Isla Mujeres, Mexico

Folks,

I've had a really relaxing week, mostly here in Isla Mujeres, an island off Mexico.

The pic of the week shows El Castillo (the castle) Pyramid in Chichén Itzá. It's so quiet because I got there early.

Chichén Itzá
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This is the most famous Mayan site. It was voted one of the new seven wonders of the world in the recent poll, and they're over the moon. There are Maravilla del Mundo t-shirts everywhere.

It's very impressive. I have to say, though, that I was a little spoilt by having gone to Tikal first. Tikal seemed a little more extensive, and also because it's in the jungle you feel like you're discovering it. Chichén Itzá is much more open than Tikal. It's like a big park rather than jungle.

For all these sites I now try to get the earliest bus in the morning, and get there before the crowds, and it was the best way to see Chichén Itzá. It's enormously impressive. There are many pyramids, a large pitch where ball games were played, and many other structures still standing.

When I finished my tour, I came back into the main area, and relaxed and read my book. When I got up to leave, it was like a different place. The tour buses had arrived, and tourists were milling about everywhere. In addition, there were at least a hundred souvenir sellers who had set up stalls all around. I never saw anyone selling anything in Tikal.

Getting around
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One thing that surprises me is how easy it is to travel everywhere. There are local buses going everywhere. Whenever I travel from one place to another, it's really easy to pick up the next leg of the journey. And I'm getting to places quicker than in my plan. I often plan to go from X to Y, stay overnight before going on to Z. But, in practice, when I get to Y there's bus there already going to Z, and I can save the extra overnight.

Isla Mujeres
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I fly to Cuba tomorrow from Cancún, which is why I'm in this region of Mexico at all. There are lots of flights from Cancún, as many people from the States use it to avoid the travel restriction.

I decided to stay in Isla Mujeres, because I read it was less of a tourist resort than Cancún itself. It's a tiny island, 8km long and 1km wide. In fact, at the end of the town just up the street it only takes 30 seconds to walk from the east to the west coast!

It's called Isla Mujeres, or Women's Island, because when the Spanish arrived there they found a painting of the god Ixchel, surrounded by a court of women. It's also an old pirate island.

The water is an incredible turquoise, and it's crystal clear. If you saw it on a postcard you'd think it had been photoshopped. I'm in the middle of the town, but the beach is just at the end of the street. I hired a bike yesterday and cycled around the full circumference in just 2 hours, and that was stopping for a drink halfway.
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It's late now. It poured with rain tonight, and the street is flooded. I had to wade out out my hotel with the water up to my ankles earlier. Actually, there is lightning now, so it's some sort of a storm. I am heading to Cuba tomorrow. I get the 9 o'clock boat to Cancún, then a taxi to the airport and a flight to Havana. So I better go and pack.

Until next week.

Chau,

Éamon

Today's Headline in La Journada: Governors protest at US anti-immigration measures