Exploring: Coba
If Mexico’s Mayan ruins were to compete in a beauty pageant, Tulum would win the swimsuit competition (she is stunning), Chichen Itza would take down the interview portion (her scientific and engineering prowess would be on display), and though I have yet to visit it, Teotihuacan’s reportedly impressive art and architecture would score the talent trophy.
But Coba… she deserves Miss Congeniality.
Tucked in the jungle, she is friendly and approachable. (The guided tours here were longer than the ones in Tulum and Chichen Itza, and our tour guide even showed us how they made dyes from the bark of trees.) Most of all, Coba wants to hang with you and have a good time, and the highlight of this visit was climbing her main pyramid. (OK, I admit that sounded a bit dirty.)
Despite feeling a little worn down from the heat and humidity, I opted to climb it, which I regretted a few minutes later when I realized each steep step was knee-high, and that ascending was more akin to rock climbing. It’s totally worth it, though, when you reach the apex, huffing and puffing and drenched in sweat. The views above the treetops go on for miles and you feel a little like sitting on top of the world.
I took my time hanging out up there (it’s a lot of work to just to go right back down) and managed to convince my friend Cece to join me (she wanted to pass initially.) Up there, the world felt a little different, like it was better. (It could just be the lack of oxygen talking.)
And it was such a workout (I literally bathed in my own sweat) that you could have three margaritas and an extra serving of flan at dinner without guilt.
Some kind of Mayan tennis court
A Mayan “book”
Dyes from trees
That’s a long way down…
Sweaty…
Post-climb lunch: Mexican lime soup (delicioso!)
Even the tchotchkes take a break from the hot humid-ness
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2 Responses to “Exploring: Coba”
Damn! That looks like an awesome climb.
Also, more selfies!
Oy, not sure about the selfies, Steve! I’ll see what I can do.