Birthday at the Ruins

Sunday February 13, 2011

Ruth’s birthday. We awoke to overcast sky, cool breezes. Ruth and I took our morning walk to town and enjoyed our cappuccinos (see other posting) and WIFI availability. When we arrived back at the condo, Dick, Carole, Roger and Kathy were coming down the stairs, and we followed them to the pool area. They had set up an hombre piñata (imitating Tom), flowers, orange juice & champagne next to the pool for a birthday surprise for Ruth. Blindfolded, Ruth tried to bash the piñata with a stick [photo], but even with a few good blows could not break it. We found out later there are two types of piñata, and this type is not made to break.

After celebration and breakfast, Dick, Carole, Ruth and Tom left for a trip to the Maya ruins of Coba (pronounced cov-ha, meaning turbulent waters). We had a little car that just barely fit us in, and a great driver named Ruben, who enjoyed teaching us Spanish (he didn’t speak English).

The ruins were extensive, and only partly excavated. Our Maya guide Mario gave us the basics of the site and a good history lesson involving the Maya civilization and the Toltec invasion. These ruins are pure Maya, while the others nearby have both Maya and Toltec influences. Coba has the only Maya temple that tourists can climb to the top, which we did, of course, with many others, but we may have been the oldest. Photo: Ruth climbing up.

The Maya people had a sports court with slanted concrete on both sides with rings for “goals.” They could only advance the ball with their shoulders, hips, knees and elbows, and the ball was made of heavy rubber about the size of a soccer ball. The lucky captain of the winning team was rewarded by his beheading. (Think any games were thrown?) Only the royalty witnessed these delightful games. More Coba and Maya information here.

In addition to the temple climbing, we did lots of walking throughout to the entire grounds [Carole, Dick, Ruth & Tom on Ruins] visiting the many renovated stone buildings and wandering through the jungle. Ruben drove us back to Tulum.