Christmas Eve Day Drive

Earlier today we took a drive in search of one of the small, unfrequented cenotes marked on our map. Cenotes were the ancient Mayan's wells, but we'd probably come closer to calling them sinkholes. The Yucatan pennisula is mainly a limestone plateau, slightly above sea level and most of the country doesn't have any real rivers. However, there are underground rivers and we're told that most of cenotes are a part of the underground fresh water system. Cenotes have been the only source of potable water for centuries and as such were much revered by the ancient Maya. Often sacrifices were made into the cenotes and there have been rich (rich as in jade and gold objects) anthropological finds of some of the sacrificial objects by divers in the cenotes, especially those large cenotes near important Mayan centers. Today cenotes are often used as swimming holes and we think the water is probably quite safe because of being filtered through the limestone. The one we visited today was very small and down a remote road, one we weren't sure we'd ever find. We had taken swim suits and the well's water looked very clean. The cenote had a homemade, lashed ladder descending to the water's surface as well as a rope to swing on, but the surrounding area was so littered with trash, it took away our appetite for swimming.

Trees against the sky, no matter how interesting in the flesh, rarely make good photos, but I keep hoping one will work out. Thus I inflict this picture on you. I suppose I think it's interesting because it seems to be one of the few trees which loses its leaves.

In the village nearest the cenote, there was a rustic bull fighting ring. The photo below shows most of the outside of the circle which encloses the ring. The chute for the bull is just to the right of the gates. It looks like any Wyoming cattle loading chute. The brush, or rather palm leaves, around the base wouldn't keep a bull from running out into the street, but I suspect it's there because the bull doesn't know it's not a solid wall and thus he doesn't rush through it. There is a chain link fence outside of that, however, in case one of the bulls is intelligent and determined.

This is a shot of the platform upon which the viewers watch the bull fight. I assume everyone must bring their own lawn chair or one of those ubiquitous, molded, plastic chairs. The canvas overhang would provide shade.

Since we didn't swim in the cenote, we went onto the beach and a town that we'd never visited before, Sisal. The waves were coming in with a good deal of force and the water was roiled and sandy as a result. Again we didn't swim. It was a nice beach nonetheless. I don't think that white frame is a soccer net frame, although that's what it looks like. I think it's to keep people from driving onto the beach.

A lonely, palapaless, seatless, picnic place

There was a longish muelle (dock). They must land the small, fishing boat's catch here. I don't think the water is deep enough for much else. In any case, Kent will be drawn to the sea, even now after years of being landlocked.

Mainly, I wanted to make those of you snowed in envious that we could have swum if we wanted.