Southern Landmarks

Mexican Riviera Cruise

Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico

April 1, 2005 - April 8, 2005

April 4, 2005 we arrive in Costa Maya, Quintana Roo, Mexico.  This was the shoreline as we approached the port.  Already in port is The Grand Princess. 

Of course we just had to get one of the campy Getting Off The Boat pictures!!!

As we left our ship for our Mayan Ruin Excursion we took the trolley into the square to meet our tour guides. 

We traveled nearly 50 KM to the Mayan Ruins at Chacchoben.  The countryside in this area is very rural even more so than most of us can imagine.

Costa Maya even though now a tourist port is very rural.  Everywhere I looked was a reminder of how good I have it living in the USA.

The sign at left though hard to read from the photo was an advisory of the Mexican Military Post ahead.

This gentleman is entering a very modest home for the area.  Homes of this type are common place

The home on the left is located on the edge of the area where Red Mangrove is found growing. 

From here we are approximately half way to Chacchoben.

Nine kilometers from Chacchoben.  Still many small farms along the way.

November 1, All Saints Day, and November 2, All Souls Day are marked throughout Mexico by  intriguing customs that vary widely according to the ethnic roots of each region. Common to all, however, are colorful adornments and lively reunions at family burial plots, such as the one above right, the preparation of special foods, offerings laid out for the departed on commemorative altars and religious rites that are likely to include noisy fireworks.

Livestock in rural areas have right of way along the roads.

Finally!!  We have arrived at Chacchoben.  Our guide, Tanya, explains to us that before the archeologists arrived at this site, portion of the ruins was completely covered in dirt and was a pasture to cattle. 

As our guide was talking I couldn't help noticing some of the plants growing in the wall surrounding the ruins.  Looking very familiar I realized that it was maidenhair fern, which I have grown at home as a houseplant! 

In the distance you will notice a wall that runs off to the left.  It also continues to the right and in the center is another ruin, but this one is different as it was meant for the Mayans to climb to offer sacrifices. 

If you look at the top of the steps you will see a "split".  This was intentionally built this way as it meant for sacrifices to be taken to the top and offered. 

We climbed to the top.  Many of the steps uneven on the way up, and this was the ruin we saw at the top. 

These two ruins were found at the top.  While they are not in propotion to one another, it will give you and idea of how they were located.

The one on the left you will notice a thatch type lean-to covering the rear.  During excavation, a "painting" of sorts was found on the rear side, and  the thatch protects the remaining paint.  We were asked NOT to photograph the rear if our cameras would require a flash.

Tanya explains more about the significance of these ruins, and encourages us to walk around the back of the one on the left above.  On the back side of this ruin, Mike photographed this small farm below. 

These are more photos of the smaller pyramid from opposite side and front.

As we come back down from this ruin, we're on the next leg of the tour which actually takes us into the edge of the Mexican rain forest.

As we enter the rain forest, it's hard to get an idea just how big these palm trees are.

On the edge of the rain forest we are below the largest pyramid that we saw before we came down from the last ruin. 

To give you an idea how large the palms are, Mike is six feet tall even.  The palm frond on the left was actually wider than Mike is tall, and was probably 15-18 feet in length.

As we went deeper into the forest, the familiar Mayan walls appeared.  In this area, archeologists believed that this might have been the equivalent of a town square, where homes and businesses might have been.  

On the right a strangler fig tree has grown around a coconut palm.

More foundations.  On the left you will see a split or break in the foundation.  This is thought to have been someone's home.

On the left is the back side of the first ruin we came upon at Chacchoben.

On the right high in the tree is a green parrot.

As we were leaving Chacchoben, Mike Photographed this sign which contains a map of the ruins.

After riding the bus back to Costa Maya, we stretched our legs and shopped a little.  This was the view of the entrance to Costa Maya. 

It's a long walk back to our ship.  Off in the distance our ship, the Holiday looks drawfed against the Grand Princess.

Sunset looking back on Costa Maya.

This was our critter for the night when we returned to our stateroom!

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All existing works are available for purchase at the prices quoted on this site. All original works are shipped via Federal Express or Airborne at the prevailing shipping rates which are subject to change. For purchase and shipping details contact the Artist at:

PinkMagnoliaGallery@hotmail.com

All works will be available here for viewing upon completion.

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