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CENOTES
The Yucatan Peninsula is basically a flat plateau of limestone. It is famous for sink holes otherwise known as Cenotes. We spent one day exploring a couple of quite different examples.
The first was Grand Cenote which is one the most famous and as can be seen below one of the most beautiful. I think this is just about the most idyllic place you could go for a swim. The cool water takes your breath away at first, but its wonderful when its 35C with high humidity. You can swim a little distance into the caves to see hundreds of bats roosting. Martins are constantly dive bombing you and there are fish in the water.
Grand Cenote
Grand Cenote - looking up - the ultimate rockery
Grand Cenote - access area
Striking Sabal Yappa at Grand Cenote entrance
We then visited a rather different cenote, this time underground. This is the entrance.
Entrance to underground cenote
And this is the steel access staircase - in a rather advanced state of corrsion. I hadn't realised it was like this until I lightened an almost black image in photoshop! As I mentioned earlier health and safety is not high priority in Mexico. The rope and and string like things you see are all tree roots from above in search of water.
No pictures of the underground swim I'm afraid but it was quite exhilerating (wet-suit required) and there were even tiny fish in near total darkness. Needless to say I much prefered the above ground cenote but it was still quite an experience.
It was also interesting in the woodland surrounding this inland cenote.
This species of Agave was fairly common - not sure which one.
Loads of pretty birds - in this case a Turquoise Browed Motmot . It has very long tail feathers that you can just see between the branches.
I think this is another type of epiphyte - although it is at ground level.
........and finally these big leathery ferns were very common. Not sure what they are I'm afraid.
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