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.