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Trip Reviews, Ratings and Comments - Trip Review - Club Oasis Akumal 10
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OUR AKUMAL ADVENTURE, PART 10
Thursday, 6/29/00, Day “12”
I got up about 6:30 a.m. There were some clouds and it was a little cooler. Very nice. I hoped it would stay that way for our sortie to Tulum, but it was not to be.
We changed some more money (rate 9.35 today), and the nice young man at the front desk showed me the taxi rate sheet; 150 pesos ($15) to Tulum. I asked him how much to come back. With a quizzical look on his face, he said it was the same, to which I replied, “We’ll see.” There were no taxis in the driveway, so we had to wait a few minutes while they called one. I confirmed the price and off we went. When we got to Tulum, the driver asked if we would like him to wait 2 hours for us and take us back. It would be 300 pesos, the same as two separate cab rides. That sounded fine, except we didn’t know how long we’d be, so declined the offer. As it turned out, that would have been just about right.
We started off making a BIG mistake. Instead of taking the tram, we walked in. I guess I didn’t realize just how yucky I felt until after that walk. Steve was feeling fine and really enjoyed Tulum. I, on the other hand, was like him at Chichén the other day—I would have appreciated our visit much more had I been feeling better. We got to the ticket booth and paid our 90 pesos, 30 each for entry and another 30 for the video camera. Note: The entrance fee must be paid in pesos, not USD. It was starting to get very hot.
We didn’t have a guide, so just wandered about, reading the signs and taking photos and video. By this time, all I want to do is keep finding some shade and sitting down. However, I did manage to admire the site. There was one curvy building, very much not to the vertical, that almost made me seasick looking at it.
One of the first things I noticed about Tulum was the iguanas, who were not shy here at all. Many seemed stationed like sentinels on the buildings. I wondered if Kukulcán had put them there as guardians of the site. Many of them also seemed to be shedding their skin and tails. (It must have been the time for it, since we saw iguanas at other places that were doing the same thing.)
Overlooking the sea, which is breathtaking at Tulum, I watched some bees really working a flower on a palmetto-type tree. We had not put on swimsuits, so did not go down to the water to swim, but it would have been very refreshing. As we made our way around the site (me trying to stay in what little shade there was as much as possible), we decided the mystery of the classical Mayan disappearance was solved—they all died of heat stroke! I simply cannot envision people hauling all those stones and constructing the temples and other buildings in that intense heat.
When we went to leave Tulum, a group was coming in, so we had to wait at the narrow entrance for a break in the incoming crowd. While we stood there, I noticed a distinguished looking gentleman in a very white shirt. His nametag indicated he was one of the archaeologists in charge of the site. He quipped, “Pink Panther—Tulum...Tulum...Tulum, Tulum, Tulum,” which was rather amusing. Had I been feeling better, I would have engaged him in conversation. As it was, we managed to dart through the entrance and make our escape.
We sat on the steps and I said there was no way I was walking back. Just at that moment, the tram arrived. We promptly perched ourselves on a seat. Of course, the driver asked for our tickets. We said that we had walked in and just wanted to take the tram back. Okay, 10 pesos each. Fine. I think I would have paid 50 pesos at that point. What was funny was this guy spoke like the stereotypical Mexican from a 1950’s film, with very exaggerated English: “Hu hab dee teekeets? Noo? Hokay, 10 paysoos.” Steve and I got a good giggle out of that. I’ll also bet that’s 20 pesos that never made it to the cashier’s office.
Once back at the mall, we bought a bottle of cold water. Again, I had nearly emptied my liter bottle on the site, and we were there for a lot less time than at Chichén. Then we looked at the various shops. Well, once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. Somewhere, there is a factory pumping out glass and plastic pyramids at the rate of a 100 per second. While there were some unique crafts, like the colorful paintings on leather, most of the stuff was mass-produced tourist crap. And, of course, we got the usual “special deal for you,” along with “buy two and get a better price.” I didn’t even want one of the damn things, let alone two!
As we were trying to make our escape from the mall, one fellow worked very hard trying to sell Steve a hat. All the hats were too small for Steve’s head, but this vendor kept trying, finally perching a cheesy tourist sombrero on Steve’s head. I took a photo and the vendor joked, “Five dollars for the photo,” to which I laughed and replied, “Yeah, right.” We finally got away from the guy.
I did not rate the bathrooms at Tulum, although I’m sure they were adequate, because they wanted 2 pesos to use them. We were not that far away from COA, so we passed. We found a taxi and discovered that it would be 150 pesos back to the hotel. So it really was the same going and coming.
Upon our return to COA, we dashed off to el baño and then sat at the Turtle Bar, drinking some cerveza and chatting with various people. My lunch at Arrecifes was not very good, but I don’t know if that was because of the food or my cold. At least we enjoyed Gaby and Johnny singing. We shortly went to our room and prepared for the beach. We had put our towels out before we left for Tulum, so our palapa was waiting for us.
We snorkeled and found some more shells. It’s not easy snorkeling with a cold, but by golly we did it. I played with a small crab I found in the water. He tickled my hand walking on it. I put him back down and took his picture, too. We had a lovely afternoon on the beach, lazing around, snorkeling, and napping.
Jorge showed up, then later his friend George came by. Jorge introduced George to us; apparently George used to work at COA. George was an interesting fellow, nice looking. He didn’t say a whole lot, but seemed to constantly have a placid smile on his face. George played with Mishka, lifting her up by all four legs. The dog just ate the attention up! Steve arranged with Jorge to go fishing the next morning at 7 a.m.
Dinner wasn’t really good. Even I am getting tired of pasta, and it’s one of my favorite foods. We kind of felt like if COA were going to cater to the Italians, they should do it in one restaurant, not both of them. On the other hand, I believe there is only one kitchen, so COA may be stuck between a rock and a hard place there.
Gaby and Johnny performed again at the Akumal Bar. They really are very good. Juan Jose said he’d be off for the next 3 days, so we made sure to get a picture of me with my “instructor.” Then it was “kah pay sis utial tik bim” and off to bed.
With Steve’s early fishing appointment, I need to make sure I wake up at dawn like I’ve been doing...
Submitted by: D. Stevens -- dragon5@fullnet.net
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