OH SHIP!!! The Family Cruise - Cozumel and Tulum

Friday March 13, 2020 

Cozumel, Mexico and Tulum National Park Archialogical Zone

One thing you see a lot of in this part of Mexico is wildlife, and I'm not kidding when I say the iguanas were everywhere. Alan couldn't believe how many iguanas there were.

This little lemur looks friendly but he'll steal the food right out of your pocket if you're not careful.

Coming into the port on the Island of Cozumel, the large ship is leaving and we made port at the spot behind her.

To get to Tulum we had to walk through Cozumel to catch a ferry to Playa del Carmen, where we walked about a mile to the Enterprise Car Rental Agency to pick up our two cars to drive to Tulum, the site of another ancient city.

I love to read the signs that explain the area, the city, etc. The above sign tells of the importance of Tulum as it was a trading center in the area and a very important trading port and mercantile center.

This is a walled city, which means the walls and ramparts controlled entry and exits into the city and from the high walls they could look out to the sea and over the forested areas to see who was coming. Tulum is built on the highest point in the region.

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Although some of the important people in Tulum, Priests, Governor, officials, may have lived in stone buildings, most people lived in building of wood, palm and other materials built on platforms.

Above is a description of the building in the following photo.

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This is the Temple of the Frescos /paintings.

 The inner temple is decorated with mural paintings of and the outside with many sculptures. These all depict male and female deities intertwined with snakes, along with offerings of fruits, flowers and ears of corn. 

Below is the information on the Castle, the most imposing structure in the entire city. The main temple is on the top with two smaller temples to each side.

The situation of this structure is perfect as the back of it looks out of the beautiful sea. The Upper temple is where the main religious ceremonies took place. The outside of this temple would have been stucco and painted with beautiful bright colors.

 The paintings would have had depictions of the gods, priests and converts in religious representations as well as symbols of religion and magic. I would say this place is magical! I loved it. The photos below were some I took as we wandered around the grounds inside the wall.

Mulet = Tulum backwards. 😉

Parker with the view of the city and the imposing castle in the background.

Hello Alan and Miss Parker!

Notice the beautiful Caribbean Sea in the background.

A view of Tulum.

I really wonder what it would have been like to live here 500 - 1000 of years ago?

Hello from Ancient America!

Miss Parker and her Grandpa.

Darryl and I always take a selfie wherever we go. Welcome to Tulum. 

A better look at the Temple of the Frescos. Upper and lower levels. Just overlap the photos and you can see it perfectly.

All of the corners were decorated at one time, but this is the best one that remains.

This marker explains the 'Stela' or stone monument that was found inside the Temple of the paintings.

At this point, after walking around and looking at the ruins, all Gideon and Parker (and maybe Alan) could think of was getting into that beautiful water down there.

One of the look out towers or small temples on the north cliff.

They say this structure probably housed some of the most important people of Tulum as it was made of stone and had columns holding up a roof over a porch or open area.

I stepped in the water. It felt goooooood!

You can't see him, but Alan is out there somewhere swimming laps.

The ferry ride to Cozumel was quite fun with live music and Darryl and I riding on the top deck with Gideon and Parker. (The boring adults stayed below decks inside. 😉)

It was another wonderful adventure!