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.
Don’t miss our latest newsletter!
Alma Libre Bookstore is closing for the season. It is that time of year again. Today is our last day open, so stop in and say “so long”.
We will be packing up our truck and travel trailer soon and heading north to Calgary for the summer to go back to our day jobs in TV. Keep an eye out here as we will try to post updates from the road as we drive north through some amazing areas of Mexico.
We will miss our friends and our lives here in Puerto Morelos, but we will be back before you know it. Thank you for your support through out our season. Watch for Alma Libre Bookstore to open again in mid-November when we return with tons of new stock.
Hasta Pronto!
How about a nice relaxing day at the beach in Puerto Morelos. This beach babe is certainly taking it easy. Recently a unknown sand sculptor visited our beach and this was some of the work he left behind.
It’s amazing what a true artist can do with when they “play” in the sand.
And why not throw in a little crocodile humour. After all it is just another day at the beach. Ouch!
Playa Norte Isla Mujeres
We recently took a day off to act tourists and visit Isla Mujeres (the Island of Women). Isla Mujeres is a laid-back island off the coast of Cancun with a very Caribbean feel.
There is a “town” portion of the island with many shops and restaurants, the bulk of them on a pedestrian walkway called Hidalgo.
This was the slowest moving cart on the island.
But the fun thing to do is rent a golf cart and explore the whole island.
There is a turtle sanctuary, where turtles are bred and fed before they are released into the ocean. You will see a lot of turtles from tiny babies to very large adults. 30 pesos to gets you in, another few pesos will get you some turtle food.
This church has the best view ever!
Wandering around the town is the main activity. Isla has wooden buildings, which are very rare on the mainland. There is also an opportunity to swim with dolphins or visit Garrafón Natural Reef Park which has good snorkeling and ziplines. For more information on day trips to Isla Mujers check out Alma Libre Bookstore newsletter.
Taking selfies while driving…not a good idea.
Chairs set for party in Valladolid
It’s Friday! Time to relax and enjoy the weekend. See you Monday!
