Does Costa Maya really exist?

Our final port.
,br> About a week before the cruise, we were researching Costa Maya. It's not actually a city or a town, just a port that was built a while ago to accommodate ships. It's near a small fishing village but that's about it nearby. However, there are several sets of Mayan ruins within striking distance. We thought we should do something, so we found an excursion that goes to the nearest ruins at Choco-choco-latti (actually Chacchoben) and then to a Mayan village for lunch.

The arrival time for the ship was 7 am, and we were to meet at the tour company an hour later. The tour was to be 5.5 hours, which should return us to the ship around 1:30 or so. Perfect. The map that the tour company sent said to allow 20-30 minutes to get there. We walk pretty fast, so we're on the 20 minute side.

We ordered room service to be delivered between 6:55 and 7 am. Jo arrived with it right around 7. We ate breakfast, and then headed out around 7:25. A stop for water and rest room, and we were off the ship around 7:40. We noted we never heard an announcement that the ship was cleared.

The port is a cluster of shops around a small body of water. It's also a fairly long hike along the pier and then you enter the port area - lots of shops and a pool. The map said to skip the first exit at the bell tower and go to the next. It wasn't clear to us that the second exit wasn't an arch as indicated, but the middle of a building that's perpendicular to the shops. We passed it, and found ourselves at the end of the shop area. We could go behind to the outside row of shops, so we did that and eventually found the exit, and the main street to head up. We walked two blocks up, turned left per the map, and then two more blocks across on a street without sidewalks, or, for that matter, much on it. To our relief, the office of the tour company was right where it was supposed to be.

We turned in our voucher and they gave us a wristband. There were a lot of people there, but they all had different color bands. They did tell us that they have chauffeurs, not drivers, explaining that taxis have drivers, but they are not a taxi company. They offered us water while we waited.

At about 8:10, they started loading the large family groups (different band colors than ours - we saw nobody with the same color as us) into vans. A couple of minutes later one of the guides came over to us and told us to join on of the family groups for the ride over. We'd be separated at the ruins, and go onto our tour. A guide, Rosa joined us and we set off. She gave us some information about the area and what we were about to see as we drove. It is about an hour drive. Apparently the rest of the bus was going to a lagoon after the ruins.

We arrived at the location and were given a few minutes to use the restroom, etc. After about 5-10 minutes Rosa came over and took us in - apparently she was our guide for the day. She did mention that there were supposed to be four people on our tour.

We went to the first pyramid and she gave us information on the site and the excavation. She also said that most of the hills in the area are covering pyramids because the land is pretty flat.

There is one pyramid towards the opening, and then the main site, which is a pyramid with a flat top that you could climb to. On top were two other pyramids. On the back side of one, under a cover was a piece with some of the original stucco. Apparently back in the day, they were brightly painted. Rosa also explained that the interior of Mayan pyramids are more pyramids (think onion not Egyptian pyramids). The stucco is on an interior one, so you can really see that.

While she was starting the explanations, two guys from San Juan joined us. Apparently, since the ship didn't announce clearance until 8am, they waited for that, and were driven over after us. They were good company for the day.

After viewing the the pyramids, we headed back down. A few minutes for restrooms and shopping if you wanted, our new van (smaller) arrived. We headed out and off the main highway pretty quickly into a village with brightly painted houses. We pulled up in front of what looked like a few open air buildings with a nice garden. During the ride, she taught us how to say hello and thank you in Mayan.

Rosa walked us through the garden pointing out different plants and picking leaves for us to smell and guess the plant. These included allspice (I always thought it was a blend), cinnamon and garlic.

After the garden tour, we headed into the buildings. First we passed through the room where there were tables and a buffet line set up, and then into a room with a grill. After being introduced to the ladies there, we gathered around a table and were given a ball of tortilla dough. One of the ladies showed us how to flatten it into a tortilla. We all tried to copy her sample, but none were as round or as flat. One at at a time, she corrected the tortillas. Luis, one of the guys, did what we all thought was perfect, but she said no and corrected his. Another one of the ladies grilled the tortillas, and then we filled them with the pumpkin puree. Apparently, that's a Mayan specialty, called Sikil Pak.

Following that, we headed to the other building for lunch. There was a buffet lunch, with items in small clay pots. We each had a vegetable tamale (wrapped in banana leaves instead of corn husks) and there was chicken, rice, beans and steamed vegetables. We were also served a cold hibiscus juice to drink. For dessert, there was flan and a fruit skewer. We really enjoyed the meal and the company.

As we were finishing, we noticed another van pulling up. They were touring the garden as we gathered to leave. We thanked our hosts in Mayan and headed back to the port in our small van. I think most napped, I read.

We wandered through the port again. While it was deserted at 7:30 - not so much at 2pm. What we thought was a decorative pool was actually a swimming pool with lots of people in it (note that we were in port with a smaller MSC ship and the very large Norwegian Getaway). There were also a group of acrobats setting up.

We took the longish walk back to the ship, and boarded. First stop was actually Cafe Al Baccio for tea and coffee. Beth had a conference call, so she took it from our balcony and I went to Michaels for tea. She joined me after her call.

After that, we decided to head up to the sky lounge to watch the sail away. It was mostly empty and had a great view. We sat down, and noticed no bar servers. Usually, they have the captain's club happy hour, but I think there was the senior officer's party, so no happy hour. Our next door neighbors from the San Diego area came and joined us, and we chatted for a while.

Tonight was the second Evening Chic night, and the only production show of the cruise. It's called Life and I remember it being so so from last year. But since it was the only show, we went.

I'm not sure what the point was. It was simply a collection of songs, with singers and dancers, a couple with acrobats, and no story or staging. Last year we had Eylsium and Topper, both involved staging and were more entertaining. Of any cruise I've been on, this was the weakest in entertainment. The second weakest was the Reflection last year, which had the same cruise director. Maybe he's the problem?

After the show, we met our friends Ann & Greg at Luminae. They usually sit in the back room, so tonight we did that. We did have a window table, but the room seemed darker than the front. I think it's just that it's just smaller. Our server was their favorite Jesus (I think). He did a good job serving dinner. I chose the iceberg wedge salad, and the rack of lamb. I did ask for the lamb chop sauce for the main dining room (cabernet mint). For dessert, I had the coconut tapioca. Lobster was on the menu, and Ann had that and reported it was delicious. Everyone else had the chocolate bar for dessert.

It had been a long day, so to bed after a quick walk.