Text: Peter Johansson
Editing: Christer Lundstedt
Photos: Christer Lundstedt, Peter Johansson
Videos: Christer Lundstedt
Thursday 3rd of August
08.31 We are awake and say good morning from Hotel Santa Lucia (https://www.hotelsantaluciamerida.com) in Mérida. In the Women's World Cup in football (soccer), the Germans have played their last match and must go home. We are also going, although not home but onward here in Mexico.
09.02 Do we really want to return to Hotel Colón and the simple breakfast we had yesterday? A free breakfast is good, of course, but we really want to eat something better.
09.32 Today we skip the hotel breakfast even though our hotel offers it. Instead, we are at Café Chuc a street north of our hotel. Here we have each ordered a breakfast package number 4.
10.31 Coffee, juice and three tamales. It's a good start to this day. Tamales are a Latin American dish consisting of corn dough with a filling of meat and chili sauce or mole wrapped in a corn cob leaf. The word comes from the Nahuatl word tamalli which means "something that is wrapped". We tried some tamales when we were in Ecuador in 2015 so we know the dish from before. The ATM we found and intended to use to withdraw more pesos was not keen on accepting our VISA cards. Our cards did not match the ATM slot. We ended up going a little further to withdraw pesos, simply an extra morning walk. Now we are back in our AC cool room.
11.15 Remote controls/boxes for TV and air conditioning are returned to reception. Now we're walking towards the bus terminal. It's another hot day. We're walking slowly.
11.37 With more knowledge of the city, this time we were able to take the shortest route to ADO's TAME bus terminal. Sweaty but satisfied, we are now there. Now we have to wait for a while.
12.01 No information was given on either the information screen or on any bus. However, we finally found the right bus. Soon it will take off from Mérida.
18.38 It's time to familiarize ourselves with the various facilities here at the hotel and check the cash flow.
Friday 4th of August
This morning´s breakfast restaurant.
Inside Café Chuc.
Tamales were included in the breakfast package.
University of Yucatán.
We have moved into room 19.
This is what it looks like inside our room.
The key shows the same hotel name as our booking. Is this the correct name?
Evening by the pool.
The menu at the Kasta-Kan restaurant.
Christer at tonight's dinner at Kasta-Kan's.
Peter is eating Poc-chuc.
The pool, the restaurant and the tropical darkness.
06.58 We have slept one night in room (house) 19 and are up to get ready to visit one of the modern wonders of the world. Out there, the birds are singing happily.
07.29 We are back at the same table we sat at last night during dinner. Now we are waiting to order breakfast. Two black birds fly between the tables. They are looking for crumbs. 07.56 We got scrambled eggs with ham, some bread and also coffee. It's not as stable as yesterday's breakfast, but still a start. The hotel's transport vehicle stands with the hood open. Is there a problem? Well, there's always a taxi if there's a crisis. We'll go today if we have to walk ourselves. 08.26 There will be more than us going today. The vehicle fills up and appears to be working. 08.37 We have been dropped off in front of the entrance to the Chichén-Itzá area. We are happy and satisfied to have been given a ride here. It seems a bit tricky with parking for many other visitors. 08.54 The entrance is paid in two different tills and liquid is bought in a kiosk. Now we and lots of other visitors are ready to experience Chichén-Itzá. This will be the sixth of the seven modern wonders that we visit. We are here early to avoid the strongest sun and the biggest tourist groups.
We are waiting for our transport.
It´s time to plan what we want to see.
The souvenir vendors prepare for the day.
Finally we are here!
Come early in the morning and there are few people on the site.
El Castillo, Chichén-Itzá.
09.06 We walk past vendors who are getting ready for today's rush of tourists to Chichén-Itzá. The city of Chichén-Itzá was an important place already in Classic times for the Mayan culture. In the 9th century it was invaded by the Itzá people. Chichén Itzá's heyday ended at the turn of the century between the 14th and 15th centuries. The ruins of the city were found in the jungle in the 19th century.
09.19 It is pleasant as it is a little windy. Now that the wind is calm, it's downright awful here. It is hot, stuffy and humid. We are inside the area and are currently looking towards the large pyramid El Castillo. Also known as the Kukulcán Pyramid, the building was built by the Mayan civilization sometime between the 7th and 12th centuries. 09.39 Now we have also seen the Juego de Pelota (the ball field), a large arena for ball games with a large spectator stand. Around us, instruments are played that sound like birds and jaguars. 09.52 After strolling past countless souvenir vendors, we take a break in the shade at El Cenote Sagrado, an ancient sacred waterhole. Skulls and objects made of jade, among other things, were sacrificed there. A cenote is a deep hole or sinkhole that is characteristic of Mexico and Central America. They are created when limestone bedrock collapses and makes groundwater visible. 10.29 Our tour of the sunlit area continues. We have since last seen El Templo de los Guerreros. Translated, it becomes the Temple of the Warriors and is decorated with various face masks. 10.57 Lately we have been resting in the shade under the trees on the edge of the Chichén-Itzá area and watching a lizard of the black iguana species. Like the large lizards we saw before him, he has been named Örjan.
Beautiful sky over Chichén-Itzá.
Plataforma de Venus, Chichén-Itzá.
Templo de los Jaguares, Chichén-Itzá.
Juego de Pelota (ball court).
Templo del Hombre Barbado, Chichén-Itzá.
Sculpture of the feather snake Kukulkán.
11.08 We wandered around for a while looking for walking paths to some more temples we wanted to see but we kept getting lost. Is it wrongly signposted or are our brains shutting down in the sun? We eventually gave up. It wasn't that important.
11.20 We have sat down on a bench and take a few last pictures of the great pyramid El Castillo before we leave the area shortly. 11.46 Finally we get food, drink and a bit of cool air. At the restaurant Taco Maya (https://www.tacomaya.mx) in the entrance building, we have just received cutlery and before that a glass of beer each with an accompanying lime wedge. It is good for the body with various vitamins. 12.44 It was a great lunch, just what we needed after an intense morning and afternoon. I ordered a burger and Christer had a torta. A torta is simply a sandwich of freshly baked bread. In this case, it was also stuffed with meat. Now it's a taxi trip home after we've bought some drinks and snacks. 12.58 Our room is cleaned but towels are missing. Another experience this summer is over. Now a number of relaxing hours await here at the hotel this afternoon, tonight and tomorrow. We had planned a visit to the nearby attraction Cenote Ik Kil tomorrow morning but we cancel it because it means bathing after checking out from the hotel, a bit inconvenient. 14.01 The towels were delivered and we went to the chlorine-free natural pool. There were too many leaves in the water. Now we have instead switched to the leaf-free, chlorinated pool next to the restaurant. We don't visit the cenote, the water hole, on the other side of the road, but we'll get down to the pool anyway.
Pictures from history.
El Cenote Sagrado.
Christer visits Chichén-Itzá.
Peter in front of El Castillo.
A black iguana in Chichén-Itzá.
One last look at today's top attraction.
14.28 After a short dip each in the lovely pool, we have now sought shelter from the rain under a roof made of some natural material. Here we take it easy, fill up on fluids and read our books. The strong afternoon shower will probably put an end to further swimming today.
15.47 We read on for a while before returning to the place where our belongings are, in other words our room. 17.41 An early morning makes the day feel significantly longer. Longer days get tough easily. On bad days, I write less in my journal. There is simply nothing special happening. From outside you can hear rumbling cars and singing birds. Soon the sunset will be here. 19.20 The curtains of the night are drawn. We are now on our way from the room to dinner. Here there is only one restaurant to choose from. It makes it easy for us. 19.47 We are back at Kasta-Kan. Food and drinks for dinner are ordered. Today there are also Italian men and women here. It is a larger group around a long table. One of them just shouted vacuum cleaner, but in Italian then, aspirapolvere. The reason for this exclamation is unclear. 20.45 We are back home after a dinner where the entertainment consisted of a concert of crickets/cicadas. The dish of the evening was cochinita, a local tastier version of pulled pork. 22.45 We have sat out on our patio and let the evening and the approaching night envelop us. We have listened to the sounds of the tropical night and studied guests arriving in the parking lot in front of us. On the number plates of the cars, we can see that guests from various Mexican states have come here.
Peter is having lunch at Taco Maya.
The natural pool without chlorine is at the far end of the hotel grounds.
A quiet afternoon by the pool.
A heavy rain stopped our time in the pool.
Time to choose a dish again.
Tonight we ordered cochinita.
Saturday 5th of August
08.37 So it is weekend again and time for a day when we have to wait for a transport. Only this afternoon will our journey eastward continue. There will be a number of tough hours of waiting, but the morning will be comfortable, then we will still have our room to cool off in if necessary.
09.07 We are on site at one of the restaurant tables for the last breakfast at this accommodation. 09.35 It wasn't such a stable selection, but at least there was coffee for breakfast. Next, we will now get ready to go out in the sun and enjoy. 10.45 It's cool in the room and I'm doing my best to read the book I've started with. 11.45 The book reading mission was successful. Now the book is left in the lobby as a gift for future guests who understand the Swedish language. Our backpacks are now behind the counter at reception because we needed to check out of our room before 12.00. We ourselves are now sitting under cover away by the natural pool. 12.40 A family has arrived at the pool and two children are swimming and playing in the water. Sometimes it is windy here, but unfortunately only sometimes. We generally take it easy and read our books. Christer has mentally moved to Edinburgh in Scotland and follows Ian Rankin's hero John Rebus in another very good detective story.
Morning by the pool.
Christer is ready for breakfast.
It's time to leave room 19.
Hotel Doralba Inn, Chichén-Itzá.
Drinks and literature during the afternoon.
The road outside the hotel.
13.32 Time goes incredibly slowly when you are in waiting times and miss a home. We are now waiting for the next activity today, eating lunch.
14.10 At the other pool in the area and in the restaurant part of the hotel, we have just ordered lunch. It will again be cochinita for Christer but Tacos al pastor for myself. We simply thought about which of the options on the menu would fill us up the most for the rest of the day. 15.14 Now that lunch is over, all that remains is the taxi journey from the hotel to the bus station. It will be off as soon as the taxi is here. We have settled the transport with a driver just left with other passengers but promised to return to pick us up. 15.33 We are on our way in a taxi that appeared from another direction. It's not the one we dealt with before. He probably called a colleague who was more ready. Anyway, at least we're on our way and will catch the bus. 16.03 The taxi journey went on without stop or interruption. After a bit of a wait outside the entrance to Chichén-itzá, we have now boarded the ADO bus that will take us to Cancún.TIME ZONE CHANGE
18.00 The time on our cameras and also on my wristwatch is now adjusted to the time in Cancún. The state of Quintana Roo to which we are heading is the easternmost of Mexico's states and has a different time zone, the same time as the East Coast of the United States. 18.47 We have really started to get used to traveling by bus through Mexico. Shame would be different after all the hours on buses and kilometers on Mexican roads. 19.23 It's dark even during the day, in this time zone and in this state. The trip continues without problems and Cancún is approaching.
Lunch at Kasta-Kan.
Departure from Chichén-Itzá.
On the way to the room in Hotel Kavia.
Peter is having dinner at Xtabentún Botanero Yucateco.
Grilled meat in Yucatán version.
Hotel Kavia, Cancun.
20.07 Of course we have a routine for traveling by bus, but it is possible to get tired of bus transport anyway. A female tourist was trying to get off the bus because we arrived in Cancún but so far we are only on the outskirts with shopping malls and other things you find on the outskirts of a city. Cancún has grown into a real metropolis since it was founded in 1970. After the Spanish occupation in the mid-16th century, the original Cancún was abandoned by its Mayan inhabitants and then forgotten. In 1970, they began to create a tourist zone, residential areas and the international airport. Today, there are 888,797 inhabitants living in Cancún.
20.20 We rolled into ADO's Terminal Centro and bought some drinks in a kiosk inside the bus terminal. Now we will walk to our hotel here. 21.12 Cancún, Hotel Kavia (https://hotelkaviacancun.com) and room 209. That's where we are right now. 21.52 The hotel was left and we looked for a nice restaurant open in the evening that could serve us dinner. After some hesitation we found a suitable restaurant, Xtabentún - Botanero Yucateco. Now let's see what they have to offer. 22.50 Yummy, that was good and necessary. We ordered a mix of grilled meats. Now there is some extra time in the room before sleep arrives.
Sunday 6th of August
08.36 We have slept the first night of two here at Hotel Kavia in Cancún. The Swedish football ladies are ready for the quarter-finals of the World Cup after a penalty victory over the United States. The match was played in Melbourne, Australia. It's far from here.
09.01 It is time to leave the room to eat breakfast. Will it only be out of the room or also out of the hotel? We'll see. Breakfast is not included in what we paid, but there is some kind of café at the hotel entrance. Is what is served there enough or do we need more? 09.38 As the hotel does not have a breakfast buffet, we have instead walked out of the hotel in search of food. We passed beggars, rainbow-painted crosswalks and tour guides. Now we have ordered breakfast at Café Sanborns (https://www.sanborns.com.mx) near the bus terminal. 10.03 We got Enchiladas Suizas, bread, coffee and nacho chips in some sauce. I got a refill and as soon as I had taken a sip of it, I had even more coffee. Great restaurant! 10.32 I was confused, but hardly from lack of coffee, when paying. First I failed to ask about the bill and then I headed off against the counter without my backpack and Christer. In addition, I have hearing loss or poor focus and cannot hear everything Christer says. The daily schedule has been changed. We start by going on a tour bus and then see the rest of the city on foot afterwards. As previously written, Cancún is a new city, so the sights are limited in the city itself. People go here for the beaches. 11.56 At the bus terminal the tour bus lights up with its absence. However, we have seen signs advertising it. So it should exist. It's another hot day today.
Enchiladas Suizas will be the main course of the breakfast.
Peter is having breakfast at Café Sanborns.
ADO buses in many colours at Terminal Centro.
Parque de las Palapas, Cancún.
A flamboyant tree in Cancún.
So far we are alone on the tour bus.
12.04 The bus should have appeared around 12.00 according to the information we found on the internet. Now we have sat down outside the bus terminal ADO Terminal Centro and look towards a large roundabout in the hope of seeing the bus when it is on its way here.
12.15 The tactic worked. We caught sight of the bus and then made our way out to it when it parked. We have boarded here at the bus terminal. The driver asked about our tickets and we said we didn't have any. Apparently most people buy tickets in advance and show them when the bus shows up. Now it goes off without us paying anything. What will happen to the tickets anyway? 12.20 We stopped quite soon at a bus stop to pick up some other passengers. I paid and we were asked to stay while the driver was going to collect change. He was soon back with mixed change consisting of dollar bills, pesos and assorted coins. Now we're on our way. We will go on a bus trip to Cancún's hotel zone along the sea, the part where the tourists are usually found. 12.51 Between us and the sea there are some huge hotel complexes. This is probably where the "ordinary" tourists come, those who don't get to see much of the real Mexico. 13.03 The bus has turned around after driving all the way to Playa Delfines in El Rey. Here there is a fantastically beautiful beach and the city's name in the form of capital letters. There are plenty of people here and there is a queue to be photographed next to the letters. We photograph everything from the top floor of the bus. 13.17 After standing still for a while, the bus has started again and we are on our way back. 14.12 After arriving back at the bus terminal in Cancún, we have walked to a park bench to cool off. It got a little warm up there on the open top floor of the bus. We are currently sitting in the Jardín del Arte Cancún.
Torre Escénica del Embarcadero de Cancún.
Bay View Grand, condominiums in Cancún.
Aquaworld, here you can practice surfing.
Playa Delfines in El Rey, Cancun.
Letras Cancún, a popular place.
Seaweed (sargassum) flows in and sabotages a perfect beach.
14.32 It was getting late and we needed food. We have just ordered pasta from the nearby restaurant Cheester. I chose vegetarian pasta and a drink. Despite the English name, Cheester is an Italian restaurant.
15.28 The vegetarian food, a gigantic portion of pasta was more than I could eat. Christer couldn't finish his pasta dish either. An OXXO visit was made before returning to the hotel. New large ice cold drinks have been purchased. We also had time to look around the square Parque de las Palapas where we saw a small wooden house with the Swedish word kaffe (coffee) written on the wall. 17.30 We are at home in our room. Here we want to cool off inside and out. It has been really hot today, more precisely +34°C. 20.32 The huge portions of pasta made a dinner impossible to eat tonight. Instead, we went in the evening darkness to the Chedraui department store. There we bought some snacks for the evening, a breakfast and food for the bus trip tomorrow. I also thought, as usual and tradition, to buy a bottle of white wine for my parents. At the checkout, the wine and evening beer were taken care of. No alcohol may be sold after 5pm on Sundays. At OXXO, however, it was fine to buy beer. I can buy wine another evening. Now tonight and tomorrow have to be planned. 22.01 It's time to open the evening beer and snacks. Christer has also bought a fresh pineapple which he is going to taste. 23.19 There are actually decent Mexican beers. However, as far as I know, none of them have reached Sweden. In other words, you should travel to Mexico to drink really good Mexican beer.
Our bus makes a stop at Playa Delfines.
Bus trip back to downtown Cancún.
Pasta lunch at Cheester's. Here you can see a small part of everything we got.
Peter has found a Swedish word.
Outdoor stage in Parque de las Palapas, Cancún.
A pineapple instead of alcohol.
You can see 21 photos from August 3 in this photoalbum.
You can see 77 photos from August 4 in this photoalbum.
You can see 18 photos from August 5 in this photoalbum.
You can see 51 photos from August 6 in this photoalbum.