Tully Mars

Or how I spent my birthday. I started the day diving. There's another thread with shots from that dive.

Here's a few shots of a recent trip I took to the Mayan ruins of Coba. I hadn't been to Coba in nearly three years and was surprised by the new road and how much the site had been cleared. It used to be basically heavy under growth with a few narrow paths to buildings and temples. I was disappointed by the overcast sky and lighting. I wish I would have planned to be there either later in the day or right at sunrise. I'm still playing/learning with my new Nikon. So far I've found good natural lighting can over come a lot of inexperience. This day I did not have that crutch, sorry the for the poor quality.


After passing the vendors and "guides" you see several large "Stela's' this, I'm told, is of a worrior...



Then you see one of three ball courts at the site...



A little further and you pass several smaller building, likely royal housing. Here's a shot showing a monkey's face in the wall...



Walking into the jungle another kilometer you arrive at the first large pyramid. This is known as "La Iglesia"...



At the top of "La Iglesia" I spotted several large vultures...



The path splits shortly after "La Iglesia." One direction, the most popular, takes you to the main pyramid and the other to a smaller one known as "painted top." It's name comes from the painted stucco still visible at the top, a close look and you can see the yellows, blues and reds that once cover the exterior of all the structures...



A small path, almost more rumor then path, leads through the jungle and to the main pyramid known as "Nohoch Mul" a 138ft tall, somewhat restored, pyramid that you're still allowed to climb...



Since it's one of a few you can still climb- up I went. Here's me at the top...



Here's a view from the top. In the center of this shot you can see how much shorter "La Iglesia" is as compared to "Nohoch Mul." You can just see a little peek of one of the two lakes at the site in the upper right corner...



What goes up must come down. Here's a view looking down from the top...



After all that climbing and walking through the 100F Yucatan jungle I was ready to return to the sanctuary of my resort. Here's a shot of one of the two bedroom in our condo. Everyday we returned to fresh cut flowers, decorative towel animals and tasty Mayan chocolates on the pillows...



After a quick shower we threw on our swim suits and headed to one of the seven pools at the resort. We choose this one due to the number of jacuzzi' it has...



After a long soak we returned to our condo. Since it was my friends 10th anniversary and my birthday we decided what could possibly go better with "Jolly Time" microwave popcorn then some Dom Pérignon Champagne?



Over all a nice birthday. A dive in the morning, ruins in the afternoon and a nice resort to finish off the day. All with good friends. Hope the rest of my birthdays are half this good.

__________________
I used to drink to drown my sorrows, but the damned things have learned how to swim- Frida Kahlo

Vice President Starkizzer Fan Club