Sunday, November 30, 2008
Mexcio Espectacular
The evening performance at Xcaret was really something to behold. A tour through Mexican history and culture, from pre-hispanic Mayan traditions through a music and dance tour of the different modern Mexican states.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Belltower
The tower of a building facade at Xcaret. The bright colors on the stucco and soft pink clouds in the dusky sky were captivating
Yellow Breasted
Though the park is definitely tamed and well maintained, there is still a lot of beautiful flora and fauna. Including this bright bird who let me get close enough to catch him with my telephoto lens.
Approaching the Summit
Xcaret was once the site of a Mayan port settlement. There are a number of small pyramid structures around the grounds. We climbed this one.
Stately
He looks quite nice, but this tall bird (egret, I believe) was cruising the fish farm ponds looking for an easy lunch.
Fungi Farm
The mushroom farm definitely had an otherworldly feeling about it. Especially up close with the macro. Not without its challenges, though...my lens kept fogging up because the humidity in the room was about 100%!
Soft Orange Mouth
The orchid farm and exhibit at Xcaret was impressive. And were most places I've been would need climate control to grow these delicate flowers, the combination of warm and humid on the Mayan Riviera suited these just fine.
Xcaret Eco Park
Located on the coast, a short drive South of Playa del Carmen, the Xcaret eco- and adventure-park was one of the trip highlights, despite cloudy and rainy weather. Part nature preserve, part zoo, part cultural heritage museum, part aquatic wonderland (dolphin interaction and snorkling through underground rivers), and part delicious food and drink enjoyment.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Pinks
Two of the aforementioned flamingos. They're surprising loud in large groups. And, no, they're not plastic.
Storm Brewin'
While this is not the Playa of Playa del Carmen proper, it was fun to walk out along the pier into the growing storm.
At the Edge
This infinity pool (complete with palm-tree studded islands) runs right up against the man-made lagoon (complete with turtles and diving birds) in the middle of the resort.
Lounging
El Pistachio, lounging by one of the pools at the Grand Mayan resort in Playa del Carmen. Can you say, "relaxation"?
The Sign Made Me Do It
This pretty much sums it up. Outside of the Senor Frogs in Cancun, but just as applicable to the whole Hotel Zone.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Wandering South
We left the luxury hotels and delicious restaurants of Cancun's hotel zone for the even more luxurious resorts of Playa del Carmen, along the Mayan Riviera. Only about 45 minutes South of Cancun, the feeling is dramatically different. Why would you leave the hotel grounds when there's two different pools, a golf course, flamingo and alligator preserves (the enclosed habitats, not the jams), no less than three delicious restaurants, and live entertainment nightly. The setting is still very much in dense jungle, and the daily rain storms did a good job of explaining how the place can get so green.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Swimin' Hole
Cenote Ikil from above. Vines extend from the surface-level edges straight down into the pool
Mayan Ballgame
It's high up a vertical wall and the object was to get the ball through the hoop without using your hands.
Athletic Mural
This guy is part of a long mural depicting priests playing the traditional Mayan ball game.
Still Life with Serpent and Temple
The park is quite big with a lot of different structures and statues
Kukulcan Pyramid
The pyramid from a distance. On the equinoxes, the setting sun creates the shadow of a snake on one side.
Chichen Itza
On our only group tour of the trip, we visited Chichen Itza, an site filled with ancient Mayan ruins including the Kukulcan temple which functioned as a calendar. Conquistadors and missionaries destroyed the site, but some structures have been restored. Surrounded by so many archaeological treasures gave quite a feeling of being transported back to a very different time.
On the way back, the tour stopped at a natural fresh water swimming hole called a Cenote. A hole in the earth about 60 yards across that goes straight down for almost 100 feet to a pool of cool refreshing water. It was hot in the jungle, and this dip felt very nice. We even got to jump in from a 30 foot platform carved out of the rock wall.
On the way back, the tour stopped at a natural fresh water swimming hole called a Cenote. A hole in the earth about 60 yards across that goes straight down for almost 100 feet to a pool of cool refreshing water. It was hot in the jungle, and this dip felt very nice. We even got to jump in from a 30 foot platform carved out of the rock wall.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Progress Marches On
The rate of change is staggering. Especially now, in the off season. Hotels being demolished, new ones being built.
Tequila Sunrise
Early morning view from the hotel balcony. Yeah, that's the sun rising over the ocean. A bit disconcerting for a California boy.
Aquatic Adventure
Spent a carefree day wandering the hotel zone and wound up at an aquarium. And, if that wasn't great enough, we spent the afternoon swimming with trained dolphins in the pool complex and feeding sharks while suspended in a plexiglass cage in their giant tank. Is it wrong to enjoy whole fried fish at an aquarium restaurant?
Sunday, November 09, 2008
So Many Shades of Blue
The sky, the sea at the horizon, the shallower water, the frothing green waves. It was really remarkable. All crashing into a beach dotted with thatched umbrellas. Pretty close to paradise.
One Sweet Fortnight
The wedding was wonderful and followed quickly by a much appreciated tropical vacation. Cancun, Mexico surpassed my expectations in natural beauty, friendly people, exquisite food, and the simple joy of drinking tequila on a beach lounge chair. On the flight in, I was surprised by how lush and dense the jungle in the area was, but we spent the first day exploring the beach nearby our hotel.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Passing the City Through a Fine Mesh Screen
From the 90-somethingth floor of the Hancock building in downtown Chicago.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
River Side
The tilt distortion is pretty intense, but it was a nice view with the bridge and the buildings. I'm not used to seeing a river in the middle of downtown.
Street Side
Not just public art, but lots of public plantings like this one. It makes Michigan Ave a nice stroll.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Street Level
The scale of downtown Chicago impressed me first. It's big, but feels like it started small and grew up (like the fire escape that drapes down an almost obscene length of the building).
Millenium Grid
Part of the Music Pavilion designed by Frank Gehry with the Chicago skyline in the background. I like the lines
Bean in Motion
Driving past Millenium Park. The flowers and the bent reflection from the Bean give this shot a lot of kinetic energy.
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