From the monthly archives: May 2014
Many people ask us about our drive from through Mexico, so I thought I would share the route we take. This is not the shortest route, going straight up the coast through Tampico is about 200 kilometers (120 miles) shorter, but it is a much more scenic route with much better highways and nicer stops. This will be our 12th return trip (that’s 24 trips up and back for those of you that are bad at math), so I would like to say that we have become experts on the trip, but you never become an expert at driving in Mexico. We have encountered so many shocking “road hazards” in our travels that I couldn’t even begin to write them all down.
Everything from trucks and horses….
…to driving beside this guy!
So off we go! We are starting our 2,745km (1704 miles) journey, and that’s just to the US border, we will keep you posted and go into more detail about our trip from the road. Be sure to check back here to follow along.
Rob Birce took these pictures on one of our stoles down the beach in Puerto Morelos. These are just a few of the birds we see in our area. Being a kid from the Alberta, it is still amazing to me that I live in a place where pelicans regularly fly by. Enjoy!
This was a rare siting of what I believe to be a swallow tailed kite at the beach. He looks like he had a rough night.
Two loons taking it easy.
This guy let Rob get nice and close to take his picture.
But only after he dried himself off in the sun.
A couple of seagulls checking out the beach.
Two Frigatebird souring high. Have a great weekend!
If you haven’t been to the ruin of Ek Balam you are missing out on one of the Yucatan’s great wonders. Located just 20 minutes north of Valladolid or 51km from Chichen Itza, Ek Balam (which means Black Jaguar in Mayan) is still relatively unknown to tourists. Restoration of this site only began in 1997. 
The city was at the height of it’s importance between 600-900AD, the Late Classic period. The site was abandoned for reasons unknown after which it the jungle took over the site burring it under thick foliage. As with all sites in the Yucatan, it was first thought to be hills until explores starting digging down to find the treasure below.
Much of the site is still being uncovered, but what you can see is amazing. It houses one of the last pyramids, Acropolis, in the area which you can still climb. It also has many exquisite examples of detailed glyphs and frescoes.
Currently it is one of the least crowded sites in the area, but it is quickly becoming popular with tourists.
If you are looking for the complete Mayan experience you can spend the night in the local village of Ek Balam. There fellow Calgarian, Lee Christie has the lovely echo hotel, Genesis. She offers classes in traditional Maya cooking, tours of the artisans in the area and nature trips to caves and cenotes in the area.
Recently I have opened my email to find some of my favourite locations in Mexico being featured in spring fashion layouts.
Club Monaco is doing collaborations this season with many designers including Valladolid’s own Francesca Bonato and Nicolas Malleville of Coqui Coqui Hotel, Spa and Perfumes. You can read Francesca and Nicolas’ story in this article about the New York Times a few years ago.
Their chic collection has a distinct Yucatecan flair with just a hint of beach thrown in. It is called Hacienda Montaecristo. Named after their hacienda in the Yucatan.
Literally right next door to them in Valladolid is Dutzi Design. Duzti makes handbags out of recycled materials using local Mayan artisans. Her work was recently featured at Shop Latitude.
And just the other day I opened my mail to find this fashion layout for Anthropologie featuring the amazing city of Guanajato as the background. You can check out their video here. It is great to see some of these spectacular location being used.
Photos by Club Monaco, Dutzi & Anthropologie
Convent of San Francisco in Kikil, Yucatan
We are constantly amazed at the structures we come across while traveling through Mexico.
This is the former Convent of San Francisco located in Kikil, Yucatan. Kikil is a small village just north of Tizimín with a population of 85 men and 78 women at last count. You have to love a place that you can count the men and the woman with ease.
This amazing church is not one of a kind in the Yucatan, there are many of them thanks to the Caste Wars. We recommend reading “Caste Wars of the Yucatan” for more information on the shocking history of the area.
As for this church, it hasn’t been used in hundreds of years. As it stands right now, it might be kind of nice to spend time in a church were you can really look up to the heavens.
Today you will find this happy couple dancing their way along the Malecon in Puerto Vallarta much like they do everyday, not because it is Cinco de Mayo. Tourists ask us all the time about this holiday, which is largely just celebrated in the USA. We don’t hear much about it in the Yucatan. If you would like to know more about it, the International Business Times has a great article on “Is Cinco De Mayo Celebrated In Mexico?“. 
In the meantime it is a good excuse to have a margarita anyway! (like you really need an excuse?) Saludos!
Looks what’s in our backyard today! But you better check it out fast, this is a Hibiscus, the red ones are a favourite snack of the iguanas that hang out in our yard.
Looks like it is time to harvest our coconuts!
And this is a cutting I took from near Palenque, Chiapas. It is in the Bird of Paradise family, but I do not know the name of it. If you do, send me a comment.
Hope you can get outside and enjoy the weekend!
There are two amazing waterfalls, Aqua Azul and Misol Há, in the state of Chiapas. Aqua Azul is located just 69 kilometres past Palenque (a must see) on the road to San Cristóbal de las Casas (another must see). Both were packed with people swimming in them the day we were there. How Rob was able to get pictures without people in them I’ll never know.
The Cataratas de Agua Azul (Spanish for “Blue-water Falls”) is filled with beautiful blue water due to it’s high mineral content that comes from the limestone it cascades over as it fall into the pool below.
These pools make for great places to take a refreshing dip.
The Misol Há Waterfall with it’s thirty-meter (100 foot) drop is a stunning site when you first come upon it in the jungle. Only 20 kilometers past Palenque, it is an easy stop on your way to Agua Azul.
You are able to walk in behind the falls and look out through the water while a gentle mist cover you.
