We drove eastwards from Maxcanu through Muna where I took this photo, then on to Ticul and then south to the second set of underground caves, Las Grutas Loltun. There is no question that this is real Mexico and that these are typical older men passing time sitting on the sides of the street enjoying each other’s company as they keep up on the comings and goings of many of the townspeople who pass the town square or zocalo.
In the town of Ticul we stopped to investigate an artisan’s shop where Mayan replicas were made. The man’s skills were incredible. In the shop we saw the range of his work from small statues duplicating the originals now housed in museums to painted turtle shells. I wanted to have a set of these masks to take home to the three muskateers in Jamestown, North Dakota. But, in the end, I setteled for a photograph. The artisan’s stone work also included carved stone murals depicting gods, Mayan history and scenes found at various Mayan ruins.
We then turned south driving through a series of small villages before we came to a change in the land. We left the forested flat lands and entered into a region of hills.
It was in the hills that we came across the sign telling us that we had arrived at the Loltun Caves. While waiting for the next guided tour, we decided to try a meal at a small restaurant across the road from the caves. It was a good meal and a good way to spend our waiting time.
This tour was quite different from the tour we did in the morning at Calcehtok. We found ourselves in a group of seven people. The caves themselves were much easier to walk through with the path illuminated and free from obstacles.
This made for better quality photos when we were deep underground far from any natural light source. The caves went deeper that our first set of caves at Calcehtok. Our guide provided us with interesting information including the practice of sacrifices, usually with children being the sacrifices for blood offerings.
Of course, being who I am, I wandered off from the group and headed into a zone which we were not allowed. I was just following a trail leading to natural light. And, as you can see, Maureen is captured in a ray of sunlight that enters deep into the earth.
The time passed quickly, too quickly. So much to see and too little time to see it. That’s the problem when involved in larger tours where everything works on a timeclock. Once we emerged back out into the sunlight outside of the cave, we realised that we were mentally full. It was time to go home and prepare for the next part of our three-day journey. We had a two and a half hour drive to get back to the villa.
Next stop, Celestun and more flamingos.