Valladolid and Swimming in Cenotes (2017)

So, El Zaguan Colonial is not an easy walk to the center of town and the electricity is such that lights are out or the AC is barely working but it is clean and the restaurant food is good, especially the guacamole. Best of all is the  staff. No one speaks much English but they are super attentive and try to anticipate your requests. The smiley girl behind the counter this morning pulled out a map and did her best to explain the options for getting to the cenotes X'keken and Samula. They are also called Dzitnup. We ended up taking a cab, first into El centro to buy flip flops and get money and he waited for us and then took us to the cenotes. Once there we realized we had been to the same place last year but had only been to Samula, so this year it was X'Keken. The flip flops really weren't needed. I you walk slowly you won't slip on the wet steps. The water was cool and refreshing and very clean. It was a nice switch from the chlorine of pools and the saltwater of the Caribbean. Lots of black catfish that are 2-8 inches long swim on the edges but they scatter once you start splashing. The day was overcast with a breeze but 94 degrees and humid. A perfect day for swimming in an underground cenote.

Once back at the hotel we had guacamole, sopa de lima and a chicken Caesar salad. Then Chris napped and read but I headed off on a very round about walk to El Centro, buying tickets for tomorrow's bus ride, and then a fruitless long walk to the main produce market which was closing down.

I had hoped to find the correct pepitas used in papadzules but no luck there. I ended up buying them unground at a small shop closer in. I hope I haven't been hoodwinked; they look suspiciously like any other pepitas I buy at home. During this LONG winding afternoon of walking I passed this beautiful restaurant with an AMAZING grotto and fountain with a statue of our Lady of Candlaria. It was done in a mosaic of broken tiles. I took Chris there to see it at night. The restaurant was closed which was ok by me since it is a buffet style which I don't care for.

We found another lovely restaurant with patio dining called Atrio. I see online that it is also a boutique hotel. The chaya empanadas and papadzules were delicious and the beer was very refreshing! Now we are back in our hotel room, driven away from the poolside of El Zaguan by the mosquitoes. Ah well, MOST of the vacation is time in paradise.