Mayan Ruins

Saturday, decided to try and go down to the ruins at Tulem again, so off i go in my little Fiat, had to fill up with petrol first though as i had used 3/4 of a tank nearly yesterday.

Every one thinks Mexico is cheap and it probably is when you're not in the Tourist areas, but I've been surprised at the prices since i got here, its more expensive here that it is where I'm staying in Mississippi. Petrol's not so bad but food and drinks are pricey, costing as much here as the states for food and beer is more expensive $4-5 a bottle.

Back on track again, got my petrol and of i go, straight down to Tulem, i know where it is now so i get there straight away just an hour and a half or so later. First thing i notice when i drive in the car park is a guy sitting under a tree who when he see me comes across and wants 40pesos for parking, I'm sure he was probably official but you just get the impression that everyone is on the make and it could be some guy sat under a tree ripping off tourists, there were no signs or nothing to say it was official or that there was a parking fee.

Checked the other cars when i got in the car park and they all had the same type of ticket i got so who knows, but it just seem like this everywhere, some random person wanting money. Finally got to the ruins and first you had to buy a ticket to get in, fair enough but you also have to buy a separate ticket if you wanted to take in a video camera in, copywrite or something like that apparently, just another way to make money more like.

Got in there and was a bit disappointed, not much in the way of telling you about things, a bit of a free for all really. Did see a real live big Lizard eating a plant though.

Think this is a Iguana, lots of them around but this was the biggest one i saw, it even posed on the wall for me.

All in all if you seen one Mayan ruin and you've seen them all, am sure they're not all like this but it was bit disappointing.

The photo on the left is just up the road from the hotel. One thing you notice walking around the streets is that everyone is on the make, it's hard to get away from it, bet i got asked ten times every night if i wanted drugs among other things.

Even parking the car as soon as you got out there was someone there, when you got back in to drive out there was someone there stopping the traffic waving you out just wanted a tip. On the odd occasion if i did take a picture someone was there wanting to know if i wanted them to take one of you, it's all about the tip.

As i said earlier think this is as bad as Thailand, mainly because they're more persistent, you just have to ignore it or you are lost. I'm sure this is not all of Mexico just the tourist areas because it wasn't like this in Saltillo but if you can get over that it's not a bad place to be, the regular people are friendly, even the others are friendly enough it just gets on your nerves.