We got to the port in Progresso at 9:00 a.m. Our scheduled excursion did not start until 11:30 a.m. so we took our time getting off of the boat.
We met our guide, Eduardo, on the dock. We had about 25 - 30 people in our tour group (including our 12). Eduardo led us to the bus and we started our second day in Mexico.
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on the tour bus
(l to r: Tanner, Jamie, Jason, Ashton, Tate, Annette,
Allyn, Truman, Emily, Addison, Bryce) |
Our first stop was the Salt Pits. We learned how the Mayans created pits to collect rainwater and seawater in fields. As the water evaporates, the salt from the water is left behind. The Mayans used the salt for preserving food and as currency. The water in the salt pit fields has a reddish hue because of the plankton in the water.
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| at the salt pits (see the salt field in the background) |
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| plankton from the salt pit water |
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| at a salt pit field |
Eduardo told us about salt production. The field behind us in the pictures yields about 25-30 tons of salt per year. They harvest the salt in May or June when the water is mostly evaporated. A worker came by and dipped an empty bottle into the bottom of the pit (the water was about 18 inches deep). The water from the bottom was warm at about 130 degrees. Then the worker grabbed some salt from the bottom of the field. It was amazing to watch.
We also had a quick snack of Mayan tacos.
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Truman tries a taco with Habanero peppers
(notice the peppers on the ground!)
(he removed the rest after the first couple burned his mouth) |
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| Tate tries a Mayan taco |
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| Ashton and Jason |
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| Emily and Bryce |
Our next excursion stop was some Mayan ruins at
Xcambo. We climbed to the top of the Mayan temples there and walked around the complex.
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| `Jon and Annette at the top of the temple |
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| Tanner and a carved face |
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| Xcambo complex |
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| Addison and Annette on the top of a structure |
Next, we traveled to
Dzemul (a small city in Yucatan) and visited the Santa Ana Catholic church. We learned about the history of the church and watched some dancers do a traditional Mayan dance.
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