Coba Ruins

Today we drove to Coba to visit the ruins there. The ruins are about an hour away from Tulum.

We rented bicycles as it is quite a distance between the different sites.

One side of a ball court where teams played against each other. The person who was able to get the ball through the ring was the winner. He was honored as the winner and his prize was death. The Mayan people considered it an honor to be sacrified to the gods.

Jessica and Charlie headed up the steps of the largest pyramid at this site. This is the last remaining temple that can be climbed in Quintana Roo.

Checking out another pyramid.

Entering the "Twilight Zone!!" We had a great time at the ruins.

Moving Day/ Jessica's Arrival

Thiis morning we packed up our belongings from Oso's apartment and moved down the street to our new lodgings. Jessica is spending her winter break with us here in Tulum.

We took the collectivo to Playa del Carmen and then the bus to Cancun International Airport to pick up Jessica. We rented a car so we could travel to places outside of town while Jessica was here.

We found lodging for the three of us at a hostal called Rancho Tranquilo. It is just on the outer edge of Tulum.

The casita has a single room with two double beds and a single bed. We have our own bathroom and air conditioning. There is a porch where we can sit and observe the coming and goings of the people here. 

The view from our porch. This spot orginally was nothing but sand and stone. Over the years the owner planted all the vegetation. It is like a little tropical garden in the middle of a hot, dry area.

Our Neighbors

Eugene and Tina are our neighbors. They are from the US and are here for four months. We go out to dinner together once a week. During the hot part of the day we sit outside, read, and talk about our families, intersting places to visit, and catch up on the daily news.

Abarrotes Alberto and Mini Super Poot are next door to us. Mini Super Poot sells only beer and he does a brisk business. Abarrotes Alberto sells groceries.

Our landlord is Mayan so the sculptures in the yard are Mayan replicas. Check out the basil plant beside the sculpture.

Graduation Day from Chac-Mool Spanish School

Graduates of Chac-Mool Spanish School

After two weeks of studying Spanish we finally graduated. We are with Sofia, the teacher we worked with for most of our lessons.

We know more Spanish than we arrived. We have an understanding of how to use the present, past and future verb tenses.  We just need to practice, practice and practice what we've learned.

Tim and Amy were in our graduating class. They were in the more advanced classes!!

Our classroom, where we spent 5 hours/day.

Pambazo Cooking Class

One of our afternoon school activities was a visit to a local lady for a cooking lesson.  We were given a list of ingredients that needed to be purchased for making pambazos. In late afternoon we met at the cook's house with our ingredients for the cooking lesson.

La cocina - the kitchen

Chorizo y papas cocidas juntos

Pollo, tomates verde, chiles, cebolla

A roll was covered in a tomato paste made from tomatoes and other spices.

The pambazo was fried in oil.

The roll was split open and you chose the toppings you wanted to put inside. Delicioso!