Mehling.org: Sian Ka'an

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March 17, 2008

Sian Ka'an

3/17 (Monday)

We had to be up fairly early to meet up with the "eco-tour" we had booked two days previous. We met the van across the highway from the hostel. Most of the tour group will get picked up en route to the "eco lodge", but we do get to meet one of the group immediately -- Celine is a 21 year old French girl who is on break from her studies in Puebla, Mx. Both Hol and I are amazed this little girl is backpacking around on her own in Mexico. We stopped at various beach front hotels gathering the rest of the tour -- many cater to "westerners" with offers of yoga and pilates. There's a few touting their "eco friendliness". I tend to think these are ploys to attract tourists. We later learn that at least one (probably more) hotel, the Playa Papaya, offers individual beach cabanas with outdoor showers -- sounds like fun.

After gathering everyone together at the eco lodge, we take a short hike through the jungle to the boat launch in the lagoon. We ride across the first lagoon and into the mangrove and saw grass canals. We stop here and there to observe various plants, birds and sights. We spot a couple sting rays swimming in the brackish water. We end up in the second lagoon, which is fresh water before turning back into the canals and stopping at a small Mayan ruin (a guard tower). The guide gives us life jackets to sit on and we float down the canal for a bit, enjoying the cool waters and getting up close and personal with the flora and fauna. After a quick snack of fruit and water on the boats, they take use back through the canals and across the lagoons out to the boca riviera??? where the lagoon feeds into the ocean. The view is awesome.

After more boating through canals we end up back at the eco lodge for a late lunch with the group. We sit with Celine and a couple of women from the Seattle area (Molly and Sandra). After lunch we have some time to enjoy the lodge. The roof of the structure is an observation tower offering a 360 degree view -- the position of the lodge puts the turquoise caribe to the east and the olive green lagoon to the west with only a small strip of jungle between us and the lagoon. We walked down to the beach and took a dip in the ocean before taking the van to a cenote just on the edge of the reserve area. The water is a bit chilly to start with, but refreshing and worth the experience. This cenote is basically at ground level, surrounded by Yucatan jungle. We swim for a bit and another group of Mexican's on holiday join us and we talk with them for a bit before heading back.

After returning to the hostel we relaxed in the courtyard, reading and relaxing before heading into town for dinner. We decided on La Nave for dinner, an Italian place with very strong margaritas, but first we found a place foe David to get his hair done -- not *the* place, but it would have to do. Sandra and Molly are sharing a pizza at La Nave and we say hello before ordering an olive, cheese and meat plate. After sharing some other interesting dishes (and more margaritas), we headed down the street to a cantina playing old 50's movies on a big screen. After another margarita (not as good), we met David's alter ego, El Rapido Cocodrilo. We realized it was St. Patrick's Day -- better pick up some beer to take back to the hostel.

Back at the hostel a big group was sitting out in the courtyard drinking and talking. When Hol turned down a drink, they asked her why and she revealed that she was embarazada. Hernan (a true charmer) from Argentina suggested that everyone help pick a name for the baby... The girls immediately take to this idea and Tamara gets some paper to write them all down. Everyone goes around the circle and shares their choices. They were really sweet -- and we now have baby name suggestions from France, Australia, Switzerland, Argentina, Spain and Mexico. Many thanks to our new friends: Romain, Emilie, Owen, Suzanne, Tamara, Hernan, David, Anne, Marisol and Franke. The names, in no particular order were:

Nizara, Sofia, Zachary, Cielle, Sarah, Miguel, Fiorella ("little flower"), Julie (French), Ashley, Mana (for a girl), Marie (French), Gabriel (for a boy), America, Leonardo, Lou (for a girl), Esteban, Hannah, Connor, Alejandro, Alejandra, Zitlali (Aztec for "star"), Juan, Matco, Elina, Ka'ala, Santino.

Photo Album:
http://mehling.org/gallery/v/travels/2008_mexico/Day+4/

Posted by ben at March 17, 2008 10:00 PM


« Coba Ruins \| Main \| See you in nine days » March 17, 2008 Sian Ka'an 3/17 (Monday) We had to be up fairly early to meet up with the "eco-tour" we had booked two days previous. We met the van across the highway from the hostel. Most of the tour group will get picked up en route to the "eco lodge", but we do get to meet one of the group immediately -- Celine is a 21 year old French girl who is on break from her studies in Puebla, Mx. Both Hol and I are amazed this little girl is backpacking around on her own in Mexico. We stopped at various beach front hotels gathering the rest of the tour -- many cater to "westerners" with offers of yoga and pilates. There's a few touting their "eco friendliness". I tend to think these are ploys to attract tourists. We later learn that at least one (probably more) hotel, the Playa Papaya, offers individual beach cabanas with outdoor showers -- sounds like fun. After gathering everyone together at the eco lodge, we take a short hike through the jungle to the boat launch in the lagoon. We ride across the first lagoon and into the mangrove and saw grass canals. We stop here and there to observe various plants, birds and sights. We spot a couple sting rays swimming in the brackish water. We end up in the second lagoon, which is fresh water before turning back into the canals and stopping at a small Mayan ruin (a guard tower). The guide gives us life jackets to sit on and we float down the canal for a bit, enjoying the cool waters and getting up close and personal with the flora and fauna. After a quick snack of fruit and water on the boats, they take use back through the canals and across the lagoons out to the boca riviera??? where the lagoon feeds into the ocean. The view is awesome. After more boating through canals we end up back at the eco lodge for a late lunch with the group. We sit with Celine and a couple of women from the Seattle area (Molly and Sandra). After lunch we have some time to enjoy the lodge. The roof of the structure is an observation tower offering a 360 degree view -- the position of the lodge puts the turquoise caribe to the east and the olive green lagoon to the west with only a small strip of jungle between us and the lagoon. We walked down to the beach and took a dip in the ocean before taking the van to a cenote just on the edge of the reserve area. The water is a bit chilly to start with, but refreshing and worth the experience. This cenote is basically at ground level, surrounded by Yucatan jungle. We swim for a bit and another group of Mexican's on holiday join us and we talk with them for a bit before heading back. After returning to the hostel we relaxed in the courtyard, reading and relaxing before heading into town for dinner. We decided on La Nave for dinner, an Italian place with very strong margaritas, but first we found a place foe David to get his hair done -- not the place, but it would have to do. Sandra and Molly are sharing a pizza at La Nave and we say hello before ordering an olive, cheese and meat plate. After sharing some other interesting dishes (and more margaritas), we headed down the street to a cantina playing old 50's movies on a big screen. After another margarita (not as good), we met David's alter ego, El Rapido Cocodrilo. We realized it was St. Patrick's Day -- better pick up some beer to take back to the hostel. Back at the hostel a big group was sitting out in the courtyard drinking and talking. When Hol turned down a drink, they asked her why and she revealed that she was embarazada. Hernan (a true charmer) from Argentina suggested that everyone help pick a name for the baby... The girls immediately take to this idea and Tamara gets some paper to write them all down. Everyone goes around the circle and shares their choices. They were really sweet -- and we now have baby name suggestions from France, Australia, Switzerland, Argentina, Spain and Mexico. Many thanks to our new friends: Romain, Emilie, Owen, Suzanne, Tamara, Hernan, David, Anne, Marisol and Franke. The names, in no particular order were: Nizara, Sofia, Zachary, Cielle, Sarah, Miguel, Fiorella ("little flower"), Julie (French), Ashley, Mana (for a girl), Marie (French), Gabriel (for a boy), America, Leonardo, Lou (for a girl), Esteban, Hannah, Connor, Alejandro, Alejandra, Zitlali (Aztec for "star"), Juan, Matco, Elina, Ka'ala, Santino. Photo Album: http://mehling.org/gallery/v/travels/2008_mexico/Day+4/ Posted by ben at March 17, 2008 10:00 PM		Bookmarks Ben's Resume Ben's Lists Mehling Photo Album Flickr Photo Album Recently Archived Cozumal and Playa Palancar Akumal Desperately Seeking Lodging See you in nine days Sian Ka'an Coba Ruins Tulum Ruins Finally! 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