Hair generally coarse and stringy. Lacks underfur. These monkeys depend highly on their keen binocular vision. They have slender bodies and limbs with long narrow hands.
We only had tasted what it would be like to be in the middle of the jungle this time. But I’m determined to go back and really explore. Gael could not take his eyes and ears off from the monkeys and all those sounds the nature makes. How wonderful it is to have a chance to be the little part of the nature! Now that’s priceless.
Healing me, Tulum
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Clogged pores, hazy lungs, tired soul and beat up spirit.
Stinky worries. Useless thoughts. I don’t need them. They can go.
I feel healing.
I’m not anxious to meet new and wonderful people.
I reconnect with myself first. I bond deeply with Emi and Gael.
I inhale and exhale.
I drink it up again and again.
The Sun. The wind. The powerful energy.
Lunch at Sian Ka’an (Cesiak), Tulum
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Park Sian kaan. The south strip of Tulum houses the most beautiful and untouched natural reserve that stretches all the way down to Punta Allen, a small fishing village. A small ecotourism and education center, it serves as a model for sustainable development in sensitive tropical ecosystems. The revenue generated through tours, fishing, beautiful accommodations, and various on-site activities is used to fund conservation and education programs within the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. Read more about it at http://www.cesiak.org/
God bless. I’m thankful.
And there, there is one restaurant with a deck you can lo0k over both the ocean and also the biosphere. And also they serve excellent seafood ( I think it is maybe one of the best/freshest seafood in Tulum) and drinks along friendly service.
The seafood platter for 2! : Broiled lobster over fresh bed of mixed green salad, grilled octopus, fillet of sole, grilled shrimps and delicious calamaris. It’s actually enough for 3. Now wash it down with chilled margarita!
Feliz Navidad, Tulum
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Haha. It was a hottest day since we got here. We hit the beach nice and early. Calm ocean. It was a beautiful day. We had a wonderful day. Lovely long lunch at El Tabano. Kite flying. New friends for Gael on the beach. Lots of reading for Emi. Body boarding. Sand, Salt, Wind, Laugh, Emi, Gael and Me.
Sun ray was falling. It was a white Christmas for us.
Merry Christmas from Tulum
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Sexy You, Tulum
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It has been 8 years now visiting Tulum. Before Gael and now already 5 times with him. He loves it. We love it. Gael would say time to time, ” Mom, I love you more than the ocean of Tulum.”
Tulum has been definitely evolved and developed. But still in our kind of way. Bit rough around the edge yet chilled and reserved in style, which makes herself very Sexy. Here are some photos to share with you of Tulum at it’s best.
Where the Turtles are: Xcacel beach, 6 miles from Tulum
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Always wanted to go see turtles. Only 6 miles away ( 7-8 minute drive?) from the Tulum beach, Xcacel is where Sea turtles go and lay eggs. Sea turtles love X’cacel beach because there’s lots of supple deep sand ( walking on the sand reminded me of walking on the deep snow), a minimal outer reef and virtually no one around. X’cacel in years past had been the site of a turtle protection program, one of the first in the area, but the property was bought by a hotel chain and now sits in legal limbo, caught between the environmentalists and the developers.
But it seems like the beach is still protected and guarded by official guardians on sight and many rules for the turtles. Turtles lay eggs from April to October and the peak time is July and August, which is the hottest time of the year. We didn’t see the turtles this time (and I believe we need to be there during the night time) but we have enjoyed the beautiful beach and a Cenote tucked in middle of lush palms.
Promising with Gael to go back to see Turtles laying eggs in the new year, we headed to the cenote. Cenote is a sinkhole with exposed rocky edges containing groundwater. The fresh water. It is typically found in the Yucatán Peninsula and some nearby Caribbean islands. And boy, they are beautiful. Cenote comes in all different sizes, surroundings and the depths and some of cenotes require professional diving skills to see deep underwater creatures.
Xcacel beach has a small semi fresh water cenote tucked right in the middle of palm and mangrove bushes and we took a refreshing dip in it!
On a way to cenote. What you see is Mangrove.
Casarosas walking the way to the Cenote!
Getting recharged.
Perfumery at Coqui Coqui, Tulum
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There is no such ” Hotel” on the strip of Tulum beach. Hotel as Hilton’s or whatever stops at the Cancun. Thank God. At least for now. The Mexican government only gives out the permits to build to the small boutique cabanas or low rise constructions that are built in sustainable ways. Wind power. Palapa Roofs. Maybe 2 stories or less. I dig it. Why not? We are all responsible. Responsible to keep and protect all.
Coqui Coqui is one of many charming and smart cabanas along the beach. One thing sets apart this place from the others would be the owner’s spirit, style and their Perfumery. http://www.coquicoquispa.com/perfumes.htm
The owner, Nocolas is a well known model but also a modern day hippie and a jet setter who was one of a few early pioneers to have the vision to start a life and business in Tulum. And as a young child, he was always interested in profumo of the Nature. And the perfumery seems like just the perfect thing to add on to his beautiful water front sanctuary.
The shop carries all organically produced line of perfumes and also facial products. Also there is bit of jeweleries, picture frames, beach scarves and home furnishing.
The space is beautiful in it’s stylish monotoned color scheme against the pale grey rustic concrete, which also somehow reminds me of Kenya, Africa.
This is a small restaurant of theirs next to the perfumery. The person in the blue in the mirror is me taking pics…
