Sunday, Father's Day, turned out to be Karl's day--he drooped a little with a fever (probably a result of the heat on Saturday) so Diana researched a homemade pedialite-type drink and consulted with the family nurses - Katherine, David and her mother.
Karl's fever was down Monday morning so we felt we could continue with the trip to the Maya Riviera. Our base was in Playa del Carmen, where Diana had made hotel reservations.

Tuesday morning the tour van came to the hotel and we joined an international group. They were a couple from Chile who were escaping the cold of their winter and another couple --the wife from Denmark and the husband from So. Africa. Our guide gave information in Spanish and again in passable English. At the sites, guides often cooperated, with one guide taking groups who preferred English and another those who preferred Spanish.
We began the day with a visit to Tulum, the only Mayan site situated on the Caribbean coast, and the latest to be occupied. The massive buildings once saw busy mercantile trade with other Mayan sites as well as being the residences of officials. The images and art of their religious tradition are still in evidence.



Pictures can only give a small idea of the beauty of the ocean and the grandeur of the Mayan temples, but our pleasant looks are real, as are Gary's and Diana's smiles for the fulfilment of their desire to experience the warmth and beauty of the Caribbean shore.
We saw a typical Mayan house where the children performed with traditional instruments.
Juxtaposed with scenes in the home of the women making tortillas in the traditional manner, storage bags hung on the walls, trinkets created by the community for sale to tourists we will remember the evidence of invading civilization--just as in the time of the Spaniards.
At Cobá Gary and Diana climbed the highest pyramid on the Peninsula
and made it to the top! Coming down was a harder proposition, but by using their backsides, they arrived safely at the bottom.

The next day we investigated Puerto Morelos, a smaller area not so popular with tourists.
Opa and Shasha had time to spend with Karl while his parents went out to a reef in a glass bottomed boat and snorkeled during the morning. They were awed by the beauty and number of the fish they saw, but felt trepidation when a small sting ray came too near.

All that sea and sun gave us a good appetite and we ate while Karl slept. Diana and I browsed in the local market while Karl ate his lunch and then listened to local musicians.

The next day trip on our itinerary was Isla Mujeres, off the coast of Cancun, accessible by ferry.
We ate under a palapa on the beach where Gary felt like trying something new for lunch--entire fish. As we walked along the malecón (ocean front) Diana found her souvenirs--a pink shell necklace and a large conch shell like the one the diver brought up at the reef where they were snorkeling yesterday.

Our transportation of choice to investigate the island was one of the many golf carts. We rented it for an hour and drove around the whole island with a few stops to admire the ocean and the scenery.

Friday morning came too soon and it was time to say not "Adiós," but "Hasta luego. Que vayan con Dios." Two idyllic weeks came to an end and we each would go back to homes and routines, but with bright memories of sun and sea and far-away places and a strengthened love of family that is eternal.