Chichen Itza – and Some Friendly Advice on How to Get There

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The seaside ruins of Tulum were amazing, no doubt about it. But they merely wet my appetite for ruins and what was to come. Heading out of Tulum and towards the inland Yucatan city of Valladolid, I had one thing on my mind – Chichen Itza. Continue reading “Chichen Itza – and Some Friendly Advice on How to Get There”

Beautiful Beaches and Mesmerizing Mayans in Tulum

DSCF1879 After our sweaty search for lodgings on Isla Mujeres the previous day, Austin and I decided to make reservations ahead of time in Tulum, the next stop on our Mexican tour. Arriving in Tulum it became quickly obvious the reservation hadn’t been necessary – most of the places we passed were maybe at half occupancy. The crowds of Cancun and Isla Mujeres were long gone now – it was official, we had escaped the tourist season. Continue reading “Beautiful Beaches and Mesmerizing Mayans in Tulum”

Textures of Tulum

More to come soon, but for now – here’s a teaser of my Tulum travels. Continue reading “Textures of Tulum”

Santo Domingo’s Zona Colonial

Founded in 1496 by Christopher Columbus’s brother Bartholomew, Santo Domingo is considered today to be the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas. It was the first seat of the Spanish colonial rule during their settlement of the new world and served as the launching point for a number of famous expeditions including those of Ponce De Leon, Diego Velazquez de Cuellar, Hernando Cortes, and Vasco Nunez de Balboa. It’s also a survivor, enduring hurricanes, pirates (Francis Drake captured the city in 1586 and held it for ransom), battles, invasions, occupations by France and Haiti, trades, dictators, and oppressive poverty. Continue reading “Santo Domingo’s Zona Colonial”