On the other side

Well it has been a while since my last entry, and I knew there would be more paradises but our last place took the biscuit. I abandoned my shoes for 4 days and walked around in the sand. We stayed in a little cabana by the beach - even the restaurant floor was covered in sand. We decided to move to these cabanas after staying in the Weary Traveller Hostel in Tulum. We had a roach in our room, the shower was like being pissed on from a very low height, mosquitoes everywhere and fans louder than a police raid. It was good for meeting people, but not on the feeling clean front.
We loved our little cabana, apart from the mozzies again. Our travelling companion, Lex, had another Cabana which contained 2 kittens and their mother with a little sign that said 'This family have chosen to nest here, can you please feed and water them.' So he went out and bought cat food for Chitchen, Itza and Maya. Painfully cute.
We went to see the Coba ruins which were incredible. Chitchen Itza is amazing for its incredible acoustic design, but Coba has thousands of unexcavated ruins over a grand distance. Plus it's higher. As you stand over the canopy of trees atop the main pyramid, you can feel the immense power the priests and royalty who allowed to ascend must have felt. It is very overwhelming. But most of the ruins are covered over by jungle. This is something I am learning about Mexico - it is a place that resists settlement. At every turn the jungle is trying to reclaim its land, if your back is turned on it for a second it overruns. Houses are nestled in little coves as the owners hack away at the shrub around it. On the bus from Tulum to Merida, there were trees that were all leaf - it looked as though time had stopped and prehistoric animals had been enveloped by the leafy wilderness.
Back in Tulum though we had some lovely nights gazing up at the stars with our cocktails - made for us on the first night by candlelight as they don't turn the electricity on until 6pm. We met a guy called Vincent who has been travelling and sleeping in a hammock since 2008. We visited the incredible cenote Dos Ojos (2 eyes) and snorkelled into a bat cave in crystal clear water amongst stallagmites and stallagtites. We went to Akumal and snorkelled with turtles, stingrays and the biggest barracuda I have ever seen. I must admit to having to clench a little bit - I hate barracudas!!
We are now in Merida where we are staying in an old colonial building. The area has a distinct European feeling, having been overrun by the Spanish years ago. We had the best Italian meal last night in a little ex-pat haven. We were a bit sick of Mexican and needed a change -a glass of wine even! Our room overlooks the main square where musicians line up along the road waiting to play to some poor, unsuspecting couple. We were awoken this morning by a marching band at 7:50. This distinctly reminded me of my dad deciding it was time for me to wake up so would walk in my room singing 'Good morning! Good monring! You slept the whole night through!' I would like to say that the novetly of it being a marching band made it less irritating, but I was looking forward to a lie-in today!
We plan to be here for a few days as there is an amazing all day and all night market near-by. But we do seem to be getting 'stuck' in places so we shall see!