In the land of Mayas-Cancun

I was sceptical at first when my wife told me about going to Mexico, but she managed to convince me. Mexico is famous for its vibrant blue water, ecosystems and its Mayan culture. The Mayan culture is still alive today. The biggest tourist attraction in Mexico is visiting the Mayan buildings and viewing their architecture.

I spent 14 days in Cancun, 40 years ago it was only a corn field with 2 inhabitants. It is currently a big city that attracts thousands of tourists. It has on offer many luxurious hotels and has its own airport. The city was in the beginning of its development during the early 1970s. Cancun is divided into 2 sections, downtown (the old town) and the hotel zones. 

5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen is a 5-mile long pedestrian-only walkway dedicated to catering to all of your touristic needs. You can find everything there. Food stores, restaurants, clothes shops, bars and souvenirs. 

Our first planned excursion was Tulum. Tulum is one of the most well known fortified sites of Maya. The ruins in Tulum are situated on a cliff-side overlooking the Caribbean Sea. In this old Mayan town you can admire the symbols stamped on the architecture of the buildings. In between these pyramids made of stone you can find hundreds of iguanas roaming freely. 

Another amazing experiences was driving through the Yucatan peninsula in order to reach the Cenotes. Cenotes are natural swimming holes formed by the collapse of porous limestone bedrock, which reveals groundwater pools. These caves offer crystal clear water which allow you to relax and take in the sights around you. I must say that the water is very cold, so be prepared. 

A lot of people that travel to Mexico are sacred to try the street food. I have two rules when it comes to street food. 1. There must be a fair amount of locals eating there. 2. The food must be aesthetically pleasing. But you may be a bit adventurous and try to bugs some streets vendors have on offer. my daughter tried a cricket a said it didn't taste too bad.  

Before the vacation I had doubts about the safety of the country. I fell into the trap set up by the media, which portrays the country as a dangerous place. Upon arrival I soon figured out the place we were in was a very safe and friendly area. 

My family and I also had the opportunity to try wakeboarding, for the first time, in a cable park. We went to the Riviera Maya Wakeboard Park. At first glance it appeared to be very easy, we were all laughing about it. After the first round, I barely managed to go 1 metre. I instantly fell into the water after the cable pulled me. I felt like the water was concrete. My arms, legs and neck hurt. After a couple of hours and multiple rounds I finally got the hang of it. I was able to do one lap of the course. I highly recommend this experience.

I can’t call a vacation successful unless I find time for karate. I obviously found time to train on the beach. One day we were walking along the beach and came across an old building that was in ruins. The plants growing around it gave it a mystical feel. Without any thought we decided to explore the building. It contained many open planned rooms, which overlooked the greenery and the sea. The best of both worlds. Lizards ran around the walls and the sky was filled with various species of birds. The architecture of the building was next to none. It really was a magical building, which held lots of secrets. The building made such an impression on us that we decided to train there everyday.