just a few photos of our first moments at the Caribbean Sea (which I’ve never been to before). Tulum itself is quite touristic, like an alternative hippie Cancun…doesn’t exactly feel like Mexico, but we are moving slowly, sleeping in, and finding enjoyment in the simple things. 💜 Also, it’s interesting being in a different Mexican state: Quintana Roo, which was actually part of the Yucatán until 100 ish years ago when the Yucatán peninsula became part of Mexico — renouncing their constitution and everything — and then Mexico split the Yucatán into 3 separate states now known as: Yucatán, Quintana Roo, and Campeche. I think there’s a general feeling that Quintana Roo kinda “sold out” to the tourist economy in a big way like they did back in the day negotiating with the Mexico City government (Cancun of course being the greatest example of this). There’s a feeling in Tulum that it may be becoming the next Cancun, which is sad for those living here (and for us too).
Tulum Ruins in the background….truly beautiful seeing the ruins alongside the sea. Tulum was a central location for Mayan resistance to the Spanish throughout colonization, but especially during The Caste Wars. It was the most recently inhabited temples, when the Spanish conquistadores “found” Tulum it was still inhabited by the Mayans.