Valladolid

This was to be our entry into the Classical Mayan culture, and has turned out to be that and more. It is a city of some 60,000, and I am told has seven universities, having become the centre of learning for the entire Yucatan.

Some thoughts about the city. A strange (to us Canadians) mix of old and new, of rich and poor. You will be walking along a street, pass a large Hacienda with gates, one or two fancy cars in the driveway, and elaborate house facades. Right next door is a small house, right on the street, with door open to reveal a dishevelled interior full of old furniture and things in some state of repair. Some are painted in bright colours, some are plain stucco. Some vacant lots,


The picture is of the Calzada de los Frailes (Boulevard of the Friars), one of the historic, restored, streets in the Sisal area of the city. In this area, the houses all seem to be well-kept.

And then there are the churches, some of which date to the mid-sixteenth century.


This one is in the main square, and from the sixteenth century, revised somewhat from the original after it was "desecrated" by revolutionaries in one of the wars of liberation. It faces an amazing public square, which is always busy as far as we can tell, with people old and young, romantic and familial, traditional and modern. There are some sellers in the park, but mostly it is filled with people enjoying themselves.

Today is Sunday, and one of our hopes is to go to this square in the evening. Apparently, after the evening mass is finished, people come to the square for dancing and general jollity. I can hardly wait.

But first, we have had a wonderful breakfast at a restaurant call Yerba Buena de Sisal, visited the local Convent of San Bernardino of Sisal, again dating to the sixteenth century and still used for mass (although much of it is now a museum).


We had intended to go to a Hacienda and cenote for lunch and swim after this, but when we got there, we found we were not that hungry, and just didn't think we could do it justice. So we left for the town of Uayma, and another church (surprise!)


But we also saw a town which still operated in much the same way that it had for centuries. There were houses made of wood stems and thatched roofs. Turkeys and chickens in the streets. And stray dogs everywhere.








We felt we were into one more town, and headed towards the town of Xocen. And on the way, we saw a sign for a cenote (Xla'kaj), and decided on the spur of the moment to go in. What a great choice that turned out to be. We were alone, which allowed me to go swimming without a suit (Darlene was shocked, and wore her suit). And there were little fish which nibbled at our toes as we stood to get in. But it was magical: light shining down, followed by a slight shower; trees at the top with roots drooping down the sixty feet to the water; stalactites formed on the overhanging stone, with ferns growing on them; palms on the side of the wall; and turquoise, unbelievably turquoise, water.









Our day was pretty complete, but we still had a further item on the agenda: the dancing in the square. We are taking our host out for supper and then going to the dance. Could be a late night!

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Location:Calle 54A,Valladolid,Mexico