Cancun - El Meco - March 21 - 23

Friday, off by taxi to El Meco, a Mayan Ruin 40 minutes north of us. It's not really big, but something we've not seen. The front desk told us it would be 600 pesos, but the taxi driver said 700.

El Meco - Mayan Ruins just across the Bay

The original name of El Meco remains shrouded in mystery, but the nickname traces back to a local resident known for his bowlegged stride. This site, once a flourishing fishing village around 300 AD, witnessed a rebirth in the late 10th century. Structures erected between the 13th and 16th centuries stood testament to the villagers’ reverence for the Mayan rain god Chaac. The central pyramid temple, known as El Castillo, served not only as a religious hub but also a navigational beacon for mariners. El Meco was a bustling port and a religious nucleus, much like Puerto Juárez today, until the Spanish arrival in the 16th century cast a shadow of abandonment over it.

It's not a very big site, but so interesting. The visitor/ticket center is all new construction. They're still planting everywhere. The grounds of the site are completely redone. We're fortunate to be the only ones there touring for the 40 minutes. Just as we were leaving a two bus loads of school kids were descending onto the site.

All the pillars you see were the supports for the second floor level.

Blue staining from the pictographs that used to be on the walls with the original plaster.

It's very peaceful here.

After touring we went back to the ticket counter and asked him to call a taxi. The guy told us just to take the bus right outside. We had to take the R28 to the junction and then get the R6 to the Mercado 28 flea market downtown. Quite an adventure. The buses are really bigger vans with a large door and a circle of benchs. $1 USD each and we are on our way. Fortunately, another passenger who spoke English told us where to get off and catch the next one. He also transferred onto the next bus with us and told us where to get off for the market. The taxi cost $40 USD and the bus $6 for both of us lol The bus took us through what seemed to be back streets of houses and businesses. We noticed that there was no garbage everywhere like in PV.

We took a bus that looked like this.

Hotel Zone Bus

Everything looked pretty similar to the markets in PV

We wandered through but didn't buy anything. The usual people hassling you to buy, yelling "real cheap, how many you want, what you look for" ..... after half an hour we had enough, so went to the tourist stand to find out what bus and where to get back to the hotel zone and La Isla Mall. Ended up walking 4 blocks to catch the bus, but it was fine. 

Got dropped off at the mall and waited 20 minutes for the Ryoshi Restaurant to open. Another fabulous meal. 

Back to the resort by bus about 2 pm. We relaxed on our deck for a bit. Later, Ray went down to the Buffet for a bite and I stayed in the room and ate some yogurt. Still full from lunch.

Saturday is a stay at the resort day in our spot above the beach. Both of us are still coughing up stuff. This cold just won't seem to let go. We don't feel sick though, just sound like it. lol Dinner's at the French Restaurant again. Ray ordered the Coq Co Vin that was delicious and I only had 2 different soups.