Our Great Adventure: Valladolid Day 352 05/09/2015

After another vegan breakfast at Mediomundo we packed our bags and got a taxi to the bus terminal. We were both really glad that we'd decided to visit Merida and have enjoyed our time here. From here we were travelling to Valladolid, about half way between Merida and the Caribbean coast. We had a short wait at the terminal and then set off east. The journey took just under 3 hours back along the main highway that runs to Cancun. Just as we got off the bus the skies went black and there was a horrendous thunderstorm. Luckily we managed to shelter from the downpour which lasted about 15 minutes. Our hotel, Tia Micha, was just a short distance from the terminal near the main square so once the rain stopped we set off walking. We dropped off our bags and went to the Bazar Municipal for lunch, both having huevos rancheros to make up for the lack of eggs over the last few days! Afterwards we went to hire bikes and cycled just over 7km to near Dzitnup to visit 2 cenotes. The peninsular is basically a huge limestone plateau with no overground rivers. There are over 6000 cenotes (sinkholes) that connect the underground water ways considered by the Mayan as secret gateways to the underworld. The temperature was very hot although we got a little bit of breeze as we cycled out of town and along the cycle way, had a short detour down the wrong road before turning off the main highway to reach the cenotes. The sky darkened again and we could hear thunder in the distance but luckily the rain held off. We visited Xkeken first, a massive limestone formation with stalactites hanging from the ceiling. To enter you have to go down a set of steps carved out of the rock. Inside it's artificially lit although still quite dark with only a small hole letting in natural light. We were soon in the refreshing cool water swimming above fish and under bats and birds. It was a very surreal and fun experience. From here we walked across the road to Samula, again accessed by steps cut from the rock. Alamo roots used to stretch all the way down to the water. After another swim and a refreshing coke we set off back to town, arriving just as the rain started to fall. Cycling was a great way to visit the cenotes and they are amazing formations and really fun place to swim. We dropped off the bikes and attempted to shelter from the rain as we made our way back to our hotel, deciding to stop for a drink, and try out some Mexican beer that wasn't Sol or Corona, whilst the storm passed by. Back at the hotel we watched the storm from the small terrace outside our room. In the evening we had dinner at Conate 1910 which had been recommended to us by the guy we rented the bikes from. The building was once the meeting place for revolutionaries in the 20th century and is now home to a restaurant that serves amongst other things very tasty burritos which we both enjoyed.