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    Is This the Isthmus? Tour – Mexico Part 5

    October 2nd, 2017

    Monday, October 2, 2017
    Chichen Itza, Mexico

    The El Castillo pyramid at Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico.
    The El Castillo pyramid at Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico.

    This morning, the wi-fi was still not working at the Hostel Tunich Naj and I had work to do, so I packed up and moved a half mile north to the Hostel La Candelaria, a really popular backpacker spot with a dimly-lit homespun feel. Every single time I passed by the reception desk, someone was checking in. In fact, in the evening, I overheard the receptionist tell another guest that the place was almost full. Considering the fact that it’s low season right now, I’d hate to imagine that hostel in high season. It must be a total madhouse. Getting a late start at 1:45 pm, I boarded an Oriente bus and rode it close to an hour west to another complex of Mayan temple ruins called Chichen Itza.

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    Is This the Isthmus? Tour – Mexico Part 4

    October 1st, 2017

    Sunday, October 1, 2017
    Tulum Pueblo to Valladolid, Mexico

    A decorated door and window in Valladolid, Mexico.
    A decorated door and window in Valladolid, Mexico.

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    Is This the Isthmus? Tour – Mexico Part 3

    September 30th, 2017

    Saturday, September 30, 2017
    Tulum Ruins, Mexico

    The Danza de los Voladores in Tulum, Mexico.
    The Danza de los Voladores in Tulum, Mexico.

    I got an early start today, but not quite early enough to avoid the tourist hordes at the Tulum Ruins. Getting there was really easy. I just hopped on a shuttle van, said “Ruinas, por favor” to the driver and disembarked a couple of miles north of town. I’ll have to admit, when I first got out, I couldn’t figure out which way to turn. So, I just asked a local, who pointed me in the right direction. Maybe a quarter mile down the road, I spotted a little tourist village boasting a bunch of souvenir shops, restaurants, etc. where I saw a tram take off. So, I walked over there to wait for the next one.

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    Is This the Isthmus? Tour – Mexico Part 2

    September 29th, 2017

    Friday, September 29, 2017
    Tulum, Mexico

    Welcome to Tulum Pueblo, Mexico.
    Welcome to Tulum Pueblo, Mexico.

    I had planned to go visit the Mayan temple ruins at Tulum today, but I got started too late. It was already 3:00 pm when someone informed me that they stop letting people enter the ruins at 4:30 pm. At that point, I thought I’d just find a place to rent a bicycle and go on a ride down by the beach. So, I schlepped way up the main road in the brutal heat and sunshine to Kelly’s.

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    Is This the Isthmus? Tour – Mexico Part 1

    September 28th, 2017

    Thursday, September 28, 2017
    Caye Caulker, Belize to Tulum, Mexico

    Purple daze and orange haze in Caye Caulker, Belize.
    Purple daze and orange haze in Caye Caulker, Belize.

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    Is This the Isthmus? Tour – Belize Part 4

    September 27th, 2017

    Wednesday, September 27, 2017
    Caye Caulker, Belize

    Looking north up Playa Asuncion in Caye Caulker, Belize.
    Looking north up Playa Asuncion in Caye Caulker, Belize.

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    Is This the Isthmus? Tour – Belize Part 3

    September 26th, 2017

    Tuesday, September 26, 2017
    Caye Caulker, Belize

    A trio roams free in Caye Caulker, Belize.
    A trio roams free in Caye Caulker, Belize.

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    Is This the Isthmus? Tour – Belize Part 2

    September 25th, 2017

    Monday, September 25, 2017
    Caye Caulker, Belize

    The Caveman (right) of Caveman Snorkeling Tours in Caye Caulker, Belize.
    The Caveman (right) of Caveman Snorkeling Tours in Caye Caulker, Belize.

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    Is This the Isthmus? Tour – Belize Part 1

    September 24th, 2017

    Sunday, September 24, 2017
    Flores, Guatemala to Caye Caulker, Belize

    Leaving Guatemala, entering Belize.
    Leaving Guatemala, entering Belize.

    This morning, I woke up at around 6:30 am to get ready to board a shuttle van heading for Caye Caulker, Belize at 8:00 am. At 7:12, I realized that the van was due at 7:00, not 8:00, so I really had to scramble to finish packing. As I was walking down the stairs, the front desk clerk was walking up to tell me the bus driver was outside. Whew! Perfect timing. So, I followed him down the street to the van, where I was stoked to get a front row seat with plenty of leg room, for once. After sitting for a short while, we took off with a few seats empty.

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    Is This the Isthmus? Tour – Guatemala Part 22

    September 22nd, 2017

    Friday, September 22, 2017
    Flores, Guatemala

    Flores, Guatemala, as seen looking north from the roof of the Hotel El Peregrino.
    Flores, Guatemala, as seen looking north from the roof of the Hotel El Peregrino.

    Today, I pretty much hung out all day in the cool air of my room at the Hotel El Peregrino to hopefully get rid of an outbreak of heat rash, also known as miliaria or prickly heat, on my legs. I also worked hard on the mega post covering my trip to Tikal this past Tuesday. I only ventured downstairs a couple of times for food in the hotel’s restaurant.

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