The bungalows
The swimming beach - a little circle with no rocks
Journal Entry
February 9, 2012 This afternoon I walked down the beach after lunch. I am finally feeling back to 100% — it is a gift and a miracle.
I walked further than I had this trip and found the rock I liked to sit on and look out to sea – I thought it had been incorporated or moved by the resorts, very grown up around us – lots more people and the “Five” that was deserted last year was busy – but there it was. It was two years ago – recovering from Lyme that I sat there and cried and I think one year it was on that rock that I vowed vegetarianism – and committed to it for over a year before I felt I needed more protein. I sat there for a while, it began to rain, and I still sat.
As I looked around my gaze turned towards the little public calle that comes down to the beach from the main road – and for the first time I noticed a simple, crude pyramid drawing indicating an archeological site with an arrow pointing down the road. I took the road following the signs – at one point I wasn’t sure, and then out of a narrow jungle path came five or six young Mayan women with several babies in slings. They were dressed in dark woven cloth –they could have been coming straight out of the past. They were speaking to each other – Mayan, I am sure, not Spanish. I tried to ask for the ruins. Searching for works – Chitchen Itza – yes, they knew that. I kept saying “ruinas” I thought that was the word for ruins. Their dark eyes and pretty babies made such a striking picture. I wish I had my camera, but I probably would not have asked for their picture, knowing how native people feel about photos. Finally, one seemed to understand and indicated I should go on ahead and turn to the left. Then she came along with me a short way and showed me what turned out to be a shortcut around the fence and onto a narrow path through the jungle.
I stepped into the jungle – rain still dripping. I was soaked, but wearing my swimming suit, a cover-up and only my flip-flops. It was warm. Down the little path, I looked ahead and could see some cleared places, logs on end for seats, and a groomed path. Following the gravel path, I peered into the underbrush to see if there was anything resembling a Mayan site. Finally coming to a larger road I turned right and could see a ruined pyramid at the end. I smiled with a sense of satisfaction and discovery.
Limestone blocks, covered with plants, leaves, vines, with trees sending roots down that broke apart the once solid pyramid. Standing there, and later discovering another pyramid with a little house on top, I felt the depth of the place. And I felt the happiness of discovery – of being there where these people lived and worshiped, had children –lived and died and then melted into the rain forest. But the young women showed me they are there still. Still having the children, still living.
Here is another museum of the heart memory – I will never forget, those quiet, sweet, small women, showing me the way. Later sitting on the balcony, I felt lonely or at least jealous of their obvious comfort with each other. I would have liked to live there with them, or, no, that is not it, really, it is that I wish I had a community, a family around me like that, of many women, raising our babies and being happy.
Further along on the path, information signs indicated “Sandoz Caracol” a resort that must be maintaining the site. A huge Ceiba tree with explanation sign dominated the center.
from the internet ~ Even today, Maya people honor the Ya’axche or Ceiba Tree as an energy connection with the Cosmos, Earth, and the Underworld; ever present in ceremonies and as a medicine plant, this beautiful tree is wh ere the Maya Gods abide, and so do may forest supernatural creatures and energies. Young Ceiba trees have exotic looking thorny green trunks.
The Ceiba Tree of Life plays an important central part at each Mayan Wedding Ceremony and in other Mayan holistic rituals as well as in many Mayan mythological legends still belief by the Mayan rural people to be part of supernatural dark energies in the form of demons and legendary beings, such as is the case of the Ix Tabay or X’Tabay.
We went back the next day after my exploration and I took this photo of the tree
I rested my hand and leaned my body into the tree, which was so massive I could not have reached around it with two people. I thought of Dad and how he loved trees and how he would have appreciated seeing this one. The leaves are like the sheflera we have as a houseplant – I think I must get one.
walking south