Coba

Another day, another pyramid.  We visited the ruins at Coba, about half way between Chichen Itza and Tulum. It is a huge site, very extensive. We hiked around Coba on a "sacbe," ("white way") one of the ancient raised roads that connected Mayan cities in the Yucatan.  Archaeologists have identified one sacbe that is more than 60 kilometers long. They are paved with pale limestone, thus the name "white way. Something about a beautifully wide path lined with odd structures and winding through the deep forest reminded me very much of the Oregon Country Fair. Arly noticed it too. Down the millennia, we humans have always found reasons and places to gather.  Man is a gregarious animal.

The ball court at Coba was definitely more like a basketball court than like the football field at Chichen Itza.

Sequoia and Arly, master and mistress of Mayan ruins

 A Mayan arch.

The Watchtower, the second tallest structure.

Nohoch Mul, the tallest pyramid at Coba.

                                                

Mama climbing up.

   

The view from the top.

The view looking down

No handrails again, but there was an old ship's rope laid on the steps. I did an awkward side-step descent down the sketchiest sections, leaning over to hold the rope with one hand, my big ass pointed straight up in the air. I was wearing a neon green rain coat and you probably could see me from Cancun.

We hiked the two kilometers in to the pyramid, but by the time we finished the climb I was wet, muddy, sore as hell and trembling all over from our crazy adventures. Instead of hiking back out, we hailed one of the many pedicabs that cruise around the sacbes of Coba.  Pity the poor young man who had to haul us. 

From Coba we drove to Tulum. Finally the beach.