2014 Latin America Adventure: Day 12 - 13 Merida ( Cave swims and a Mexican Birthday BASH )

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Day 12 was spent on the bus for 9 hours (550 km) between Palenque and Merida, a pleasant journey in itself, if not for the slightly upset stomach. A few others are off colours as well, looks like it was spreading.

After a nice, but simple dinner with the group, I went out to catch up on the night colours around the zocalo.

On the next day, a few of us took a trip to explore the Cuzama Cenotes, 60 km southeast of Merida. Cenotes ( in local language) means, sinkholes, of which the province of Yucatan has plenty of.

These sinkholes are formed by water corrosion of the lime stone geology in the area.

We were led into a bush area, by horse drawn railed carts for about 5 Kms. And this place is full of holes, if one is not familiar, walking around is amounting to suicide akin to walking on glaciers and its cavets.

We were guided into a hole which has a large tree’s roots leading its way down, and had a swim in a little pool there, unfortunately too dark to have any sensible photos.

Unfortunately, one of our members, young Gretchen is showing signs of sickness, and was unable to come in.

But the next one was huge, and a huge underground pool was. The most stunning feature of this cave, is not only of its huge cavity, but also the various sky lights in the form of holes, those which can slip the unwary from above.

And the water temperature was a perfect mid-twenties.

By the time we were ready to depart for the third cave, Gretchen was showing serious signs of illness, and it was so alarming, that we must abandon the trip, and return to town to seek medical attention pronto. She seem to have improved upon reaching the hotel, what a relief.

I then went for a walk around the zocalo area, the went back to the hotel ready for the birthday bash for Rebecca, our Dear Tour Leader.

Rebecca took with her a “duck” all the way from San Cristobal, which survived the two long bus trips, San Cristabol to Palenque, then Palenque to here, save a “decapitation”, which was duly stitched back.

We were having a “Pinata” which is the “duck”, a Mexican style birthday bash.

And it was a bash “alright”, we nearly had a very “Funny Video” moment when Rebecca, on count of three, bashed the Pinata with a large rod. It broke, and went flying my way, hitting the sheen of my right leg....what a bash !! It’s still painful after more than a week.

There must a moral in this story about breaking a Pinata.

When the Pinata was finally "killed" by Rebecca ‘s retry, Mexican lollies where flying out, the custom is to pick whatever we like. I like a chilli tasted toffle one.