Baxters in Cozumel: On to Izamal

On the way out of Motul, we stopped at a cenote named Semola. We paid our entry fee of 10 pesos and climbed down the concrete stairs to the opening of the cenote. A pretty large cave opening that housed the cenote. The pool of fresh water went back aways but then meets the ceiling. There was a young couple (probably high school age boyfriend/girlfriend) there, watching the few fish that swam in the cool water. This is a great place to beat the heat! Especially in the summer. We chatted a bit with them. Nice kids.

Then, off to the ruins in Ake. After a couple of wrong turns we asked a man and a woman on a scooter who happened to be going there too.They led the way. Right at the entry to the ruins, there's a small hennequin factory that processes the strong fibers from this plant into ropes. At one time, hennequin or sisal was a huge industry on the peninsula We stopped to let a horsedrawn cart piled high with hennequin fibers pass. It was small cart on a miniature set of railroad tracks that lead to the factory. There, the fibers were unloaded and the horse was led off to load up again. We regret we didn't get a photo of horse, but we took a couple of the factory on the way out. A very noisy and busy factory.

After paying our entry fee, we entered Ake. Ake is a set of Mayan ruins built between 300 and 600 AD that are distinquished by a raised platform that contains 37 columns. These columns are about 3-4 feet in diameter and are about 10-15 feet tall. This was a place of importance! Another area was in the process of being excavated and restored. About 30 workers were replacing rocks. There was a young man in charge so we walked over and talked to him. His name was Roberto Rosada, an LSU (Yep, Louisiana State University) graduate with an advanced degree in anthropology with emphasis on archaeology. He and another archaeologist were in charge of the reconstruction. Roberto had wanted to do this type of work since he was 12 years old in Merida. For his 15th birthday present, he asked for a trip to Ake which his parents made happen.

He explained they were doing the reconstruction by relying on Stevens and Catherwood drawings, old photos, whatever they can find before removing anything. They take photos. Then, they set up a grid, numbering each stone within a grid section before its removal. They pile the stones from each grid section in a separate pile before excavating the dirt behind the stones. After forming the dirt they reset the stones grid by grid into what was the original structure- stairs, walls, platforms, etc. Painstaking and very slow work. There's never enough money or grants so they do what they can do for now. Hopefully over time it'll get done. He said that he worked for US based World Foundation.

On to Izamal and our stay at Macanche. We were here last year and the hotel is a series of small bungalows in "jungle" setting. Of course, immediately Peggy was in her swimsuit and headed to the swimming pool which is made out of large limestone rocks. Swim and a shower and then off to the square for dinner and a beer. On the way we passed a pickup truck full of mandarin oranges. We bought a large bag for 10 pesos. That bag lasted us our entire trip. The square was being set up for Izamal Days, a festival. Lots of booths, food vendors, and loud fireworks! We couldn't bring ourselves to stay awake until 10 PM when the regional dancers performed.

After a sweetbread for dessert we're back at Macanche for bed. This driving, crawling around ruins and looking at 16th century churches is tiring!

Cenote in Motul