Tulum, Mexico

We docked at Cozumel, we walked for a good while, and took a "boat taxi" to Playa del Carmen to find our tour guide for the Mayan ruins in Tulum. 

 

Keeping ourselves entertained...

 



 

Our tour guide was Nephi with Helaman tours.  He was to the point, matter of fact, and bore testimony of Jesus Christ, our Savior, again and again.  It was beautiful!

So, we boarded the little shuttle and were on our way.  One of the first things we saw were 5 men up this high pole.  This is what I found out...

 

The Danza del Volador (Flying Men Dance).

This dance dates back to AD500 and is a fertility ceremony for a Totonec Rain God.
Danza del Volador is the dance of the bird man.
A folklore activity of Mexicans, consisting of 5 men, dressed in exotic costumes, ascend a pole that is approximately 30 meters high. 4 of them have a rope around their waist of which the other end has been fastened just beneath the platform. The fifth man, stands in the middle of the platform and plays the flute and drums an entrancing tune. The 4 other men let themselves fall,head down first. With stretched out arms, the 4 men completes exactly 13 rotations, before ending up on the ground. The total number of 4 (men) x 13 (rotations) = 52 (weeks in a calendar year). The cycle of the Aztec calendar. 



Unfortunately, we did not see them fly.  That would have been kind of neat because they are pretty high!

 

Tulum, also called Zama (or dawn), was a great trade city due to its location.

 

 

And there were iguanas, big iguanas, everywhere you looked and walked!

 

Tulum was a walled city.  The walls safeguarded, but also marked the boundary between the elite and the ordinary people.

Nephi had amazing pictures, some were of murals and pictures that had been found and or discovered in the ruins.

 

 

I think this next picture shows Nephi explaining that they would sacrifice a human to offer a broken heart and a contrite spirit.  It was thought an honor to be the one sacrificed.  (My thought - don't let pride get in the way of "remembering" how Christ taught us to Come unto Him.)

 

Kavan checking out another iguana.  They were pretty cool!

 

The city was amazing and beautiful!  Just look at that water.  You can see how they had to "keep their eyes on the temple" to return home.

All of us with Nephi. 
The wind blew pretty good, but it was hot and the wind was hot.  (I love how Karlee's hat is situated on her head.)

I love their smiles!

So pretty!

 

Our hot and sweaty selves waiting for the shuttle.

 



She makes me laugh.  It was hot!  I love her!  :)

 



We saw some really pretty trees and flowers.  This was one of my favorites!  It just looks happy!

Nephi took us back to Puerto de Playa del Carmen, and we got ready to board the "boat taxi."

Wiped Out!

We just finished 3 Nephi from the Book of Mormon in Seminary this week, and I can't help but think about Christ's visit to the Americas as I make this post and remember our time in Tulum.  In John 10:16 in the New Testament we are told, "Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold:  them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice..."  I know the Book of Mormon is true.  It works hand and hand with the Bible to testify and witness of Jesus Christ and His Atonement.  I asked the seminary class if they had to summarize 3 Nephi in just a sentence or a word, what would it be?  The responses were quick, and loud, and brief..."REMEMBER"..."Come unto Christ"..."Eternal Life"..."Jesus Christ."  I am so thankful for my calling as a Seminary teacher!  :)

Next Stop...Costa Maya, Mexico

The water was beautiful and the city was small and very colorful! 

 

 

We didn't have a lot of time at this stop, so much to the kids' excitement, we opted to do the dolphin encounter.  Here are some of my favorite pictures...

 

 

The dolphin swam really smooth and quite fast... which made me panic a little when my swim shorts started to slip!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love this picture!

You can just tell that everyone had such a great time with the dolphins.  It was just really fun!  After the dolphin encounter they had an "indoor/outdoor market", so we had a look around.  The kids were intrigued by this guy making name bracelets.  He would write down the name, ask for your favorite colors, start working, and in minutes your bracelet would be done - no pattern.  I wonder how many bracelets he has made in his lifetime?!

 

 

We also made a deal for a "bundle package"... a dress for Karlee and a purse for Kenzie.

 

-A little over 10 years ago we were in Greece and I remembered walking through the "market" in Athens.  The locals would holler at you to come look and buy, and sometimes they would grab onto your arm and try to strike a deal.  It was kind of scary.  I had a little old lady grab onto my arm because she wanted me to buy her tablecloth.  My family members walked off and left me with this very pushy little old lady who would not let go of my arm.  Needless to say I ended up with a tablecloth.-

 

  The locals in Costa Maya were not quite so pushy!  :)  But I did end up with some Mexican vanilla.

 

 

Back to the ship!

 

What a fun and beautiful day!