I am currently in Mexico on a four month long trip with Victoria through Central America to make a documentary film about shade grown coffee.
The journey started in Cancún and took us through the Yucatán Peninsula, offering us countless tacos, smiling faces, slight tans and majestic views. Here are some of my best shots:
Up and away with Air Berlin from Copenhagen to Cancún.
Somewhere over Germany I looked out the window and saw this …Jetpack?
First stop on the peninsula was the sleepy fishing village Puerto Morelos.
From day one we were greeted by magnificent sunsets. A photographers paradise!
The city and the Caribbean from above.
Puerto Morelos has this beautiful swamp in its backyard.
Even though most of Playa del Carmen mostly feels like Disneyland with a beach, you don’t have to venture far off the main street to see authentic mexican life. This is not an example of that, though, but merely workers carrying away seaweed so the beach can look postcard ready for the tourists.
Not exactly a pre-historic site, but impressive none the less!
Another (impressive!) show for the tourists: “Danza de los Voladores”, four young men tied with ropes descending to the ground from a 30-meter pole accompanied by music and dancing.
Next stop on our way through the peninsula was Tulum, a well preserved maya site dramatically situated on the coast of the Caribbean sea.
While visiting the ruins it’s possible to take a dip in the ocean from the small and pretty beach.
To me, the ruins were mostly interesting because of their setting which was nothing short of magnificient.
The God of Winds Temple.
The Ixmoja Pyramid in Cobá. 42 metres tall, towering over the thick jungle.
And the view was worth every step!
One of the goals at the Mayan ball court. Presently there is not agreement about whether the winners or the losers were sacrificed to the gods, but it is sure that heads rolled when the match was over.
Lake Cobá.
The cenotes on the peninsula are spectacular. This is Tankach Ha – “ha” meaning water in Mayan.
And this is Choo Ha. It felt even more magical as we were the only people there!
Crystal blue (and cold!) water. The cenotes were sometimes used for sacrificial offerings by the ancient Maya. I would love to visit even more of these mystical sinkholes
Next stop: Mérida, the largest city of the Yucatán Peninsula.
The Mérida Cathedral, one of the oldest cathedrals in all of the Americas. It looked stunning with the afternoon sun on it.
Sunday night dancing at the square.
A very lively city with lots to see and do. The restaurant “Apoala” is particularly recommended.
From Mérida we took a day trip to Celestún on the Gulf of Mexico to see…
Flamingos! The wetland reserve surrounding the city is the winter home to vast flocks of the birds.
Back in Mérida, greeted by lovely pastels.
Last stop on the peninsula: Campeche. Here a miniature version of the walled city shows the Independence Square and the cathedral church of La Concepcion.
And here’s the real thing!
The city is filled with colonial architecture.
And colored houses.
…And sunsets. Of course. Next stop from the peninsula was Villahermosa in the state of Tabasco, but I’ll save that until next time!