Misplaced phone = cobbled together Mexico post

I feel bereft - I have (hopefully) left my orange-clad iphone at work. I don't want to think that I haven't left it there. Eek.

I had some absolutely average photos on there, ready to make some posts that I'm planning look a bit more pwetty. Instead, may I present the back-up plan.

We spent an hour or so in the town of Valladolid on the way to Chichen Itza. It's one of the oldest towns in the Yucatan Peninsula that was founded by some of the Spanish "Peninsular" settlers/conquistadors.

Here is their cathedral from the main square and then the main altar inside. 

It's a Franciscan cathedral which means it is an austere, simple Cathedral - look at the plain white interior.

I like visiting cathedrals and churches when I'm on the tourist run.

Valladolid's cathedral is attractive because it seems honest, humble, down-to-earth.

 

On the other hand, we visited St Peter's Basilica a couple of years ago and it's a wonderful place. It is so imposing from outside and the interior so lavish, for me it left as big an impression as on the devoted pilgrim visitors.

St Peter's square does lack palm trees though..Check out those 2 bad boys in front of the cathedral at Valladolid.

It was nice to spend a bit of time in Valladolid to see a Mexican country town. We had only enough time to walk around the town square. 

If you go to Chichen Itza it is very likely that you will stop here too. The main square was choc-full of tour buses.

 Next stop was a cenote just outside Valladolid. The only natural light was from this hole in the ceiling, they also have it lit up with electric lighting to allow easy access to the cave for we tourists.
The water in the cave was deep and it was so clear. This photo really shows up the blue of the water which might be caused by the high calcium content?

I was nervous that the water would be freezing cold and that I wouldn't warm up after taking my dip. None of it, the water was tepid - according to a diving watch it was about 24degrees. It felt like a little explorer in there - but with about 30 other people - but it was nice and I would definitely hang out there if I lived locally.

 Look at godzilla here. Sunbathing at Xel-Ha, which was a natural harbour used by the Mayas, but is now a natural environment water park. We did snorkelling, lazed about on some rubber rings and went on the zipwires.

It was a really relaxing and fun day, chilling to the max at the end in the hammock jungle. I really need a hammock in my life. A hammock with a waiter or an able and willing boyfriend on hand to provide alternate glasses of water and pina coladas.

I rarely talk about holidays because I feel I can't express well enough how wonderful everything was. I'm not sure I've done it this time but I did my best.

Fingers crossed my mobi is waiting for me on the desk tomorrow. 

xx Sunny