Tulum is a place very close to Akumal that has a well visited historic Mayan site. The guide says: “For a bunch of old stone buildings, Tulum is a particularly impressive site, perched as it is high on top of limestone cliffs that spill down to the turquoise waters of the Caribbean below. … If there are not too many people around it’s a wonderful feeling to sit in the sun on the temple’s platform with the waves crashing below and imagine what it must have been like years ago. … It’s a Late Post-classic city, which means that the style of architecture is nowhere near the complexity of the Classic period. By this time in history, the building arts and stone-cutting skills of the Maya had degraded so they used much heavy stucco to cover the rough spots. But what Tulum lacks in architectural style it more than makes up for in location. …”
We hitched a ride with Mark and Jean, who were on their way to their property several hours south, to Tulum, and so arrived just before 8 am. This proved to be the very best time of day to visit this site. When we had finished having a good wander about the hordes just started arriving. What a relief to escape and also realize how fortunate our timing was.
While the guide book I quote from talks about sitting on the temple’s platform, there is no opportunity now to touch or walk in the buildings, they are all roped off. An interesting incident happened very shortly after we arrived. As we stopped to take our first few pictures near one of the buildings, we noticed a couple who were disregarding the obvious “don’t touch or go here” of the ropes bordering the paths. The woman blithely stepped across the barrier and sat on the steps to have her picture taken. I thought to say something, but was still contemplating what, when she crossed the path and did the same thing on the other side. At this point we noticed a lawn tractor on the path down the way. The worker jumped off the tractor, blew his whistle sharply, and then started to rapidly tell this couple in no uncertain terms that they were to get out. He used Spanish and English, flipping back and forth just to ensure that whatever language they understood they got the point. The couple tried to say they didn’t understand, that they didn’t realize, and I don’t remember what else, but the employee was having no excuses. At the very least the woman was going to have to leave for her unpardonable transgression. He basically herded her out the exit that was fairly close at hand, all the while berating her. Ruth and I almost applauded his actions! It was nice to see such decisive protection of the site. So pay attention to the rules!
