Friday, 28 March 2008

Cozumel, Mexico

We spent the better part of yesterday on the Yucatan Peninsula. The ship docked at Cozumel, the small island jst off the mainland and we took a ferry over to the Eastern Yucatan peninsula to visit the magnificent Tulum Mayan ruins. These were just a few of the things that I saw...... Even though I live in the Caribbean, sea this blue is just as thrilling for us. This was such a typical holiday scene. It is also the beach that lies just below the Mayan ruins and I couldn't help but think of all the human sacrifices that this beautiful vista has witnessed. Sobering really. Human sacrifice is not something that I think about every day but the fact that it existed among a people who were highly academic and intelligent made me think lots about the power of ritual and the ability of a whole civilization to move to the taboo with apparent ease once it's justified by religious ritual. Makes you think.

The side of a hand painted plate.
These wonderful chess figures are amazing in their detail.
This looked a lot like something that I know as "Scambled Egg Cassia" but will have to get home to check my Tropica.


This balcony scene is so Mexico, it's almost a caricature.
A Mexican God in one of the the craft markets.


A bunch of bananas. There are bigger and more impressive than the ones we get at home.




5 comments:

Anonymous said...

You got a great blog, Sharon. I've become a regular visitor.

mountainear said...

If sea as blue as that thrills a native of the Caribbean just think what it does for a northern European surrounded as we are by chilly water the colour of lead. Brr.

More lovely photographs too.

Zoƫ said...

I came across you via Blotanical, and find the vibrancy of the colours amazing ! Are those peppercorns below the Bananas?

My Chutney Garden said...

I'm not sure if those are peppercorns, Zoe. I'm ashamed to say I don't know what a peppercorn tree/shrub(?) looks like.
Thanks for coming by,
Sharon

Anonymous said...

I loved Tulum when I was there years ago, it seems to have grown a lot. Your photos capture it splendidly.